Bloomington 101: Best Guide for an Incoming Indiana Student
After living in the good ole city of Bloomington, Indiana for the past four years, I like to think that I can finally call myself an expert in the area. Throw in a COVID-19 summer, and I think the title really holds, don't you think? I've been away from Bloomington and all things Hoosier since I graduated from undergraduate in 2021, but I think this guide still stands.
But just in case you're not as familiar with Bloomington and Indiana University's campus, I thought I would do a little Bloomington 101 on all the things, places, restaurants, and more you need to know about to get you all settled on one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States! There are plenty of things you can do during your time in Bloomington, but I want to give you the lowdown. If you're a new student at IU or just a new resident this college down, hopefully this mini travel guide will make moving to a new town a little easier.
Bloomington Classic Restaurants
Because Indiana University has such strong history and traditions, there are some CLASSIC restaurants that will always be packed for any family's weekend on campus. Here are a couple you have to eat at at least once during your time in Bloom!
A classic wings (and burgers, chicken tenders, and any other American food you may want) type of place. If you don't get tickets to watch a game at Memorial Stadium, BuffaLouie's is the second best option to watch IU sports game and cheer them on from the comfort of the wooden tables and walls covered in IU memorabilia. It's always a fun, casual, good time!
If you're looking for a GOOD sit-down pizza place, Mother Bear's is the one for you! They have a pretty extensive menu when it comes to pizzas, pastas, and any type of random side you may want, but their pizza is always fire. It's an incredibly casual place and has quintessential college town vibes. Bring a sharpie so you can add your name to the wall when you go!
And if you're looking for that greasy, fast, very college-esque type of pizza, Pizza X is the place for you. They have a bunch of locations around the Bloomington area, (the one on 10th Street being the most classic), but you can get cheesy bread at basically any hour of the day. May not be the world's best, but 100% a Bloomington classic! I always loved ordering this on a late night of studying or going out.
A pretty popular spot for professors and Bloomington longtime residents to hang out, Lennie's is great for types of bar pizza food and good beer. They recently got a new (well, new when I was there) location on Kirkwood, and it's a great spot to sit outside and hangout! I honestly regret not going to Lennie's sooner (I only ate there during my last month of college), especially since so many people said it was so good!
Another place with the classic bar food, Nick's is a great place to go with a large group of friends! The food isn't anything unique, but it's always good and a little greasy. This is also a classic for family weekend. Make sure to play sink the biz, one of the top attractions at this place!
My Favorite Restaurants
Although Bloomington has so many classic local restaurants, I've been able to really find some places that I think are the best and just as important to try! These are a few favorites that I guarantee will serve up some delicious food for you and give you the best taste of the scene.
My hands down FAVORITE brunch place to go to! They have a great menu to choose from, and it's fast, delicious, and relatively healthy. They also have some delicious fresh pastries available! Ask Coley, because he is OBSESSED with their cinnamon rolls.
One of my favorite brunch AND dinner places to go to. Their brunch is your typical American fare, but their dinner is some amazing Italian food. The perfect place for a date or to bring your parents when they're in town! It's in the heart of downtown Bloomington located in an odd alleyway, but trust me, you'll enjoy.
A fantastic Asian hot pot spot run by a local family! I love this place for something a little closer to home for me personally, but it can also be a great spot to get out of your comfort zone! 100% delicious, every time.
Not a typical restaurant, but instead a delicious food truck! Whenever Coley and I are out in Bloomington and we start getting a little hungry, we always end up on the search for Pili's. Their tacos with a squeeze of lime is truly one of the best things. Delicious, quick, cheap!
The ONLY spot in Bloomington that serves dim sum! Also a spot run by a family, and it's nice to have some authentic Chinese food to pick from in the middle of Indiana. Not on Fourth Street as you may expect for international cuisine, but definitely worth swinging by.
This is probably also a Bloomington classic by now, but Big Woods is a fantastic American food place with some really great craft beer! The only downside is that everyone loves this place so much, it can be hard to get a table right away. But it's worth it! I love their burger and nachos, and the have great outdoor seating. Fun fact, I had my first legal drink here!
I love this place. It's perfect for special events because it's a little fancier, and I love the farm-to-table aspect. I had an amazing poutine here, and I highly recommend for fresh produce served well.
