No. 24 – Melody Inn

Best Piercings

Rock-band stickers and graffiti covering nearly every square inch of the walls? Check. Makeshift driftwood chandelier? Check. A bathroom door you have to shove open with your foot? Check. The Mel’s lineup of punk, metal, and indie music draws rock fans, sure, but also neighborhood-bar types who come for the thoroughly lived-in vibe. If the weekly Saturday Punk Rock Night gets too loud, grab your High Life and head to the lounge in the back. That front room of “The Historic Melody Inn” has been rockin’ for almost 80 years, so it’s a safe bet it still will be when you return.

3826 N. Illinois St., 317-923-4707

Photo by Tony Valainis

This article appeared in the January 2013 issue.