Everything to do around
Louisville...
Food scene
If you're a foodie, you're in heaven! Louisville has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S. and locals here definitely frown on chain restaurants.
Excellent benedictine (local cucumber spread) sandwiches and cocktail selection! Their baked goods are to die for. A must see in Paristown neighborhood.
47 locals recommend
The Café
731 Brent StExcellent benedictine (local cucumber spread) sandwiches and cocktail selection! Their baked goods are to die for. A must see in Paristown neighborhood.
Indoor open-air market (think European style). Excellent restaurants, shops, gourmet groceries, beers and funky flair.
86 locals recommend
Logan Street Market
1001 Logan StIndoor open-air market (think European style). Excellent restaurants, shops, gourmet groceries, beers and funky flair.
Delish steaks and cocktails. High end, but worth it. Fun drag show brunch on Sundays!
75 locals recommend
Le Moo
2300 Lexington RdDelish steaks and cocktails. High end, but worth it. Fun drag show brunch on Sundays!
Best doughnuts in the country. Hands down. Don't miss the bacon maple doughnut. Grab a coffee from Sunergos next door.
121 locals recommend
Nord's Bakery
2118 S Preston StBest doughnuts in the country. Hands down. Don't miss the bacon maple doughnut. Grab a coffee from Sunergos next door.
Feast BBQ
909 E Market StExcellent BBQ and super boozey bourbon slushies!!!
The Highlands favorite coffee shop brewing fair trade coffee roasted in Louisville. $10 bottomless mimosas on Sundays. Fun fact: You’ll usually find me here all day on Sundays.
49 locals recommend
Safai Coffee Shop
1707 Bardstown RdThe Highlands favorite coffee shop brewing fair trade coffee roasted in Louisville. $10 bottomless mimosas on Sundays. Fun fact: You’ll usually find me here all day on Sundays.
Devine menu with romantic setting. Order whatever the chef suggests and get an accompanying wine. The braised ox tail is legit. On the pricey side.
58 locals recommend
Volare
2300 Frankfort AveDevine menu with romantic setting. Order whatever the chef suggests and get an accompanying wine. The braised ox tail is legit. On the pricey side.
Really cool renovation of an old church with great murals and interior design. Order a spicy Paloma here!
22 locals recommend
Noche Mexican BBQ
1838 Bardstown RdReally cool renovation of an old church with great murals and interior design. Order a spicy Paloma here!
Excellent food, cocktails and even better service. The owners are around often and very friendly. See their sister restaurant, Morning Fork, for brunch too.
11 locals recommend
Fork & Barrel
1722 Frankfort AveExcellent food, cocktails and even better service. The owners are around often and very friendly. See their sister restaurant, Morning Fork, for brunch too.
Eat the birria tacos! Or everything else on the menu... Try out the fun swinging egg dining chairs too!
34 locals recommend
Guaca Mole
900 East Market StreetEat the birria tacos! Or everything else on the menu... Try out the fun swinging egg dining chairs too!
Delicious small plates and wine flights. Best for brunch or quick bites before a night out.
78 locals recommend
LouVino Restaurant & Wine Bar
1606 Bardstown RdDelicious small plates and wine flights. Best for brunch or quick bites before a night out.
Make a reservation! This place is as authentic as you can get to Old Havana cuisine--know from my own experience. If you can get porch seating, do it.
64 locals recommend
La Bodeguita De Mima | Cuban Restaurant & Rum Bar
725 E Market StMake a reservation! This place is as authentic as you can get to Old Havana cuisine--know from my own experience. If you can get porch seating, do it.
Fresh sushi with a creative hipster Latin-Asian fusion flair. Great craft beer selection too.
Dragon King's Daughter
Fresh sushi with a creative hipster Latin-Asian fusion flair. Great craft beer selection too.
The pizzas and pasta dishes by executive chef Andrew McCabe are popular picks, but this Italian restaurant is also a great stop for late-night bites and drinks. The chocolate budino — made with orange caramel, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, pecans, and whipped cream — is not to be missed.
