Guidebook for Louisville
Food Scene
This is our favorite coffee shop in town that also has delicious omnivore and vegan food.. and beer! Get the macadamia nut latte and the biscuits and gravy.
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Full Stop Station
1132 E St Catherine StThis is our favorite coffee shop in town that also has delicious omnivore and vegan food.. and beer! Get the macadamia nut latte and the biscuits and gravy.
Great bar with great (elevated) bar food. Get the Chicken and waffle sandwich, it is SO good.
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Four Pegs
1053 Goss AveGreat bar with great (elevated) bar food. Get the Chicken and waffle sandwich, it is SO good.
(kinda sorta NY style floppy) Pizza by the slice or the pie, and local beer and full bar. They have a monthly pie special that never disappoints. Also tasty toasty sandwiches that are huge.
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The Post
1045 Goss Ave(kinda sorta NY style floppy) Pizza by the slice or the pie, and local beer and full bar. They have a monthly pie special that never disappoints. Also tasty toasty sandwiches that are huge.
Fish fry by weekday, brunch spot by weekend. Inexpensive and tasty for either menu.
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The Fish House
1310 Winter AveFish fry by weekday, brunch spot by weekend. Inexpensive and tasty for either menu.
Sunergos Coffee
2122 S Preston Stmy favorite soy latte in the city.
in Nulu, and unlike the other Quills locations, also has tasty food and beer and wine.
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Quills Coffee Firehouse
802 E Main Stin Nulu, and unlike the other Quills locations, also has tasty food and beer and wine.
in Germantown, so closer than Sunergos but not closer than Full Stop. I am not a fan of how they roast their beans or prep their shots. That said, I must also recognize that I am a coffee snob, so if you aren’t into tasting notes and such, you will probably like them (no judgement).
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Bean
1138 Goss Avein Germantown, so closer than Sunergos but not closer than Full Stop. I am not a fan of how they roast their beans or prep their shots. That said, I must also recognize that I am a coffee snob, so if you aren’t into tasting notes and such, you will probably like them (no judgement).
Make reservations. Very elevated American fare. Get the warm brie salad and then regret all your salad choices prior to this moment.
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Jack Fry's
1007 Bardstown RdMake reservations. Very elevated American fare. Get the warm brie salad and then regret all your salad choices prior to this moment.
Really good homemade pizza, more like real Italian than Italian-American. They don’t allow tipping so prices are little higher on the menu. Get the tomato soup and text me a picture to make me weep with jealousy.
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bar Vetti
727 East Market StreetReally good homemade pizza, more like real Italian than Italian-American. They don’t allow tipping so prices are little higher on the menu. Get the tomato soup and text me a picture to make me weep with jealousy.
They have smoked tofu if you don’t dig on swine. Our fave BBQ in town. Also very quick if you don't go during peak time.
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Feast BBQ
909 E Market StThey have smoked tofu if you don’t dig on swine. Our fave BBQ in town. Also very quick if you don't go during peak time.
Royals Hot Chicken
736 E Market StThey ALSO have a tofu option. Best hot chicken in town.
in Paristown Point, and just as close as Come Back Inn, but if you go during peak dinner hours (6-8pm) you will wait. Forever. But it’s worth it.
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Hammerheads
921 Swan Stin Paristown Point, and just as close as Come Back Inn, but if you go during peak dinner hours (6-8pm) you will wait. Forever. But it’s worth it.
you can go here if the wait at Migo is too long. also delicious.
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Havana Rumba Bardstown Rd
2210 Bardstown Rdyou can go here if the wait at Migo is too long. also delicious.
for fusion sushi and tacos. The Highlands location has a great happy hour, but smaller menu than the location in New Albany, which is WORTH THE TRIP OVER THE BRIDGE. Trust me.
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Dragon King's Daughter
129 W Market Stfor fusion sushi and tacos. The Highlands location has a great happy hour, but smaller menu than the location in New Albany, which is WORTH THE TRIP OVER THE BRIDGE. Trust me.
for brunch. It’s a chain, but a chain that started in Louisville, so it isn’t terrible. There are a bunch of them, and they all get busy because Louisvillians brunch HARD. This is the location closest to us.
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Wild Eggs
121 S Floyd Stfor brunch. It’s a chain, but a chain that started in Louisville, so it isn’t terrible. There are a bunch of them, and they all get busy because Louisvillians brunch HARD. This is the location closest to us.
is also close by and has baked goods that will get you closer to god. Not cheap, but everything is delicious. Everything.
