🌟 Featured Eats: Top Local Restaurants

Discover standout local restaurants in Bloomington with handpicked features, insider highlights, and magazine-style writeups.

The Best of B-Town: Food & Drink Edition 🍕🍣☕🍩🍻

We asked, you answered — and now it’s time to celebrate the local legends, greasy spoon heroes, and caffeine-slinging champions that fuel our beloved community. Whether you’re on a quest for the crispiest crust, the fluffiest bagel, or a cocktail that makes you rethink your life choices (in the best way), these are the spots that make Bloomington taste like home.

Think we missed your favorite hole-in-the-wall, secret sushi joint, or that one place with life-changing donuts? Don’t just stew about it — nominate them! Shoot us a message, tag us, or whisper it to us dramatically across a crowded cafe. However you do it, we want to hear from you.

Without further ado, here are some of the current MVPs of munchies and mixology in the Bloomington area:

Best Pizza

Da Vinci, Rockits, Mother Bear’s, Pizza X, Aver’s, DeAngelo’s, Goodfellas Pizzeria, Trailhead Pizzeria, Bucceto’s, Hank’s Pizza, Pizza Pantry, Chicago’s, Baldy’s Pizza, Butch’s

Best Chinese

Uncle Wang’s Alley, Lucky Express, Golden China, Longfei, Judy’s Kitchen, Chow Bar, Dragon West, China Star, Peach Garden, Sunny Palace, China Wok, Panda Express

Best Bagels

BBC Bagels, Gable’s Bagels

Best Donuts

Parlor Doughnuts, Square Donuts, Cresent Donuts, Rainbow Bakery

Best Sushi

Asuka, Sakura 15, Homey Hot Pot, Japonee, Domo, Ami, Sushi Bar

Best Cocktails

C3, The Dunnkirk Library, The Elm, Village Pub

Best Baked Goods

Crumble Coffee and Bakery, Two Sticks Bakery, Blu Boy Cafe & Cakery, Wild Side, Underground Bakery, Muddy Fork Bakery, Rainbow Bakery

Best Wings

BuffaLouie’s, Fat Dan’s, Nick’s English Hut, WingsXtreme U, Mother Bear’s Pizza

Best Coffee

Hopscotch Coffee, Soma Coffee House, Verona Coffee House, Needmore Coffee Roasters, The Inkwell Bakery & Cafe, Cafe Bali

Best Beer Selection

The Crazy Horse, The Tap

Best Brunch

The Runcible Spoon

Best Sports Bar

Nick’s English Hut, Kilroy’s, Brother’s, Yogi’s Bar & Grill, Switchyard Brewing Company

Featured Restaurant Listings

Lennie’s Brewpub
Phone
812-323-2112
Lennie’s introduced gourmet pizza to Bloomington in 1989. Lennie’s set another local landmark in 1994 with the addition of the first commercial brewery in Monroe County and the first brewpub in Southern Indiana.
The Inkwell Bakery & Cafe
Phone
812-822-2925
Hive
Phone
812-287-7405
Janko’s Little Zagreb Inc
Phone
812-332-0694
Smokin Jack’s Rib Shack
Phone
812-332-7427
Call ahead for carry out or talk to Jack about our catering options. From a hog roast to a tailgate, we can fit your needs.
DeAngelo’s Italian Creole Restaurant
Phone
812-961-0008
The Elm Restaurant
Phone
812-407-4339
A gathering place for people who crave community and culinary adventures. Here, the creative spirit of Bloomington takes shape in new, delicious ways.