Guidebook for Louisville
Food Scene
Lydia House
Get the Hot Mess for brunch!
Tasty, cheap New York style pizza. Order up and go to the dive Mag Bar next door and they'll bring it to you.
10 locals recommend
Pizza Donisi
1396 S 2nd StTasty, cheap New York style pizza. Order up and go to the dive Mag Bar next door and they'll bring it to you.
aMAZing fried chicken. Also Nashville style hot chicken but the classic is some of the best in town.
80 locals recommend
Royals Hot Chicken
736 E Market StaMAZing fried chicken. Also Nashville style hot chicken but the classic is some of the best in town.
Classic greasy spoon with curb service, take-out, or counter seating. Huge, cheap breakfast, basic burgers, and an awesome dairy bar.
13 locals recommend
Dizzy Whizz Drive-In
217 St Catherine StClassic greasy spoon with curb service, take-out, or counter seating. Huge, cheap breakfast, basic burgers, and an awesome dairy bar.
Hands down, our favorite restaurant. If you only go to one restaurant we suggest, make it this one :)
79 locals recommend
EiDERDOWN
983 Goss AveHands down, our favorite restaurant. If you only go to one restaurant we suggest, make it this one :)
This food truck turned brick and mortar carryout is a cult favorite in the neighborhood. Forget chicken and waffles -- how about lobster and waffles!? Expect lines out the door, but it's worth it.
15 locals recommend
Seafood Lady - W Oak St
107 W Oak StThis food truck turned brick and mortar carryout is a cult favorite in the neighborhood. Forget chicken and waffles -- how about lobster and waffles!? Expect lines out the door, but it's worth it.
I never thought I liked burgers till I had their custom blend. Food truck turned brick and mortar with rabid fans. MUST get the Brussels Sprouts. Happy hour specials are a good deal - 3-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday you can get a local burger, fries, and drink for less than $20.
43 locals recommend
Grind Burger Kitchen
829 E Market StI never thought I liked burgers till I had their custom blend. Food truck turned brick and mortar with rabid fans. MUST get the Brussels Sprouts. Happy hour specials are a good deal - 3-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday you can get a local burger, fries, and drink for less than $20.
You know how sometimes you want to trade in the reclaimed/flanneled/curated scene for something comforting and homey, and just stop talking and eat as fast as you can handle the piping hot fried chicken on a styrofoam plate? Get to Shirley Mae's. Look for the vintage Whiskey By The Drink sign in Smoketown and step past the smoke billowing from the ribs slow-cooking by the front door to enter soul food nirvana. They've got your champagne and fried chicken here, too, by the $3 personal bottle, so sip it from your greasy fingerprint-tracked plastic cup as you tuck into the pile of chicken and give thanks that places like this still exist.
10 locals recommend
Shirley Maes Cafe
802 S Clay StYou know how sometimes you want to trade in the reclaimed/flanneled/curated scene for something comforting and homey, and just stop talking and eat as fast as you can handle the piping hot fried chicken on a styrofoam plate? Get to Shirley Mae's. Look for the vintage Whiskey By The Drink sign in Smoketown and step past the smoke billowing from the ribs slow-cooking by the front door to enter soul food nirvana. They've got your champagne and fried chicken here, too, by the $3 personal bottle, so sip it from your greasy fingerprint-tracked plastic cup as you tuck into the pile of chicken and give thanks that places like this still exist.
Chef/owner Dallas McGarity's food is made with love, and you can taste it in every bite. Dallas' passion for Italian fare meets his southern sensibilities for a menu featuring treats like slow cooked lamb ragu, shrimp and grits with polenta, and rigatoni Bolognese. But don't let the name fool you. His wife's a vegetarian, so if meat's not your thing you'll be well cared for with housemade spinach and ricotta gnocchi and a pickled beets and shaved carrots salad you can't get enough of.
10 locals recommend
The Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar
2011 Grinstead DrChef/owner Dallas McGarity's food is made with love, and you can taste it in every bite. Dallas' passion for Italian fare meets his southern sensibilities for a menu featuring treats like slow cooked lamb ragu, shrimp and grits with polenta, and rigatoni Bolognese. But don't let the name fool you. His wife's a vegetarian, so if meat's not your thing you'll be well cared for with housemade spinach and ricotta gnocchi and a pickled beets and shaved carrots salad you can't get enough of.
This is pretty much a dream come true for a locavore omnivore. The whole animal butcher shop from the talent behind Blue Dog Bakery sells beautiful cuts of local meat (including a dry aged ground beef already becoming a legend among food circles across town) and goodies ranging from charcuterie and cheese for the ultimate picnic to (naturally) their amazing breads.
