The dreamy Art Deco facade of the Bottleworks Hotel rises above Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis, a beacon to explore this thriving area. This boutique-ish operation earned its name as it was the site of a former Coca-Cola bottling plant, at one point the world’s largest. Lovingly restored original details, like a stunning, verdant and goldenrod-tiled lobby, help make the property a standout in Indy.
It’s easy to gather here, where it’s all about community, with billiards tables ready for a pickup game and a slew of eating and drinking options right on site. There’s plenty of seating nestled around the massive floorplan of the building, too, so there’s always somewhere to post up, beverage in hand, or get a little work done on the road.
In the rooms situated on the top two floors, contemporary comfort is the name of the game, with cozy furniture in clean lines, plush linens, and industrial touches to harken back to the building’s storied past. Modern touches like updated marble bathrooms, extra wide hallways, cherry red doors (a nod to Coca-Cola’s iconic hue), and automatic blinds will surely enhance your stay. RATIO, a global multi-disciplinary design studio with an Indianapolis hub, handled the design work for the massive overhaul, while Wisconsin-based Geronimo Hospitality owns and operates Bottleworks.
Top Takeaways
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Rating: Four-star
The vibe: Hip yet welcoming, history melds seamlessly with modernity at this restored hotspot, complete with original brass doors, a white terracotta exterior, and contemporary artwork.
Food + Drink: During the day, stop into Blue Collar Coffee for a full menu of tea and coffee, plus a compact breakfast and lunch food menu. By night, consider Sundry and Vice, an on-site bar with beers, bubbles, mocktails, and cocktails.
Amenities: on-site spa, pet-friendly, paid valet and garage parking available, complimentary high-speed wifi, nail bar in the same building, 24-hour concierge/staffed front desk
Our favorite thing about the hotel: The lobby is clearly a stunner, but we especially love the ample-sized rooms and prime location of Bottleworks.
What’s Nearby? Just across the street, pop into the 30,000 plus square foot Garage Food Hall, the city’s first, for everything from poke bowls to fish and chips to artisan ice cream. Need to detox? Try a smoothie bowl from Twenty Two Juice Bar. More interested in re-toxing? Visit the Hard Truth Distillery cocktail bar for a taste of Brown County in the city; we recommend their ever-popular Cinnamon Vodka, a socially acceptable way to satisfy any residual Fireball cravings. We also dig an independent bookstore, and the female-owned Tomorrow Books is only a two-minute jaunt from the Bottleworks Hotel.
Any Personal Neighborhood Recs? There’s plenty to do around the corner in the near Eastside enclave of Windsor Park, too. Enjoy downtown Indy’s only local bagel shop, Sidedoor Bagel, in their new location, less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Wander the Circle City Industrial Complex for creative, hands-on learning with a class at Indy Fused Glass or a chocolate-tasting experience at Sochatti. Afterward, enjoy a local sip from 8th Day Distillery, a husband-and-wife-helmed bottle shop, bar, and craft distilling operation. Or, try your hand at the uniquely Midwestern sport of Fowling, a football meets bowling mash-up, at the Fowling Warehouse.
Rooms: 139 rooms
Pricing: Rooms start at $249/night
Closest Airport: Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
