Old Town Tavern

Maybe it’s just because it was 5 o’clock, but I came here with a friend and felt very unwelcomed. For a dive bar, the owner sure has a lot of rules and opinions about how you manage your hairstyle

Horrible place bartender and owner are racist and service was horrible do NOT go to this place!!!

If you love dive bars then you need to check this place out. It is very different from most of the other bars in the area. Bartenders know many patrons by name, you will always meet an interesting person to talk to, and the liquor/​beer selection is decent. Darts, pool, and touchtunes are avaiable to keep you entertained, too!

This place is just cool. It’s not one of those awkward bars where everyone stares at you when you walk in. Everyone here acts like a family and you are sure to meet some pretty interesting and friendly people. It’s fairly small but there are tables outside and a big pool table inside. Ask for the pickleback– shot of whiskey followed by a pickle juice chaser (surprisingly refreshing, weirdly good).
This place doesn’t have a very big sign and often goes unnoticed next to the lit up bars lining downtown Carmel, but just keep your eyes peeled (it’s across the street from the pint room)!

I work near downtown Carmel and have been in the area many, many times, and I’ve honestly never noticed Old Town Tavern. It’s so easily unnoticed it’s almost a shame! What I found really fascinating, especially for a downtown Carmel bar, was that you can still smoke inside of it. It’s a nice sized bar for how dive-​like it is. They have a decent beer list, and it’s relatively cheap to drink there. For such a small hole in the wall, it was VERY packed with people and I really liked it. People of all kinds – locals, young adults, older patrons – it was quite a fun, happy mix! When the country music kicks on, expect some sweet dance moves.

This is a smokey dive bar, plain and simple. The beer and the food is what you would expect of such a place. Not much more to say. Set your exceptions accordingly.
They have a pool table juke box. In the summer time there is outdoor seating in front and back.
If you’re looking for a laid back place to drink and like dive bars, this is for you.

Suggest everyone read the great review by Robb G.
Like other reviewers have suggested, I can only imagine the frustration the Old Town causes Brainard and the others running Carmel, but thank goodness the place exists.
Older, run down, smokey, and comfortable. Entering through the back door the bar is immediately ahead on the west wall. Well worn bar stools with back rests, old wooden bar with standard rail, box footrest, and a bar back that contains mostly shelves, liqour bottles, and a couple crappy TVs. The bar overhang is awesome, with postcards on the bottom. Opposite the bar are tables, a pool table, and dart board. Lit up behind the bar and over the pool table, but otherwise pretty dark
Patrons definitely run the gamut but all know their way around a bar. Top notch bartenders that know how to serve a strong drink. Food is average, I wouldn’t go to Old Town just for the food, but have no problem eating here.
Would have drinks here more often, but worry about the Carmel cops.

Great dive bar with pool, video game bowling, juke box, darts and golden tee. Yes, it’s smoky. But it’s a dive bar. You’re not coming here with grandma. Nice 75 cent pool table. Decent priced drinks. It’s a great dive bar in the middle of an uppity neighborhood. Five stars!

Love this place. Is it kind of a dive? Yep. Is it smoky as hell? Yep again. But do they have a fab jukebox, friendly bartenders (LOVE Leslie!) and awesome people watching? Totally. Such a fun find in sometimes stuffy Carmel. They’ll even let you order a pizza to be delivered to the bar if you’ve got a late-​night need for food (to soak up all the drinks you will no doubt have consumed). Patrons run the gamut from the older/​regular crowd, country music lovers, newly 21-​year-​olds, and randoms like me who just like to get out and have some drinks.

Great little place. I typically stop in during the afternoon for a quick bite to eat… so it’s not very busy, and not super smokey like some reviews have noted… the bartender knows her patrons and created a special basket appetizer just for me :)

This is what bars were like a few decades ago, and thank the Lord there are a few still left. Nice folks and cold beer. This place anchors Carmel in the real world.

Best «old school» bar in Arts/​Design area in Old Town Carmel.

***warning*** this is a bar folks… people drink and smoke here!
this is not your typical yuppie Carmel Bar.
this place has style… and it has Bruce… the best bar owner around.
one pool table, one dart board, strong drinks and great bartenders.
food is decent too.
this place is nothing fancy… just fabulous.
if you want a «pick up» joint or a «dance club» try another place… this is a bar.

Smart move, Old Town, to set up a foodie table during the Arts Festival. I still won’t go in to dine (maybe the mob o’ Marlboro Men only show up when I arrive?), but now I’m super craving their pulled pork sandwiches. So this upgraded rating is for the tavern’s dang good food.
I’m a Hoosier — I’ve tried lots of pulled pork and love it. Old Town managed to serve me a sandwich different than one I’ve tried before. They offer North Carolina vinegar sauce pulled pork sandwiches that make most bbq sauces seem like kid-​catsup. Tender pork, flavorful sauce that doesn’t drown out the pork.
You got me, Old Tavern. At least, you got me pulling up to pick up take out! ;)

Would be a good crappy little smoke-​filled bar to grab a drink in after work if the employees weren’t so unfriendly/​rude.
Gave it a second chance, but the owner is as rude as the employees.
Lesson learned.
Never again…

What a great place. Stopped in for lunch one afternoon and hated to leave. Great food, great atmosphere, and the owners couldn’t have been nicer (and no, we aren’t regulars). As far as the smoke factor… it’s a bar not a candy store. It you want to be in a smoke free environment move to NJ where the only place you can light up is in your own house. They don’t even let you smoke outside over there.

Old Town Tavern does not meet the standards of a Dive Bar, way below. I will never go back unless I see a cleaning crew parked out front for a few days.

The couple times my husband and I have been there it was horrible. Went in once when we first moved here 5 years ago. It was super smokey, lousy service, nasty restroom and only the regulars mattered to the bartender. We ended up drinking our first drink, paid our bill and walked out.
The second time we went there, just last summer to give it another shot, there was a small party of 5 at a table out back and only 2 people inside at the bar. We sat at a table to get away from the smoke at the bar. We had every intention to eat dinner there. We waited and waited. We could here sounds from the kitchen and a couple people talking, but it was a good 10 minutes before we saw anyone.
When the bartender came out from the kitchen she didn’t even say Hi, or I’ll be right with you. See said «you’ll have to sit at the bar if you want to be waited on because we’re short handed». And the way she said it wasn’t even polite. Just then 4 people walked in that she obviously knew. They sat at the bar. She waited on them and was talking and laughing with them, and totally ignored us! (we weren’t regulars) We walked out — again! This time without even getting a drink.
I’m really surprised that «carmelites» let this kind of lousy customer service and nasty atmosphere exist in their cute, little town. It’s a bad reflection on Carmel.