ELEVATE at Hotel Indy — Restaurant in Indianapolis

This review is regarding booking an event at the Cannon Ball Lounge!

We started working with Hotel Indy in September of 2024 to hold the outdoor dinner space (The Paddock) for our rehearsal dinner of about 50 and rooftop space (Cannonball Lounge) for welcome drinks for about 150-200 for Sept 2025. They were super accommodating and we had a hold on both spaces and they let us know that if any other inquiries come in for either of those spaces they will let us know.

We went and visited the property in late 2024 and then were discussing menus in December 2024. At the end of January we reached out to formally put down the money to book the space and no one responded to us.

After reaching out twice, in Mid February we got a response that Hotel Indy had already booked out the Rooftop (Cannon Ball Lounge) to someone else. This was really disheartening because we had a hold on the space and had planning conversations for the past 4+ months, and the Hotel Indy staff knew this.

Additionally, we were going to book out both spaces and not just the roof (spending over 15k), and we did not get any preference. They did not let us know that anyone else inquired on the space. After - they told us we should have booked the space sooner "If we knew anything about wedding planning" the thing about this is most people get married once so, we clearly do not do this often. When partnering with a vendor, especially when hosting a large 150-200 person event - you need to let the customer know how the processes works, if you recommend just booking now, has the hold expired etc. We are not the hospitality experts, you all are. They did not guide us through this process and it ended up with us losing the space and going back to the drawing board for our wedding festivities for September 2025. I was really heartbroken by this as the mock ups and photos from past events were so beautiful, and I had been envisioning holding our events in these spaces.

Overall, a great place but I am not sure the organization/professional practices are up to the standard to host large events with 150-200 people. I would also make sure you ask A LOT...

I come to Indianapolis for business every few months and always stay at Hotel Indy. For years, the best part of my trips was the Cannonball Lounge — a classy, low-key rooftop spot with mid-century modern charm, a small but stellar staff, and cocktails that were genuinely works of art. The bartenders knew their craft, the atmosphere was relaxed yet sophisticated, and it felt like a hidden gem.

I came back last week after three months away and… wow. What a letdown. The Cannonball Lounge is gone, replaced by something called “Elevate Bar” — and they’ve stripped away everything that made it special. The decor now looks cheap and clubby, the unique cocktails have been replaced with generic, forgettable drinks, and the expert staff I looked forward to seeing has been replaced mostly by very young, inexperienced bartenders. Loud club music blasts late into the night (and yes, you can hear it in the hotel rooms on the same floor — terrible if you actually want to sleep).

And the kicker? There’s an arcade basketball hoop on the rooftop. Who thought that was a good idea? I watched balls flying across the patio like projectiles — one nearly took out my drink. This is a liability waiting to happen, not to mention incredibly out of place.

The only thing that’s improved is the food, which is decent. But overall, “Elevate” feels like a cheap attempt to make the space “chic” and “Instagrammable” at the expense of actual quality and atmosphere. They took something exceptional and authentic, gutted it, and served back a loud, unsafe, overpriced shell of its former self.

If you’re looking for a cool, unique rooftop bar in Indianapolis — this is no longer it. Huge...

I recently had the pleasure going to The Cannon Ball Lounge, and I must say, it was a delightful experience from start to finish. Danielle and Jamie were terrific, providing exceptional service that made me feel right at home.

The rooftop space is warm and welcoming, creating the perfect ambiance for a cozy evening out. The highlight of my visit was the sage Mac & Cheese, which was nothing short of amazing. It felt like a warm hug on a chilly evening—comfort food at its finest!

Overall, I highly recommend The Cannon Ball Lounge for its fantastic service, inviting atmosphere, and delicious food. I can't...