Like much of the Midwest, the weather in Indianapolis can be harsh, and finding things to do can be a little bit more difficult, but if you do Indianapolis right, this city really can be a gem to pull a consulting gig. This guide will highlight some of the places to stay and things to see during your time in Indy.
Hotels
Let’s start by talking about the hotel situation. I’ll admit, the pickings can be a bit slim here, and be careful to book early when possible as the slim pickings fill up quick. In fact, on one particular occasion, I was headed into town for a meeting only to find out that 4H was in town, which meant the closest hotel room was 45 minutes away. This is just one example as to why you’ll want to plan your trips versus showing up and flying by the seat of your pants.
JW Marriott Indianapolis (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/indjw-jw-marriott-indianapolis/)
Just short of being listed as the official consultant hotel of Indianapolis, the JW Marriott Indianapolis functions as the “unofficial” consultant hotel as virtually every consultant from a big firm or company stays here. The hotel is nice, as one would expect from a JW Marriott. The gym is the best hotel gym in town by a fairly wide margin and the restaurants are fairly average. The only issue with the hotel is that it sits on the edge of town and can represent a bit of a walk to a lot of post-work activities. The hotel isn’t far enough away from things however that it functions as much of deterrent however.
There really isn’t much that is particularly special about this hotel other than it is competitively nicer than most other places in the area. The parking structure can be a little interesting as multiple hotel chains actually share the underground structure. Long story short, you’re most likely going to end up staying here if possible, so be careful what you talk about in public places, you’ll be surrounded by competitors.
Conrad Indianapolis (https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/indcici-conrad-indianapolis/)
The Conrad hotel is the nicest Hilton property in the area. The hotel has an old school feel to it and is certainly well-worn with an updated modern interior (though I admit it’s been several years since I’ve been there as I’m writing this). The hotel is attached to a Capital Grille which can serve as a nice treat, though a bit on the expensive side. The gym is nice but a bit lacking in terms of equipment as one can expect staying in most Hilton properties.
The hotel itself is situated right in the thick of downtown and even features being connected to the Indianapolis skyway system, so there are a large number of things to checkout within a short walking distance while here. Though this hotel is not the unofficial consultant hotel of Indianapolis since it is Hilton and not Marriott, I still strongly recommend it. For me personally, this is my preferred hotel while visiting the area.
Marriott Indianapolis Downtown (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/indcc-indianapolis-marriott-downtown/)
A short distance from the JW Marriott and very near the Indiana Convention center is the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Again, there is nothing remarkable here, it is a Marriott and I’d be remiss if I said there was anything to expect outside of the basics of staying in any Marriott. Generally speaking, Marriott’s tend to be a little bit more uniform in their relative quality versus say a Hilton hotel. There isn’t much else to say here other than if you’re a loyal Marriott rewards traveler, this is probably your number 2 choice. Similarly, if you’re a Hilton traveler, and you didn’t get into the Conrad or JW and want to stay somewhere nice, this is your number three choice.
Everything Else…
Rather than write reviews that would point out reasonable expectations based on the brand of the other hotels I’d list here, I’ll spare any readers the monotony and simply provide my progression of hotels when things are booked up. I’ll acknowledge that Indy is not a great town for Hilton properties, the Embassy Suites and Hilton Garden Inn which are located squarely in downtown are livable, but certainly not something I would target for staying at other than to get some Hilton rewards. Additionally, the city may be great or may be terrible for boutique hotels, but to be honest, I never stayed in any of them, so I don’t want to mislead anyone, stay in them at your own risk.
- Hyatt Regency
- Embassy Suites (remember I’m working on Hilton points)
- Hilton Garden Inn (see above)
- Omni Severin
- Hyatt House / Hyatt Place
- Crowne Plaza
- Fairfield Inn
Places to Eat
I was pleasantly surprised to see Indianapolis really shine in the arena of finding good places to eat. There is a lot of history and a local delights in Indy. Here’s a list of a few places I’ve discovered.
St. Elmo Steakhouse Absolutely the steak house of choice in Indianapolis. This is a landmark in the city featuring a fairly typical steakhouse menu done to perfection. The service is great, and the steak house is local so there won’t be any talk of how good the chain is in some other city, I hate that, Capital Grille Orlando though, just saying. I would note that the Bourbon Peppercorn Sauce with St Elmo Private Selection Woodford Reserve is a memorable treat and if you have the confidence to order a steak that isn’t raw, and can bare the person in your group that will ultimately accuse of ruining the steak, the Diane preparation at St. Elmo Steak House is top-tier for any steak house in the US.
Also, if you’re the person that starts talking trash any time someone orders a steak that is anything above medium rare, please rethink you life and don’t be that person. If for no other reason it’s unoriginal.
Harry & Izzy’s Here is the thing about Harry & Izzy’s, it has the exact same menu as St Elmo Steakhouse, it even shares the same kitchen. What’s the difference? Harry & Izzy’s is a little bit more laid back and casaul. So depending on your mood, your fashion, or your who you’re with, this might be the steakhouse of choice for you. Please note, there is a Harry & Izzy’s in the airport by the United flight gates, it’s good, but it isn’t the same experience, I’d strongly recommend trying the downtown version if you wish to tell folks you’ve been to a Harry & Izzy’s.
The Rathskeller Restaurant This is an iconic Indianapolis location where you can really feel the history. Located in Das Deutsche Haus, which is a national historic landmark, the Rathskeller Restaurant has a backdrop that is over 100 years old. The unique nature of the architecture and building itself is enough to warrant a recommendation. Add into that quite literally the most spicy mustard I’ve ever experienced in all my travels you’ve got a the recipe for a memorable dinner. The food is traditional German cuisine mostly reminicent of my time in Munich/Bavaria. Food is served in the dining room, Kellerbar, or Biergarten and is solid through and through. Though I’ll admit German cuisine does not normally top my list.
For added experience watch the Ghost Hunters episode which took place at the Rathskeller. This can add a little extra fun or fright to the experience.
Small Batch Soups by Soupremacy Anyone who spends enough time with me will learn that I love soup. So it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that while I was exploring Indy, I ended up at this soup restaurant. What was a surprise was enjoying my bowl of soup looking at a picture of 2Pac doing exactly the same in the exact same seat where I was sitting. This is no ordinary soup restaurant, this is another Indianapolis landmark featuring delicious bowls of soup a few feet away from the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, which in it of it self is a must see for any Indianapolis traveler.
The food, which features breakfast, salads, sweets and panini’s in addition to their lineup of soup is worthy of the landmark status. I strongly recommend the Chicken Velvet which is apparently an Indy classic done right at this spot.