B-Town Guidebook
Food scene
Bloomington is home to some great classic restaurants as well as a wide variety of international cuisines. Check out some great choices below!
Siam House
430 E 4th StAmazing Thai food. One of Bloomington’s most popular restaurants!
Great place to grab a beer, watch the game, and eat some delicious bar food
36 locals raden deze aan
The Tap
101 N College AveGreat place to grab a beer, watch the game, and eat some delicious bar food
Nick's English Hut
423 E Kirkwood AveClassic IU bar/restaurant with great drinks and bar food
Runcible Spoon
412 E 6th StGreat breakfast place located right near kirkwood
Mother Bear's Pizza Campus
1428 E 3rd StBest pizza in btown
This cozy restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating is a great place to try some international cuisine. Personally I like to order the potato dumplings and yellow curry😋
24 locals raden deze aan
Anyetsang's Little Tibet Restaurant
415 East 4th StreetThis cozy restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating is a great place to try some international cuisine. Personally I like to order the potato dumplings and yellow curry😋
Within walking distance of the home just off the B-line Trail. This is a great restaurant that just recently brought in a new chef offering some delicious meals!
63 locals raden deze aan
Cardinal Spirits Distillery & Restaurant
922 S Morton StWithin walking distance of the home just off the B-line Trail. This is a great restaurant that just recently brought in a new chef offering some delicious meals!
Upland Brewing Co.
Great family friendly place to grab food and beer
Sightseeing
Griffy Lake
Big lake great for hiking, kayaking, and enjoying the outdoors!
B-Line Trail
B-Line TrailWalk/bike path right through downtown Bloomington
Located on IU’s campus, lots of art pieces for art fans
43 locals raden deze aan
Eskenazi Museum of Art
1133 E 7th StLocated on IU’s campus, lots of art pieces for art fans
Brown county is about 40 minutes outside Bloomington, and is a great spot for hiking, mountain biking, and exploring the outdoors!
124 locals raden deze aan
Brown County State Park
1801 Indiana 46Brown county is about 40 minutes outside Bloomington, and is a great spot for hiking, mountain biking, and exploring the outdoors!
Switchyard Park is a nearly 58-acre park in downtown Bloomington. The park offers an enormous playground at its south-most end that includes rock walls & hills, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, tunnels, traditional & accessible swings, various climbing apparatuses, multiple slides, bench swings, and more.
Other amenities at Switchyard Park include a splash pad, a community garden, a dog park, a skatepark, a pavilion, an amphitheater, a picnic shelter, numerous fitness stations, a shaded bosque with bistro tables & chairs, a stage & performance lawn, as well as basketball, pickleball, and bocce ball courts. One mile of the B-Line Trail also runs alongside the park, and the Bloomington-favorite Food Truck Friday event gathers every week from April through October at the park as well.
Switchyard Park
Switchyard Park is a nearly 58-acre park in downtown Bloomington. The park offers an enormous playground at its south-most end that includes rock walls & hills, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, tunnels, traditional & accessible swings, various climbing apparatuses, multiple slides, bench swings, and more.
Other amenities at Switchyard Park include a splash pad, a community garden, a dog park, a skatepark, a pavilion, an amphitheater, a picnic shelter, numerous fitness stations, a shaded bosque with bistro tables & chairs, a stage & performance lawn, as well as basketball, pickleball, and bocce ball courts. One mile of the B-Line Trail also runs alongside the park, and the Bloomington-favorite Food Truck Friday event gathers every week from April through October at the park as well.
Iconic Bars
Bloomington is known for its bar scene. Here are some personal favorites that offer great times!
Looking for some live music? Check out The Bluebird for some awesome shows!
51 locals raden deze aan
The Bluebird
216 N Walnut StLooking for some live music? Check out The Bluebird for some awesome shows!
Looking for a bar with more activities than most? Check out The Vid for billiards, darts boards, and great beers!
10 locals raden deze aan
Video Saloon
105 W 7th StLooking for a bar with more activities than most? Check out The Vid for billiards, darts boards, and great beers!
Interested in a more unique bar experience? Check out this speak easy to try some awesome cocktails!
The Dunnkirk Library
430 East Kirkwood AvenueInterested in a more unique bar experience? Check out this speak easy to try some awesome cocktails!
Popular spots for grad students. Upstairs never fails for a good time with good deals and a newly added food menu.
