Old Town Tavern - A Dive Bar Experience in Carmel, IN

Bruce (the owner) IS THE MAN! Local watering hole, been here for forever and a day. Smoking is allowed inside, which most bars prohibit. They have 1 pool table and a couple arcade machines (golf games) and a Jukebox. Perfect location. Smack dab in the middle of downtown Carmel. Bruce is always there getting to know all of his guests and making sure we are having a great time!

One of the few places you can still smoke inside. Drinks are pretty cheap. Not a big place, some space to sit outside. Pool table, but hard to play if crowded. Wide age range on weekends. Quality entertainment the other night...not just one but two chick fights.

Great Old school Bar - met owner Bruce and his wife and had great conversation - reminds me of small FL keys bars we used to go to on weekends - no frills just a bar, drinks, cold beers, pool table and interesting people from all over... Not fancy, you will smell of smoke - but really cool place that is the old school Bar. . I understand why so many people have almost a cult following of this place. It's been around forever - the owner is cool and laid back, and it breaks from the rest of the downtown carmel in its focus. Five stars for being independent and what they are... chilled shots, great beer - I had Zombie Dust on tap - which is always awesome - and just a great old school Bar in carmel downtown. Thanks to them for great outing and memories from younger years in the FL Keys.

Our favorite Bar in town! Ive been going there since 1988 and go in there with my Sons who are regulars there. Great place to go and have a Cigar and a Beer. Bruce and the Staff are laid back and always good to us. It is the best time around the holidays, most of the people from out of town are there (that have grown up in Carmel) and you can run into and old friend! Check it out!

I go here multiple times a month, and trust me when I say it’s not the closest to my house. It’s a tiny hole in the wall, but it reminds me of bars back home on the gulf coast. It’s tiny and comfortable, and other than the regular crowd who sit at the bar all of the time everyone else is always different every night.

I can count on one hand how many actual bars I have been in during my life, so I do not have much to compare it to. The bar was small, not too busy. The bathroom was clean. We played pool and the table was well kept. The bar tender was friendly. Please hit thumbs up if this review is helpful.

A little slice of old school Americana. Warning, they do still allow smoking. Some nights are bad but mostly fine. The atmosphere is great, the crowd is great and the bartenders are great, especially Soren!

First of all, why do people go to a bar that still allows smoking and then COMPLAIN? Secondly, they apparently do not allow people to wear their caps backwards. Be respectful and don't wear a hat indoors plain and simple. Love me a dive bar and this fits the bill. I would love it if there were a few more drafts available, but no worries because there is beer in bottles and cans. I didn't try any food because I went to a dive bar! I know better, and if I ended up having something I wouldn't complain BECAUSE IM AT A DIVE BAR.