The New Downtown: Seven New Reasons to Love Indy

This article is part of Indianapolis Monthly’s The New Downtown package, which includes a guide to five hotspots, a few big city problems, and a look at what’s next for the city. For more content on navigating the new downtown, click here.

Best Day Out

Some cities introduce bikeshare before there’s anywhere fun to use it. Indy did it right by completing the Cultural Trail first. Do museums in the morning, lunch and shopping on Mass Ave, and cocktails in Fletcher Place—all for an $8 daily pass.

Best Apartment Trend

Who needs historic charm when you have a rooftop swimming pool? The sunniest deck is at Artistry (451 E. Market St.), where residents can lounge on a submerged tanning shelf and drink in a wide-open skyline view.

Best Apartment Location

Captivated by the flashy cars at The Conrad’s entrance, most fail to notice the apartments right next door. Residents of 26 West (26 W. Washington St.), where one-bedrooms average $1,020, enjoy the most primo spot in the city, hands down.

Best Office Training Exercise

Not another cheesy trust fall. At The Escape Room (200 S. Meridian St.), the staff tackles a jailbreak, an art heist, or another elaborate challenge in one hour. It’s not always easy, either. Hint: There might be a secret room.

Best Girls’ Night Out

Sorry, pedal-pubbers. No one looks like they’re having more fun than the aproned ladies who pack Mimosa and a Masterpiece (614 Massachusetts Ave.), paintbrush in one hand and champagne flute in the other.

Best Sexy Bar

Union 50 (620 N. East St.) isn’t trying to seduce you, but the combination of caramel-leather bar stools, a dramatic backlit bar, and low-key lighting gives you that third-glass-of-wine feeling from the moment you enter.

Best Pocket Park

The Hyatt Regency (1 S. Capitol Ave.) spruced up its north plaza with flowers and benches facing the resplendent Indiana Repertory Theatre. You won’t find a finer piece of architecture to sit and admire over the lunch hour.