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    Cardinal Spirits

    4.5 (247 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Cardinal Spirits Photos

    CARDINAL SPIRITS ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Cardinal Spirits

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    Beef Stew
    Lexi F.

    I went to Cardinal Spirits for a Galentine's dinner and it had something for everyone! It's a smaller space but still cozy and inviting. The parking lot situation is also a little crowded, especially when they are busy - carpooling definitely helps. Our waitress was great and very aware of all allergens on the menu. The drinks are almost always a hit (but we didn't love the flavor of the seasonal take home cocktail we got). I got the Handsome Devil and would highly recommend, coffee and lemon - who knew!? I finished with the Penicillin and it was good, but not the best I've had. For dinner I split the Mela flatbread and Steak sandwich with a friend. We both LOVED the steak sandwich, it was very good and I would get it again. The flatbread was disappointing - sounded great on the menu but was dry and felt like there wasn't enough cheese. We ended with Thai Tea crème brûlée and the campfire tart, was not personally a fan of the crème brûlée. Didn't love the flavor or texture. The campfire tart was delicious though! All in all will continue to go back from time to time!

    Inside seating area
    Joyce D.

    My partner and I decided to drive down to Bloomington for the day to explore another restaurant we have never tried. We decided to check out Cardinal Spirits - the ambience is nice - casual and nice. They serve cocktails - the alcohol is from their own distillery from what we were told. Their food menu is not necessarily expansive so we settled on the citrus salad and the charcuterie board. Salad was tasty and the charcuterie board was yummy - we were not disappointed and we left the place feeling satisfied. The staff was friendly and courteous- no complaints! This was a good experience. I think this is a good place to get together with friends - have drinks and have small bites to eat.

    Molly C.

    Cute little spot in Bloomington, IN. Distillery, cocktails. Light spirits, I was in town for the eclipse and stopped by. Light fresh cocktails. Food was meh. Flatbread needs some work. Mostly bread, crispy, lacking toppings. Cute patio!

    1/2 price Flights on Fridays
    Jessica C.

    Very fun and Classy. Very refreshing Drinks and tasty fries. Very nice staff and fast service. 1/2 Price Flights on Friday. My favorite drink was the Passion Fruit Mojito. It was sweet with a slightly bitter undertone.

    Liquor flight
    Mya M.

    The service was good, their menu has expanded quite a bit but we just went for drinks. Automatic 20% is added to the bill. I found this spot on Facebook events when I was looking for live Christmas music, it was so fun and cozy!

    Mushroom Melt Sandwich: Roasted portobello mushrooms, provolone, roasted bell peppers, giardiniera, hoagie role, side of jus
    Danielle W.

    It's been a minute since I've been to Cardinal Spirits and I was blown away by the menu selection, outdoor patio, and delicious drinks! Seasonal curated dishes with Vegan & Gluten Free options - so many good options Food highlights of my favorites: Burrata: Baby spinach, shaved fennel, toasted almond, lemon + white balsamic vinaigrette, crostini Steak Frites: 8oz steak, chimichurri, OMG fries Best Cocktails in Bloomington - my favorite is... Apple of My Eye: Bramble Black Raspberry Vodka, La Boîte American Amaro, apple, rosemary, lemon, smoke bitters I can never convince my husband to come here because he claims "they don't have Bourbon" but yes, they do - only at the restaurant. Looks like I'll be planning us a date night soon! Great to visit year round but especially in the summer/fall on the outdoor patio which is kid/dog friendly. Pro Tip: 15% off Carry Out Bottles & Cans when you Dine In

    (L to R) Boulevardier, Laverne & Shirley, Crimson and Clover, Warmed Spiced Cider with bourbon
    Jennifer H.

    We only came for drinks, so I cannot speak on the food. We did have great service, and the vibe is relaxed and comfortable inside. Drinks were unique and delicious. Appreciated their 15% off any purchases; nice way to stock up on their regional spirits!

    Burrata salad with Lakehouse, spiced rum apples, fennel, almonds, spinach, and Crostini
    Jennifer L.

