Shelby Street Tavern Bars & Clubs in Indianapolis – GayOut Guide
Gay Bars & Clubs LGBTQ+ Friendly

Shelby Street Tavern

Google (284) 4.7
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What reviewers say

Visitors frequently praise the Shelby Street Tavern as a cool, friendly neighborhood dive bar with a welcoming atmosphere, especially for queer patrons, and highlight great karaoke and trivia nights. However, some reviewers found the food to be inconsistent, with one specific complaint about the chicken and waffles.

94
/ 100
GayOut Score
G4.7
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Address
2849 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203, USA
📞
Phone
(317) 875-1932
🌐
Website
shelbystreettavernindy.com

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About this place Shelby Street Tavern

Shelby Street Tavern, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a welcoming establishment that embraces inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. While not exclusively a gay venue, it is known for providing a friendly and open environment where everyone can feel comfortable. Visitors to Shelby Street Tavern can expect a relaxed and approachable atmosphere. This venue is a great option for those seeking a safe and enjoyable space to socialize in Indianapolis. Whether you're a local or visiting from out of town, you'll find a welcoming community here. The tavern offers a straightforward experience, focusing on providing a pleasant environment for its patrons. It's a place to unwind, connect, and feel at home. Practical information for your visit: Shelby Street Tavern is situated at 2849 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203, USA. For more details on hours, events, or specific offerings, you can visit their official website at http://shelbystreettavernindy.com/. This spot is a valuable addition to Indianapolis's diverse hospitality scene, offering a friendly face to the LGBTQ+ traveler.

Features

Gay-friendly (straight venue) Gay-friendly (straight venue) Pub

Insider Tips

Community Reviews

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Google Reviews

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4.7
284 reviews

Based on 284 Google reviews.

S L
S L Jul 2026

Local pub 🍺

Heather Zimmerman
Heather Zimmerman Jul 2026
C G Smith
C G Smith Jun 2026

EDIT: The organization has rightfully asked me to clarify that I am not a member, voting or otherwise, past or present, of CCL, nor have I pursued membership or been interested in doing so. I’ve helped a little bit with a few of their events, but I’m just some concerned queer who got livid when he heard about this, and I thought that implying I’m with a group would make my words carry more weight. Stupid, and I make exactly one apology to y’all: for lying about my affiliation, I’m sorry. The organization has also asked me not to abut this reply, and I have grudgingly agreed. However, the post stays. I will notate my deception, and will also remove the needlessly rude section at the end, but the rest stands. ORIGINAL POST, EDITED AS EXPLAINED ABOVE: This is honestly a great bar, mostly, hence the 5-stars for Food, Service, and Atmosphere. I was initially glad my organization [NOTE: THIS IS A LIE, SEE ABOVE] chose to patronize this place. But that appreciation ended last night when bar management decided that keeping things quiet was more important than dealing with an assault and battery that happened at the bar. If the genders and races in the situation had been reversed, my friend would still be in jail right now, while the harasser in this situation got to finish out their night feeling good about getting away with what they've done. Someone reserving your bar for an event does not magically get the right to assault and batter someone. Never mind that the person doing the A&B has a history of harassing the person they chased out of the bar... [NOTE: FINAL PARAGRAPH REMOVED FOR BEING UNNECESSARILY RUDE]

_ Brawley
_ Brawley Jun 2026

Literally the coolest place on Earth. The owner is super duper nice. Made me feel super safe as a queer person to be here with my friends!

Nicholas Brown
Nicholas Brown Jun 2026

Cute spot!

Nicole E (HolyFNColey)
Nicole E (HolyFNColey) Jun 2026

Loved the bingo brunch !!!

Richard Napier
Richard Napier Jun 2026

First time. Food needs some work. But for bar food its good. The chicken and waffles would be great if the chicken was not whatever they served me yesterday. Pieces of quarter inch dried out burned on one side deep fried then placed on a flat top? Idk. But the Buffalo blackened Bleu burger was outstanding. The karaoke was fantastic the games on the patio would have been great. But the piles of fresh dog shit covered with poop bags was absolutely absurd. This place is amazing but there were things that could have been so much better. Simple things

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Last updated on 10 September 2026

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