The Yummiest Cafes in Indianapolis

Capstone Cafe - Binford

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"If you drive by Northview Church's Binford campus, then you've undoubtedly witnessed the growth of what had been a decently sized medical office building into a genuine church campus that includes the church itself, Capstone Cafe (part of the church), and Pathways Learning Academy. It's actually a rather beautiful campus that seems to have really perked up this area of Binford Boulevard. I'd been curious about Capstone Cafe ever since I saw it pop up as a church offering. It's located on the south wing of the campus and is clearly marked. The entire church has quite a few accessible parking spots as they have a defined ministry for children with disabilities. I will admit this is part of why I wanted to support Capstone - as an adult with a disability, I feel strongly about churches that work to be inclusive of those of us with disabilities. They also do have an automatic door, though it actually was open when I arrived since they were bringing items in/out. Capstone Cafe is essentially a little coffee house. The nearest comparison might be The Haverstick, though this is not really defined as a "co-working" space. That said, as I arrived a group had gathered at one table and appeared to either be working or studying. It's a really comfortable space for either one, though I didn't see plug-ins around and I'm not sure if they offer wifi. The first thing I noticed about Capstone, though, was the sense of welcome. It was immediate and it felt very genuine. Several people were present decorating for the holidays and there was a sense of hospitality everywhere I turned. I had one person turn around from what she was doing and open the door for me and I was greeted by at least 3-4 people working in the church. However, in case you're wondering, it didn't have an agenda to it. The employee working was also super friendly. She showed me both of their menus (drinks and food) and other things around like snacks. They keep things pretty simple here and they support local roasters including Indie Coffee Roasters, Tinker, and Limelight. I ordered a 16-ounce drip coffee (Tinker) for $2.75. I also opted for a grilled cheese weaving together gruyere and mild American for $4.00 (I think it might have actually been $4.25 as I'm pretty sure I paid $7 total - surprisingly, it also included a small serving of Broad Ripple Chip Co. chips). Regardless, it was a definite value to me. They offer a variety of drinks including a variety of coffee variations, teas, and hot chocolate along with soft drinks. They also have smoothies and fountain sodas. They have a breakfast and lunch menu - it's definitely on the lighter side including breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, a panini, a grilled cheese, a soup and sandwich combo, turkey chili, some baked goods, some chip varieties, and a handful of other options. Everything is reasonably priced and you can easily pick up a light lunch here for under $10 and all of their coffee options are under $5 with the highest price I saw being $4.50. There are tables around Capstone and a few tables spaced out around this particular wing of the church. Between the church, the school, and Capstone this place stays steady if not busy. I'll admit that the 5-star is possibly generous as it might build up unreasonable expectations for what is truly just a simple church-based coffeehouse type shop that keeps things simple and focuses on hospitality. The thought that kept coming back to me was that this felt like actual ministry. In some churches, this type of operation either feels like a "business," which makes me feel icky, and other times feels like nothing more than a "gotcha" opportunity. This felt like actual ministry and I really, really liked it. Admittedly, the hours are not the most convenient for me during the week. I happened to have taken a day off work and wanted a place to relax. This was perfect. However, they do also offer Saturday and even Sunday hours (I'm assuming in conjunction with their morning worship). While I expected to appreciate Capstone Cafe, it actually exceeded my expectations in both hospitality and actual quality of offerings. The employee was friendly and helpful and welcoming, the coffee was delicious, the grilled cheese hit the spot, and the overall atmosphere was warm and inviting. I may not be back as often as I'd like, but I'll definitely be back."

The Haverstick

★★★★★ 4.7 (75) • $

"I just tried The Haverstick for the first time a few weeks ago. I hadn't realized it existed before... maybe because it's nestled behind The Church at the Crossing? But a no fee co-working space with its own coffee shop inside sounded well worth a try!The space has a lot of seating options. When you walk in, there are long tables to the left. If you keep entering the main space, there are couches, plush chairs, and standard table and chairs to choose from. The lighting is kept kind of dim. It's moody, but may be a bit tough on the eyes depending on what you're working on. The long tables over by the door have better light!I didn't take a look at the private rooms, but I know they have those available to rent for a fee. You can talk to the baristas about it.I haven't tried the tea yet, but that's next on my list! What I really like about this place, though, is that they allow you to bring in whatever food or drink you want. It's really a space designed to serve the community. That's not something you see every day! I'll definitely be back to The Haverstick soon!"

