16-Bit Bar+Arcade — Restaurant in Indianapolis

To update: after speaking back and forth with management, it is my understanding this patron was posing as a bouncer and i still think the staff could have done more on the day of this incident to keep us safe, but i appreciate GM janelle’s action banning him

Thank you 🤍

have been here several times over the past few years and never had a bad experience. I love this place. The bartenders are so sweet. My opinion completely changed 6/26/25 when I went out with my friends to celebrate one getting married 6/28. As soon as we entered 16-bit we were approached by a bouncer who said to one girl in our group, who tore her tendon and was wearing a boot, “be careful girl, you are a slow target”. He was also limping, so this was not only predatory and TERRIFYING but ironic. He then watched us get drinks and waited by the stairs. We wanted to play skiball, so we frequented that corner. We all saw him look up all of our skirts/dresses as we went up. He saw us catch him, and we said something, and he seemed embarrassed, but did not stop approaching or following us around 16-bit. For the rest of the night, we were hyper aware of his location and made sure he was not near the stairs before descending. He made several comments to all 5 women in our group about our appearance, clothes and tattoos. He was hovering by us, by the slide, doing laps to make sure he could talk to us, staring at us. We were all incredibly uncomfortable. At this point, the bride and groom in our group went to 16-bit’s management, and they described this conversation as disappointing. The predatory bouncer came to us and gave a forced, slurred, nonsensical apology about how “he thought he recognized one of us but didn’t, oops.” He said nothing about trying to look up our dresses, following us and did not apologize for making the gross joke about stalking/violence towards women. After his apology, he then approached me a few moments later AGAIN when I went downstairs to get a drink and told me he likes my chest tattoos, which was inappropriate, considering we had already been clearly avoiding him, moving away from areas he was, and he had already apologized to us, as per his boss’ orders, even though he didn’t mean it and apparently didn’t even know what he did wrong, because he was making up reasons to be sorry. Right before we cut our losses and left the bar, and went to a different one to finish the night (where we did not get preyed upon by staff) , we saw this same creepy bouncer leaning on the bar downstairs and staring at a girl in short jean shorts. He was looking her up and down like she was meat. We warned her of what happened to us, and she seemed concerned but grateful we alerted her. The guys in her group heard what we said, and said to the girl in jean shorts, “WAS THAT THE BOUNCER THAT WAS WEIRD TO YOU WHEN WE CAME IN?” So, it clearly was not just us… not just once… and not just last night. He has a pattern of inappropriate behavior. This behavior was inappropriate and 16-bit management/staff seemed to be aware but apathetic to this predatory bouncer’s behavior. He is supposed to keep patrons safe and make the environment feel welcoming, not run a group of 10+ people out of his workplace because he can’t keep his composure. It is absolutely unacceptable and unsafe to allow this behavior in your bar and ridiculous to not take customers’ concerns seriously when brought to your attention. Women will not feel safe here anymore and women will not come back. Women bring men to your bar. Everyone brings money. You would think management would take it seriously… Ladies - don’t go to 16-bit. But god forbid you do, don’t go alone, not even on a weekday, in a group of TEN, or without men. This bouncer backed off once the groomsmen in our group hovered around us, glared and made it clear we were not “slow targets” but that didn’t avert his eyes or offhand remarks. It is repulsive to see a person use their place of work/position of power to take advantage of their customers for their own sexual gain. Very disappointed in one of my...

We went to celebrate our friend's birthday but we had a horrible time. Our friend was disappointed as this was her first time visiting this establishment.

We usually have a great time here but tonight was extremely disappointing. The unprofessional bartenders singled my husband after THEY mistakenly made two drinks that we did not order. Our entire party told the bartenders that no one at the table ordered the drinks in question.

The bartenders brought the drinks to our table anyway and tried to put them on my husband's tab although they weren't added on the tab to begin with. The bartenders were very combative and disrespectful. They then ignored my husband when he tried to order a beer later and of course they used the most go-to racist dog whistle saying my husband, who was very calm and never raised his voice, made them uncomfortable.

My husband returned the two drinks and one of the bartenders said "that's all you have to do" in a very condescending manner. Our friend was served after my husband was ignored. The bartenders said they needed to get the manager because of the previous interaction.

The manager then acknowledged that the entire situation was a misunderstanding to OUR FRIEND. She did not speak to my husband but she had no problem blaming the whole thing on my husband. I do not recommend leaving an open tab at this place because the bartenders clearly don't keep up with orders.

Our friends and their parents are very let down by this place because of the discrimination they witnessed my husband go through. We have no desire to ever come back to 16- Bit. There are better alternatives in the area.

Again usually this place was fun but I'm starting understand these other negative reviews.

A word of advice, train your bartenders to be more professional and train the managers to not accuse patrons when the staff...

Went to 16 Bit for the first to meet coworkers for a drink after work. Decided to take my 1 year old pup, Sky, after calling to confirm they were dog friendly. When I called, the man who answered said “we love dogs, bring em in!” - not only is their patio dog friendly (the case for most Indy dog friendly bars), but the entire inside is. When I got there, the guy at the front stand greeted me with a bag that had a ball and dog treat, which was super welcoming and awesome. Sky had an accident on the patio in the fake grass, (I was embarrassed and felt so bad) and the guy working the bar was so patient and kind regarding the matter, and he brought me bags to help me in cleaning it up. He made me feel so much better and he even said “aww it’s ok - it happens”... Long story short, every person that works there was beyond kind and helpful to me. The vibe was chill and fun, obviously plenty of games to play, great craft cocktail and beer list, and patio/indoor was an open concept so super roomy. We will 100% be back, and it will be a new go to place for my coworkers and I for after work drinks! Thanks Indy 16-Bit for giving Indy what it needed - a welcoming, downtown, dog friendly bar with GREAT...