My favorite small businesses, Indy edition
Hey y’all! I’m so excited to share this with you, it’s much overdue!
I’m a born and bred Hoosier, and Indiana has always been home. As I’ve gotten older, I understand the importance of not just supporting and shopping small in my community but also sharing the small businesses I love. It doesn’t matter if you have five followers on social media or five million, you have influence. The best thing I can tell you, and my biggest encouragement to you during COVID-19 limbo is to go above and beyond shouting out your favorite local hangs. They need our support now more than ever!
Okay, let’s break it down.
Favorite eats
garden table. (locations downtown Indy and Broad Ripple). I’ve been eating here and obsessed over GT for years now, since the day it opened. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know the owners who also recently became photography clients of mine, and they’re the sweetest people with a real heart for Indiana. Both IU grads, they have made Indy home and have managed to bring all of us into the fold to feel like family too!
Must haves? The quiche of the day. Whatever it is (always two options, meat or veggie), get it, it’s suhhh good. Also, the hash brown balls are incredible, the Garden Toast (their twist on avocado toast) and the blueberry stacks are musts, too. Harper can’t get enough of the acai bowl!
Oaken Barrel. This is located on the southside, in Greenwood (off 65 and exit 99). Oaken Barrel has been a staple in Greenwood for as long as I can remember. It’s a brewpub with plenty of seating, indoor and out, and I love that I never have a wait. If the weather is nice, definitely sit in the beer garden/back patio!
Must haves? Obviously a flight of their brews. My favorite is the Indiana Amber, but the Razz Wheat is fun if you like a little sweetness to your beer. As far as food goes, listen up: you must have the homemade chips and bacon dip. It’s seriously to die for, and I have a hard time sharing it. Two other musts for me are the Frisco burger or the Cajun beef tips—pro tip: mix the horseradish sauce with the veggies and pour over. Gah.
Favorite girls night hangs
Union 50. Located downtown near Mass Ave, the aesthetic is so pretty, the bartenders make the best cocktails, and there’s often a band or featured local artist on stage for a fun club vibe that’s more low key. I can spend hours here, eating small plates and drowning down one of their many super unique and delicious cocktails—they take a spin on the ordinary and make magic out of it, and the cocktail menu is always changing, which is fun! It’s also super easy to make reservations through their website or opentable.com.
Must haves?The wings are a must, the kimchi meatloaf is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, and the charcuterie boards are insane. Their menu is comprised of small to large plates, and we have a habit of making it family style sharing every time I’m there. Don’t be shy! Keep ordering small plates and multiple large if you want, it’s the best way to try a bit of everything and not feel like you have to stick with one thing.
Taxman Brewery. Guys, this one wins major points because it’s only about five minutes from my house. If you know anything about where I live, you know it’s a super small town with a blinking light and one stop sign, so any signs of life downtown Bargersville is worth celebrating. The reason it also works for those not on the southside is because Taxman also expanded into Downtown Indy and the Northside in Fortville as well. Works for everyone!
Taxman’s outdoor patio is my happy place. It’s quiet, calm, and dogs are allowed. Dogs. They serve their own brews, made in house, but also a great selection of my favorite local wines, too. The food is incredible, the menu ever changing but always delicious, and it’s always been pretty easy to get a reservation last minute. When I need just a minute away from wife and mom life and work, it’s truly my favorite place to head down the street in whatever I’m wearing, pull up a chair, and just breathe.
Must have’s? The Qualified and the CPA, but I’d recommend a flight. Also, anything from Mallow Run Winery (just up the road a few miles) is so, so good. And be sure to follow them on Instagram to see their specials, always something good!
Boutiques
I’m more of an online shopper by nature, but I have a few favorite stops here in Indy when I wanna treat myself.
Dottie Couture Boutique. This one’s an easy favorite because my relationship with the owner goes back over a decade. Brooke was launching Dottie around the same time I was launching my photography business, and we really did grow together! She’s a dear friend, and knowing the heart behind the business makes it so easy to shop and support. DCB launches new arrivals daily at 10 am EST, and they’re super active on IG sharing sneak peeks the day before.