Debbie's Daughters Cafe & Bakery

★★★★★ 4.9 (28)

"The first time I visited this place, I was surprised by the location--I've driven past it countless times without stopping. As soon as I walked in, one of the staff warmly greeted me, and the entrance immediately gave me the cozy feeling of walking into my best friend's parents' house over fall break. My eyes were drawn to the variety of pastries on display, and the air was filled with delicious aromas. Though I had planned on getting a breakfast sandwich, I ended up ordering a vanilla latte and boxing up a snickerdoodle cookie, oatmeal raisin cookie, and cinnamon roll. The seating only added to the cozy, homey vibe, like I was settling into a family living room. With the gloomy weather outside and my seat near the window, I almost felt like I should have been writing a mystery novel."

Capstone Cafe & Bookstore

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Saw a post on NextDoor-Carmel and decided to check it out.Situated on the sprawling campus of Northview Church at Main/Hazel Dell, Capstone is off of Main Street. Follow the signs and you'll see a parking lot with a large "Capstone Cafe" logo on some glass windows. When you enter the door, there is a small door to your right.Capstone is located in a fairly large space and seems to have taken some seating out due to COVID. I also chose to go to Capstone today because I read that they had Masala Chai (they call it Bold Masala). And YUM, it was great.Definitely better than the national coffee chain across the street. Would recommend checking out next time you're in the area."

Lake Nina Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (86) • $$

"Great fish dinners to be had here!I ordered the highly acclaimed fish log and the fried potatoes. Both were fantastic and didn't disappoint. They will actually make the fish well done which most fish places won't but I like mine Great Britain style, crunchy and with lots of flavor, this one for the bill for sure. Fried potatoes with onions were good too, showstopper though was the onion rings. Truly GB style! Crunchy, flavorful, made with fish batter and not breaded like the ones you get do often these days. The meal was BIG so maybe if you're going for lunch grab the half log or pan to take some home. Great place for truly one of a kind fish for the landlocked Ohio!"

Schoolhouse 7 Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (161) • $

"this is a great little coffee shop just east of Saxony in Fishers. It's a little red schoolhouse that has been converted into a coffee shop. They have all the popular go to's, however my favorite is chai tea latte. they also have a selection of lunch sandwiches. I love their grilled cheese and their chicken salad on croissant. There's plenty of parking outside. There's a beautiful deck to sit at. They also have a rental space for small events and they do some catering the story behind the building is very unique and they even have some testimonial from students who went to school House number seven. How great is that? be sure and bring your fur babies. They're allowed on the deck."

Mayberry Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (202) • $$

"I've wanted to eat at Mayberry cafe for some time and I finally had my chance. First we had some pretzel knots with cheese dipping sauce that were fantastic. For my meal I had the black and bleu burger with fries. The burger was great with plenty of bleu cheese crumbles and lots of bacon. The fries were really good as well. I had some cheese sauce left over from the pretzel bites that I dipped my fries in. The experience was great with good food and friendly service. I can't wait to come back."

The Attic & Coffee Mill Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (60) • $$

"Service is beyond par - a hearty welcome and a good assessment that new customer might need assistance- sales clerk knew exactly what everything had in it, sandwiches and drinks plus bags of teas and coffee beans. Nice and relaxed atmosphere that I needed in the middle of a day where I was in Madison for training. Will be back soon!"

