Dorman Street Saloon

Love Dorman! It’s my go to bar, for a few reasons. There is always a great selection of music on the jukebox, and the bartenders are drink wizards. To call this place a true hole in the wall, would be an insult. It has that feeling, but I’d say the cocktail gurus, behind the bar, shatter the hole in the wall illusion. Another thing that should be noted is that there’s always a hard cider, on tap, for those that don’t care for beer. It’s usually something delicious, by Ace.

It’s really hard not to immediatlely fall in love with Dorman Street Saloon. With all of the bourgeois bars and restaurants opening up on Mass Ave, it’s refreshing to have a comfortable dive nearby for when you just want a simple, affordable drink with some friends. I’m all for innovation, but there’s a reason places like this are classic.
The beer and liquor selections are top-​notch for a dive, and pretty solid regardless, with a lot of craft and local choices. The scene is also one of the more eclectic I’ve encountered in Indy. Everyone is wearing something just a little outrageous, and it gives the whole place a vibe of self-​confidence and inclusion that makes Dorman Street way more accessible than most of the more recent entrants into the Indy booze scene.
My only push — I’d love to see some improvements to the food! Honestly, it doesn’t matter much, and I’ll still keep coming back regardless, but if you’re serving food at all, it’s awesome when it’s also delicious. I always drink more if I want to eat more, too.

This is probably my favorite bar in Indianapolis. There are a lot of breweries that I visit more frequently, but walking into Dorman Street always has that special end of the day feeling and I end up drinking way more than I planned on. I love this bar when it’s nearly empty on a summer afternoon and the patio is open. I love this bar when it’s packed to the gills on a frigid winter night and just walking in fogs up my glasses and gets me a little tipsy. I love this bar after work and before a long weekend and during stay-​cations. I have never had a bad time here. Sing it with me: I love this bar.
Seriously, what’s not to like about a divey little joint with a bunch of craft beer (taps and bottles)? What’s not to like about a wood floor and delicious cocktails? What’s not to like about a jukebox and pool for a quarter a game?
I always end up meeting interesting people here. The drinks are strong, the bartenders are good at what they do, and I swear there’s magic in the air. Everybody needs *that* bar, and for me that bar is Dorman Street. Never change.

So… I visited the place and had a bad situation. After the fact almost 6 months later I went in on a date and was told by the bar tender (Andy) I was no longer allowed tone served there because the owner didn’t like what I had to say on Unilocal (tammy). This is s dive pace by every definition… but to excommunicate someone because they called you out in bad service tells me that customer service is not their top priority! If you’re not local or a regular then you’re not welcomed! Steer clear!!!

A nice local bar with a great selection of beers and amazing bar food (the pizza and mac and cheese are amazing). I’ve spent several hours just reading a book at the bar drinking and I’ve also come with friends. The jukebox has great music, the outside seating is fantastic and there is even a pool table. I’m a definite fan!

If there was an option to give negative stars based on rare and very specific instances (that met a certain number of strict requirements which reflected true negative star worthiness), I would currently be applying this option. Good God. Why, people of Unilocal?!The star rating for this place is a direct example of collective stupidity/​blindness. Do you know who is NOT giving Dorman Street Saloon 4 or 5 stars? Any person of color. That’s the fuck who.
Dorman is a cesspool for basic-​white-​hipster bullshit. This place is fucking boring and it smells like urine. Could you people please stop making places like this seem even remotely decent? Please?! I was extremely mislead by the comments and when I went, I was treated horribly by all of the bartenders. One of them pretended to not understand my English (I’m from here…) because, I assume, I did not reflect his usual basic white hipster customer.
Listen, Andy (I asked for his name, of course), you are a sad little racist man. No one likes you. You are a direct reflection of that shithole of a place. When I think of Dorman, I think of a short, fat basic white man who seems like he’s trying to be a hipster, but instead falls somewhere between an off-​season juggalo and a dungeons and dragons, sweaty bald nerd.
Now, children of the Unilocal,please go there with an open mind and not a desperate thirst, and you’ll see the bullshit I’m talking about. Peace.

Divey awesomeness. What else can I say about this kick ass neighborhood bar? I could say that the juke box is bad ass. I could say that the craft beer list is pretty sweet. I could say the staff is on their game. I could definitely say that this beautiful, old, historic building is packed full of stories, experiences, and good ghostly vibes. I could also mention that John Dillinger was rumored to have drank here while stalking his next bank job just a couple blocks away.
I could go on and on, but you should just go and grab a drink here, in its divey awesomeness.