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Wiltshire Pantry Bakery and Cafe
901 Barret Aveis also close by and has baked goods that will get you closer to god. Not cheap, but everything is delicious. Everything.
and makes small batch ice cream and fancy treats, and they also make vegan options. Love this place. Like, maybe more than our dogs.
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Louisville Cream
632 E Market Stand makes small batch ice cream and fancy treats, and they also make vegan options. Love this place. Like, maybe more than our dogs.
Chef Ed Lee's first (and probably best) restaurant in town. Make reservations.
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610 Magnolia
610 W Magnolia AveChef Ed Lee's first (and probably best) restaurant in town. Make reservations.
Buck's Restaurant
425 W Ormsby AveOld school fancy pants steakhouse.
Drinks & Nightlife
Kaiju
1004 E Oak Stclose by and a smidge divey in a hipster way. Local scene is strong here.
Nachbar
969 Charles StDivey and hyper-local. Nice back patio for summer drinks.
Monnik Beer Company
1036 E Burnett AveAlso a tasty restaurant with a venue upstairs.
Check's is a conundrum. Mostly a restaurant but also a bar. Old school food options and lots of interesting old timers hanging around and shooting the shit.
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Check's Cafe
1101 E Burnett AveCheck's is a conundrum. Mostly a restaurant but also a bar. Old school food options and lots of interesting old timers hanging around and shooting the shit.
Known locally as the Mag. A true Louisville experience but don't expect fancy.
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Magnolia Bar
1398 S 2nd StKnown locally as the Mag. A true Louisville experience but don't expect fancy.
Also has food. Can get a little college-y due to its proximity to UofL.
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Old Louisville Tavern
1532 S 4th StAlso has food. Can get a little college-y due to its proximity to UofL.
Hilltop Tavern
1800 Frankfort AveGood food. Good booze. Gets packed.
Great for indoor or outdoor drinking. No food, so don't go hungry, but the beer is good.
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Falls City Brewing Company - Taproom and Beer Garden
901 E Liberty StGreat for indoor or outdoor drinking. No food, so don't go hungry, but the beer is good.
Great beer, good burgers from lil toastys, best deck (so many levels!) in town.
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Gravely Brewing Co
514 Baxter AveGreat beer, good burgers from lil toastys, best deck (so many levels!) in town.
My favorite beer in town. No food and in a weird spot, but totes worth finding it. Play a board game and get tipsy. An excellent plan, I think!
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Mile Wide Beer Co.
636 Barret AveMy favorite beer in town. No food and in a weird spot, but totes worth finding it. Play a board game and get tipsy. An excellent plan, I think!
Good beer and decent pizza next door if you get peckish.
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Great Flood Brewing Company
2120 Bardstown RdGood beer and decent pizza next door if you get peckish.
Some of the tastiest drinks in town. They also earned a certain notoriety for making Pappy Van Winkle jello shots. I feel like that should really tell you all you need to know.
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Meta
425 W Chestnut StSome of the tastiest drinks in town. They also earned a certain notoriety for making Pappy Van Winkle jello shots. I feel like that should really tell you all you need to know.
Entertainment & Activities
I mean - who are we kidding - most people visiting Louisville are here for some horse-related reason,
but it’s actually a little more fun on days that are not the first Saturday in May. Opening night (the Saturday prior to Derby) is Dress to Impress night – you must wear orange to support the arts; there are live bands, night racing, and the wilder you can dress the better. Thursday prior to Derby is local’s day a.k.a. Thurby, and Oaks Day (Derby Eve) is awash in pink for breast cancer awareness. The infield is the place for debauchery, tickets are around $60-80 and can be bought the day-of. Derby opens the Spring Meet, but there is also Summer Meet (June-Aug., and $1 beer nights!) and Fall
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Churchill Downs
700 Central AveI mean - who are we kidding - most people visiting Louisville are here for some horse-related reason,
but it’s actually a little more fun on days that are not the first Saturday in May. Opening night (the Saturday prior to Derby) is Dress to Impress night – you must wear orange to support the arts; there are live bands, night racing, and the wilder you can dress the better. Thursday prior to Derby is local’s day a.k.a. Thurby, and Oaks Day (Derby Eve) is awash in pink for breast cancer awareness. The infield is the place for debauchery, tickets are around $60-80 and can be bought the day-of. Derby opens the Spring Meet, but there is also Summer Meet (June-Aug., and $1 beer nights!) and Fall
Part of the Urban Bourbon trail... good location for taking a tour and then grabbing food at Garage Bar or Harvest or Wiltshire on Market.
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Rabbit Hole Distillery
711 E Jefferson StPart of the Urban Bourbon trail... good location for taking a tour and then grabbing food at Garage Bar or Harvest or Wiltshire on Market.