Cafe Soleil

★★★★★ 4.5 (21) • $

"If you are near Eskenazi Health and craving tasty food, Cafe Soleil is your spot. Wait...good food IN a hospital? Say it ain't so! Dear friends, I would not lead you astray. Please read on. Located within the Fifth Third Office Building on the first floor just past the Starbucks, Cafe Soleil is hands down my place to go when needing tasty food. They also happen to house my salad bar of choice. So fresh. So tasty. Great variety. Proteins rotate every day -- so you can expect chicken, salmon, shrimp, turkey, ham, tofu, and others in some combination every day. Some of the fresh leafy ingredients are even grown on the top of the Eskenazi Outpatient Care Center (7th floor) on the Sky Farm! If you dine in, it is an all you can eat salad bonanza. If you opt to take it out, you can fill that plastic clamshell to the tippy top and jam pack it full of tasty topping goodness. Either way, it's less than 8 bucks. Yes, you read that correctly. 8 bucks. They usually even include some type of dessert on the bar. True story.Speaking to the rest of the menu, all items are very well priced and tasty. The *only* thing I have had that I did not care for was the honey crusted chicken breast (dry as all get out), but other than that -- amazing. They have baked onion rings that my co-worker craves on the daily. OH! Don't forget to ask about the $5 heart healthy meal of the day. Yes, $5 for a whole healthy meal. And a little known fact? You don't tip your server here. All servers are paid an hourly wage by Eskenazi and cannot accept tips. Just sit back and enjoy! :)"

Main Street Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (45) • $

"Veggie Hummus wrap had great flavors! Great atmosphere. Plenty of street parking. They had sea salt on the tables which was great. Only wish I could have gotten grilled mushrooms in the wrap."

F Bomb Energy

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"This week, I had one of the most delightful beverages I have ever experienced. The Honeydew Blueberry Boba Shaker is insanely delicious--a familiar flavor pairing, and yet completely fresh and new. Cute little chairs for sitting and talking with friends, old and new. A table smack in the middle, made of an old bicycle, adds to the visual appeal. Not a lot of seating, so if you want to sit and stay awhile, might be better to go at an off-peak time."

First Watch

★★★☆☆ 3 (22)

"Very good! Food is good. Lots of interesting things to choose from. Staff is friendly! It's an open design...so it can seem a little loud. But it's not bad at all."

Off The Tracks Cafe

★★★★★ 4.8 (6) • $

"This is a great little find in the little town of Dana, IN- and it would be a great restaurant in a bigger city, too. Everything is homemade- from the fried pickles to the rolls to the breading on the catfish. And don't even get me started on the huge breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. Portions are very generous- but try to save room for dessert- the pies are homemade and to die for. Please patronize this awesome place so they stay in business!"

Flour Mill Bakery & Café

★★★★★ 4.7 (18)

"Best Donuts in the area!! I always love taking a morning trip to this bakery to grab a dozen donuts every once in while. The texture and taste is always incredible and I feel like they last well into the next day. The service is always great and the price is so good!"

Red Apple Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (49)

"I was greeted and seated fairly quickly. Lisa was my server/waitress. She was friendly and paid attention to details. When she served my breakfast, she said, "something's missing." It was the hash browns. She brought that to me shortly after that. Kept coffee refilled as i dined. Good food- eggs over hard, ham slice, hash browns, sourdough toast( i can't find that often!). Choice of creamers for my coffee, and she brought a small bowl filled with them. She brought ketchup for the hash browns when she served them without having to ask. Orange marmalade was great on the sourdough toast. She also brought me an extra spoon when i asked, as the one I had I was using for marmalade, needed one for coffee. I dined on a Saturday morning after a busy work week, felt like treating myself."

Gaslight Café

★★★★☆ 4 (159) • $

"One of the best and longest running bars in Cincinnati! Very similar to Cheers where everyone knows your name. This local pub has some of the best burgers I have ever had. Gary and his family own it and the crew is sweet. Not to mention they support local community events. Great place to come have a beer and maybe some food and catch up with friends and neighbors. So blessed to have this gem in my neighborhood! Parking out back and located in the heart of Pleasant Ridge."

