Specific questions about one night in Indianapolis.

October 21, 2007 8:46 PM

Specific questions about one night in Indianapolis.

We're staying in Indianapolis the night before Thanksgiving on our way to Cleveland. We're thinking of staying at the Embassy Suites North, which seems to be located just north of Westover. What is that area like? Is it suburban? We'll get into town around 8:30 PM and will only want to go out a late dinner. The room is $100 for the night.

For another $20, we can stay downtown at the Hilton Garden Inn or the Hampton Inn. Would that be a better location?

Also - if we're in town only one night, where do you suggest we eat? We'd like something that's reliably good - not a hole in the wall long shot. (I've read the other MeFi questions about Indy, but we only have one shot at a restaurant so we need to pick just one.)

Anything else special we shouldn't miss that night? I know there's live music at the Slippery Noodle - anything else?

posted by kdern to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

I stayed at that hotel once. It's at a shopping mall about a milliion miles from anywhere. I think a downtown location would be $20 well spent.
posted by nowonmai at 9:33 PM on October 21, 2007

I stayed in Indianapolis twice. Once in the boonies and once downtown. My experience was much better at the downtown location, overall.
posted by TeatimeGrommit at 10:01 PM on October 21, 2007

Don't know about the hotels in general but you might want to see what the situation is with parking at the downtown location. The rate might not include parking which will increase your expenditure.
posted by mmascolino at 10:42 PM on October 21, 2007

Might help if we knew what sort of cuisine floats your boats....
posted by pjern at 3:50 AM on October 22, 2007

That northside Embassy Suites...is that the one on Vincennes Road? If so, that's going to be far more convenient for you to use, considering your trip. Plus, that area has grown a lot.

If that's the hotel, you're just off 86th Street, which is a main artery up there. I can get you to a good Thai restaurant a couple of miles down the road.

You would also be just across the street from a great sushi bar.

Unfortunately, it's a Wednesday night in Indianapolis. There really isn't going to be much to do.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:58 AM on October 22, 2007

Yes, that region is suburban (technically it's part of Indianapolis proper, since Indianapolis expanded to encompass most of Marion County in 1970, but in character it's suburban). However, you don't have to go downtown to get a good dinner. There's a lot of good restaurants in the Broad Ripple area, as well as pretty much all along the far northside and the (actual) north suburbs of Zionsville, Carmel, and Fishers.

What price range are you looking at for dinner? Is this a money-is-no-object kind of thing? Moderate? Or cheap-but-good?
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:29 AM on October 22, 2007

Oh, as for things to do, Nuvo is our local alt-weekly, so check that out a few days before to see if there's anything good going on. Nothing in particular comes to mind, though.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:22 AM on October 22, 2007

I'm from Indianapolis originally. I advise staying downtown. If you are staying downtown eat at the Alcatraz Brewery for standard faire or the Palamino for fancy faire. Afterwards you can walk around a bit - Indianapolis is relatively safe after dark. As others have mentioned Broad Ripple is kind of neat so if you can make it over there then go for it.
posted by rlef98 at 11:59 AM on October 22, 2007

also indyehtnicfood.com could help you find a restaurant. If you stay downtown, go to the R Bistro for dinner. Its local, small, quiet, and consistently very good, with a seasonal menu that changes each week. The Chatterbox (on the same street as the R Bistro) has live jazz every night but can be smoky.
posted by pegstar at 5:43 PM on October 22, 2007

I'd opt for downtown. The $20 is well spent. Broad Ripple is neat if you're into bars and clubs, but on a Wednesday, most will be closed or at least not crammed full.

As for passing through, most of the downtown hotels are a hop, skip, and a jump from I-65 and I-70. I-70 east of downtown is under construction but you'll be going against the flow if you're leaving town on Thursday morning. I wouldn't expect it to be too awful painful.
posted by jeversol at 5:45 PM on October 22, 2007