Old Forester Distilling
119 W Main StAngel's Envy Distillery
500 E Main StEvan Williams Bourbon Experience
528 W Main StArts & Culture
They also have an excellent cinema in addition to a fabulous permanent collection and top notch touring exhibitions. And every third Friday they have "Speed After Hours" which is always fun and fresh.
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The Speed Art Museum
2035 S 3rd StThey also have an excellent cinema in addition to a fabulous permanent collection and top notch touring exhibitions. And every third Friday they have "Speed After Hours" which is always fun and fresh.
Free admission and worth a perusal. In museum row, so a nice addition to a walk along west Main Street.
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KMAC Museum
715 W Main StFree admission and worth a perusal. In museum row, so a nice addition to a walk along west Main Street.
The head of the Urban Bourbon Trail. There are 44 bars and restaurants on the trail and you can learn about all of the different distilleries in Louisville and surrounding areas. A good place to if you can't decide which distillery tour is right for you. https://www.bourboncountry.com/things-to-do/urban-bourbon-trail/
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Frazier History Museum
829 W Main StThe head of the Urban Bourbon Trail. There are 44 bars and restaurants on the trail and you can learn about all of the different distilleries in Louisville and surrounding areas. A good place to if you can't decide which distillery tour is right for you. https://www.bourboncountry.com/things-to-do/urban-bourbon-trail/
Kentucky Science Center
727 W Main StI know, weird that an Airbnb host would suggest you go to a hotel. But it’s a hotel chain that STARTED in Louisville, and is actually more of an art gallery + upscale dining/bar (Proof) that had one too many bourbons on a random Tuesday and decided to add hotel rooms. And then woke up Wednesday morning and followed through. Go for the art, food, but just don’t stay the night.
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21c Museum Hotel
700 W Main StI know, weird that an Airbnb host would suggest you go to a hotel. But it’s a hotel chain that STARTED in Louisville, and is actually more of an art gallery + upscale dining/bar (Proof) that had one too many bourbons on a random Tuesday and decided to add hotel rooms. And then woke up Wednesday morning and followed through. Go for the art, food, but just don’t stay the night.
Parks & Nature
Shelby Park
Small but mighty. Good for a brisk post-meal walk.
Use the scenic loop to ride or walk without the worry of motorists. Just don't get lost. (Kidding... but seriously, even people who have lived here there entire lives sometimes exit the park in a very different location than they planned)
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Cherokee Park
745 Cochran Hill RdUse the scenic loop to ride or walk without the worry of motorists. Just don't get lost. (Kidding... but seriously, even people who have lived here there entire lives sometimes exit the park in a very different location than they planned)
Great for families. The Seneca Loop is about twice the size of the Shelby loop.
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Seneca Park Playground & Restrooms
3101 Rock Creek DrGreat for families. The Seneca Loop is about twice the size of the Shelby loop.
Iroquois Park is the city’s largest park and highest point. Up top is a great lookout to see the entire city surrounded by virgin forest and landscaping by Frederick Law Olmstead – designer of Central Park. (most of our parks are part of a grand park system he designed)
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Iroquois Park
Iroquois Park is the city’s largest park and highest point. Up top is a great lookout to see the entire city surrounded by virgin forest and landscaping by Frederick Law Olmstead – designer of Central Park. (most of our parks are part of a grand park system he designed)
The most popular place to hop on the Lousiville Loop (a huge biking and walking trail that circles the entirety of Louisville). Walk to Indiana on the Big Four Bridge, or just enjoy the park the way Louisvillians do - picnics, playgrounds and spraygrounds for everyone. They also have bike rentals available, and on the last Wednesday of every month from April to September you can catch WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday - a huge FREE concert.
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Waterfront Park
129 River RdThe most popular place to hop on the Lousiville Loop (a huge biking and walking trail that circles the entirety of Louisville). Walk to Indiana on the Big Four Bridge, or just enjoy the park the way Louisvillians do - picnics, playgrounds and spraygrounds for everyone. They also have bike rentals available, and on the last Wednesday of every month from April to September you can catch WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday - a huge FREE concert.
Sightseeing
Everyone needs at least ONE picture with a giant baseball, right?
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Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
800 W Main StEveryone needs at least ONE picture with a giant baseball, right?
Did you know Louisville has the largest inland locks & dam system in the US? And more tonnage passes through Louisville than any other place except the Panama Canal? There is an observation deck to watch the barges as they pass through.
McAlpine Locks and Dam
Did you know Louisville has the largest inland locks & dam system in the US? And more tonnage passes through Louisville than any other place except the Panama Canal? There is an observation deck to watch the barges as they pass through.