    Intimate interior with twinkle lights & chill vibes. Servers & bartenders appear to be passionate and creative about their craft. I've met more than one who took a job here because they loved coming here and the quality of the product. That reminds me of Trader Joe's. I've been here alone, with friends and with my husband about four or five times. The food menu is limited, but the kitchen is small. Everything I've had so far, which is about everything, is well-made and delicious. *The everything deviled eggs are salty but delicious. The cheese and charcuterie board is probably the best choice to pair with the delicious cocktails. I highly recommend checking out the high proof laughs Comedy series in the spring. All of the proceeds go to good causes at local nonprofits. I also very much enjoyed the drink making classes. We have also recently invested (summer 2023) as Angel Investors! Whoo hoo! #staylocal #drinklocal

    OMG Fries
    Jessi A.

    My partner took me here for my birthday today ! We walked in and were told that it's reservation only. However, they let us sit since it wasn't very busy. It took them awhile to wait on us, but the server came over and apologized as she had forgotten our table was ours. Completely understandable since we hadn't made a reservation. I ordered the Ivory Tower, which was a spicy rum drink with pineapple and coconut. My partner ordered the Earth Song, which was a gin drink with beet juice. My drink was absolutely delicious ! I didn't quite care for my partners, I thought it tasted like dirt. But he liked it. We also ordered the OMG fries ! They were so good. Whatever the seasoning is on them, it was super tasty. They gave us three dipping sauces: some kind of BBQ, a Bloody Mary ketchup, and a truffle aioli. I could have used a gallon of the aioli because it was to die for ! Definitely worth the trip !

    Niki B.

    Add this to your Bloomington Bookmark List. STAT. Cardinal Spirits is a shining gem of Indiana. The staff are friendly, bright, and creative, and the cocktails are out of this world. They just won Yelp's number one spot to eat in Bloomington and their ever-changing cocktail menu includes several drinks made from their own spirits. I haven't gotten to dine in yet, but I've enjoyed an always-great tiki Tuesday here. They do it every week to spice up your Tuesday with a drink topped with a flamingo, chunk of pineapple, mini umbrella - anything. They're super involved in the community and I always end up seeing them at local events. That says a lot about a business! They're also located along the B-Line trail in Bloomington, so you can even bike or walk here. They have a lot of seating inside, in addition to a beautiful bar and a fun, large patio. Bring all your friends!! OR - you can even buy their new canned cocktails at a local liquor store if you don't live in Bloomington. The Bramble Mule is my favorite!

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    9 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Creative and delicious cocktail menu and wonderful food. Service is always great and the vibe is lively.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

    Very gluten friendly restaurant! Lots of great options the portions are smaller but worth it!

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food, ambience and staff! I love the Rum, unique menu and atmosphere after a long work week.

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    3 years ago

    Good drinks with good light fare. Their cocktails are the real highlight and the space is nice.

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    Cardinal Spirits Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cardinal Spirits

    During Brunch are the Main menu items also available?

    No, only the brunch items.

    Does the brunch open for all age??

    Only over 21 inside. Under 21 are welcome on the patio when it reopens in the spring

    Is there anything vegan on the brunch menu?

    Yes! Our distillers bourbon mash with coconut, spiced pecans, and chai spices is delicious. Even… Read more

    View All 5 Questions

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    C3 Bar

    C3 Bar

    4.2
    (143 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    We made a reservation online, but it probably wasn't necessary since the restaurant was fairly…read moreempty with the college students gone for summer break. Despite all the open seating, we were placed right between two other parties, which was a little annoying. The service itself was just okay. Nothing terrible, but nothing particularly memorable either--mostly just taking orders and bringing out food. The portions were on the smaller side, though you'll definitely get full if you order enough dishes. The frites were good and reminded me of Five Guys fries. I ordered the chicken, while my husband got the chef's special: homemade potato gnocchi with tenderloin. The chicken was decent but a little dry and really depended on the sauce for flavor. The chef's special, however, was excellent. We also enjoyed the Rosebud cocktail and the lemon tart for dessert.

