Mass Ave Indianapolis: A Resident’s Guide to Theaters, Restaurants and Shops
Where to see a show, eat, drink and shop on Mass Ave in Indianapolis, block by block, plus the 2026 openings and how locals use the avenue.
Why Is Mass Ave in Indianapolis So Famous?
Mass Ave is famous as Indianapolis’s arts and theater district: a 0.86-mile diagonal street where historic theaters, live music rooms, restaurants, bars and independent shops sit within a few walkable blocks. It’s the one place downtown where you can catch a show, eat dinner and have a nightcap without ever getting back in the car.
Key takeaways
- Mass Ave runs about 0.86 miles and takes roughly 20 minutes to walk end to end.
- The 300 and 400 blocks are closest to Industry and hold most of the local shops.
- Old National Centre and the Athenaeum are the two big venues just off the avenue.
- Restaurants turn over quickly, so check hours before you walk over.
- Street parking fills up on weekend nights, so walking or biking is easier.
- Residents spread Mass Ave across the week instead of cramming it into one night.
Your Weeknights Just Got a Lot More Interesting
It’s 6:45 on a Thursday. You’ve been home from work for twenty minutes, the jazz set starts at 8, and you haven’t decided on dinner. Downtown, that’s not a problem. It’s a menu.
This guide sorts Mass Ave the way locals actually use it: by block and by occasion, with addresses, so you know where to go tonight.
How Mass Ave Is Laid Out, Block by Block
Mass Ave runs 0.86 miles on a diagonal, from New York and Delaware streets northeast to Bellefontaine Street. Massachusetts Ave was one of four diagonal streets in Alexander Ralston’s 1821 plan for Indianapolis, and its commercial district has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982.
Think of the avenue in three zones:
The 300 and 400 blocks: The Eagle, Bakersfield, Bazbeaux, The Garden Table, Chatterbox Jazz Club and a tight run of boutiques.
The 500 to 700 blocks (the middle): Condado Tacos, Kyuramen, The District Theatre and FortyFive Degrees.
The 800 and 900 blocks (the Bottleworks end): Bottleworks Hotel, The Garage Food Hall, Living Room Theaters, Pins Mechanical, BODHI and Mass & Belle.
Things to Do on Mass Ave Indianapolis: Theaters, Music and Art
Mass Ave is Indianapolis's arts and theater district, so the best things to do here start with a curtain or a stage. Visit Indy calls it "45 Degrees from Ordinary".
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.: the big room for touring concerts and Broadway-style shows.
The Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.: a landmark venue that's also home to The Rathskeller and its biergarten.
The District Theatre, 627 Massachusetts Ave.: intimate shows right on the avenue.
IF Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair St.: smaller productions a short walk off Mass Ave.
Chatterbox Jazz Club, 435 Massachusetts Ave.: live jazz in a tiny room, the easiest last-minute plan on the street.
Living Room Theaters, The Garage at Bottleworks: movies with dinner-and-a-drink seating.
Walk between shows and you'll pass the public art: Julian Opie's digital Ann Dancing at 401 Massachusetts Ave. and the My Affair with Kurt Vonnegut mural at 345.
Mass Avenue Indianapolis Restaurants, Sorted by Occasion
The best places to eat on Mass Ave depend on the occasion, so they’re sorted here by when you’ll actually go. Hours change often, so check before you walk over.
Mass Ave Lunch Spots for a Quick Midday Break
These spots work for a midday meal without a long wait or a big commitment. .
The Garage Food Hall, 906 Carrollton Ave.: many vendors under one roof, so everyone in a group gets what they want.
Bazbeaux Pizza, 333 Massachusetts Ave.: an easy pizza lunch on the closest block to Industry.
The Garden Table, 342 Massachusetts Ave.: a fresh, lighter menu and a strong brunch on weekends.
Pick a Mexican Restaurant on Mass Ave for Tacos and Margaritas
Mass Ave has two taco spots, one built around the bar and one built for groups.
Bakersfield Tacos, Tequila & Whiskey, 344 Massachusetts Ave: tacos plus a deep tequila and whiskey list, two blocks from home.
Condado Tacos, 530 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 190: build-your-own tacos, good for groups.
Book Date Night at These Downtown Indy Restaurants on Mass Ave
For a slower, sit-down evening, start with these. .
BODHI Craft Bar + Thai Bistro, 922 Massachusetts Ave.: Visit Indy notes it was named one of USA Today's best restaurants.
FortyFive Degrees, 765 Massachusetts Ave.: a sit-down dinner pick in the 700 block.
Livery: Latin American food in an open-air dining room, plus a popular rooftop bar.
Modita, Bottleworks Hotel, 850 Massachusetts Ave.: a stylish pick at the far end of the avenue.
