This place has kept its authenticity and share of talented musicians for the decades I've been going there.
Atmosphere: 5
Anarka Akaza
I stopped in Indianapolis for a day since had never visited before and as I was making my way down Massachusetts Ave (heading back to my car) - I noticed a large mural with a plaque which told the story of Etheridge Knight and towards the bottom it mentioned he frequented “the Chatterbox” and..Hey wait! That’s literally the THIS BUILDING! Yes!Went in, the place is awesome!! Great beer, great food and overall fantastic menu! The server Emery is absolutely amazing and we had a great conversation about the Chatterbox, Jazz Musix and No Wave Jazz like Lydia Lunch, James Chance (No New York stuff) and it was just and overall awesome experience to visit, have a beer and a great chat!I’ll be returning at some point for some live jazz when I have more time. But one thing I will say.. The artwork plastered all over the walls in this place speaks beyond volumes.. It’s like the CBGBs of Jazz in Indianapolis! That’s the vibe I get ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Manny Saucedo
Great place felt like a Jazz club should.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Brandon Dryden (Anarka Akaza)
I stopped in Indianapolis for a day since had never visited before and as I was making my way down Massachusetts Ave (heading back to my car) - I noticed a large mural with a plaque which told the story of Etheridge Knight and towards the bottom it mentioned he frequented “the Chatterbox” and..Hey wait! That’s literally the THIS BUILDING! Yes!Went in, the place is awesome!! Great beer, great food and overall fantastic menu! The server Emery is absolutely amazing and we had a great conversation about the Chatterbox, Jazz Musix and No Wave Jazz like Lydia Lunch, James Chance (No New York stuff) and it was just and overall awesome experience to visit, have a beer and a great chat!I’ll be returning at some point for some live jazz when I have more time. But one thing I will say.. The artwork plastered all over the walls in this place speaks beyond volumes.. It’s like the CBGBs of Jazz in Indianapolis! That’s the vibe I get ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hank Copeland
Fantastic jazz in a real joint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bella K.
Cozy, Snug, Fair to Feisty Pricing. If Jazz is your thing, do it. If live music isn't your thing, on the weekdays, great for service. Vibe, and atmosphere
Same Ol G
SARDINE CAN!!! BUT!! very pleasant crowd and environment. Everyone had smiles on and squished faces. My wife and I finally got a seat at the bar and that was more enjoyable. The elder guy at the door had his glass of cab and was snapping his fingers and doing his step. The band was awesome too!!
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Roger C
This place is a gem. Quality live music every night. Don't think twice about it. Do yourself a favor and make this the place you go to tonight!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Coday B.
This place is amazing. The overall vibe is great, drinks are great and Ben was an amazing bartender. Just wish I would've come later in the evening for the music! 100% recommend this place to everyone
Chatterbox is a hole in the wall. The decor is atrocious and the seating areas are horrendous. There's no room for anyone large group of people. The space is truly a place you should not want to be at all. We were offered a frozen pizza as a consolation for not having hot food nor a menu.
Emm M.
This is a great "dive bar" with live jazz every night. They have a rotating menu of seasonal cocktails and all of the basics for bar drinks. They have a few food options to choose from. I got the pizza and it was amazing! The service is great and the bartenders are always friendly. The atmosphere is really cool inside when the bands start playing. I would definitely recommend checking this bar out!
Nancy McClelland
My favorite bar in Indianapolis. Friendly, cozy, fun, and great music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charity S.
Talk. About. Therapeutic. I had three drinks: Mexican Mule, Shot of Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Sex on the Beach. (All over the place, I know). They were nice drinks though! Especially Skrewball! I enjoyed the atmosphere and our bartender. They were nice and a conversationalist. They had longer hair with glasses, I would take them any day. It was welcoming inside. We waited about an hour or two until the band came. The saxophonist was, I believe, an hour late. Regardless, the music was calming and nostalgic. I do recommend this place to get your mind off of things. To mesh in with the crowd. To hear something good or to just sit and drink. For now, it will be my gem! Can't wait to go back more, especially in the warmer months. Check them out!
