Hallie (spelling?) was a fabulous mixologist and host. We made this discovery on our own (we try to…read morevisit local speakeasies when traveling), but local friends reinforced our desire to visit with their own recommendations. We will definitely be back! P.S. the Yelp police deleted my review in the Upstairs Bar (co-located) with the Dunnkirk Library. Of note, other Yelpers commented on the Library speakeasy in the Upstairs Bar listing without getting flagged.

Got surprised with a reservation this weekend w/ the family. It's a crazy dichotomy between "drunk…read morecollege bar" and Speakeasy. I was concerned the noise would be a problem, it was not. The atmosphere was great. I used it as an opportunity to try some Jamaican Rum drinks. If forget the name of the first one, it was on menu (something with a "Star" in the name). It was good, but I wasn't sure if I got a good feel for the rum. Second drink was a plain Jamaican Rum Daquiri. It really showcased the rum and in hindsight, so did the first cocktail. It was good for my first experience and you could really taste the JR "funk". We'll be back, the staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Reservations have to be required, but it's a must do in Bloomington.

Brunch was fantastic! We sat outside on the covered patio and enjoyed our meals. The service was…read morevery friendly and when the food took awhile to come out they checked in on multiple occasions. The food was cooked to PERFECTION the eggs on the egg sandwich in particular were absolutely delicious. Can't wait to come back!!

We have enjoyed time at Cardinal Spirits twice recently. The first visit was fantastic (and…read moreprompted us to make reservations for Mother's Day for the second visit). The second visit was okay. First, the best parts: the cocktails were delicious and I loved trying a few of the different spirits when our server brought us samples to try. Also, the patio atmosphere was lovely as the weather was perfect for both visits. The bingo was also a lot of fun! Overall, the food was good, but on our second visit the service was incredibly slow. Our server told us that the kitchen was running behind, but our friends were at the table next to us (with a different server) and they ordered when we did and had finished eating before our food even arrived - and I had to go find someone to inquire about it as our server never returned after dropping off drinks. She did apologize and take an item off the bill and hand us a few drink coupons which was appreciated, but the experience had put a damper on our enthusiasm (especially after we told the rest of our party how awesome the place was). Will I go back? Yes, but maybe with tempered expectations.

Sleeper, the owner, is really the star of this bar. If you want a place that's comfortable, chill,…read moreadult and slow-paced, this is it. It's often hard to find bars where you can go alone as a woman and not instantly be hounded or feel intimidated. Sleeper sets the tone for this bar and keeps it funny and respectful. I have gotten hit on there, but in a classy way - LOL. So, it gives me old school vibes, safe space and great storytelling. It's kinda not about the drinks or the food, it's really about the vibes, that you either get or you don't.

Sleepers is definitely a sleeper favorite in Bloomington. The bar has a nice chill, relaxed vibe,…read morewhich can be hard to find in a college town. The prices were also very reasonable for both food and drinks. You can get the typical no-frills bar food, but if you're just looking for a space to relax before an IU game I'm not sure there's a better spot in Bloomington. We had great service and our whole group kept talking about how it was such a great find. It's attached to a motel and can be easily overlooked when driving into town.

Great experience!! I go here every year with my friends. A bit hidden but that adds to the ambiance…read moreand privacy.

I'm going to admit up front that I just don't think I am a C3 kind of guy. They're known for their…read moreamazing cocktails and fancy meals and I'm just not one to enjoy or appreciate that. When I order a $20+ hamburger I just expect more. But it's a beautiful location and the service is fine. If you like a few cocktails with your meal and are interested in the atmosphere likely as much as the food, it's probably a great option. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with fries and a coke. The coke was a bottle (if you follow me you know my thoughts on this) and my cheeseburger was cooked perfectly, though the amount of bacon was minimal at best. The fries were amazing. My wife ordered the chef's chicken special (sorry I'm not sure what it was called exactly) and she liked it but didn't love it. Our server was very nice but it did take a bit to get initial service and the pace of the meal seemed slow given it wasn't very crowded when we were there. All in all, it was a fine meal but not my favorite in town. If I want a burger there are better options at more reasonable price points.

perfect Bloomington classic. go, get a great drink, support a local business. everyone is nice and…read morefriendly, if you don't fw it, perhaps get your head examined.

Yep, you're not imagining it. I too, quit going here when I was asked for my Covid vaccination card…read morein 2023 (have alwaus been vaxxed). Which was made sadly amusing by the fact that I sat there for 25 minutes trying to look for it before ordering anything -- at which point you'd think they would be anxious I spread the virus all over the bar. Ridiculous. Brainless America at its best.

I am a millennial and probably too old to be here on a Saturday night, but there we were! DJ Bongo…read morewas lighting it up. It almost feels like a speak easy with the not-super-obvious entrance. I like that there are smaller, more intimate spaces for conversations in the Cellar in addition to a small dance floor. I loved the twinkly lights and the vibes. Also, coming from Indy my jaw was on the floor at drink prices -- amazing. What took the cake? A SLUSHIE machine that actually still had slushie drinks in it.

One of my favorite bars in town! Whenever we go out we always make a stop at the root cellar for…read morethe cheap drinks and lively atmosphere. I always suggest going on a dance party night or a themed night because it is always more fun that way. The bartenders are a little rude but that is to be expected from a packed bar on a Saturday night where you aren't trying to get good service just a quick cheap drink

This was my Monday night spot. Half priced martinis? Yes, please. Be careful not to have too many…read morebecause their drinks are pretty strong and their stairs are pretty steep. Deadly combination, but well worth the risk. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because one night, I went there and they had salsa music playing. I'm always down for a good salsa, but not at a martini bar. Didn't quite flow with the atmosphere. Would have preferred jazz or swing. Anything but salsa.

Average martini bar. Bartender was nice but seemed very high and just out of it while making our…read moredrinks. The place was empty from 9:00 to 10:00 and the dj was just vibing by himself. I could see is being more fun later in the evening.

long live the OG Bloomington hipster vibe…read more love the fancy hotdogs. pretty beer. Great live music.

The orbit room is always wonderful! They have wonderful music acts come in, both local and touring,…read moreand the YUMMIEST brown butter popcorn I have ever had.

We absolutely loved the tour here. My husband brews his own beer, and I help here and there (mostly…read morewith grain pours or stirring, and certainly with adding my precious opinion), so a lot of the content on most brewery tours is a bit basic for my needs. This tour had some of those basics, but also some unique attributes, including the opportunity to taste some not-quite-ready beers directly from the tank, which I don't think I've ever experienced at another brewery (even at the sour breweries we toured in Belgium). They had a guava sour on tap that was life-changingly yummy. After the tour, our awesome tour guide hung out at the bar with us and answered our bazillion questions as we sampled the last of our complimentary sips. Make sure you bring plenty of cash to tip your tour guide if you do the tour.

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.

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