Columbia Club

A private members-only club that only opens to the public during Devour! More people should take advantage of this cool opportunity, it was basically empty on a Wednesday night but the food and experience were so amazing. For $45 they gave bread and butter, and we started with the meatballs and shrimp cocktail. The meatballs were the star of the night! So juicy and came with a crispy garlic bread and the most delicious vodka sauce. For entree we got the salmon and it was topped with this lobster sauce that was 10/10! And ended the amazing meal with the perfect Italian lemon cake. The service was great, we had the sweetest waitress and basically had the place to ourselves. And the ambiance was so cool! It felt like a super classy, old money wealthy vibe. Super cool experience that everyone should try during devour!

Omg, from the location alone, I knew I was in for a treat. Upon arrival, I was greeted and very warmly ushered to a location that was more comfortable while I waited for my party to join me. I was really impressed by the decor of the whole hotel and restaurant. It gives 1930s vibe with a country club feel to it. I felt very elite just being there. The bar area was really inviting with a speakeasy feel to it. It was amazing. The drinks were top tier, and so was the food incredible. I may or may not have gotten a little tipsy off one drink and was unable to eat my food. And it was still just as good the next day. Then, after we finished dinner, they allowed us access to explore the hotel and club. It has really great views and I hope I can eat there again outside of devour Indy because I definitely would go again. 10/10

Went for Devour and we weren't sure what to expect since we had heard mixed reviews on how the service was, however, I'm so glad we went!Everyone went above and beyond to be friendly towards us and make us feel welcomed even though we weren't members. Stepping in the door we were immediately greeted and directed a podium by the door we would be entering to be seated. We were then greeted again and shown to our seats at a table adorned with a white table cloth. The room was old world classic. We then were immediately greeted by our waitress and gave our drink order. I didn't see a Sangria on the menu, but when the waitress went to put in the drink order for my husband she found one of her coworkers was able to make me a red sangria. All of the staff knew we were there for Devour, yet they treated us as special as those who were members. I got the corn chowder which was yummy, the crab stuffed Walleye and for dessert had the Nutella donut dish they created. The donuts were light and delicate! Even the man serving us drink and water refills was great! For those of you who have only seen bad reviews, I hope you'll set those opinions aside and try for yourself as we did because you'll be pleasantly surprised.

We decided to spend the night here for our 55th anniversary. We were given a nice room overlooking Christ Church that reminded us of a New Year's Eve we spent here decades ago. The room wasn't huge but that was typical of the era when this club was built. Robes are a nice addition and the bathroom is a good size with a walk in shower. As other reviews have mentioned, don't expect a Hilton or JW. Do expect personality!Dinner was lovely. I started with crab cakes (good but not hot enough temp) followed by Lamb Loins with Dauphinoise potatoes and brown butter broccolini.. the Lamb is heavenly, the potatoes are lovely and the broccolini is also very good.RRR had the Caesar salad, good but needs more lemon for him. He also had the Dover sole, prepared table side by out outstanding wait s to add, Stephen. Very good but very buttery. His asparagus was wonderful, potatoes also good.Speaking of Stephen, he made a good experience great, worth his weight in gold.

TLDR: Solid kitchen + well preserved iconic building with beautiful architecture in the very heart of Indiana!How to eat here without membership: 1) Go to an event with some OG's (Venture Club of Indiana hosts at CC) 2) See which of your friends are local members 3) See if you or your friends' collegiate / country clubs have reciprocity 4) Hit them up and say you're interested in membership 5) They are open to public for DEVOUR INDY!Building (5/5): Everything about the Columbia Club screams old school from the moment you walk in. Everything is wood or marble and the fireplace is freaking huge. Its basically the country club clubhouse but dating back to 1888!Food: Not too shabby and prices are very reasonable! I've had both their catering in the past and their dining, both are very decent. From last night's dinner: 1) Bread Basket (3/5)-- Decent rolls & cheese crusted flatbread served warm, albeit with cold hard butter packets 2) Salad (5/5) -- Summer Berry Salad with Honey-Poppyseed Dressing, very elaborate salad with lots of berries and cute watermelon scoops!3) Calamari (5/5) -- Very crispy, well balanced with plenty of tentacles and served with white + red dipping options, decent value for a generous portion at $164) Pork Chop (NR) -- My girlfriend said the pork was well cooked, and the sauce paired well, I loved the potatoes "Berkshire Pork Chop with Blueberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce served with Dauphinoise Potatoes and Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Jam"5) Sweet Chili Glazed Salmon (4/5) -- Very nice cut of filet with beautiful skin but the center was quite dry, served over a bed of chewy barley & awesome butter drenched Broccolini6) Lava Cake (4/5) -- Can never go wrong, cake wasn't oozing but they serve it with a healthy dose of whip cream and glaze!Service (3/5): Gratuity is included Club / European style, and it was a bit stuffy but overall a great experience! Valet is $15 and the attendants are super cool, you're welcome to leave your car there while walking off your dinner!

