Inside, renovations have covered up some of the historic, divey appeal of Dorman Street Saloon with fresh surfaces and features found throughout to modernize the experience. Though it can be missed in the midst of these wholesale changes, the tile bar is one of the centerpieces of the space, a reclaimed counter from a nearby decommissioned Greyhound Bus station that dates back to the early 1970s. From there, some of the wood features behind the bar show some pleasant wear, but most other elements inside have been touched by updates.
Without the bar set by its historical pedigree, Dorman Street Saloon embodies everything great about a true neighborhood dive bar, just with a few modern concessions like a robust and deliciousl-looking cocktail menu, chalkboard surfaces, fresh paint and even a bathroom door in the shape of a Doctor Who-style phone booth. A simple back patio extends off of a secondary room that serves as the bar’s pool table area, a small collection of metal tables distributed among a brick floor and slightly elevated patio.
Visiting Dorman Street Saloon is as much visiting a piece of Indianapolis dive bar history as it is experiencing a classic corner neighborhood pub. While some of the interior surfaces have been modernized and updated, hiding a bit of divey glory, the building’s exterior has been allowed to embody some of its considerable history. And given that said history stretches back to sometime around 1870 and may or may not include one of history’s great bank robbers, Dorman Street Saloon makes a strong case for a visit, trendy cocktails or not.