South Sea fare at a brand new Tiki club Owner Ed Rudisell’s local culinary empire includes Siam Square, Black Market, and Rook, but his latest offering is much dearer to his heart. A dedicated fan of Tiki culture, he’s tricked out The Inferno Room in tons of mid-century South Seas kitsch. There are so many knicknacks sitting and hanging around that one wonders how they could ever dust the place.

Easley Winery is a fun urban winery offering daily tastings of seven wines for just $5 that attracts a diverse mix of clientele, while the Inferno Room is Indy’s go-to spot for exotic tiki drinks and America’s largest collection of artwork from Papua New Guinea outside of a museum.

CHEF JOSH ONGLEY’S fever dream of a menu is perfectly in sync with the intensely exotic design at The Inferno Room—as much a museum of Papua New Guinea artifacts as it is a Melanesian-inspired restaurant. It’s easy enough to settle into the amber-lit den and suck down an enormous Kooky Colada garnished to the core with tiki accoutrement or a brain-numbing Painkiller. It would be a mistake, though, to get too lubricated to savor a plate of tingly thom yum dry rub wings, the extra-crispy crab rangoon, or complex sweet and sour longevity noodles spiked with tamarind.

The festive Inferno Room definitely gets the party started in Fountain Square with a rather startling collection of native art and artifacts from Papua New Guinea. The cocktail menu has mostly rum-based tropical drinks that go by whimsical call signs like Skull & Bones, Saturn and Aloha Felicia; be forewarned — you’ll want to sip slowly because these drinks pack a serious punch. Pad your stomach with tasty small plates like pineapple fried rice, jerk chicken kabobs, Spam sliders and coconut empanadas.

Opened in 2018 in the bustling cultural hub of Fountain Square, The Inferno Room offers “escapism at its finest,” says Coy. While old-school tropical classics like the Jet Pilot and the Painkiller are on point, adventure seekers can opt for one of their “House Potions” like Wolf in the Fold (rum, Calvados, oloroso sherry, walnut, pear) or Six Demon Bag (génépy, Batavia arrack, mezcal, dragonfruit liqueur, pineapple, lime). But the drinks—and 300-plus-bottle rum collection—aren’t the only draw.

Step into The Inferno Room and find yourself transported to a tropical oasis right in the heart of Indianapolis. This tiki-inspired bar and restaurant is a feast for the senses, with vibrant decor that immerses you in a Polynesian paradise. The menu is just as exciting, offering an array of Polynesian-inspired small plates, such as pork belly bao buns, coconut shrimp, and other creative bites that pair perfectly with their inventive cocktails.

Ditto for the drinks list, where there's a Bud & Bourbon shot combo for $6 and cocktails like the Le Freak, a mix of Bonesnapper rye, Bacardi rum, bananas, cinnamon, Peychaud's bitters, and house-made mole bitters.Make a late-night stop at The Inferno Room, a nearby tiki bar. They serve up classic tiki cocktails using authentic tiki glassware in a space decorated with original art from Papua, New Guinea.

902 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, 317-426-2343, theinfernoroom.com. Chef Adam Ditter has taken over the kitchen here, now that former Black Market chef and partner Micah Frank’s temporary stint is up at the tiki bar. Ditter, who was a line cook at Black Market and ran the kitchen at Rook after chef Carlos Salazar left, has gone with a Chinese takeout theme to complement the cocktail program.

Enter a world where every corner holds a secret at The Inferno Room, a tiki bar and restaurant that’s a cut above the rest. Over 400 artifacts from Papua New Guinea adorn the space, offering guests a visual journey through a rich and diverse culture. Inspired by Polynesian and Caribbean cuisines, dishes like the Luau Pork and the Tiki Tofu are crafted to evoke the spirit of the islands.

Tom Haverford dreams big, and when his vision pays off, it’s amazing. The Inferno Room achieves the same kind of payoff, giving bar patrons a sense of total escape to a tropical island. They’ve got flaming cocktails that look like an erupting volcano, and classics like the Zombie and the Painkiller, with these gorgeous round orange booths to gather all your friends.

The Inferno Room, a tiki bar in Fountain Square, has the "Coocoonut Grove" and "Island Time" listed as its mocktail options.