MIDTOWN GUIDE 2026
CONTENTS TABLE OF
2 4 6 1 3 5 7 2 4 6
1 3 5 7
WELCOME TO MIDTOWN
Learn more about Midtown and how it relates to you as a Butler student.
DAWGS GOTTA EAT
From morning coffee to dessertsee what all the area has to offer.
THE SHOP STOP
Shopping local is always in style! Take a look at some of the amazing local boutiques, thrifts, and more.
THE MUSE-BOARD
Midtown is full of incredible opportunities to support the arts. Find out more about the music, art, and culture scene.
THE GREEN SCENE
Take a hike! No, literally...
With the trails, paths, and parks in Midtown, you’re sure to find your new favorite route!
BE AN INDY INSIDER
Check out these local websites to get even more connected to Indy.
ON THE GO
Learn more about how to use public transportation to get around Midtown.
11WELCOME TO WELCOME TO MIDTOWN MIDTOWN
The midtown region of Indianapolis is a 12-mile square area located between White River & Fall Creek that serves as a gateway to both the north side & downtown. It is home to nearly 50,000 residents and 20 historic neighborhoods, like Meridian-Kessler, Historic Watson Park, and Butler-Tarkington.
Midtown is more than just a map - it’s a community. And Butler is right in the heart of it! Whether you’re a first-year looking for your new go-to brunch spot, or a senior soaking in your last memories at your favorite places, there’s something in Midtown for every Bulldog.
Midtown Indy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to keep Midtown moving and thriving. Through projects and programs, they bring neighbors, businesses, and cultural organizations together to encourage collaboration, connection, and belonging. You can learn more about Midtown Indy and how to get involved at midtownindy.org
DID YOU KNOW?
Pacers Bikeshare has stations all around Midtown to connect you to downtown Indianapolis, all while making transportation easier and more accessible.
We respectfully acknowledge this land is the traditional territory of the Myaamia, Kiikaapoi, Kaskaskia Indigenous nations.
DAWGS GOTTA DAWGS GOTTA EAT EAT COFFEE & TEA
BLUE MIND COFFEE | 646 E 38th St
GOLD LEAF SAVORY & SWEET | 1901 E 46th St, Ste 1
HUBBARD & CRAVENS | 4930 N Pennsylvania St
JAVA HOUSE | 965 E 64th St
MAPLE LEAF CAFE | 109 E 34th St
MONON COFFEE COMPANY | 920 E Westfield Blvd
TEA’S ME CAFE | 3967 N Illinois St
CONVENIENCE & GROCERIES
BUTLER CONVENIENCE STORE | 4156 Boulevard Pl
FRESH THYME | 6301 N College Ave #101
SAFEWAY | 5602 N Illinois St
THE FRESH MARKET | 5415 N College Ave
CAFE PATACHOU | 4901 N Pennsylvania St
CANAL BISTRO | 6349 Guildford Ave
CHOLITA TAQUERIA | 1001 Broad Ripple Ave
FAT DAN’S DELI | 5410 N College Ave
HOAGIES & HOPS | 4155 Boulevard Pl
ILLINOIS ST. FOOD EMPORIUM | 5550 N Illinois St
SOCIAL CANTINA | 4573 N College Ave
SOUTHPAW SOUL KITCHEN | 3351 Central Ave
THE BULLDOG | 5380 N College Ave
22 RESTAURANTS TREATS & DESSERTS
BRICS | 901 E 64th St
CANAL CREAMERY | 6349 Guildford Ave
GRAETER’S ICE CREAM | 5560 N Illinois St
LICK ICE CREAM | 1101 E 52nd St
NICEY TREAT | 833 E Westfield Blvd
SMALLCAKES CUPCAKERY | 930 Broad Ripple Ave
THE THE SHOP SHOP STOP STOP 33 FLORISTS &
BOUTIQUES & VINTAGE SHOPS
BE THE BOUTIQUE | 5607 N Illinois St
Trendy apparel & accessories
BROAD RIPPLE VINTAGE | 824 E 64th St
Curated vintage clothes & unique finds
THE LOCAL RADISH | 705 E 52nd St
Chic gifts, home goods, and handmade items
NAPTOWN THRIFT | 2184 E 54th St
Affordable thrift store (Butler alum owner!)