Matt
Great music, great bartenders in a historic and cozy atmosphere.
Awesome dive bar!!!
This place has kept its authenticity and share of talented musicians for the decades I've been going there.
Atmosphere: 5
I stopped in Indianapolis for a day since had never visited before and as I was making my way down Massachusetts Ave (heading back to my car) - I noticed a large mural with a plaque which told the story of Etheridge Knight and towards the bottom it mentioned he frequented “the Chatterbox” and..Hey wait! That’s literally the THIS BUILDING! Yes!Went in, the place is awesome!! Great beer, great food and overall fantastic menu! The server Emery is absolutely amazing and we had a great conversation about the Chatterbox, Jazz Musix and No Wave Jazz like Lydia Lunch, James Chance (No New York stuff) and it was just and overall awesome experience to visit, have a beer and a great chat!I’ll be returning at some point for some live jazz when I have more time. But one thing I will say.. The artwork plastered all over the walls in this place speaks beyond volumes.. It’s like the CBGBs of Jazz in Indianapolis! That’s the vibe I get ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place felt like a Jazz club should.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
I stopped in Indianapolis for a day since had never visited before and as I was making my way down Massachusetts Ave (heading back to my car) - I noticed a large mural with a plaque which told the story of Etheridge Knight and towards the bottom it mentioned he frequented “the Chatterbox” and..Hey wait! That’s literally the THIS BUILDING! Yes!Went in, the place is awesome!! Great beer, great food and overall fantastic menu! The server Emery is absolutely amazing and we had a great conversation about the Chatterbox, Jazz Musix and No Wave Jazz like Lydia Lunch, James Chance (No New York stuff) and it was just and overall awesome experience to visit, have a beer and a great chat!I’ll be returning at some point for some live jazz when I have more time. But one thing I will say.. The artwork plastered all over the walls in this place speaks beyond volumes.. It’s like the CBGBs of Jazz in Indianapolis! That’s the vibe I get ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic jazz in a real joint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cozy, Snug, Fair to Feisty Pricing. If Jazz is your thing, do it. If live music isn't your thing, on the weekdays, great for service. Vibe, and atmosphere
SARDINE CAN!!! BUT!! very pleasant crowd and environment. Everyone had smiles on and squished faces. My wife and I finally got a seat at the bar and that was more enjoyable. The elder guy at the door had his glass of cab and was snapping his fingers and doing his step. The band was awesome too!!
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
This place is a gem. Quality live music every night. Don't think twice about it. Do yourself a favor and make this the place you go to tonight!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This place is amazing. The overall vibe is great, drinks are great and Ben was an amazing bartender. Just wish I would've come later in the evening for the music! 100% recommend this place to everyone
Restaurantji Recommends
Chatterbox is a hole in the wall. The decor is atrocious and the seating areas are horrendous. There's no room for anyone large group of people. The space is truly a place you should not want to be at all. We were offered a frozen pizza as a consolation for not having hot food nor a menu.
This is a great "dive bar" with live jazz every night. They have a rotating menu of seasonal cocktails and all of the basics for bar drinks. They have a few food options to choose from. I got the pizza and it was amazing! The service is great and the bartenders are always friendly. The atmosphere is really cool inside when the bands start playing. I would definitely recommend checking this bar out!
My favorite bar in Indianapolis. Friendly, cozy, fun, and great music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Talk. About. Therapeutic. I had three drinks: Mexican Mule, Shot of Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Sex on the Beach. (All over the place, I know). They were nice drinks though! Especially Skrewball! I enjoyed the atmosphere and our bartender. They were nice and a conversationalist. They had longer hair with glasses, I would take them any day. It was welcoming inside. We waited about an hour or two until the band came. The saxophonist was, I believe, an hour late. Regardless, the music was calming and nostalgic. I do recommend this place to get your mind off of things. To mesh in with the crowd. To hear something good or to just sit and drink. For now, it will be my gem! Can't wait to go back more, especially in the warmer months. Check them out!
Great music, great bartenders in a historic and cozy atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5