Downtown is where the action is. Kirkwood Avenue, Fourth Street, Courthouse Square and Showers Common each have their own personality made up hundreds of restaurants, pubs and shopping opportunities. Visitors who want to experience Bloomington's unique local flavor can find it all within walking distance.

Craving a cross-cultural dining experience? Bloomington is home to much more than the burgers-and-fries diet that is a staple of college life. Diners in search of a more novel taste sensation have an alphabet of choices, from the Asian fusion of Basil Leaf to the Yugoslavian steakhouse stylings of Janko's Little Zagreb. And although Bloomington has restaurants by the dozen, they're all so close that any culinary cartographer can hop between them in minutes.

Some of the City's best shopping opportunities can be found clustered around its historic courthouse, built in 1907. Shoppers can spend the evening at Bloomington's indoor Fountain Square Mall, which houses dozens of specialty stores and offices including The Briar and The Burley, a tobacco and men's accessories shop that's been around since 1972. Other notable stores on the square include Goods for Cooks, Global Gifts and Caveat Emptor, the City's oldest used bookstore.

Shoppers on the square can dine at some of Bloomington's finest and most eco-conscious establishments. Restaurant Tallent, whose specialty is blending haute-cuisine-style dishes with local produce, has been awarded four AAA diamonds and six James Beard Award nominations. Slow-food is also served at nearby FARM Bloomington, and vegetarians can get meat-free meals at Roots on the Square. Late night shoppers can sometimes find The Happy Pig, a food cart that uses locally sourced ingredients, parked on the square.