Lafayette (Indiana)

By train

Amtrak serves the Lafayette with two services, the Cardinal service between Chicago and New York City three times a week. On days the Cardinal does not run, the daytime Hoosier State runs between Chicago and Indianapolis. Journey time from Chicago is about 3.5 hours. is located at 200 N 2nd St.

By bus

• Greyhound. From Chicago, 3.5 hours.
• ExpressAirCoach shuttle bus from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 3 hours, $50.
• Lafayette Limo shuttle from Lafayette to the Indianapolis Airport, $27 one way, $50 round trip, around 1.5 hours.
• Star of America shuttle from Lafayette to the Indianapolis Airport, $19 one way, $38 round trip, around 1.5 hours, free wi-fi on shuttle.
• Suburban Express bus service between Purdue and the Chicago suburbs. Goes Purdue->Chicago on Friday, Chicago->Purdue on Sunday. $25 each way.

By plane

• Purdue University Airportdoes not carry commercial flights, but does allow private landings.

The area is divided by the Wabash River. To the east of the river is Lafayette and to the west is West Lafayette. Lafayette is broken down into several neighborhoods. Starting at the river and heading east is downtown. Here you will find numerous shops and restaurants as well as most of the museums and theaters. North of downtown is the Historical Centennial Neighborhood. South of downtown is the Ninth Street Hill Neighborhood. Most of the shopping and hotels are either downtown or along one of the main arteries. State Rd 26 runs east and west bisecting both cities. State Rd 52 curves around the East side of town and crosses the river into the Northern side of West Lafayette. On State Rd 52 near the Southeast side of town you will find the Tippecanoe Mall. Interstate 65 marks the eastern edge of Lafayette. From South to North there are 4 exits for Lafayette, St Rd 38, St Rd 26, St Rd 25, and St Rd 43 (for West Lafayette).
The John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge connects downtown Lafayette with West Lafayette. Starting at the river and heading west into West Lafayette is the Levee area and Wabash Landing. This area is fairly new with several shops, a multiplex theater, a park, and an outdoor ice skating rink. Continue west up the hill on State Rd. 26 to the Chauncey Hill and Village area. There you will find most of the college bars and several restaurants. Continue west on Hwy. 26 to pass through the main campus of Purdue University. To the north and east of Purdue is the main residential area of West Lafayette.

• Bus, There are 15 bus routes around the cities. Tickets are $1, 10 tokens for $7.50 (you can ask for one free transfer ticket), $28 for a calendar month pass, free for students and staff at Purdue. There is a free trolley bus going from downtown Lafayette to West Lafayette/Purdue and back every 15 minutes. Some bus lines do not run on weekends, in the summer, or anytime when classes are not in session; check schedules for details. Lafayette and the surroundings areas are suburban and relatively spread out; a private automobile is recommended.

• Go for a walk in the historic downtown, Main St. from 2nd to 9th St.

• Tippecanoe County Historical Association

• Fort Ouiatenon

• Historic Prophetstown State Park

• Wolf Park

• Columbian Park

• Columbian Park Zoo

• Lilly Nature Center

• The Standard Oil station, 627 South St, one of only seven left, is a walk-by museum.

• Go ice skating in the winter at Riverside, just east of Wabash Landing.
• Go to a Purdue football game or other major sporting event,
• Go to the Feast of the Hunter's Moon every fall
• Go to the Colt World Series every August
• Go to the Taste of Tippecanoe every June.

• Lala Gallery & Studio

  address: 609 Main St.
  Go see the finest art Lafayette has to offer or take a class in Lala Gallery's ceramics studio.

• Tropicanoe Cove

• Farmers market

  address: 5th Street
  On Tuesday and Saturday mornings, and Thursday evenings from May to late October. Saturday markets feature a much larger set of vendors than the weekday markets.

• Von's Records, Comics, Gifts, Books

  phone: +1 765 743-1915
  address: 319-325 W. State St, West Lafayette
  4 semi-separate stores but all next to each other and the place to find odd gifts, used books, comics, music, etc.

