Indianapolis is no stranger to taverns with curious characters and colorful pasts , and its dive bar scene remains strong hundreds of years later.

Certainly, the term "dive bar" can get a little murky. While it literally refers to shabby, often unsavory establishments, plenty of watering holes wear the designation like a badge of honor, even if it's not a perfect fit. You can find bars in Indy with multiple massive flatscreen TVs and signature cocktail lists that like to call themselves dive bars; on the flip side are beloved neighborhood spots like the Red Key Tavern, which you'd be forgiven for calling a dive even though it does not bill itself as one.

For this list, we've adopted a bit of a "know it when you see it" taxonomy. Late hours are a must, bathroom graffiti helps and there

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