- Dining Out
Where to eat in Bloomington right now, if you’re here for the 2025 College Football National Champions or the IU campus
After a Cinderella 2025 football season, the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers are National Champions. Magic has always been around every corner at Indiana University, but the cream and crimson and coach Cignetti proved to the world that anything is possible. Diehard fans held their breath, knocked on wood, and whispered hopeful words of a championship as the season Mendoza’ed on. Now it’s time to show the rest of the college football world what Hoosiers have known forever — Bloomington is special.
Take some time to walk through the university that has captured a place on “most beautiful campus” lists over and over again, setting eyes on the Sample Gates, Rose Well House, Showalter Fountain, the Arboretum, and the Centennial Patio at the Indiana Memorial Union. The stops in this guide to the best restaurants in Bloomington will help tell the story of a day in the life of a Hoosier. Welcome to B-Town.
- Dining Out
Janko’s Little Zagreb
You can’t call yourself a Hoosier until you’ve been to Little Zagreb. You’ll find cozy seating with wood-paneled walls holding IU vintage posters and tables dressed in red tablecloths in a red brick building just around the corner from the city square. Start dinner off with the (spicy) Meatballs Bucharest or a Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail. The wine list features over 100 wines to pair with a variety of steaks from filets to porterhouses or the Little Zagreb Steakhouse burger served with rolls from local Scholar’s Inn Bakehouse. The Punjene Paprike Stuffed Pepper and King Crab Legs are also popular at this staple of Hoosier nostalgia, which has been serving Bloomington since 1973. The walls drip tradition, and the crowds know it — be sure to make reservations for game weekends.
- Book a table
- 223 W 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47404, US
- (812) 332-0694
- Visit website
Crazy Horse
Since 1981, IU alumni have known Crazy Horse as one of the landmark restaurants and bars to visit in town. Dine on the front patio or find a big booth to watch the game or visit right when you arrive. It’s open for lunch through late night. with traditional American bar fare, including comfort foods like Mark’s Cuban sandwich, Victory Salmon BLT, and Go Fish and Chips.
- Order delivery from Grubhub
- 214 W Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN, 47404, US
- (8120 336-8877
- Visit website
Yogi’s Bar & Grill
Yogi’s Bar & Grill is the best spot in town if you didn’t get a ticket for the game. Come for the classic bar food with Yogi’s crowd favorites like the Buffalo chicken wrap, the Hoosier Tenderloin, or Bloomington’s Best Tenders. TVs, cheers, shot skis, and IU decor make you feel like you’re at Memorial Stadium, only a little over a mile away.
Bluebird Nightclub
Grab a beer after the game at the Bluebird for Bloomington’s best live music. Just inside the brick facade, find booths and a low-key bar scene. You wouldn’t believe from the windowless blue door that beyond the two front bars you’d enter a standing-room-only live music venue with a full stage. After last call, step outside and head north two storefronts to visit Rockit’s Pizza that serves New York style pizza by the slice.
- 216 N Walnut St, Bloomington, IN, 47404, US
- (812) 336-3984
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The Runcible Spoon
Amidst residential houses and the Monroe County Public Library, the Runcible Spoon is the red restaurant with umbrellas on the patio that feels like your cool English professor’s house. Have a stack of fluffy banana pancakes and a chai tea latte in the bright spaces surrounded by books, house plants, and art. Though it’s a popular spot for brunch, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are also available. Go for local favorites like the biscuits and gravy or French toast.
- 412 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
- (812) 334-3997
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Nick’s English Hut
You’ve arrived at the famous Nick’s English Hut on Kirkwood Avenue. The Sample Gates are just to the east and if you listen closely you might hear the tailgate crowds convening on Woodlawn. You’ll want to arrive early before the crowd shows up. Picnic tables are outside but for the full B-Town effect, you need to step inside to the photo-laden walls and wooden booths for a beverage in the Nick’s IU glass mason jar. Keep walking and hang a left past the kitchen to the staircase for the sports haven. Find a seat at the bar or a table top; your eyes won’t stop landing on IU memorabilia. You’ll feel like you’re a part of IU sports history. Order a Nick’s Pizza for the table; the Turkey Burger from the local Burger Farms featuring house herb and spice blend; and Nick’s Stromboli with their house pizza sauce or BBQ. And don’t forget to Sink the Biz — the drinking game with the bucket and the floating shot glass was invented at Nick’s.
- 423 E Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
- (812) 332-4040
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Bloomington Bagel Company
Hand-crafted schmear heaven. Handmade bagels. Keep the line moving after you’ve ordered because the line is likely out the door. Big glass windows facing Dunn Meadow brighten your early morning trek to the tailgate or back to the airport after a big night at Memorial Stadium. Go big with the Godzilla featuring miso schmear, nori strips, and wasabi aioli or give yourself a solid base for the day with a Deli Bagelwitch. Your tailgate crew will not be disappointed if you show up with a Hoosier Huddle package of two dozen bagels, schmear, juice, coffee, and fruit, but be sure to include Asiago bagels with the artichoke Gouda schmear.
BuffaLouie’s
Wings and IU tradition are one and the same at BuffaLouie’s. Housed in the historic Gables building, this restaurant was once the Book Nook where Hoagy Carmichael worked on songs like “Stardust” on the bookstore piano. Now classic bar food like buckets of wings and build-your-own burgers fill the tables. Indulge in Louie’s Loaded Fry and toast the 2025 College Football National Champions with a beer tower or two for the table.
- Order delivery from Grubhub
- 114 S Indiana Ave, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
- (812) 333-3030
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The Tudor Room
If you booked your hotel room at the Biddle Hotel inside the Indiana Memorial Union (or even if you didn’t), you can’t leave Bloomington without visiting the iconic Tudor Room for lunch. You’ll step inside and wonder if you mistakenly entered a 15th century wedding in England with its gothic architecture, tall windows, and round banquet tables. Reservations are recommended for the buffet-style lunch on weekdays and brunch on Sundays (closed Saturdays). After dessert, walk down the hallway to find the IU Bookstore for your souvenir.
- 900 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, US
- (812) 855-1620
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Soma Coffee House and Juice Bar
Soma is your campus chill zone. If you’re in need of a quick refresher or boost before a night out, Soma has coffee, tea, and organic, freshly squeezed juice. The orange juice will revive your senses and the brown sugar cinnamon shaken latte is the football-in-the-fall hug you didn’t know you needed. Seasonal specials vary but cozy coffee house vibes do not.
- 1400 E 3rd St, Bloomington, IN, 47401, US
- (812) 333-7334
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Mother Bear’s Pizza
Near the Southeast neighborhood of dorms, the Jacobs School of Music, and other restaurants, Mother Bear’s Pizza is the casual, old-school pizza place on campus. The handmade crust with 100% spring wheat and award-winning pizza sauce make for a sweet, almost pastry-like crispy bite. Add an order of breadsticks and cheese sauce with a side salad, which features Goldfish crackers for croutons. And, don’t forget your sharpie — you’ll want to add your name to the wall.
Sushi Bar
You might drive right past this understated sushi establishment heading away from campus on 10th Street, but you’d be missing out: The casual environment and fresh sushi does not disappoint. This is the umami experience you need to cap off your visit. Rich miso soup, house salad with classic ginger dressing, and the Hollywood roll or the savory chicken teriyaki entree all fit the bill.
- 2522 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
- (812) 331-7688
- Visit website
Source: www.eater.com