This is actually one of my favorite bars to go to in Indy. I am just completely astounded that I have never given it a review.
First of all, I LOOOOOOVE the location of it. It’s close to Mass Ave. in case you want to go somewhere else, but I like that it’s away from everything else in a quaint and cute little neighborhood.
It’s a great place to go for just chilling out, having a few drinks and gossiping with your friends about the latest news. It’s also a great place to go and get silly and make a fool of yourself attempting to play pool when you’ve had one too many gin and tonics.
They love their spices and herbs. They have some real unique drinks that they create and usually involve different ingredient, especially basil and pepper.
They also have some things to snack on, such as pizza, chips and dip and much more.
They’re also one of those bars that have that handy cigarette machine if you’ve ran out or forgotten to bring them, but as a typical cigarette machine at a bar, they are kind of pricy.
My favorite thing about this bar is that beautiful patio they have. It’s so spacious, it’s under a tree with a big privacy fence. It’s probably one of the loveliest patios to a bar that I’ve ever seen.
I love the staff there too, because they really are some down-​to-​earth people who really seem to enjoy their jobs!
The mens bathroom is kind of jank, but you’re not really going to a bar to hang out in the bathroom, so it’s not a big d to me. But I do like that the women’s bathroom on the outside is painted like the Dr. Who tardis. I think it’s super cute.
I really just believe this is a bar that everyone should experience at least once. I think it definitely has a little something for everyone.

Andy knows what he’s doing behind the bar. He’s a veritable encyclopedia regarding gin. Always an interesting and diverse crowd here, I need to make it here more often.

Despite the fact that you feel like you’re in the absolute ghetto with the outside signs that warn you that it is an active smash and grab area– the place is kind of fun. Indianapolis Monthly had it in top 25 bars 2013 which is really how I found it because I was just on google trying to find something different. Indianapolis Monthly mentioned cheap PBR but I wouldn’t say cheap– it’s $ 3.25 and others bars have it for $ 2 or less.

I love finding new places that are quiet and fun. Add a patio and I’m hooked. Dorman Street Saloon is right in the middle of a neighborhood, and very close to where I’ll be moving in a few weeks so i’ll be in more often.
At first glance this place doesn’t jump out as being great. Get close to the bar and look at their menu — now you know why it is great. I love the idea of combo meals. Beer and booze mixed together. I had the #4. Dorman isn’t afraid of flavor combinations — they make drinks with pepper simple syrup, ginger, fresh lime… lots of combinations. Dorman also has a great wine and beer list.
Their small plate snacks look pretty good but to be honest I have not ordered any food.
The patio is a great place to sit and sip on a cocktail. There is plenty of shade thanks to the umbrellas.
Now Dorman is a stop on the what feel like endless Bridesmaids handlebar tours — give them 5 minutes and they will be gone leaving you the quiet conversation with the great staff and other guests.

We just discovered this place recently via a friend. Being set back from the main streets like it is, I’m not sure we’d have ever found it on our own. It’s really a hidden little gem east of the heart of downtown.
Walking in, it seems like just your average neighborhood bar. However, pop open a bar menu and you’ll find it’s anything but. They have an extensive list of signature cocktails that fit just about any craving. I had the J Cutler the first time which is a gin drink. Just sweet enough, but not too sweet and made with their homemade pepper-​infused simple syrup. Next, I had the Judas which is made with plum vodka and features the same syrup. The nice thing, as far as signature cocktails go, is that they are very consistent. The drinks taste the same regardless of which bartender you order them from.
While we have not tried the food here, a friend with us did order the pretzels and they looked delicious. He gave them a thumbs up.
The atmosphere is a pretty standard bar. They have stools for the bar top, a few tables, and of course a pool table. They have a very nice fenced patio out back with a few tables as well. Perfect for a summer afternoon.
The people are very nice and efficient, although it can take a little while to get a drink when they’re busy, as the signature cocktails take a bit longer to make.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this place.

Dorman is a-​ok in my book. Yeah it’s hipster-​ish but, not in a douchebaggery way, everybody is cool with everybody else and the vibe is very laid back. Stopped by here after we found out Bob Seger was postponed, all I can tell you if I saw Bob at that bar, you better have my back, that’s all I’m saying.
Drinks were fantastic, cocktails are strong, martinis list extensive, pool table .25, Yay! jukebox 2 for $ 1, 10 for $ 5, boo!, what was going to be a quick drink and run turned into a 2 hr drinkfest. Bartenders competent, attentive, service good, looks like limited food, idk.
Dorman is perfect with a small crowd, with an overload of people could be a different story. Patio should be opening up with warmer weather, ahh you can see passing graffiti covered trains.