Find the Right Bar on Mass Ave for Your Kind of Night
Mass Ave’s bars cover everything from a jazz room that seats a few dozen to a rooftop and a biergarten, so the list below is sorted by the kind of night you’re planning.
For a big group: The Eagle Food & Beer Hall, 310 Massachusetts Ave.
For live music: Chatterbox Jazz Club, 435 Massachusetts Ave.
For a biergarten: The Rathskeller, inside the Athenaeum.
For cocktails with a view: Livery’s rooftop bar.
For a dressed-up nightcap: The Fountain Room at Bottleworks, 830 Massachusetts Ave., or Dusk’s basement bar, 409 Massachusetts Ave.
For games with your drink: Pins Mechanical Company at The Garage, 856 Carrollton Ave.
For craft beer: St. Joseph Brewery & Public House, 540 N. College Ave.
Mass Ave Shopping: Local Shops Worth a Saturday Morning
The best Mass Ave shopping is packed into the 400 block, so one stroll covers most of it.
Silver in the City, 434 Massachusetts Ave.: a fixture celebrating 25 years on the avenue.
Artisans, 429 Massachusetts Ave.: a local shop at the heart of the 400 block.
Sage Boutique, 431 Massachusetts Ave.: a boutique two doors from Artisans.
Francis + Fern and Luxury Sneaker Exchange, 421 Massachusetts Ave.: two shops under one address.
Stout's Footwear, 318 Massachusetts Ave.: shoes on the closest block to Industry.
Nap or Nothing, 525 Massachusetts Ave.: one of the 500 block's local shops.
Penn & Beech Candle Co., 820 Massachusetts Ave., and Boomerang BTQ, 845 Massachusetts Ave.: worth the walk to the Bottleworks end.
A Resident's Week on Mass Ave Indy
Locals don't do Mass Ave all at once. They spread it across the week. Here's what that looks like two blocks from home:
Tuesday: lunch at The Garage Food Hall, back at your desk in under an hour.
Wednesday: tacos and a margarita at Bakersfield after work.
Thursday: a jazz set at Chatterbox Jazz Club, decided on the walk over.
Friday: dinner at BODHI or Dusk, then a show at Old National Centre or the Athenaeum.
Saturday: a slow shop down the 400 block, then a biergarten afternoon at The Rathskeller.
Sunday: brunch at The Garden Table or Mass & Belle, then a Cultural Trail walk to work it off.
Live Two Blocks From Mass Ave Instead of Driving to It
The easiest way to use Mass Ave like a local is to live close enough to walk. Among apartments near Massachusetts Avenue Indianapolis, Industry sits at 421 N. Pennsylvania St.: two blocks to Mass Ave, six minutes to Monument Circle and right on the Cultural Trail.
For Massachusetts Ave Indianapolis apartments, Industry offers studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms across 230 residences, with a rooftop pool, 24/7 fitness and a concierge at the door. No parking hunt on a Friday night, and no rideshare home after the show.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do on Mass Ave in Indianapolis?
Catch a show at Old National Centre or the Athenaeum, hear live jazz at Chatterbox, browse the 400 block's shops and finish with dinner or drinks.
How long is Mass Ave?
About 0.86 miles, running diagonally from New York and Delaware streets to Bellefontaine Street. You can walk it end to end in roughly 20 minutes.
What are the best places to eat on Mass Ave?
It depends on the occasion: The Garage Food Hall for lunch, Bakersfield for tacos, BODHI or FortyFive Degrees for dinner, and The Garden Table for brunch.
Where can I get a quick lunch on Mass Ave?
The Garage Food Hall at 906 Carrollton Ave. is the fastest group option. Bazbeaux Pizza and The Garden Table on the 300 block also work for a midday break.
What's the best bar on Mass Ave?
It depends on your night: The Eagle for groups, Chatterbox for jazz, The Rathskeller for a biergarten, Livery for a rooftop, The Fountain Room for cocktails.
Where should I shop on Mass Ave?
Start in the 400 block, home to Silver in the City, Artisans, Sage Boutique and Francis + Fern. Then walk to the 800 block for Penn & Beech Candle Co.
Is Mass Ave walkable from downtown Indianapolis?
Yes. Mass Ave starts at New York and Delaware streets, right at the edge of downtown, and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail runs along it.
Is there parking on Mass Ave?
There's street parking, but it fills up on weekend nights. Living within walking distance, or using Pacers Bike Share and the Cultural Trail, avoids the hunt.
What is Bottleworks on Mass Ave?
Bottleworks is a hotel and dining district in a former Coca-Cola bottling plant at 850 Massachusetts Ave., home to The Garage Food Hall, Living Room Theaters and Pins Mechanical.
Are there Massachusetts Ave Indianapolis apartments within walking distance?
Yes. Industry, at 421 N. Pennsylvania St., is two blocks from Mass Ave and offers studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms with a rooftop pool and concierge.