Bloomington is the fourth largest independent city in Indiana. It is home to one of the liveliest and most beautiful college campuses in the country and welcomes over 40,000 students every year. Surrounded by lakes, quarries, and miles of tree-covered rolling hills, Bloomington is a lovely city to explore and make home.
It is also home to many award-winning restaurants.
Dining
Kirkwood Avenue features some of the best restaurants in the city. 4th street is home to a wide variety of ethnic food choices, including Siam House, as pictured on the right. 3rd street features Mother Bear’s Pizza. Here are a few local favorites. Walking distance from Maxwell Hall in parentheses.
Nick's English Hut: Bloomington mainstay featuring drinks and American food. (5 minutes)
Uptown Cafe: A restaurant and cocktail bar for all tastes. (10 minutes)
Big Woods: Restaurant and bar serving locally brewed beer and traditional pub fare. (7 minutes)
FARM: A seasonally-inspired restaurant featuring southern Indiana classics. (10 mintues)
Lennie's Brewpub: Easygoing tavern serving local beer with a wide menu of eats, including gourmet pizza. (5 minutes)
Village Deli: Comfort food for breakfast and lunch. (6 minutes)
Runcible Spoon: Casual cafe with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (6 minutes)
Soma Coffeehouse and Juice Bar: Local coffee shop offering coffee, tea, and pastries. Order online also available. (7 minutes)
Samira Restaurant Upmarket eatery serving Afghan recipes including kebabs & dumplings, plus wine. (12 minutes)
Bars and Nightlife
In order to become a writer, Bukowski postulates: “stay with the beer. / beer is continuous blood. / a continuous lover.” Bloomington, of course, is here to lend its assistance. Walking distance from Maxwell Hall in parentheses.
The Root Cellar: This underground bar has a dance floor and weekly karaoke. (11 minutes)
The Bishop: Bloomington’s premiere beer bar. The drinks are cheap and the bartenders are friendly. (12 minutes)
The Cade: With a five dollar cover, this bar offers unlimited video games with drinks inside. (11 minutes)
Back Door: Our queer bar has a host of delicious drinks and the best dance floor in Bloomington. (14 minutes)
The Atlas: The Atlas has a collage of interesting objects to discuss over good cocktails. (14 minutes)
The Upstairs Pub: Indoor/Outdoor bar and gathering spot. (5 minutes)
The Bluebird: Rock club and bar featuring live music from local bands and artists. (11 minutes)
The Dunkirk Library: Cocktail bar and speak-easy located inside the Upstairs Pub. (5 minutes)