I really enjoyed my time at the Columbia Club! I was invited by friend who is a member. It had been quite a while since I'd been. Much of it is remodeled, so I was excited to see it. They have done a nice job, and the Christmas decorations are absolutely gorgeous!We started in the new Platinum Club. It is beautiful. It overlooks the Circle, so we sat by the window and looked out over the lighted tree, the light show on the buildings, and the admirers walking and driving by. We then went downstairs for dinner. The restaurant is really pretty and decorated well. The food was fantastic! I had lamb chops which were perfect! Our server also was really great. She was knowledgeable and cheerful. It was honestly a wonderful and peaceful evening.

A few things that aren't advertised: you aren't allowed to bring in ANY food or drink from outside, including having food delivered, bringing back leftovers, etc. The restaurant that serves breakfast was closed but you are not able to bring food in for breakfast. The rooms don't have air conditioning that you can actually control the temperature. You can choose warm or cool and then the fan speed. There's no discernible reason why the fan kicks or off but it does so at random. Valet parking is $40 with in and out privileges. Valet parking was the best pet of our stay because it was convenient and they didn't have many guests so our car was just parked directly in front of the hotel. You can eat in their restaurant on site. We went in the bar and had one glass of house wine and a mixed drink and the total before tax/fees was $22. We were charged various fees including on they called an "a la carte service fee" that was 21% plus tax then charged on the service fee. It was over $30 after fees. There were two other parties sitting at the bar that were Club members and the bartender was quite friendly with. He was dismissive of us and wore his mask under his chin. We didn't return to the bar because we felt very unwelcome. 24 hour front desk service is advertised but is untrue. The ice machine is closed because of Covid restrictions so you need to go to the front desk for ice. We went to get ice and toilet paper and the person manning the door said there is not a front desk person overnight and he couldn't help us. We were unable to get ice or toilet paper. We needed toilet paper because our room wasn't serviced at all during the multiple night stay. No fresh towels, supplies, sanitation, etc. We weren't advised that there would be no service or given the hours of the front desk staff. The room itself was dirty. There were rings on the counter, dirty floors, cracked ceilings. The room faced directly into the office next door, about twelve feet apart. We had to open the window because it was so hot in the room (because no AC)and woke up to occupied offices that we could clearly see, and they could see us. Front desk staff was so rude when we checked out. She appeared to be yelling at housekeeping, stopped to take our keys, and then continued to scold staff. She didn't ask how the stay was or allow us to share any feedback. Overall, this hotel is what you'd expect from a Best Western or less. The Hilton Garden Inn is next door for cheaper with the same level of room (or nicer) and you'll get 24 hour front desk staff, actual AC, housekeeping service, and can bring in food and drinks.

The Columbia Club is a magical and special place. It is not a typical hotel but rather a stately old building built in 1924, rich with charm and character, located directly on the Monument Circle. Its cool marble floors, polished wood paneling, shiny brass fixture and history are on display the moment you walk in the front doors. Each floor is filled with original artwork -- often depicting Indianapolis and the surrounding environs. The guest rooms are clean and very comfortable. More importantly, it is an oasis among all the hustle of downtown and the challenges we face in life. I have spent time visiting the public spaces inside the building and was delighted by the spectacular views and intimate areas arranged for guests to find a bit of quiet during their stay. The staff treat members and their guests like old friends, greeting people by name and remembering preferences to make all feel at home. Many have been working at the Columbia Club for decades and are treasured familiar faces. I do not recommend staying here if your expectations are those of the Hilton. You will be disappointed like Jenni B. This place is far more than a hotel. It is a historic private club for members and their guests to comfortably use when in downtown Indianapolis. I will miss it when I go.

Oops, thought I had posted this already, but apparently not! Ate there in late Jan 2020 (pre covid closures) during Devour Downtown. I think I was under the impression that you had to be a member to go there, and I don't know if that's true all the time, but for Devour anyone could get an RSVP. When we went, it was surprising empty; we practically had the whole restaurant to ourselves. Our server was phenomenal and all the food was good. Sorry I can't remember exactly what we ate, and my pics are a little dark because the room light was low. But we had appetizers, drunks, dinner and dessert in our party of four, and everything was tasty. Our bill lit for the hubs & I came to about $150 with tip. For us, this is a less often splurge type of meal, but it was very enjoyable. #yum #ReviewsByRL

A favorite for downtown lunch meetings. Brian, Molly, Corey, and the rest of the team get it - they set the bar on client experiences. If you get a chance be sure to check out the Platinum Lounge on the 5th Floor. We host a monthly event in this space and Corey has been a fabulous bartender each month. The view of the circle from the Lounge is excellent. Outdoor patio is open during the summer. Where is the 6 star rating because this Club deserves more than 5.