Overhyped Restaurants
And just like I love restaurants, I also think a lot of restaurants in Bloomington are overhyped. But hey, if you end up trying one and loving it, that's great! The Bloomington food scene is incredibly expansive that I think are better to try, but these are just my opinions on places that just aren't worth it.
Not that good. Always crowded. Expensive. Do I need to say more?
This may be a controversial pick to be on the overhyped restaurant list, but I really don't think it's worth it! It's a brunch/breakfast place in Bloomington, and I just don't like it. It's small, a little grunge-y, and always has a huge line. I think the experience kind of got ruined when I found out how incredibly dirty and disgusting their kitchens were.
Same thing as the Village Deli! Sorry not sorry to these places, for me lack of cleanliness is a good reason to not go.
I'm pretty sure I ate here maybe twice during my time. People recommend it for brunch, but I wasn't impressed. And it felt kind of pricey as a college kid!
My Favorite Coffee Shops
I love this place because they have two really great locations in town! One is more like a walk-up style type of place where you can just pop in, while the other is a pretty big place where you can sit, do homework, and just hang out.
More of a walk-up style type of place, Two Sticks has some delicious pastries and good coffee to go with it! Bonus points if you have a dog with you, they always have treats for the furry ones. I feel like a lot of locals go here, and it's not typically included in recommendation lists for when people visit Bloomington.
Health & Wellness
Dentist
I got my teeth cleaned here and Coley got his root canal done here, and both times their service was excellent! The doctor there got highly recommended by a townie (aka someone who lives in Bloomington full time), and I could not agree more. They also just moved to a brand new location!
Oral Surgery
I got my wisdom teeth removed here earlier this year (and you can read all about that experience here!), and Dr. Starr was great! He's definitely an interesting one lol, but he does a good job and that's really all you need.
Doctor
This one isn't the best recommendation because it's just the health center, but it's the one place I always went if I was sick or needed to see a doctor. If y'all have anything better, please let me know and I'll update the list LMAO. Also fun fact, they offer massages here. I can't tell you how many I got during my 4 years on the Indiana University campus.
Allergist
Allergy and Asthma Southern Indiana
Doctor Emma is a QUEEN, and has been taking care of my sister and me the whole time we were in Bloomington. My sister Simone has a crazy amount of allergies, and Doctor Emma was able to provide really great care during her four years here at IU.
Massage Therapy
I started going here in the past year, and I am honestly so sad to leave them behind! I always worked with Amy, and she was fantastic in helping me with my back (I have rods back there so it gets messed up often!)
Counseling/Therapy
New Outlook Counseling Center Inc.
This center has a couple locations, one in Bloomington and one in Greenwood, and I have really loved going to them since the beginning of 2019! They have a whole staff to choose from to best fit you and your needs.
Beauty
Tanning
I don't tan, so I reached out to a couple Bloomington friends, and I got a lot of recommendations for this place! They come with good testimonials, so I assume it'll be good if you go.
Eyebrow Threading
I was BLESSED with knowing this recommendation the moment I stepped foot onto campus. After an eyebrow disaster that my older sister Simone went through, she found this saving grace that fixed and continued to thread her eyebrows from then on out. It's run by a small family, and their baby is always crawling around saying hi. 10/10!
Nails
If I had known about this nail place sooner, you BET I would have been there every other week. It's a brand new spot, doesn't smell strongly like acetone, and is very hygienic. It's also not usually too crowded and you can always just walk in or make an appointment. What more could you want?
Women's Haircut/Color
I've been getting my hair cut and colored by Amy from Inspirations since freshman year of college. I'm honestly really sad I'm leaving her, because she is a genius at coloring and always cuts my hair EXACTLY how I ask her to. Message me for her number and let her know I referred you! (not an ad, it just helps her pinpoint where her customers come from!)
Men's Haircut
Coley gets his haircut here and has always liked it! He doesn't have many complaints, and from someone who is pretty picky about their hair, I would say that's pretty good.
Exercise
This one is pretty classic for any IU student, but honestly I feel like I should have utilized more during my time there! They have the classic gym things like weights and cardio, but they also have a TON of fun workout classes always available, no matter what day of the week.
Started by a business presentations professor at Kelley, this cycling place is a great place to go and do a group workout class! I love it so much because one, it's women owned, and two, it's supporting a Bloomington small business!
This isn't the longest list in the world and I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of things (if I am, tell me!), but I think it's a pretty good guide to get you started in Bloomington! And really, have fun while you're there. It's one of the best small towns you'll find, and I already miss it so much.