Another reason I love supporting this company in general is because they do a lot of charitable work for various organizations locally and nationally. Every time you purchase from Dottie, I can assure your purchase is making a difference beyond those four walls.
Lily and Sparrow. Super sweet owners, they have a very close knit community, and a really diverse collection of clothing and accessories, both from smaller businesses and some of my favorite big name brands like Dolce Vita, Free People, Quay, etc. If you’re going to buy those brands anyway, you may as well be supporting a small business in the process!
Nine and Roxy. This one is mostly home goods and vintage shop. And even better bonus? You can rent the shop and the outdoor patio for a birthday party, shower, girls night, etc. I rented the space last summer for Harper’s birthday, and the girls had such a great time! It’s located downtown Carmel in the Arts and Design District, and the owner is sweet as can be.
Favorite “self-care” stops
Ovabrands. Yes, y’all. If you’ve followed me any amount of time, you know that Alysse (the owner) is the one person who singlehandedly makes me feel alive and gives me a pep in muh step. Alysse and Christine (owner of Ova Beauty) do a little bit of everything! Both talented and knowledgeable aestheticians, Alysse specializes in lasheS and microblading, Christine is all things makeup and skin care. They’re a power couple, and I’m so lucky to call them friends. The icing on top? You can rent Ova out for your own events, baby showers, meetings, girls night, marketing/networking event, business launch… you name it. The space is gorgeous, easy to get to (downtown Indy right off 65), and you’ll be so well taken care of there!
Hancock Dermatology. I’ll do a whole post on Botox and fillers down the road (I want to interview my dermatologist for it!), but for now, I have to mention it here. My dermatologist is the GOAT. She’s been my friend since our first day of Freshman Orientation at Ball State, and she’s the best in Indy for a reason. I always say don’t let anyone mess with your face unless you explicitly trust them personally and professionally, and she fits the bill. If you’ve been looking for a little “balloon filling” (as I call it), lip plump, laser treatments, or anti-wrinkle juice, I can’t recommend Lori and her staff enough. And, because this is SO important, be sure that once a year you also schedule yourself for that annual skin check, too. Skin cancer ain’t no joke!
Favorite Coffee Shops
Rounding it out with one of my favorite topics, coffee!
Strange Brew. Need someplace that feels like your high school best friend’s mom’s basement? Seriously—it’s a next level comfort zone, and they make the best caramel latte. Head back to the southside in Greenwood to Strange Brew. The décor is “garage sale chic,” and trust me, it’s not a dig. it’s COZY. So cozy. And it works. I feel at home instantly, the second I walk inside. For years, this was my meeting spot for mentorship and workshops because I knew it would be the most welcoming place other than my own home.
Milktooth. Best iced coffee, HANDS DOWN. The Notorious F.I.G. The name tells you it’s a life changer. Whenever I’m at Milktooth, I can’t leave without taking two of those to-go. The wait for food? Always worth it. But picky eaters beware. They aren’t short order cooks, and the menu serves a more sophisticated palate. The food is served exactly as you see it on the ever changing farm-to-table menu. I’ve yet to have something there to eat that didn’t feel like an awakening, but if you are more of a picky eater, run into the coffee bar and grab your Notorious F.I.G. (their fresh squeezed OJ is heaven on earth, too) and a pastry to-go.
Tinker. The best long term investment! Served at many of my favorite restaurants downtown, a really cool vibe and aesthetic at the coffee shop (inside and out), but what makes it so good is that you can grab all the goodness onlinE. I recommend an oat milk latte if you’re eating in or grabbing the Breakfast Club or any of their Ethiopian coffees when you’re ordering goods for home.
Amelia’s. Ok, So This isn’t a coffee shop, but it bears mentioning because they have the best croissants in the city. The BEST. Hands down. Do not pass go. Get about four more than you think you need, and thank me later.
What do you think? DiD I miss anyone? Shoot me a DM and let me know if so! I always love finding new favorite restaurants and places to grab a great cup of coffee.
