Downtown B-town

Throw a stone from Sample Gates and you’re bound to hit at least one restaurant, shop or cafe on Kirkwood. Bloomington’s downtown scene is bustling with international flavor, vintage and vinyl. Here, we point out some of our B-town favorites.

THE BOOK CORNER
100 N. Walnut Ave.
Located right on the square, The Book Corner is a cozy shop for book lovers. The owners are more than willing to help you find what you’re looking for or recommend a good read.

THE POURHOUSE CAFE
314 E. Kirkwood Ave.
The Pourhouse is more than your typical coffeeshop - 100% of the tips and profits are given to charities around the world. Oh, and it also serves killer espresso drinks, pastries and gelato.

TD’S CDS & LPS
322 E. Kirkwood Ave.
This is literally Bloomington’s underground record store, situated in the basement of the same venue that houses Cactus Flower and SOMA. It holds an extensive collection of vinyl, tapes and CDs, categorized perfectly for any music buff.

CACTUS FLOWER
322 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington’s one-stop shop for vintage lovers, this store has the latest trends on the first floor while the upstairs looks like your hip grandmother’s attic (just not as dusty).

BASIL LEAF
404 E. 4th St.
Located on Fourth Street, Bloomington’s stretch of international cuisine, this Vietnamese bistro offers authentic Asian fusion cuisine, including the traditional Vietnamese dish “pho.”

NICK’S ENGLISH HUT
423 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Few Hoosiers have left Bloomington without setting foot in this establishment. With old newspaper clippings, IU decor and televisions always set to that day’s big game, Nick’s epitomizes the IU spirit. For those over 21, make sure to play a round of Sink the Biz.

BLOOMINGTON BAGEL CO.
113 N. Dunn St.
This local bagel shop has now been in business for more than 15 years. The bagels are boiled fresh in-house daily, and the selection of schmears and toppings will never bore your taste buds.

BUFFALOUIE’S
114 S. Indiana Ave.
Any wings lover should make his or her way to this Bloomington favorite, with its flavorful sauces and IU-centric decor. BuffaLouie’s also has live entertainment, including jazz combos, throughout the week.