Travel: The City Column
The City Column: What To Do In Bloomington, Indiana
Updated on June 3, 2026
Just an hour’s drive south of Indianapolis, Bloomington is home to fun boutique hotels, hot new restaurants and great shopping. Put this hidden gem on your travel bucket list! Scroll down for our latest city column to discover what to do in Bloomington, Indiana.
Where to Stay:
New: Graduate Bloomington
The city’s newest hotel is a witty homage to all things southern Indiana. The lobby floor, for instance, has the look of a giant puzzle grid in tribute to Will Shortz, the NYT crossword editor who graduated from Indiana University. Guest rooms have a blend of vintage furniture and colourful custom accents, and some suites have private outdoor spaces overlooking downtown.
210 East Kirkwood Ave.
A new Airbnb has opened its doors in Nashville, Ind., an artist community just a half-hour drive from Bloomington. The four suites are decorated with furniture from local markets and sellers, and each suite comes with a full kitchen. The smallest lodging has a private patio, while the others share an outdoor rooftop retreat
complete with fire table.
185 South Jefferson St., Nashville, Ind.
Where to Eat:
New: The Elm
Opened by Pictura Gallery owners Martha and David Moore, this restaurant showcases dishes that are as artful as they are delicious. In the Smoked Black Bean Hummus, for instance, baby vegetables are buried in beet “soil,” and a dish of bluefin tuna, tomato, cucumber and quail egg is plated in a colourful mosaic. These creative culinary arts are complemented by beautiful photographs and custom ceramics made for the shelves they’re displayed on.
614 East 2nd St.
Classic: Uptown Cafe
Locals come here to celebrate special occasions and feast on American classics with a dash of Cajun influence. This resto is famous for filet mignon served with a browned Gorgonzola crust and Cajun seafood dishes including Crawfish Étouffée and Shrimp and Grits.
102 East Kirkwood Ave.
What to See:
Classic: Architectural Highlights and Miller House and Garden Tours
Day trip to Columbus, an hour’s drive east, which is an unexpected hot spot for modernist architecture. Book the Architectural Highlights Tour to see churches, office buildings and houses designed by architects such as Kevin Roche, Richard Meier, Eliel Saarinen and more. And don’t miss touring Miller House, the iconic mid-century residence by Eero Saarinen.
Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 5th St., Columbus, Ind.
Classic: Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art
Designed by I.M. Pei, this museum is home to 45,000 historical, cultural and art objects, including a full set of Marcel Duchamp’s “Readymade” pieces. This fall, see Amplitude: Terry Winters Prints Since 2000, a showcase of the artist’s abstract paintings, and Crossroads, a collection of paintings and multimedia works by musician John Mellencamp.
1133 East 7th St.
Where to Shop:
New: Lola + Company
This boutique is in a new downtown location and offers all manner of home goods, from art to kitchenware to furniture. Farmhouse chic is the aesthetic throughout; look for stoneware pitchers, cement table lamps with linen shades, crochet pot holders in earthy colours and more.
114 North Walnut St.
Classic: Goods for Cooks
A gathering place for food lovers and home chefs for the past 50 years, this shop is a must-visit for kitchen tools, unique ingredients and handcrafted pieces. Find glassware and serving vessels, cookbooks, and hand-carved wooden bowls and platters made by local artisans.
115 North College Ave.
House & Home