• JL Records

  address: 380 Brown St., West Lafayette
  Independent music store in the best sense of that tradition. Lots of hard to find vinyl and cds.

• LA Village Food Mart

  address: 208 South St
  In the Village, Groceries and Indian specialties.

• KitchenArt

  address: Win Hentschel Blvd just past the West Lafayette Wal-Mart
  Lots of really cool kitchen and gourmet cooking goodies. One of a kind.

• Discount Den

  address: Chancey Hill Mall, the Village

• Tippecanoe Mall

Lafayette

• Arni's

  address: 2200 Elmwood Ave.
  This pizza place has been around Lafayette for over 40 years, it is expanding throughout the state now, but it all started here.

• South Street Smokehouse

  address: 3305 South St.
  Amazing homestyle slow cooked meals. Very reasonably priced, definitely worth a stop for casual lunch or dinner.

• Frozen Custard

  address: Next to Columbian Park
  This Custard restaurant started in the 1930s and still serves the same hand dipped custard.

• Spageddie's Italian Kitchen

  address: 3990 E. State Rd. 26
  Right off the highway makes this restaurant perfect for road weary travelers that are looking for a nice chain experience in Italian food.

• The Other Pub

  address: 3000 S 9th St.
  A fun and welcoming atmosphere makes you feel like it's a second home. Great indoor smoking and smoke-free facility.

• Sgt Preston's of the North

  phone: +1 765-742-7378
  address: 6 N 2nd St

West Lafayette

• Triple XXXIndiana's first drive-in restaurant. Known for biscuits and gravy and a famous "Dwayne Purvis" hamburger with peanut butter. Great root beer too.

• Silver Dipper, River Market (corner of River Rd and State St). Hand-dipped ice cream and ice cream treats. Locally owned with a loyal customer base.

• Nine Irish Brothers

  phone: +1 765-746-4782
  address: 119 Howard Ave
  A little slice of Ireland right here in West Lafayette. Family-owned traditional Irish pub. Warm atmosphere, live music, unique draft selection, great appetizers (try the Irish Pizza), and of course your traditional Irish entrees. Second location is in Lafayette, adjacent to Tippecanoe Mall (3520 State Rd. 38 E).

• Green SproutAuthentic Korean/Japanese cuisine in Chauncey Village (southeast of WL Library). The sushi salad is amazing. Daily specials offered. Menu: $2-10. Also offers authentic Korean baked goods. Dine in, takeout, and delivery.

• Hookah!

  phone: +1 765-743-3636
  Chauncey Hill Mall, Best Mediterranean food on campus. You can enjoy a fine hookah smoke, though non smoking section is available. People tend to dance to the exotic music that is typically played after 11PM. Must be 18 years or older to enter on weekend. All ages welcome before 10PM. Good atmosphere. Full bar with international drinks as well as American favorites.

• Khana Khazana

  address: 108 Northwestern Ave
  Good Indian food, buffet for lunch and dinner, take out available. Pricey.

• Bombay Indian Restaurant

  address: 111 South River Rd
  Buffet available but is a bit more pricey (~$9-10). Definitely worth a visit.

• Kibu Cafe

  address: 101 South River Rd
  Suite D. Delicious and authentic Korean + Japanese food, larger restaurant than Joo Joo. Offers various popular menu from Korea and Japan including their signature hand-made noodle made fresh daily. Also available a business meeting room for reservation.

• Captain Gyro's

  address: 132 Northwestern Ave
  Great gyros at a decent price.

• Cafe Vienna Expresso Bar and Bakery

  address: 208 South Street
  Good sweet treats and coffee, and an eclectic mix of sandwiches named after jazz and blues artists.

• Basil Thai

  phone: +1 765-743-3330
  Chauncey Hill Mall. Smallish menu, but good Thai food and spicy curries. Great mango salad. Also sells bubble tea.

• Joo Joo Korean Restaurant

  phone: +1 765-743-5566
  Chauncey Hill Mall. Authentic Korean food, small restaurant. They have a larger restaurant on Hwy 52 (go west past the Wal-Mart) which also has billiards.