Courthouse Cafe

★☆☆☆☆ 1.3 (4)

"The Courthouse Cafe is for sale, but still serving meals. Inside, the cafe is cute and clean. We stopped for a late lunch and we're the only guests. Our server was pleasant and ready to take our order. She brought out waters. There was not a long wait for food. The menu is a typical Midwest menu offering tenderloins, hamburgers, BLTs, etc. But prices were unbelievably low. I ordered the fried cod dinner, which came with soup and fries. The potato soup was homemade, but had bits of flour throughout that made it taste chalky. The fish was awful - tasted mushy and strongly fishy. I couldn't eat it. My husband had the tenderloin which tasted like cardboard. We didn't complain. The cafe obviously is having some issues. I won't return, but hope someone buys the place and turns it around."

La Palma Latina

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"Best double steak and bacon burger and steak fries I've ever had. Love that there open late. Feel bad for the waitress for having 2 wait on all the loud drunks....."

Meleah's Cafe

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"Great place to eat the food is always good. And very reasonable prices. I usally get the burger and fries."

Ruth's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (562) • $$

"Had a trulywonderful experience at Ruth's Cafe this morning! The restaurant was busy, but food came out quickly and was delicious. I had the scramble du jour (red pesto, artichoke, feta, red pepper) with potatoes and a biscuit. Service and atmosphere were both wonderful -will definitely be back."

Court Street Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (98) • $

"Delicious! At first I thought the prices were just a little high. I changed my mind when I received and ate my food. It's all made from scratch, generous portion, and so good! A small cafe on the square. Loud with customer chatter, but good ambiance. I'd go back."

Quills Coffee

★★★★★ 4.5 (330) • $

"I was in town for work and needed a nice coffee shop to pop in, grab a quick pick me up, and get a bit of work done. I've been to a Quills in Louisville, so when I discovered on Yelp that there was one close to my hotel, I didn't hesitate to make my way there. I loved that the place has a ton of natural light, a great variety of seating options, the staff was friendly, my latte was delicious, and the croissant I got was perfect. They also had strong wifi, plenty of places to plug my laptop in, and let me tell you... this coffee shop is big with a ton of space which was another thing I really enjoyed about it. They definitely passed the vibe check for me and I would totally come back."

Sunrise Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (68) • $

"We came here while visiting from out of town and because we had a Groupon. Weird place to have this eatery but nonetheless it was a decent place to eat. Small menu to look at but it is fast and pretty well priced. The egg sandwich we ordered came with a meat and hash browns. They were very yummy. The pancake was huge but more like a crepe and it was meh at best. I'd def recommend the sandwich though. We even ordered one to go and it heated up nicely in a skillet. If we were In Town again. I don't think we'd go back the staff was sparse tending more to frequent flier guests and not noticing us and they give you the bill before your food even comes out so we felt rushed to eat and pay. Restrooms are shared down the hall with the business center and is kinda hard to find. Plenty of stalls though and it was clean. Place practices masks and glove wearing and sanitized between tables and social distanced tables. Alll in all it was decent but didn't leave me craving to come back."

The Upper Room Cafe

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Great coffee and pastries. Friendly staff and cute atmosphere! It is back away from town with a pond that is cute to sit and drink coffee by."

The Toast Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (62) • $

"Phenomenal service. Food was delicious. Love the strawberry rhubarb jam. Wife got the avocado toast. I got the veggie omelette. They NAILED those and the hash browns (we like them crispy) were perfect. Got a to go order of the biscuit French toast. Can't wait to try that. Alicia was so great. Forgot to take a photo of the food."

Roasted in the Village

★★★★★ 4.6 (71) • $

"What a cute cafe! It feels so cozy inside. Like a neighborhood hang out. Their drink selections are varied and include coffee and tea options. They have a few tables inside and some bar seating as well. It was packed for a Saturday mid-morning, and parking is a bit limited, especially if you visit during the Zionsville farmer's market season. Employees were friendly and outgoing."

Uptown Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (91) • $

"This place is pretty good! They get your food to you pretty quickly and it's a more no nonsense way of getting your breakfast. They make and sell their own condiments. The hash browns and bacon were good but like most other places that biscuits and gravy could use some help."

