When you arrive you walk through French doors, sparkling chandeliers over head, antiqued mirrors, French inspired furniture, beautiful seasonal decorations, gorgeous cakes on French porcelain platters topped with glass domes. Gwendolyn's shops offer the most incredible experience from ‘The Best Quiche You Will Ever Have’ to homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, even a true French Croque Monsieur. Behind the kitchen window you can see the master bakers gently sieving non-bromated flours from Vermont, there are large pots of French & Belgian Chocolate melting on the stove, cakes baking in the ovens and decorators frosting the most exquisite cakes. 

Gwendolyn’s Cake Bake Shop's have become the destination of Indiana for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and all the special occasions life offers.

The Cake Bake Shop

Aerial view of The Cake Bake Shop and the plaza at City Center

View of The Cake Bake Shop from the plaza at City Center

Entrance to The Cake Bake Shop at City Center Plaza

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Arts & Culture

Foodie Favorites

Bike Friendly

Walkable

Quintessential Main St.

Northern Suburbs

Welcome home to one of the most vibrant downtowns in Indiana! Living in downtown Carmel gives you walkable access to all the culture the area has to offer. Enjoy shopping at City Center, see a show at the Palladium, or stroll through outdoor seasonal events like Christkindlmart.

Pop art style sign with Carmel postcard as backdrop to Midtown Plaza

Midtown Plaza

Large video screen and Midtown sign at the Midtown Plaza

Street view of Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream in Carmel

Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream

The Monon Trail is an asphalt trail that stretches from the town of Westfield south to downtown Indianapolis. Carmel’s section – the Monon Greenway – runs five miles from 146th Street to 96th Street.

Monon Boulevard is the newly renovated section of the Monon Greenway between 126th and Main Street that was designed as an urban trail corridor. This section serves as an interactive play area for kids of all ages, featuring a spray plaza, public art, ping-pong tables, bocce ball courts, and corn hole. As you take a stroll in this section, you’ll also run into Midtown Plaza (4th Street SW) which features numerous restaurants and businesses and is managed by the City of Carmel.

Large photo-opportunity signage mimicking a pop art postcard with "Greetings from Carmel"

Carmel Midtown

Aerial view of Monon Trail in Midtown Carmel

Midtown Carmel

Playscape and structures along Monon Trail in Midtown Carmel

Monon Trail in Midtown

Aerial view of Monon Trail through Midtown Carmel looking South

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Midtown Plaza is a recent addition to and vibrant revitalization of Carmel’s old industrial area, located in the heart of a thriving center of entertainment, urban-style living and commerce. Midtown will bring its own unique urban atmosphere, distinct from its adjacent districts, but serves as a connection between the two.

A range of free amenities will be available within the Midtown Plaza area, including neighborhood green spaces, community tables and benches, shade structures and big screen entertainment. Traveling south down the Monon Trail, Midtown Boulevard also serves as an interactive play area for kids of all ages, featuring a spray plaza, public art, ping-pong tables, bocce ball courts and corn hole.

Midtown Plaza is nestled among several major employers, small businesses and residential developments including the corporate headquarters of Allied Solutions, MJ Insurance, F.C. Tucker and Merchants Bank. Midtown also includes Sun King Taproom & Distillery, Fork + Ale House, the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, Serendipity Labs and multi-use developments. 

Aerial photo of Sun King Brewery in Carmel

Sun King

Exterior photo of Sun King Brewery and plaza, with exterior seating and turf lawn

Sun King Brewery

Photo of exterior of Fork and Ale House in Carmel

Fork + Ale

Aerial photo of Monon Trail in Midtown Carmel

Midtown Carmel 

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Exterior photo of Sun King Brewery in Carmel

Gif of the exterior of Cake Bake in Carmel

Enjoy an elevated food and drink experience at Vivante French Eatery. Located in Hotel Carmichael on the Monon Level lobby, our restaurant has uniquely local food and a classic collection of wines to intrigue your senses.

Entrance to Vivante French Eatery at Hotel Carmichael

Vivante French Eatery

Streetview of Vivante French Eatery in the lower level of Hotel Carmichael

Aerial view of west side of Hotel Carmichael overlooking greenspace and the Monon Trail

Hotel Carmichael

Gif of the exterior of Vivante French Eatery

The Sun King Brewery in Carmel, Indiana offers our handmade spirits, beer, and food from our partners La Margarita, The Den by Foxgardin, and Queenie's Pizza. Sun King Spirits is an all-ages space, but you must be 21+ years of age to enjoy our beer or spirits.

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Gif of the exterior of Sun King Brewery in Carmel

Bub's Carmel, we're the "little yellow house that could" along Main Street in Carmel Indiana. Over the last decade as Carmel's Arts and Design District has sprung to life around our iconic building, we've remained the go-to location for one of the best burgers in Central Indiana. Our quaint location along the picturesque Monon Trail is a dining destination for local families, tourists and a foodie challenge for burger enthusiasts from far and wide as they set to conquer our ONE POUND (after-cooked) Big Ugly Burger!

Main entrance and hanging sign for Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream

Photo of the exterior of Bub's Burgers in Carmel

Gif of the exterior of Bub's Burgers in Carmel

WOODYS LIBRARY RESTAURANT
is locally owned by husband & wife team, “Chef” Richelle & Kevin “Woody” Rider. The title of the restaurant, originated from Kevin‟s nickname, Woody.  

Woodys serves lunch & dinner in the unique bi-level building with upstairs dining, a downstairs neighborhood pub & outdoor patio seating.  The neighborhood pub atmosphere is a favorite gathering spot and the dining area is ideal for a local dining experience.

View from the street of the main entrance and patio space of Woodys Library Restaurant

Woodys Library Restaurant

Main front entrance to Woodys Library Restaurant

Photo of large patio at Woodys Library Restaurant

Gif of the exterior of Woody's Library Restaurant

Fork + Ale House, est. 2019, is a local brewer of hand-crafted ales, brews and cocktails. We stock a full bar of unique spirits and serve up 22 drafts and 33 bottles, including many local and Indiana favorites. Our scratch kitchen takes pride in smoking our own meats, making our own pizza dough and upholding the tradition of multi-generation recipes.

We aspire to provide our customers with the freshest ingredients available by utilizing locally sourced products from all around Indiana. The commitment to our local community of Carmel creates the perfect neighborhood hangout with a family-friendly vibe.

Gif of the exterior of Fork and Ale House in Carmel