• Boiler Market

  address: 320 W State St
  Salads, sandwiches and some of the best pizza in town. "Pitcher and pie" specials.

• Parthenon

  phone: +1 765-743-6778
  Chauncey Hill Mall. Authentic Greek food in a spacious dining area.

• Olive House

  address: 200 South St
  A small Mediterranean restaurant featuring an authentic menu.

Lafayette

• Alley-Oops

  address: 1701 Schuyler Avenue
• Ben Hur Tavern, 1002 S 4th.
• Biltmore Tap Room, 1202 S 4th.

• Black Sparrow

  address: 223 Main St
  Located right down town across from the Red Seven restaurant. Smaller lunch / dinner menu with unique items. The closest Lafayette comes to a hipster bar. Bands often play on Friday / Saturday nights and sometimes there is a cover charge.

• Checkerboard Tavern

  address: 1521 Kossuth St
  careful, they don't seem to change their fryer oil often enough.
• Chumley's, 122 N 3rd. On the courthouse square. Lots of different beers on tap make it a very popular late night alternative to the campus bars. Monday and Thursday nights are "Schooner Nights" with especially good drink specials, mostly involving the eponymous 32 oz. goblet. Lots of TVs showing all major sporting events. Smoking is permitted.
• Clubhouse Bar and Grill, 827 N 6th. Sports oriented, some live music.

• Danzer's Show Club

  address: 3481 McCarty Ln
  Strip club.

• DT Kirby's

  address: 605 Main St
  Delicious (greasy) food that will stop your heart, great liquor selection, friendly dive bar atmosphere (as long as you're a Bears fan.)
• Filling Station, 2603 Greenbush.

• Hunter's Pub

  phone: +1 765 463-7785
  address: 1092 Sagamore Parkway, West Lafayette

• Jerilee's Pub

  address: 2100 Elmwood Avenue

• NorthEnd Grille

  address: 1016 Main Street
  Great restaurant in Killer Beans Coffee's old spot, probably one of the best in town. Upscale for Lafayette (but that isn't hard to do)

• Kooler Keg

  address: 1035 N. 6th Street

• Knickerbocker Saloon

  address: 113 N 5th St
  Founded in 1835, billed as Indiana's oldest bar. Note that the bar itself is the oldest in Indiana, but it was moved to this location. Tons of live music, sometimes jazz or other local bands. Cover is charged when bands are playing.

• Lafayette Brewing Company

  phone: +1 765 742-2591
  address: 622 Main St
  One of two Lafayette breweries (do not ask for a bud light here, only beer made on site served). Brew pub with very good selection of beers. Also has good food and a second floor stage with live music and open mic nights.
• Linwood Tavern, 1244 N 14th.

• Professor Joe's Pizza

  address: 648 Main St
• Mom's Place, 1301 Union.
• Myers Pub, 176 SR 25

• Overtime Tavern

  address: 2511 US HWY 231 S

• People's Brewing Company

  phone: +1 765 714-2777
  address: 2006 N. 9th St
  The second of Lafayette's own brewing companies. Their beers can be found on tap at some local bars. There is a small on-site bar that serves only the People's brews.

• The Tick Tock Tavern & Eatery

  address: 1816 N. 9th Street
• Sgt. Preston's of the North, 6 N 2nd.

West Lafayette

• BLU135/ Hookah!

  address: 135 S, Chauncey Ave. West Lafayette
  Ultra Lounge with big city feel, Bottle service, Specialty martinis. Unique top shelf drinks. Largest dance floor on campus with state of the art sound and lighting. Live DJs Th.Fr.Sat open till 4AM Latin night on Thursdays, House Eurotechno and world on Fridays and Saturdays. Tapas appetizers served till 4 AM on weekends

• Brother's Bar & Grill

  address: 306 W. State Street
  Brother's always has specials and hence makes it a fairly cheap alternative to Harry's or Yacht Club. Much more relaxed atmosphere compared to other bars on campus.