6 locals raden deze aan
Upstairs Pub
430 E Kirkwood AvePopular spots for grad students. Upstairs never fails for a good time with good deals and a newly added food menu.
Nicks is THE spot to be if you don’t attend the big game. Try out Sink The Biz for a social drinking game!
67 locals raden deze aan
Nick's English Hut
423 E Kirkwood AveNicks is THE spot to be if you don’t attend the big game. Try out Sink The Biz for a social drinking game!
Grocery Stores
Kroger
1175 S College Mall RdWalking distance from the house, pickup any groceries you may need!
Great local co-op offering fresh produce and most of your grocery essentials. Bonus: They’ve got a great deli.
58 locals raden deze aan
Bloomingfoods Market & Deli Near West Side
316 W 6th StGreat local co-op offering fresh produce and most of your grocery essentials. Bonus: They’ve got a great deli.
Bloomington Farm Stop Collective is an everyday farmer's market and cafe owned by a cooperative of over 60 local farmers. The Farm Stop offers a diverse selection of seasonally and ecologically grown produce, meat, dairy, and other farm goods; as well as a wide range of artisan foods and crafts. Cafe items include fresh and locally-crafted baked goods, teas, and coffee.
Rose Hill Farm Stop
902 West Kirkwood AvenueBloomington Farm Stop Collective is an everyday farmer's market and cafe owned by a cooperative of over 60 local farmers. The Farm Stop offers a diverse selection of seasonally and ecologically grown produce, meat, dairy, and other farm goods; as well as a wide range of artisan foods and crafts. Cafe items include fresh and locally-crafted baked goods, teas, and coffee.
Coffee Shops
Serving the community since 1997, Soma is beloved by locals and students due to their wide range of coffee offerings and quirky, laid-back ambiance. The coffeehouse offers nearly 20 different roasts of coffee, available for purchase in-shop on a rotating basis and by bag. In addition to your standard coffee staples — drip, cold brew, latte, cappuccino, etc. — Soma's menu also includes over 10 specialty espresso beverages. Two fan-favorites are the Zombie (a light-roast coffee with your choice of sweet-ground chocolate or white chocolate, milk of your choice, and whipped cream) and the PB Cup of Joe (creamy peanut butter and dark chocolate mixed with house espresso and dairy of your choice).
Soma Coffeehouse and Juice Bar
Serving the community since 1997, Soma is beloved by locals and students due to their wide range of coffee offerings and quirky, laid-back ambiance. The coffeehouse offers nearly 20 different roasts of coffee, available for purchase in-shop on a rotating basis and by bag. In addition to your standard coffee staples — drip, cold brew, latte, cappuccino, etc. — Soma's menu also includes over 10 specialty espresso beverages. Two fan-favorites are the Zombie (a light-roast coffee with your choice of sweet-ground chocolate or white chocolate, milk of your choice, and whipped cream) and the PB Cup of Joe (creamy peanut butter and dark chocolate mixed with house espresso and dairy of your choice).
My personal favorite coffee shop in Bloomington! Within walking distance of the home, and just off the B-line trail. Stop in for a coffee and light pastries (I recommend the lavender latte☕️)
58 locals raden deze aan
Hopscotch Coffee
235 W Dodds StMy personal favorite coffee shop in Bloomington! Within walking distance of the home, and just off the B-line trail. Stop in for a coffee and light pastries (I recommend the lavender latte☕️)
Crumble Coffee & Bakery is one of Bloomington's favorite cafes, serving a scrumptious assortment of pastries, teas, and coffee beverages. Using locally-roasted blends from Quarrymen Coffee, Crumble offers its patrons drip coffee, cold brew, lattes, and classic iced & hot drinks. A few beverages that are unique to the cafe are the Mexican Mocha (espresso, milk, Ghirardelli dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne) and the Masala Latte (espresso, milk, vanilla, cardamom, and ginger).
Crumble Coffee and Bakery
Crumble Coffee & Bakery is one of Bloomington's favorite cafes, serving a scrumptious assortment of pastries, teas, and coffee beverages. Using locally-roasted blends from Quarrymen Coffee, Crumble offers its patrons drip coffee, cold brew, lattes, and classic iced & hot drinks. A few beverages that are unique to the cafe are the Mexican Mocha (espresso, milk, Ghirardelli dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne) and the Masala Latte (espresso, milk, vanilla, cardamom, and ginger).