City: Indianapolis, IN

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (317) 638-5588

Address: 20 N. Meridian St.

Description: A blast from the past, Nicky Blaine’s would make Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack feel right at home. The atmosphere is dark with wood-paneled walls, luxurious carpeting, wingback chairs, a long, wide bar and comfy plush sofas. It’s also smoky and sometimes loud. After all, this is a cigar bar. If you don’t like cigars or the smell of such, you won’t like it here. Nicky’s carries a wide, eclectic selection of cigars and cigarettes. Two built-in wall humidors and a large walk-in humidor are filled with smokes from the Dominican Republic to Nicaragua, the Bahamas, and India. Specializing in martinis, Nicky’s full bar offers a world-class choice of wine, port, grappa, single malt scotches, and vodkas. Sip on a Dean Martini, a classic with Bombay Sapphire, dry vermouth, and a single olive; the Cagney, a savory libation with Effen Vodka, dry vermouth, and a squeeze of lemon served up with a rosemary sprig and gorgonzola olives; or the Citizen Kane, Hendrick’s cucumber-infused gin garnished with a caper berry and fresh rosemary. Nicky’s menu has surprisingly good appetizers. The kitchen is open every night until 2 a.m., so this is a good place to get a late-night snack downtown or to savor an after dinner port or coffee with a sweet dessert or plate of cheese. Favorite appetizers are the Seafood Dip, herbed crabmeat and shrimp mixed with fresh garlic, olive oil, and Romano cheese, then baked in a massive sourdough bread bowl, served with garlic butter and crackers; and the Vesuvius Sub—Genoa salami, ham, and provolone cheese, served hot on a toasted baguette with lettuce, red onion, tomato, banana peppers, and pickle spear. The weekend cover charge is $5; no cover during the week.