• Harry's Chocolate Shop

  address: 329 W State St
  Harry's is a campus classic and has been around since the times of prohibition. It used to be a soda fountain but don't expect any chocolate to be served in this drinking mainstay. The vast majority of Purdue's campus will probably say Harry's is their favorite bar since it has a little of something for everyone. Strong drinks.
• Jakes Roadhouse, 135 S Chauncy. Garage style place, serves food in daytime hours. Gives out free hot dogs on Friday and Saturday nights after 11PM. Known as the GDI bar.

• Neon Cactus

  address: 360 Brown St
  Dance club and piano bar. On Thursday nights it is mostly frequented by college students as there is a $5 cover and $0.50 32-oz beers/$1.75 32-oz well drinks.

• Nine Irish Brothers Traditional Irish Pub

  phone: +1 765 746-4782
  address: 402 Brown St
  An impressively authentic Irish pub, with above average food—plenty of Irish cuisine such as shepherd's pie, Guinness beef stew, fish and chips, Connemara chicken, andof course--corned beef and cabbage. It would be a great little Irish pub just for the atmosphere, but the big attractions are the bar and the entertainment. Nine Brothers has great draught beer, and a full bar with an impressive selection of Irish whiskeys, which are surpirsingly affordable. On weekends, the menu and booze are complemented by live Irish music; otherwise you can stop in to watch European sports (football, rugby, Gaelic football, hurling) on the telly, as well as the obligatory Purdue, Cubs, Bears, and Colts games.

• Where Else? Bar

  address: 304 State St
  Dance floor in the back, students tend to gather here at the end of their bar crawl. Featured in Sports Illustrated as #7 College Tailgate Location in the Nation. Featured on Big Ten Network for being the home of "BREAKFAST CLUB".

Bed and Breakfast

• Loeb House

Hotels

• Tons of hotels on Route 26 near Interstate 65, $–$$: Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Comfort Inn, Day's Inn, Red Roof Inn, etc.—pick your favorite chain. These are outside of comfortable walking distance from West Lafayette (and therefore Purdue University), but only about a 20 minute drive from the heart of campus. If you're driving into town anyway and don't need pedestrian access to campus or downtown West Lafayette, these are a good (and often cheaper) choice.

• Super 8 West Lafayette

  address: 2030 North Gate Drive
  Located on the Interstate 65, seven miles away from Purdue University, Wolf Park and a little away from the Columbian Park. Secure Online Reservations.

• Econo Lodge West Lafayette Hotel

  address: 200 Brown Street
  The closest hotel to the campus of Purdue University - located on the Northeast corner of State Street (Hwy 26) River Road (Hwy 231), near the banks of the Wabash River.

• Union Club Hotel

  phone: +1 765 494-8913
  address: 101 North Grant Street
  Right on Purdue's campus, inside of the Purdue Union building. Good restaurants downstairs in the Union itself, and it is within walking distance to downtown West Lafayette and Lafayette. Has secured online reservations. If you are looking to stay here during a major Purdue home game or campus event, make sure you make your reservations early because it does fill quickly.

Internet access

All the public libraries have wired Internet computers available for use by anyone for limited time periods. Airimba have commercial wireless access at four apartment sites at very affordable rates especially for short stays. Other locations offering Internet access include:

• Vienna Espresso Bar & Bakery. Offers open wireless Internet access.
• Cafe Royale. Offers open wireless Internet access.
• Union Building, (at Purdue). Requires a free temporary account.
• Buffalo Wild Wings, (at Levee Plaza). Offers open wireless Internet access.
• Panera Bread. Offers wired and splash wireless Internet access.
• Barnes and Noble, (at Tippecanoe Mall). (note: there are only two power outlets in the whole building for your laptop. They are directly adjacent to the handicap access ramp. If you attempt to move a table there to use the outlets, they will ask you to leave.)
• Java Roaster's and K Dee's Coffee in downtown Lafayette
• West Lafayette Public Library, .
• Tippecanoe County Public Library: all branches, , login with a valid or guest library card.
• Ivy Tech Branch of Tippecanoe County Public Library, .

• Tan and Laundry at Levee Plaza, just north of Wabash Landing

• Turkey Run State Park
• Shades State Park
• Indiana Dunes National Park