The Rathskeller, Indianapolis, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Rathskeller is a German restaurant at 401 E Michigan St in Indianapolis, set in the lower level of the Athenaeum, a landmark building from the 1890s. It is one of the city's longest-running restaurants and a reminder of the German community that shaped Indianapolis in the nineteenth century.

The story behind it

The Athenaeum was built in the 1890s as Das Deutsche Haus, a social and cultural center for the city's many German immigrants. It held clubs, a theater, gymnastics and meeting rooms. The architect was Bernard Vonnegut, grandfather of the novelist Kurt Vonnegut, working with Arnold Kiefer. The building is a National Historic Landmark.

The Rathskeller took its name from the German tradition of a beer hall and restaurant in the cellar of a town hall (Rathaus). Here it gave members and guests a place to eat, drink and gather. Around the time of the First World War, anti-German feeling led to the building being renamed the Athenaeum, but the restaurant carried on and is still the heart of the building.

What to look for

• The red brick exterior of the Athenaeum shows the German Renaissance Revival style, with decorative brickwork and detailing that sets it apart from the buildings around it.
• The building's name and its German heritage are written into its design, so look at the facade and entrances for lettering and ornament that hint at its origins as Das Deutsche Haus.
• The lower-level setting of the restaurant follows the classic Rathskeller idea of a cellar dining hall, so notice how the space feels different from a typical street-level restaurant.
• Step back across the street to take in the whole structure, which has the scale and presence of a civic building rather than a restaurant.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes to look at the exterior and the surroundings, or longer if you plan to sit down for a meal.
• The Rathskeller is a working restaurant, so check current opening hours and whether you need a reservation before you go.
• The Massachusetts Avenue arts and dining district is a short walk away, which makes this an easy stop on a longer wander.
• Late afternoon light is good for photographing the brick facade, and the walk is easy on foot.

See it on a quest

The Oz Escape in Indianapolis is a good way to see the Rathskeller as one stop on a longer route on foot through the area. The app tells you about each place as you reach it and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in Indianapolis follows the same Oz theme and passes the Rathskeller too. You walk between stops at your own pace, hear about each one on arrival and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Indianapolis suits families with children who like detective-style play. You reach the Rathskeller on foot as part of a longer route, learn about the place as you arrive and work out a puzzle together. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.