For dinner-only Vida, restaurateur Mike Cunningham took a shaky old building in the Lockerbie neighborhood and rebuilt it into the city’s only AAA Four Diamond restaurant, one that wins kudos for its wine list and live wall of growing herbs and greens. Vida is helmed by chef Thomas Melvin who was named as a semifinalist on the James Beard Awards list for the second time in 2024; the chef’s tasting menu is available for tables at $135 per person — or splurge with wine pairings for $215.

Vida is newly opened and has a cellar with some of the rarest labels available in Indianapolis. It’s a carefully curated list put together by certified sommeliers, so it might be a little intimidating to the new drinker. That said, the staff is more than happy to offer user-friendly advice on what pairs best with what, and early reports say the menu is a knockout.

For date night, Vida is a romantic pick with an impressive hydroponic herb wall and regularly changing tasting menu served by the fireplace. James Beard–nominated chef Abbi Meriss of Bluebeard is opening Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie in April, combining arthouse movies with her twist on French food.

In the historic Lockerbie Square neighborhood, Vida delivers a refined yet inviting fine-dining experience, helmed by two-time James Beard semifinalist Thomas Melvin. His meticulously crafted four- and seven-course tasting menus are a showcase of technical precision and creative balance, featuring dishes like seared scallop with crispy Brussels sprout leaves, bacon lardons, and a hit of gochujang maple brown butter. Meanwhile, bluefin tuna, kissed by the flame, arrives with smoked trout roe, yuzu kosho aioli, and a delicate drizzle of sesame ponzu.

THE FOUR-COURSE multiple-choice dinners at Cunningham Restaurant Group’s retrofitted Lockerbie Square location unfold like culinary Choose Your Own Adventures. Will you start with a single octopus tentacle curled around a confetti of roasted cauliflower and candied pepita, a few perfect mouthfuls of hamachi, or roasted carrots polka-dotted with coconut yogurt and curry vinaigrette?. Should you go with foie gras or pork belly for your second course?

Vida embodies a modern expression of culinary techniques with a worldly influence, set in a relaxed ambience. Known For: Your choice between a four course tasting menu or a six course tasting menu, including options like Berkshire pork belly and beef tartare. Atmosphere: Located in the Lockerbie neighborhood on the East side of downtown, this fine dining eatery grows their own herbs with their prolific greenery wall

For my money (and this restaurant has taken a lot of it over the years), you simply absolutely cannot beat Vida. It's my favorite restaurant for date night, birthday, anniversaries, Christmas Eve...you name it, I'm suggesting Vida. ​The priciest and most innovative offering from The Cunningham Group, Vida's open kitchen features their amazing chefs hard at work perfecting the best our local farmers have to offer.

Another award-worthy choice for dinner is Vida, where you can choose between a 7-course tasting menu or a 4-course prix fixe menu. For a classic Indy experience, dine at St. Elmo Steak House (open since 1902) and order the sinus-clearing spicy Shrimp Cocktail. A local go-to is Tinker Street, a neighborhood restaurant where every meal starts with a toast of bubbly (the restaurant is 21+ only).

A CRG restaurant is guaranteed to be on our list of romantic dining spots, as they've nailed romantic dining rooms down to a fine science. Vida manages to feel both modern and old-school at the same time, with an ultra-modern living wall that leads you to either a low-lit bar or richly appointed dining room. This is the closest thing you'll find to a MICHELIN Star Restaurant in Indiana.

A newcomer in the industry has made it to the top 10 wine bars in Indianapolis. Vida will challenge what you think about a good venue as since it opened, they have showed guests a cellar of the rarest liquor labels available in the city. Only the righteous and qualified sommeliers are able to distinguish them and use their senses to pair the best wines with what food you are ordering.

Vida is the Spanish word for “life,” hence the huge hydroponic garden overlooking the open kitchen. Chefs use the fresh herbs and greens in New American dishes infused with world flavors. Soft-as-butter smoked scallop slices might garnish shrimp dumplings along with black garlic, bok choy, crispy onion rings and beech mushrooms.

My love for the ricotta doughnuts at Vida is so strong it could be considered a personality trait. They may be the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth, and I tell everyone about them. Imagine the fluffiest little pillows covered in maple glaze and served with caramel ice cream, crunchy candied bacon, and brown butter bits.

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (233 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (5.0/5), Value (4.0/5)– Type of cuisine: American, Contemporary– Price: $$$$– Address: 601 E New York St Corner of New York and Park, Indianapolis, IN 46202– Read more on Tripadvisor. Article has been re-published pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

In the historic Lockerbie Square, Vida offers an elevated dining experience that’s elegant and contemporary. Each dish at Vida is meticulously crafted, presenting a journey of flavors and textures. From delicate amuse-bouches to decadent desserts, diners are treated to a symphony of tastes that change with the seasons.

- Rating: 4.7/5 (497 reviews)- Price level: $$$$- Address: 601 East New York St. Indianapolis, Indiana - Categories: New American, Seafood- Read more on Yelp. This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.

Address: 601 E New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202Phone:+1 (317) 420-2323Website:vida-restaurant.comDetails: $$$, Restaurant. Vida in Indianapolis offers an outstanding dining experience with exceptional service. This upscale restaurant is perfect for a special night out or a high-end dinner.

With two unique spaces including an upstairs private dining area and a semi-private wine room, Vida is known for its modern culinary creations and elegant ambiance. Their menu offers fresh, innovative dishes and a diverse wine collection, perfect for special occasions or a refined night out!

Dinner: Vida is an upscale spot perfect for a night out, with a 4-course tasting menu that changes seasonally. You can also order a la carte. Think courses like Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower with apricot and pumpkin seed dukkah, and Sea Bass with curry emulsion and Thai basil.

This iconic restaurant in Downtown Indianapolis emerges from the visionary efforts of restaurateur Mike Cunningham. Transcending its origins as a shaky old building in the Lockerbie neighborhood, Vida has been meticulously transformed into an AAA Four Diamond restaurant.

601 East New York Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 317-420-2323. One of a select few Indianapolis restaurants to earn AAA’s coveted Four Diamond award!. Vida’s menu features two dining styles, an a la carte seasonal menu and a rotating Tastings Menu.

601 E New York StIndianapolis, IN 46202(317) 420-2323 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Vidas, which was established in 2016, delivers modern American meals and drinks in a hip environment with a fireplace, bar, and herb wall.

To start, Vida is one of the only restaurants in Indianapolis to earn AAA’s coveted Four Diamond award. So, you know the quality is going to be truly world-class. And, that’s in terms of food and drink all the way to superb service.

There are multiple restaurants in the area with Vida being probably one of the top places in the city. I believe Vida is the only other restaurant that is “rated” other than Milktooth(breakfast only place).

Vida is a great restaurant where you can have Modern American food for dinner with your partner. Visiting Vida is one of the best date ideas in Indianapolis in the evening. View this post on Instagram

Then there's also a lot of buzz around The Eagle, which is American comfort food, and Vida, which grows the herbs they use on a plant wall in the restaurant—but I haven't made it to those two yet.

Vida: One of the few places to earn the coveted Four Diamond Award from AAA for its world-class service, drinks and innovative cuisine, this is a cozy venue with food like no others.

New York Street, in downtown Indy is said to "embody a modern expression of culinary techniques with a worldly influence, set in a relaxed ambiance".

601 E New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202Phone: 317-420-2323 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Vida (@vida.restaurant)

Vida – When you like ultra-modern decor, low lights and one of the top curated wine lists in the entire city, this is the place to go.

It was my partner's birthday and I decided to surprise her with a dinner at Vida, a popular choice among the locals.