Best of Bloomington

Michaela
Best of Bloomington

Food scene

Best cafe! Absolutely the best coffee in town, gourmet tea, vegan snacks
58 locals recommend
Hopscotch Coffee
235 W Dodds St
58 locals recommend
Best cafe! Absolutely the best coffee in town, gourmet tea, vegan snacks
Farm-to-table specialties, local and delicious, perfect for a fancier evening out
55 locals recommend
FARMbloomington
108 E Kirkwood Ave
55 locals recommend
Farm-to-table specialties, local and delicious, perfect for a fancier evening out
Best hamburgers in town, great local beer. Also have delicious salads, pastas, vegan options, and desserts.
96 locals recommend
Upland Brewing Company
4060 Profile Pkwy
96 locals recommend
Best hamburgers in town, great local beer. Also have delicious salads, pastas, vegan options, and desserts.
Famous pizza spot in town. In 1982, People Magazine selected Mother Bear’s as “one of America’s top nine pizzas”. The students and staff of IU have voted Mother Bear’s best pizza in Bloomington for ten straight years. It has twice earned Final Four status at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas and has been named “Best Pizza in Indiana” by USA Today.
49 locals recommend
Mother Bear's Pizza Campus
1428 E 3rd St
49 locals recommend
Famous pizza spot in town. In 1982, People Magazine selected Mother Bear’s as “one of America’s top nine pizzas”. The students and staff of IU have voted Mother Bear’s best pizza in Bloomington for ten straight years. It has twice earned Final Four status at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas and has been named “Best Pizza in Indiana” by USA Today.
East 4th Street features an entire street of global restaurants - Asian, Turkish, Thai, Korean, and more.
6 locals recommend
East 4th Street
East 4th Street
6 locals recommend
East 4th Street features an entire street of global restaurants - Asian, Turkish, Thai, Korean, and more.
Local distillery with delicious specialties cocktails and full menu. Cardinal Spirits is Bloomington's first Indiana Craft Distillery, offering distillery tours, craft cocktails, and craft spirits from their headquarters on the B-Line Trail.
63 locals recommend
Cardinal Spirits Distillery & Restaurant
922 S Morton St
63 locals recommend
Local distillery with delicious specialties cocktails and full menu. Cardinal Spirits is Bloomington's first Indiana Craft Distillery, offering distillery tours, craft cocktails, and craft spirits from their headquarters on the B-Line Trail.
Absolute best breakfast/brunch in Bloomington. Go early on weekends, there can be a long wait after 10am!
61 locals recommend
Runcible Spoon
412 E 6th St
61 locals recommend
Absolute best breakfast/brunch in Bloomington. Go early on weekends, there can be a long wait after 10am!

Sightseeing

Local wine-tasting in a beautiful setting. Great for picnics, you can bring your own food.
82 locals recommend
Oliver Winery
200 E Winery Rd
82 locals recommend
Local wine-tasting in a beautiful setting. Great for picnics, you can bring your own food.
Beautiful place nearby to Bloomington, great for hiking and picnics
82 locals recommend
Griffy Lake
82 locals recommend
Beautiful place nearby to Bloomington, great for hiking and picnics
These iconic gates are the entryway to Indiana University, and they are a favorite spot for travelers to take a photo or selfie while in Bloomington
29 locals recommend
Sample Gates
29 locals recommend
These iconic gates are the entryway to Indiana University, and they are a favorite spot for travelers to take a photo or selfie while in Bloomington
The heartbeat of Bloomington, Indiana University (est. 1820) is a beautiful place to stroll in all seasons. Admire the historic buildings and wander through the halls!
70 locals recommend
Indiana University Bloomington
107 S Indiana Ave
70 locals recommend
The heartbeat of Bloomington, Indiana University (est. 1820) is a beautiful place to stroll in all seasons. Admire the historic buildings and wander through the halls!
Gorgeous state park for hiking. (Small entry fee) After your hike, continue on to nearby Nashville, Indiana and stroll through the quaint downtown, exploring the many shops and cafes.
124 locals recommend
Brown County State Park
1801 Indiana 46
124 locals recommend
Gorgeous state park for hiking. (Small entry fee) After your hike, continue on to nearby Nashville, Indiana and stroll through the quaint downtown, exploring the many shops and cafes.
Family-friendly park, great for walking and jogging. Two playgrounds and two sheltered picnic areas that are free for the public to use.
17 locals recommend
Bryan Park playground
17 locals recommend
Family-friendly park, great for walking and jogging. Two playgrounds and two sheltered picnic areas that are free for the public to use.
Seven galleries and a café and gift shop.
43 locals recommend
Eskenazi Museum of Art
1133 E 7th St
43 locals recommend
Seven galleries and a café and gift shop.
Something a little different! Located 45 minutes from Bloomington by car, this 2,307 feet long and 157 feet tall steel-girded railroad trestle is one the longest of this type of bridge in the world still in use today.
Tulip Trestle
Something a little different! Located 45 minutes from Bloomington by car, this 2,307 feet long and 157 feet tall steel-girded railroad trestle is one the longest of this type of bridge in the world still in use today.
Located 1 hour 20 minutes from Bloomington (you'll need a car) but this hotel was once called the “Eighth Wonder of the World," and if you visit you'll see why!
37 locals recommend
West Baden Springs Hotel
8538 W Baden Ave
37 locals recommend
Located 1 hour 20 minutes from Bloomington (you'll need a car) but this hotel was once called the “Eighth Wonder of the World," and if you visit you'll see why!
Check online for the latest events and concerts. The Buskirk-Chumley Theater, formerly the Indiana Theater, is a historic theater in Bloomington, Indiana. Originally built for vaudeville in 1922, it was also used for silent films and became a movie theater. More recently it was renovated for use as a performing arts venue.
36 locals recommend
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
114 E Kirkwood Ave
36 locals recommend
Check online for the latest events and concerts. The Buskirk-Chumley Theater, formerly the Indiana Theater, is a historic theater in Bloomington, Indiana. Originally built for vaudeville in 1922, it was also used for silent films and became a movie theater. More recently it was renovated for use as a performing arts venue.
The Bluebird is a historic music venue and bar hosting everything from national music artists, cover bands, emerging acts, and karaoke nights.
51 locals recommend
The Bluebird
216 N Walnut St
51 locals recommend
The Bluebird is a historic music venue and bar hosting everything from national music artists, cover bands, emerging acts, and karaoke nights.

Shop Local

Morgenstern's Bookstore & Café
849 S Auto Mall Rd

City/town information

Check out Bloomington's official Things To Do website, which is full of other wonderful ideas: https://www.visitbloomington.com/things-to-do/
28 locals recommend
Bloomington
28 locals recommend
Check out Bloomington's official Things To Do website, which is full of other wonderful ideas: https://www.visitbloomington.com/things-to-do/