The Rathskeller

The overview

Schnitzel and steins in a landmark hall since 1894.

The Rathskeller fills the cellar of Indianapolis's landmark Athenaeum — a German cultural house built in the 1890s — and has served Bavarian food and beer there for generations. Vaulted stone rooms, a Kellerbar of imported drafts, and a summer Biergarten with live music make it the city's definitive German hall.

A piece of living history inside the Athenaeum, it's the 2025 Centurion Award winner in Indianapolis.

What they're known for

Jägerschnitzel & sausages
Kellerbar imported drafts
Summer Biergarten with live music

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. The Rathskeller cleared every one.

✓Years in operation. Operating in Indianapolis since 1894 — 132 years of continuous business.
✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Indianapolis.
✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Indianapolis has kept The Rathskeller busy for 132 years.
✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Indianapolis regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
✓Recognition in the local community. Named best German restaurant in Indianapolis for 2026 as the city's oldest restaurant, serving schnitzel and biergarten nights since 1894.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2025

Best German Restaurant in Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation

All awards for The Rathskeller →

Visit The Rathskeller

Websiterathskeller.com ↗

Location401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204

In business since1894

Find them onFacebook · Instagram · Yelp

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about The Rathskeller — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name: The Rathskeller
Category: Restaurant
Founded: 1894, Indianapolis, IN
Location: 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Centurion Award: Best German Restaurant in Indianapolis — 2025
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after The Rathskeller cleared the 2025 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is The Rathskeller?

Indianapolis's oldest restaurant, housed in the historic Athenaeum since 1894, serving German classics with a beloved summer biergarten.

Is The Rathskeller award-winning?

Yes — The Rathskeller is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best German Restaurant in Indianapolis, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best German restaurant in Indianapolis for 2025 as the city's oldest restaurant, serving schnitzel and biergarten nights since 1894.

Where is The Rathskeller?

The Rathskeller is in Indianapolis, IN.