Indy Neighborhoods – Eat, Sip, Repeat: An Afternoon in Fountain Square
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One of my favorite things about living near Indianapolis is all the vibrant neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, and I feel lucky to be able to hop in the car, drive a short distance, and feel like I’ve had a genuine getaway. Enjoying an afternoon in Fountain Square in Indianapolis is no exception.
Fountain Square is a quirky, hip neighborhood on the Southeast side of Indianapolis full of terrific food, fun breweries, distilleries, bars, and unique local shops. I’ve spent many fun afternoons exploring the area, and every time I discover something new.
On our last visit, we concentrated on food and drinks – checking out some of the local spots we hadn’t visited before. Copy our afternoon for a guaranteed good time!
Stop 1: Futuro for Pizza
I have been to Futuro before, but the rest of my group had not, so I was excited to introduce them to this delicious pizza joint. Most of my friends have enjoyed Chicago deep-dish pizza as well as New York-style pizza but weren’t as familiar with Detroit-style pizza. Futuro is the ideal spot for trying Detroit-style pizza (outside of Detroit, of course)!
Located on the edge of Fountain Square, at first, you might think Futuro is just a to-go spot as you order your pizza at the counter and grab your soda from a cooler, but if you venture upstairs, you’ll find a fairly large room with plenty of spots to sit. If the weather is nice, there are also several picnic tables outside.
Now, the pizza—this pizza is GOOD. The crust is a nice blend of traditional and deep-dish with a wonderful flavor. The pizza is loaded with a sweet sauce and plenty of toppings. Add a few of their decadent breadsticks (look at the size of them!), and you’ve got a filling and tasty lunch.
Since you’ll indulge in a few beverages for the rest of the afternoon, eat up – you’ll want a full stomach for your next few stops!
Stop 2: Four Fingers Distillery
Four Fingers Distillery in Westfield is one of my favorite spots for a drink after walking the dogs at nearby MacGregor Park, so I knew I wanted to check out the Four Fingers Fountain Square location on this outing. It did not disappoint.
The night before had been a Tiki party, so in addition to their stellar lineup of regular and seasonal drinks, they had a few tiki-inspired drinks still on the menu. We each selected a different cocktail (this way we could try a few), and then grabbed a table.
Usually, I bring along a deck of cards or dice, but I had forgotten them on this outing (and since I hadn’t driven, they weren’t in the car), so instead, we decided to use the distilleries game selection and had a fun Connect Four tournament!
The atmosphere at Four Fingers is comfortable, and there is a wide variety of seating options, some of which offer views of the equipment used to produce their liquor. They don’t have their own food menu, but you can order a Greek’s pizza, which is a local favorite. You can also buy bottles to go—I purchased a bottle of Rhubarb liquor, which I use in many of the drinks I make at home.
Four Fingers Distillery, 630 Virginia Avenue
Stop 3: Hotel Tango
A short walk from Four Fingers is another local distillery, Hotel Tango. I love Hotel Tango for its delicious and creative drinks, as well as its fun, funky atmosphere. They are definitely a local favorite and often pair with local companies to provide special drinks – for example, in the fall, they had fun drinks at the Indianapolis Zoo for ZooBoo, and I’ve seen specialty drinks from them at various Indianapolis Children’s Museum adult events.
If you want to test out a few of their liquors, you can do a flight – and because we love their limoncello and orangecello so much, this was one thing we ordered.
Insider tip: Hotel Tango’s orangecello makes for an excellent Cosmo or Margarita – if you can get a bottle, give it a try!
Still full from Futuro’s, we didn’t order food, but Hotel Tango does have a nice menu with typical bar food and snacks. We sat near the distillery’s resident cat’s space so we could visit with him while enjoying our drinks – he gets a lot of attention and is super friendly.
This was another visit where a bottle came home with us – this time, it was their locally famous ‘Smallow Whiskey. I don’t like most whiskeys, but this one is an exception – it’s perfect after a day of skiing or mixed in with a bit of hot chocolate.
Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery, 702 Virginia Avenue
Stop 4: Chilly Water Brewing
Just across the street from Hotel Tango is Chilly Water Brewing. It was a new brewery to me, and I really enjoyed my visit. The decor is a bit industrial but fun – think lots of metal, a bicycle wheel lighting fixture, and plenty of murals.
As this was our third stop of the afternoon, we opted to try a few small pours of some of their beers to give them a taste. My personal favorite was the Santeria – it was light and refreshing.
We did order some food, and it was delicious! I would definitely consider it as a place for not just great beer but also a meal-time option. We tried the Fire on the Mountain and the pickle chips – both perfect snacks!
Chilly Water Brewing, 719 Virginia Avenue
Exploring Fountain Square In-Between Stops
One of my favorite things about spending an afternoon in Fountain Square is all the fun, unique thrift, and vintage shops. There seems to be more in that area than in any other neighborhood in the city.
We almost always stop in at Square Cat Vinyl to browse the records and often pick up a treasure or two at Rooftop Fruit. Need a great restaurant? Some of the best restaurants in Indy are located in Fountain Square. Or, if you just need a good cup of coffee after an afternoon of sampling spirits, check out Bovaconti – they are usually open until 7!
Tips for Planning Your Afternoon
I’ve never had a parking issue when we visited Fountain Square, although most of it is street parking with meters. Hotel Tango does have a small lot, so if you plan on visiting them, you might get lucky there.
Of course, if you don’t have a designated driver with you and want to check out all three of my suggested stops, plan on using an Uber or Lyft to get to Fountain Square and then back to your home. Safety first!
Everything is pretty close to each other, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on the weather so you can decide if you need a coat, boots, etc. – we can get quite a bit of snow in Indiana during the winter.
We like to start our afternoons of exploring around 11 or 12, which gives us plenty of time to visit a few places, relax, play some games, have lunch (and/or snacks), and still do some shopping. It makes for a fun, leisurely weekend afternoon!
FAQs: Food & Drinks in Fountain Square
What side of town is Fountain Square?
Fountain Square is a little bit south of downtown Indianapolis.
How old is Fountain Square?
Fountain Square is the oldest commercial historic district in Indianapolis – stores have been there since the 1870s.
How many businesses are in Fountain Square?
Over 60!
What is the population of Fountain Square?
There are still some locals in the area – about 9K.
Map of Afternoon Adventure in Fountain Square
Conclusion: Enjoy a Fun Afternoon in Fountain Square
As you can see, if you’re looking for an easy and fun way to spend a weekend afternoon (or as part of a longer weekend getaway), Fountain Square delivers. With its mix of delicious food, creative cocktails, local beer, and quirky shops, it’s the kind of place where you can relax, try something new, and enjoy good company.
Whether you’re sampling Detroit-style pizza, sipping small-batch spirits, or playing a spontaneous round of Connect Four, you’ll easily create a memorable day. So grab your friends (or family), plan a few stops, and head to Fountain Square—in Indianapolis, you’re just a short drive away from your next adventure.
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