Mass Ave.
Indy's diagonal arts district: theaters, patios, local shops and the historic Athenaeum.
The lowdown
Mass Ave is one of the four diagonal streets in Ralston's 1821 plan, angling northeast from downtown for under a mile. It's our theater district, and it's lined with locally owned shops, bars and patios in old brick storefronts. The Athenaeum, a German clubhouse from the 1890s, is a National Historic Landmark. Homes nearby are condos and lofts above the shops, plus restored row houses and cottages on the side streets.
Our top 5
Five things we love in Mass Ave.
- German
The Rathskeller
Downstairs in the Athenaeum. Order a liter, grab a seat in the beer garden, and come back for Christkindlmarkt.
- Brunch
The Garden Table
Brunch every day, 9 to 3. Pair a fresh-pressed juice with a plate, or come Thursday to Saturday for dinner.
- Music venue
Old National Centre
Shows in the Murat Theatre and Egyptian Room. Check the calendar and walk to dinner on Mass Ave first.
- Gift shop
Silver in the City
A Mass Ave staple for 25 years. Our go-to for birthday gifts and Indy-themed finds.
- Coffee
Coat Check Coffee
Espresso and a slice of the lemon cake at the corner of Michigan Street, a block off Mass Ave.
