First look: InterContinental Indianapolis review

When the InterContinental Indianapolis opened in February, it marked the completion of a $120 million restoration of the landmark Illinois Building downtown. In addition to bringing this 100-year-old constructing into the fashionable period whereas preserving historic particulars, the InterContinental Indianapolis caught our consideration: It earned a spot on TPG’s record of essentially the most thrilling resort openings of 2025, because it’s the primary luxurious resort to open in Indiana’s capital in almost 20 years.

This opening, together with the latest $89 million renovation of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the WNBA All-Star Game this July and the a centesimal anniversary of the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, additionally earned Indy a spot on TPG’s record of one of the best locations to journey in 2025.

First impressions

The constructing’s Nineteen Twenties origins are most evident within the closely gilded elevator financial institution you enter at avenue stage. But as soon as the elevators open to the second-floor foyer, you instantly discover the resort’s transformation right into a Twenty first-century property.

Contemporary artwork commissioned from native artists hangs entrance and middle (do not miss the portrait of Indiana-native David Letterman that Taylor Smith produced from floppy discs). Other trendy particulars embody a reception desk produced from laser-cut aluminum fins and a hand-blown glass chandelier. The marble bar on the foyer’s restaurant Serliana serves because the resort’s hub.

The InterContinental model evolution is obvious right here: The property caters to enterprise vacationers with superbly designed assembly rooms off the foyer, however a buzzy rooftop bar attracts in locals and vacationers alike. The pop-art really feel of the artwork assortment provides the property an upscale but unpretentious vibe.

The rooms

The InterContinental Indianapolis has 170 visitor rooms and suites throughout six classes, together with basic rooms that begin at 307 sq. ft and barely bigger premium rooms (each of which include one king or two queen beds). Suites vary from 1 King Studio Suites (1 King Studio Suites with mobility accessible roll-in showers are additionally obtainable) to one-bedroom luxurious suites with a separate bed room and front room to the 1,545-square-foot penthouse suite with floor-to-ceiling views of Monument Circle and a personal elevator.

All rooms are embellished in shades of cream and dusty blue with gold accents that emulate an expensive and calm temper. Though the patterned carpet that seems wall-to-wall in most visitor rooms and hallways detracts from the property’s upscale vibe, I did not hear a single different visitor exterior or above my room.

I stayed in a one-bedroom luxurious suite, which had one and a half loos and a king-size bed room with views of the Indiana Statehouse. The separate spacious front room had a moist bar, a small desk, a big closet, an elegant velvet sofa and an armchair. Both the bed room and front room had privateness and blackout shades that lowered with the contact of a button.

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The en-suite rest room was huge sufficient to suit a walk-in bathe, a separate bathtub and twin sinks. The half tub off the lounge included a rest room and a single sink. Other room classes — aside from the penthouse suite — include only one rest room with solely walk-in showers, however all rooms have Byredo Bal D’Afrique tub facilities.

The moist bar had a Nespresso espresso machine, and the minibar fridge had area to retailer leftovers along with the sodas, beer and different alcoholic drinks on the market. In addition to gummy bears and M&Ms, native snacks like Broad Ripple Chip Co. potato chips had been additionally obtainable to buy within the minibar.

Dining at InterContinental Indianapolis

The InterContinental Indianapolis has two eating places and bars which can be open to the general public, in addition to 24-hour in-room eating.

Serliana, within the resort’s second-floor foyer, is the resort’s all-day restaurant open each day from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. It serves classics like steak frites ($38), burgers ($19) and tuna nicoise salads ($19) for lunch and dinner. You may even attempt its model of the Indiana basic pork tenderloin sandwich ($17). For breakfast, I ordered the hearty mushroom toast ($17) served on semolina nation bread with tulip tree nettle cheese and scrambled eggs.

The resort’s crown jewel is Astrea, on the Eleventh-floor rooftop. It provides prime views of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in addition to the prospect to stand up near authentic architectural particulars just like the constructing’s gold terra cotta cornice. It is open from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. each day and till 1 a.m. on weekends.

Astrea’s meals menu is proscribed to snacks and shareable dishes, however I made a dinner of the jumbo shrimp cocktail ($22) and Indiana charcuterie board ($24) that got here with three native cured meats, grilled bread and house-made pickles. To drink, I had the robust and spicy Monocular Findings ($16) made with tequila, mezcal, apricot, fino sherry and gochujang paint.

The vibe was energetic with pop music taking part in on a Tuesday night time. DJs take it up one other notch on the weekends.

Room service is on the market 24 hours and provides a restricted menu at night time with rooster membership wraps ($14) and energy bowls ($17). For breakfast, I loved an order of beignets ($9) and a carafe of espresso ($10). You can name to order or scan a QR code within the room and order in your cellphone.

Amenities and repair

• The service was attentive and fast, from the chatty valets who at all times had my automobile prepared upon request to the pleasant receptionist who texted me after check-in to see if my room was OK. The service at Serliana and for in-room eating was immediate. When it was busy, I needed to wait a bit for my examine at Astrea, however I did not thoughts having fun with the view longer.
• Known for catering to enterprise vacationers, the InterContinental’s assembly rooms are lovely with marble convention tables, leather-based chairs and alabaster lighting fixtures.
• The 24-hour fitness center could also be within the basement, however the wall behind the treadmills and Pelotons is backlit to look like a window filtering in pure gentle.
• Each ground has a hydrostation the place glass carafes could be crammed with nonetheless or glowing water. Instead of an everyday ice machine, there’s a freezer with individually wrapped luggage of ice for a extra sanitary expertise.
• There is not any pool or spa.

Location and logistics

The InterContinental Indianapolis is within the coronary heart of downtown, simply off Monument Circle. It is one block from the Indiana Statehouse and three blocks from the Indiana Convention Center.

From Indianapolis International Airport (IND), it’s a few 25-minute drive to the resort. (The resort does not supply an airport shuttle.) Ride-hailing providers like Uber and Lyft can be found and value about $23 between the resort and the airport. A public bus route operates between downtown and the airport, which takes about an hour.

I rented a automobile throughout my go to so I might discover past downtown. Valet parking prices $65 per day.

What it prices to remain on the InterContinental Indianapolis and easy methods to guide

As an IHG resort, you may guide the InterContinental Indianapolis instantly with IHG One Reward factors. Room charges begin from $213 or 32,300 IHG One Reward factors per night time for a basic room. You also can guide via bank card portals like Chase Travel℠ and American Express Travel, although the resort has but to be added to any bank card resort collections like The Edit by Chase or Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts.

When reserving the InterContinental Indianapolis, you may need to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for IHG stays, in addition to one which presumably provides automated IHG One Rewards elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

Accessibility

The InterContinental Indianapolis has 4 Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant visitor rooms which can be wheelchair accessible and have accessible door locks, roll-in showers with handrails and built-in switch bathe seats. Tall bogs with seize bars are additionally obtainable.

The resort’s public areas had been additionally renovated and designed with accessibility in thoughts. These embody all entrances and doorways, elevators, the registration desk, restaurant, public restrooms and health middle.

Bottom line›

With an brisk rooftop bar and significantly cool modern artwork assortment that includes native expertise, the InterContinental Indianapolis will subvert your expectations of an almost 80-year-old resort model inside a 100-year-old constructing.

Whether you are on the town for a convention, basketball recreation or to get pleasure from Indy’s world-class museums past downtown, this new resort supplies an expensive, centrally situated residence base from which to discover this Midwestern capital.

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