Command Coffee

★★★★☆ 4.4 (112) • $

"Coffee and hot chocolate Mann. is great and the customer service is very good as well. We also had a breakfast sandwich which was cooked perfectly."

Railroad Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (78) • $

"So if you're trying to eat healthy I'd pass. However if you don't mind indulging in crazy portions and fried deliciousness this is the place for you. The place was packed, but service was great. You can tel it's a locals spot. We ordered fried pickles for the table and they were great, they actually tasted like pickles. I got the fried chicken liver special with green beans and potatoes. I think it was around 11.00 and I only ate half, so left overs will be had. My son got the fish sandwich, my mom got the train wreck salad and the two guys got the tenderloin sandwich which was massive and thick. We heard dessert is great here but we were too full."

Gingersnaps Coffeehouse & Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (23) • $

"Quaint little coffeehouse in the back of a bookstore. The servers were pleasant and the food was excellent. We got 1/2 of the turkey pesto sandwich. My daughter got a Mediterranean salad with hers and I got the potato soup with mine. The problem was that it took 18 minutes to get our food after we ordered. There were 3 tables that had customers. We were there a little after Noon on a Monday. It is difficult to eat there during a one hour lunch break. So, it is worth the visit if you aren't on a time schedule or in a hurry."

Crossroads Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (10)

"Amazon food with friendly staff who welcome everyone cheerfully in this cozy space. Eat local - breakfast served all day but the burgers and plate specials plus desert always hit the spot. Visit now!"

Sunshine Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (86) • $

"Sunshine Cafe is a breakfast winner. Today I had the country fried steak and eggs with hash browns and biscuits. The biscuits were light and fluffy and delicious. The sausage gravy is the best. My son had bacon and eggs over easy and pancakes. Everything was hot and delicious. Out services was on it. She made sure we had everything we needed and that everything came out on time. She brought a little package of teddy grahams for my grandson to snack before the food came. As a midwestern cafe, Sunshine is at the top of the list for good food, great service in a clean diner setting."

Ruby’s Cafe & Bakery

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"Delicious! Sausage egg and cheese casserole and chicken salad sandwich were great! Our waitress was very friendly and helpful."

North End Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (47)

"I'm not 100% sure about this place. It's very cute inside. Looked nice and clean. The service was a little awkward. Nice, but awkward. The hostess seemed like she was uncomfortable seating us. The servers were very young which in itself isn't an issue. They just seemed very scared and uncomfortable. It took quite a bit of time to get our drinks, and they forgot to bring our to go boxes. They were nice though. The food was really great! The beignets were great. I had the breakfast burrito and a half order of biscuits and gravy. The burrito was very flavorful. The sauce on top really sealed the deal. The diced potatoes on the side were cooked and seasoned well. The biscuits and gravy were pretty good for a restaurant. Homemade is always better though. The WORST part didn't even happen directly to us. Our server was standing next to another worker. Possibly a manger because she was wearing a black polo. Standing at a server station, right in the middle of the restaurant, she started throwing stuff on the ground. Looked like check holders with receipts inside. Multiple of them. Then she proceeded to throw someone's payment card over her shoulder onto the floor. Right in front of everyone. That's really disrespectful, especially to do that with someone's livelihood. Not to mention basically throwing a tantrum in the middle of a restaurant. If you need to do that, go in the back out of the customers' sight. Really awful. I'll consider carry out from here, but probably never dine in again."

Tam's Sweet & Savory Café

★★★★★ 4.8 (48)

"Tam's was grandmothers homemade breakfast! It tasted like everything was made in the kitchen. The service was great and welcoming. The restaurant is not very big at all. If you have a larger party you would likely struggle. Seemed like a lot of people got breakfast to go. When I went, I sat in a room that was very small and I could very much hear the entire conversation of the table next to me. This did not bother me, but just know it is very much a mom and pop shop with pricing a little more aligned with a larger establishment."