44 locals recommend
bar Vetti
727 East Market StreetThe pizzas and pasta dishes by executive chef Andrew McCabe are popular picks, but this Italian restaurant is also a great stop for late-night bites and drinks. The chocolate budino — made with orange caramel, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, pecans, and whipped cream — is not to be missed.
Jack Fry's
1007 Bardstown RdAround since the 1930's. Great steak. Better burgers.
Excellent menu with farm-to-table, fresh ingredients and a killer bar. Recommend taking a seat at the bar to watch the open kitchen prepare foods. Joe, the bartender, has excellent pairing ideas for beer and wine with your meal selection. Love the lamb meatball appetizer!
10 locals recommend
The Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar
2011 Grinstead DrExcellent menu with farm-to-table, fresh ingredients and a killer bar. Recommend taking a seat at the bar to watch the open kitchen prepare foods. Joe, the bartender, has excellent pairing ideas for beer and wine with your meal selection. Love the lamb meatball appetizer!
Neighborhoods
Louisville is chock full of really cool neighborhoods and great architecture. Each area has it's own vibe to enjoy. Most areas are super walkable so I recommend using Uber to get to an area and then just walking around or using a scooter rental--especially if you like to imbibe.
Quaint shops, local foods and bourbons too! They have outdoor concerts all year and even a Christmas shopping village and ice skating rink in the winter.
Paristown Point
Quaint shops, local foods and bourbons too! They have outdoor concerts all year and even a Christmas shopping village and ice skating rink in the winter.
Local restaurants, bars, shops, cafes and street art galore. Walk up and down Bardstown Road for all the local scene and keep Louisville weird!
134 locals recommend
Highlands
Local restaurants, bars, shops, cafes and street art galore. Walk up and down Bardstown Road for all the local scene and keep Louisville weird!
NuLu is great for strolling to shops, restaurants and bars. Catch the free trolleys, too.
213 locals recommend
East Market District
NuLu is great for strolling to shops, restaurants and bars. Catch the free trolleys, too.
Some shops, but definitely all the restaurants here are top notch. Catch the free trolley around here, too.
16 locals recommend
Frankfort Avenue
Frankfort AvenueSome shops, but definitely all the restaurants here are top notch. Catch the free trolley around here, too.
Sightseeing
Stroll along the Ohio River or take the pedestrian bridge over the river to visit Indiana. Great free summer concert series here and plenty of bike and hike paths everywhere.
183 locals recommend
Waterfront Park
129 River RdStroll along the Ohio River or take the pedestrian bridge over the river to visit Indiana. Great free summer concert series here and plenty of bike and hike paths everywhere.
See why Louisville has the world's best tap water. Seriously, it's award winning and it's been around since 1860. Fun fact: I work for the Water Company!
9 locals recommend
Louisville Water Tower Park
3005 River RdSee why Louisville has the world's best tap water. Seriously, it's award winning and it's been around since 1860. Fun fact: I work for the Water Company!
Notable haunted tuberculosis hospital featured on all the crazy TV shows. You can even spend the night...
21 locals recommend
Waverly Hills Sanatorium
4400 Paralee DrNotable haunted tuberculosis hospital featured on all the crazy TV shows. You can even spend the night...
Trip Advisor's #1 attraction in Louisville features the world's only fully underground zip Lines and adventure tours 10 stories underground. There's also a tram tour and big Christmas light show here.
136 locals recommend
Louisville Mega Cavern
1841 Taylor AveTrip Advisor's #1 attraction in Louisville features the world's only fully underground zip Lines and adventure tours 10 stories underground. There's also a tram tour and big Christmas light show here.
Louisville Zoo
1100 Trevilian WayFamily fun.
Designed by the same guy who designed Central Park (Frederick Law Olmsted). Gorgeous views, bike paths and hiking. This place is huge--bring your GPS.
383 locals recommend
Cherokee Park
745 Cochran Hill RdDesigned by the same guy who designed Central Park (Frederick Law Olmsted). Gorgeous views, bike paths and hiking. This place is huge--bring your GPS.
This is a cool pedestrian bridge over the Ohio River between downtown Louisville and Indiana. It's free and the view is spectacular.
214 locals recommend
Big Four Bridge
1101 River RdThis is a cool pedestrian bridge over the Ohio River between downtown Louisville and Indiana. It's free and the view is spectacular.