Dorman Street is one of those places I just like. There is no particular reason. The food is lack luster (actually I should say the Tombstone Pizza they serve), the beer is okay, but it just has a special something. A hearty mix of so many types of people on any given night.
It could be its off-​the-​beaten-​path location or the never-know-what-you’re-going-to-get atmosphere, but something about it is just desirable.
A great location for a large group, especially in the summer.

Favorite bar in the city. Go for a beer or cocktail-​you really can’t go wrong. Stay and play darts or pool. Be forewarned, however, their beer list isn’t always updated, and to hear music you have to put money in the jukebox.

Dorman Street is the quintessential awesome neighborhood bar. I know a few people who live within a few blocks and walk to/​from regularly. I live relatively close so I can either walk or take a 3min Lyft/​Über there. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a dive bar because it definitely doesn’t give that vibe. The clientele are mostly yuppie hipsters and the drink menu doesn’t reflect just standard Bud/​Coors/​Miller/​etc etc.
It’s always a great time at Dorman because you never know who you’re going to see, the service is amazing, and their prices are never outlandish. It may appear dilapidated, but everything else about Dorman is fresh.

I loooove this place. They have beers on draught! And they are in a neighborhood! It’s like so cool! Like OMG!

dorman street is a perfect example of how the term «dive bar» is overused. as another reviewer suggests, dorman street is definitely not a dive bar, not even close. it’s basically just a hipster hangout. wanting to visit for a long time and should have read Unilocal a little more closely. maybe it’s always been a hipster place, but i would have swore it was just a good neighborhood bar with solid bar food.
service is good, food is alright, beer is beer (as you’d expect, plenty of craft beers and your usual beers, PBR of course), but the atmosphere is just… not for me (avoiding a long diatribe here).
physical attributes of dorman are well done. come in the south door and there are a few lower eating tables. bar is on the est wall, additional seating opposite and north of the bar. very comfortable. stone bar top that lacks a rail. tiled bar face. stone box footrest. nice wood flooring with a mix of walls and décor. lower lighting, but not dark.
nothing wrong with dorman street if that’s what you like. just know.

Bartender: A+ (friendly and fast and works like a wizard behind the bar)
Cocktails: A+ (high-​quality booze, fresh-​squeezed juices, great combinations)
Beer: A+ (large, balanced selection of craft beers in cans, bottles, and on draft)
Décor: A (quirky, genuine, fun, acceptable lighting)
Jukebox: A (nothing totally crappy, that your drunk self mistakenly thinks is great)
Space: A (pool table, big and small tables, L-​shaped bar)
Clientele: B+ (no one looking for trouble, most people are cool, but every time I’ve been there’s some train wreck of a human being who’s feeling important [LOUD] and their diarrhea of the mouth is equal parts entertaining and utterly annoying)
Food: I (for incomplete) So far, the soft pretzels with cheese were perfectly baked and very tasty, and the pizza smells and looks fantastic. There’s hummus too. I have yet to try enough food to dispense a grade.
Why do people still call this a dive bar? Have you never actually BEEN to a dive bar? Dive bars do not squeeze fresh juice. Dive bars only have cans because bottles are weapons and kegs get stolen. Dive bars do not serve innovative cocktails and craft beers from around Indiana and the nation. Dorman Street Saloon is NOT a dive.

It’s quite possible that my experience would have hit 5 five stars had I been able to put my boots up on the counter and smoke uh big cigar. Nonetheless, the travel channel on the tube, surprisingly delicious cocktails and charming Cottage Home neighborhood surroundings made up for the difference.
Walking in to Dorman, you’d think Coors Light and the local VFW all rolled into one — with a tinge of leftover smoke in the air from it’s time as a smoke-​friendly establishment. Leave your assumptions at the door, because you’re going to find anything but Coors in this cozy local beer haven. Highlights of my visit: jukebox, travel channel, laid back, clever cocktails like basil and strawberry and pineapple with pepper simple syrup. Most of all, I think Dorman’s location on Cottage Home tugs at my heart with that neighborly Icanwearmypajamasinhere feel.