Hope you're hungry, because Devour Downtown kicked off Monday for its summer event.

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Some of the most exclusive restaurants in downtown Indianapolis are opening their doors to to the public and offering lunch and dinner at sale prices.

Devour Downtown offers rare public dining access to members-only places like the Columbia Club and the Skyline Club.

Those two businesses are among 85 total that include savings of up to 30 percent off lunch and dinner prices.

Devour Downtown continues its 11-year tradition of offering a bargain to people who otherwise might not be tempted to come to the heart of Indianapolis.

Devour Downtown was much different a decade ago, with not as many residents living in the city’s core.

Restaurants started noticing that business was dipping toward the end of every January, long after the holiday celebrations ended.

Noticing similarly successful events in other cities, 21 different Indianapolis restaurants got together with an advisory board to create Devour Downtown in 2005. They expanded to include a summer sale.

Businesses say it offers great exposure and allows people to sample the menu, service, and experience.

As the event grows, it’s not just limited to restaurants.

The NCAA Hall of Champions is offering buy-one-get-one free admission. The Conrad has a deal on hotel rooms for $149.

While 2016 will be the last Devour Downtown, the deals and promotions at those businesses will continue.

In 2017, several popular “restaurant weeks” are merging into one event, simply called Devour Indy.

The new Devour Indy will include old favorites like Chow Down Midtown, Devour Downtown, and Northside Nights all rolled into one, two-week event starting in Jan. 2017 and continuing with another run in the summer.

Savor the Southside hasn’t been held in a few years, but interested restaurants will be part of the new event.



Details are still being finalized for Devour Indy.



Devour Downtown runs through Sept. 4.