Excellent architecture and even better bourbon, right in downtown. Try my favorite variety, Cavehill!
77 locals recommend
Rabbit Hole Distillery
711 E Jefferson StExcellent architecture and even better bourbon, right in downtown. Try my favorite variety, Cavehill!
A bit of a drive to get here, but tours are free and the bourbon's the best! Fun tip: Try Wheatley's Vodka here. It's distilled 10x and is by far the best vodka--super sippable.
166 locals recommend
Buffalo Trace Distillery
113 Great Buffalo TrceA bit of a drive to get here, but tours are free and the bourbon's the best! Fun tip: Try Wheatley's Vodka here. It's distilled 10x and is by far the best vodka--super sippable.
Bourbons, Beers & Bars
Hell or High Water
112 W Washington StCool, cozy, hipster speakeasy downtown.
Quirky bar with amazing jalapeno margaritas. Must try their walkatacos. Fun fact: A pickle back is a right of passage.
55 locals recommend
Galaxie
732 E Market StQuirky bar with amazing jalapeno margaritas. Must try their walkatacos. Fun fact: A pickle back is a right of passage.
The dive-y-est dive bar that ever dived. And you'll love to loathe it. Just order a beer or your bourbon neat. There's no telling what's in or around that ice machine... Fun fact: I met my partner, Cote, here!
Air Devils Inn
2802 Taylorsville RoadThe dive-y-est dive bar that ever dived. And you'll love to loathe it. Just order a beer or your bourbon neat. There's no telling what's in or around that ice machine... Fun fact: I met my partner, Cote, here!
Hold your pinkies up, but not your nose. It's fancy but def not snobby. The Champagnery was named by the Champagne Bureau as one of the top 10 best Champagne bars in the U.S. in 2022. Ask for Tony, the sommelier. He's down to earth and friendly as hell. Fun fact: I once had a
$1,300 tab here...
18 locals recommend
The Champagnery
1764 Frankfort AveHold your pinkies up, but not your nose. It's fancy but def not snobby. The Champagnery was named by the Champagne Bureau as one of the top 10 best Champagne bars in the U.S. in 2022. Ask for Tony, the sommelier. He's down to earth and friendly as hell. Fun fact: I once had a
$1,300 tab here...
Akiko's
1123 Bardstown RdBest karaoke in town. Fun bars and clubs around the area too.
Chill place for a fantastic cocktail or a vintage bourbon pour. Try the Kentucky Breakfast drink. Fun fact: We live around the corner, so you might catch us here.
Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop
Chill place for a fantastic cocktail or a vintage bourbon pour. Try the Kentucky Breakfast drink. Fun fact: We live around the corner, so you might catch us here.
Shops & Whatnot
One of my happy places! Seriously where I go when I need an oxygen blitz. Excellent selection of plants, pottery and home decor.
31 locals recommend
Mahonia
822 E Market StOne of my happy places! Seriously where I go when I need an oxygen blitz. Excellent selection of plants, pottery and home decor.
Support local, funky art! Not a snobby place--just fun things from around the area.
49 locals recommend
Revelry Boutique Gallery
742 E Market StSupport local, funky art! Not a snobby place--just fun things from around the area.
Fleur De Flea
947 E Breckinridge StAntique shop + hipster vibe + cocktail carts = good times.
Traveler advice
Don't miss
Try Kentucky only foods...
Kentucky Hot Brown - open faced turkey sandwich with bacon, mornay sauce and cheese (Brown Motel)
Benedictine - cucumber spread, colored green and served on sandwiches, crackers...everything! (The Cafe or Morris Deli)
Modjeskas - carmel covered marshmallows (Muth's)
Derby Pie - pecan and chocolate delight (anywhere...)
Burgoo - stew with lots of meats and veggies--Kentucky's version of jambalaya (The Eagle)
Beer Cheese - made with local brews is best (Eiderdown)
Customs and culture
Drink the Tap Water!
Louisville is globally recognized for taste and quality of their tap water and has been in business since 1857. It's one of the reasons our food and bourbon are top notch. Drink it straight from the tap. Many local restaurants do not offer bottled water at all.