Gift cards are both the easiest and hardest purchases for your new Indiana University student. They’re simple and require little effort, but it can be a pain to find one your student might actually use.
Fear not — here are three recommendations for gift cards that your new Hoosier will surely use, and enjoy, in Bloomington.
BuffaLouie’s at The Gables
It’s a staple of Bloomington for a reason. One of the best chicken wing spots in town, BuffaLouie’s at The Gables is a favorite of many IU students for its wings, burgers and overall vibes.
Nestled just off campus in the historic Gables building on Indiana Avenue, the restaurant has been around since 1987. The walls of its interior showcase IU sports posters, memorabilia and other photos, and plenty of TVs fill the space, so it’s almost impossible to miss any action if you visit to watch a game.
It’s not the cheapest option in town, which may deter some students from choosing the restaurant as their spot for dinner. But if you gift them a pre-paid meal, it's unlikely any IU student would turn down a trip to BuffaLouie’s.
Soma Coffeehouse & Juice Bar
With four locations in town, Soma is a great local spot for grabbing a quick coffee or bite to eat if you don’t want to settle for Starbucks. The two most popular locations are just off Kirkwood Avenue and the often-crowded intersection of Third Street and Eagleson Avenue. The chain recently opened a new location near 11th Street that is quickly gaining popularity.
I’m not much of a specialty coffee drinker, so I find Soma’s standard coffee — preferably the dark roast — to be high-quality. When I have expanded my horizons, some of the specialty lattes are also quite good, including the Lebowski and Top O’ The Morning.
Drinks at Soma aren’t the cheapest options in town, especially when compared to some of the alternatives available at the bigger corporate spots. But any Soma location is still a great place to chat with friends or study, so having a gift card is handy to facilitate those experiences.
Homefield at Tracks
Homefield Apparel is a popular clothing website that recently found a home on Kirkwood Avenue at the Tracks record store. Its website features a wide variety of collegiate wear, but the location on Kirkwood is dedicated to plenty of different IU clothes, ranging from Indiana football shirts to Hoosier beanies.
The clothes are some of my favorites I’ve purchased both for comfort and looks, but the prices can sometimes be a little steep. Purchasing a gift card for your new Hoosier will fix that issue, which lets them get some new swag that will certainly impress their friends and help them fit into the IU culture.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's 2026 Parent Guide.