    For our dogs BirthDay, Becky and Me went out to celebrate at C3 (dog had to stay home, LOL!)…read more Making a resrevation was super easy, and we were seated in a cosy table in a roomy dining nook. We knew the food would be good because the menu was small- Hats Off to Exacutuve Chef Matthew Smits!!! Becky got the 'Chicken' and loved the savory broth and decadent cilantro(?) sproutes. The chicken VERY juicy too! I got the Fulaful- I don't even know what that is, but I felt adventerous! I loved the orange sweet potatoes and Pistashio Nuts, and the savory Spinach was incredible! The feta cheese on the fulafel got swallowed by all the other flavors, but an incredible meal none theless!! Keep up the GREAT COOKING!!!

    Photos
    During Tiki week - delish drinks
    During Tiki week - delish drinks
    C3 Bar
    Rosebud

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    Rosebud
    Upland Brewing - Wood Shop

    Upland Brewing - Wood Shop

    4.6
    (26 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Takes reservations

    This is the new sour house built by Upland. It's right next to the Upland brewpub so you can't…read moremiss it. This is definitely a good place to try a specific style of beer (sours of course). They have several on tap and available for carryout. Start with the Basis which is their plain Jane sour. Then move onto all the flavors to see which you like best.

    Another stop on one of our YelpLouINvasions!…read more After hearing about and subsequently missing an Upland takeover at Westport Whiskey and Wine, I was newly aware of a new-to-me provider of sour beers that was within visiting distance in Bloomington! So while we were in town to drink cocktails at Cardinal Spirits and have some wine at Oliver Winery, we also decided to stop at Upland for some beer. Cover all our alcohol bases, you know? :-P Anywho, the Wood Shop is the tap room and brewing facility right next door to Upland Brewing Co. We got there just a liiiiittle too late for a tour. But it is never too late for a flight! I love sours. LOVE them. So the menu excited me! Our server, Adam I believe, was friendly and patient with us (most of us being a tidbit tipsy since this was our fourth stop of the day!) I really enjoyed all the beers I tried. I honestly couldn't tell you a favorite! We were also able to call in an order for food from next door, pick it up and eat it at the Wood Shop. The space is big and it is fun to drink among the barrels, it is clean and looks brand-spanking new. I only wish Bloomington was closer to Louisville, so I could visit more often.

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    Upland Brewing - Wood Shop
    Upland Brewing - Wood Shop
    Upland Brewing - Wood Shop

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    Fuzzy's Vodka Launch Party

    Fuzzy's Vodka Launch Party

    5.0
    (1 review)
    0.0 mi

    Wow, what a perk for being Elite! When Fuzzy's Vodka announced it was going to relocate production…read moreto Cardinal Spirits in Bloomington, an opportunity was created for several Yelpers to attend the kickoff event. I've enjoyed food, beverages, and a tour of the distillery at Cardinal Spirits before, so I jumped at the chance to sign up for the event. The bar/dining area served as the spot for Fuzzy Zoeller, Champion Pro Golfer, to speak about his line of Ultra Premium Vodka. He highlighted a few special moments in the history of his business and seemed excited to be bringing the production of the high end vodka to Indiana. He also introduced State Senator Ron Alting, a long time friend, who had worked with Fuzzy over the years to help bring opportunities to be involved around the state. After the introduction and chats, guests were treated to a free cocktail made with the vodka. I ordered a "Fuzzy's Mule" which adds lime and ginger beer to the spirit. Excellent! The fine folks at Cardinal Spirits also provided an assortment of delicious foods for us to snack on. There were meatballs, vegan sliders, Italian green salad, caprese skewers, and Deviled eggs with truffle oil. I need to make a point to bring friends here for dinner! I enjoyed the opportunity to attend the event and hope that the transition of production to Cardinal Spirits will go smoothly bringing the same high quality product but using Hoosier corn, and talent. Thanks to Fuzzy's, to Cardinal Spirits for hosting, and to Yelp for the opportunity to attend. Review #3346

    Photos
    Champion Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, founder of Fuzzy's Vodka
    Champion Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, founder of Fuzzy's Vodka
    Fuzzy's Mule with Fuzzy's Vodka, lime, and ginger beer
    Fuzzy's Mule with Fuzzy's Vodka, lime, and ginger beer
    Italian Green Salad provided by Cardinal Spirits

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    Italian Green Salad provided by Cardinal Spirits

    Cardinal Spirits - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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