FountainView Inn

Fountain Square is a great area to spend time, with restaurants and shows all around once you step outside. There was a lot of construction, so we tried to support shops that might be affected. The rooms are gorgeous, with beautiful decor, and it’s such a unique place. We put 5pm as our arrival time on the check-in form but were listed for 4pm. It was an easy fix over text, though check the times if you’re on a schedule. We also found that guests ended up going to the bowling alley to get their room keys. The woman who brought extra toilet paper was less than kind. I’ve never had a hotel employee give me attitude about dropping off more TP.

We loved the 1940s to 1960s feel of this remodeled retro hotel, and the location was great, just a few minutes from downtown with several nice restaurants nearby. We drove five minutes to a really amazing sushi place. A few things to know: the rooms are one floor below a cool vintage bowling alley, so there’s some noise from above until around 10:30 or 11. The first-floor bar has street-side outdoor seating, which means noise until closing. Hot water takes a couple of minutes to reach the third floor, so start the shower early. With those quirks, we still loved the stay and will probably come again.

The room was perfect, the bed comfortable, and the bathroom was HUGE! This is a quintessential boutique hotel. The staff answering texts and phone calls were very helpful when we needed to find the parking area, but I can’t rate the service higher than a 3 because check-in is a whole process. There’s no front desk, so you have to go up to the bowling alley on the fourth floor and try to get the bartender’s attention for your keys. That was the only time we saw any staff member during our stay, since the hotel itself is on the third floor. It was a great stay, though maybe not ideal if you’re in a rush and need to get into your room quickly.

I only came up for the rooftop, and it was worth the trip. We had a great view of the Indy skyline, a relaxed vibe, and tasty nachos with a cold drink. Nice spot to watch the sunset or take in the city lights. A real hidden gem for a laid-back rooftop.