PITAYA | 842 Broad Ripple Ave
Boutique with eclectic, colorful fashion
BOOKS & SPECIALTY
COMIC CARNIVAL | 7235 N Keystone Ave, Suite E
Comics, graphic novels, & pop culture collectibles
GOLDEN HOUR BOOKS | 5208 N College Ave
Independent bookstore (Butler alum co-owner!)
GOOD EARTH NATURAL FOOD CO. | 6350 Guildford Ave
Natural & organic foods, supplements, beauty products, & apparel
TOY PIT | 3827 N College Ave
Indianapolis’ largest & longest established toy store
BLACK CIRCLE
2201 E 46th St, Suite #140
A small live music venue & micro-brewery
INDY CD & VINYL
806 Broad Ripple Ave
Local favorite for new & used CD’s & vinyls
LUNA MUSIC
5202 N College Ave
A 29-year-old full-service vinyl, LP, CD, and Cassette shop
U R S T I C
THE JAZZ KITCHEN (21+)
5377 N College Ave
Renowned jazz club offering live music & southern-inspired cuisine
THE VOGUE THEATRE (21+)
6259 N College Ave
A 45+ year old movie-theater turned live music venue
TURNTABLE (18+)
6281 N College Ave
Live music venue & vinyl listening room
CREATIVE ART STUDIO
6511 Ferguson St
An all-ages hands-on art studio that offers specialized classes, camps, workshops, special events, art parties, and more
INDY ART CENTER
820 E 67th St
A 12-acre art center that features classes, exhibits, community outreach, and 9.5 acres of interactive sculptures
KICASSO SNEAKER ART BAR
6416 Ferguson St
Unique studio offering custom sneaker painting classes and private parties M
44 THE THE MUSE-BOARD MUSE-BOARD
CROWN HILL CEMETERY
700 W 38th St
A 555-acre cemetery and Indy’s oldest urban green space, known for its historic monuments, diverse trees, and scenic walking and biking paths
NEWFIELDS
4000 N Michigan Rd
A 152-acre cultural campus featuring the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) galleries, gardens, historic homes, performance spaces, a nature preserve, and sculpture park with free student memberships available
THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS
3000 N Meridian St
The world’s largest children’s museum (30 acres) featuring indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits
THIRD THURSDAYS
A community event in Broad Ripple Village on the third Thursday of every month running March through October featuring music, art classes, and pop-up showcases from local creatives
5 5 GREEN SCENE THE GREEN SCENE THE
CENTRAL CANAL TOWPATH TRAIL
Your connection to nature, groceries, & entertainment
A 7.7 mile trail along the historic Central Canal connecting Broad Ripple to downtown Indianapolis. Destinations along the trail include the Indy Art Center, the International School of Indiana, Newfields, Butler University, etc.
FALL CREEK TRAIL
Your connection to the east & west
A 6.9 mile trail from Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park to the Central Canal Towpath Trail.
MONON TRAIL
Your connection to downtown, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Broad Ripple, & Indy’s north side
Running from 10th St to 96th St in Indianapolis before continuing into Hamilton County, it is one of the most popular trails in the state. The Monon Trail connects to the Central Canal Towpath Trail & the Fall Creek Trail, and also leads into the White River Wapahani Trail.
TARKINGTON PARK
45 W 40th St
A neighborhood park featuring tennis and basketball courts, a multi-use sports field, a performance shelter, and the Tea’s Me Community Cafe.
With the Butler University Pass, you get unlimited FREE 30-minute bike trips through the Pacers Bikeshare network. Scan the QR code, sign up with your Butler email, and start riding! Anyone with a Marion County address is eligible for an IndyRides Free pass.
Visitors, like friends and family, can visit pacersbikeshare.org to purchase daily passes.
GO GO THE THE INDYGO
RIDING FROM BUTLER
Routes #19 & #28 serve the Butler campus directly:
• The circle between Fairview House & Clowes Hall
• The bus pull-off south of the HRC
• 49th & Boulevard Place by Apartment Village Route #34:
• Michigan Rd (by South Campus)
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT Lines) in proximity to Butler:
• Red Line: College Ave
• Purple Line: 38th St (east & west, turns down Meridian St)
*PRO TIP: Use Google Maps & click the transit option! Download the MyKey app for fare purchase (Apple) (Google)