Grab a ready to go lunch in the shop or step next door to their cozy cafe where wonders emerge from the wood fired oven and intent diners congregate at long tables. Think rotating pizza, sandwiches, and small plates all starring the good stuff coming out of the butcher shop, rounded out with a nice little drinks list.
43 locals recommend
Red Hog Restaurant & Butcher Shop
2622 Frankfort AveThis is pretty much a dream come true for a locavore omnivore. The whole animal butcher shop from the talent behind Blue Dog Bakery sells beautiful cuts of local meat (including a dry aged ground beef already becoming a legend among food circles across town) and goodies ranging from charcuterie and cheese for the ultimate picnic to (naturally) their amazing breads.
Grab a ready to go lunch in the shop or step next door to their cozy cafe where wonders emerge from the wood fired oven and intent diners congregate at long tables. Think rotating pizza, sandwiches, and small plates all starring the good stuff coming out of the butcher shop, rounded out with a nice little drinks list.
Don't miss the donder fries (think poutine, but with beef stew as the topping on the perfectly crunchy fries) and anything on tap (refreshingly for anyone who's over over-hopped beers, it's saisons and Belgian styles in the limelight here) at this brewpub.
117 locals recommend
Monnik Beer Company
1036 E Burnett AveDon't miss the donder fries (think poutine, but with beef stew as the topping on the perfectly crunchy fries) and anything on tap (refreshingly for anyone who's over over-hopped beers, it's saisons and Belgian styles in the limelight here) at this brewpub.
These are the self proclaimed ladies of the morning. I wouldn't get doughnuts anywhere else.
23 locals recommend
Hi-Five Doughnuts
1940 E Main StThese are the self proclaimed ladies of the morning. I wouldn't get doughnuts anywhere else.
Shopping
Great bourbon selection plus good variety of affordable wines and craft beers. Walking distance.
6 locals recommend
Bottled Liquors
412 W Oak StGreat bourbon selection plus good variety of affordable wines and craft beers. Walking distance.
Scout
3626 Brownsboro RdGreat place for cool gifts
Drinks & Nightlife
This is the place that made Pappy Jell-o shots and won the internet. But go for the classic and spins-on-classic cocktails. Ask Jeremy to help you choose a new bourbon to try.
23 locals recommend
Meta
425 W Chestnut StThis is the place that made Pappy Jell-o shots and won the internet. But go for the classic and spins-on-classic cocktails. Ask Jeremy to help you choose a new bourbon to try.
Stock up on hard to find bourbons here. The folks are super knowledgeable and really nice. They'll pour you a taste, too :)
17 locals recommend
Old Town Liquors
1529 Bardstown RdStock up on hard to find bourbons here. The folks are super knowledgeable and really nice. They'll pour you a taste, too :)
Our favorite dive with some of the most generous (and cheapest) pours in town.
27 locals recommend
Magnolia Bar
1398 S 2nd StOur favorite dive with some of the most generous (and cheapest) pours in town.
You can upgrade your bourbon-nerd score with intel from plenty of local bartenders. But the place that's going to be the most fun is the Silver Dollar. Staff behind the bar here are legit. They've worked their way up to this position and seriously know their stuff. That doesn't mean they're going to give you that look (you know the one) if you ask a newbie question. No. They want you to enjoy your drink here.
Here's what you do at the Dollar. Tell them what you like, and what you're looking to experience. Say maybe you're branching out to rye. Give the bartender your budget, and let him or her build you a flight. They'll bring you a selection of pours and happily tell you all all about it.
169 locals recommend
The Green Building Gallery
732 E Market StYou can upgrade your bourbon-nerd score with intel from plenty of local bartenders. But the place that's going to be the most fun is the Silver Dollar. Staff behind the bar here are legit. They've worked their way up to this position and seriously know their stuff. That doesn't mean they're going to give you that look (you know the one) if you ask a newbie question. No. They want you to enjoy your drink here.
Here's what you do at the Dollar. Tell them what you like, and what you're looking to experience. Say maybe you're branching out to rye. Give the bartender your budget, and let him or her build you a flight. They'll bring you a selection of pours and happily tell you all all about it.
What happens when you take an old neighborhood watering hole in an up and coming neighborhood and re-open it with the talent behind one of the best whiskey bars in town (the team from the Silver Dollar)? You get the kind of place a bar owner like that would want to hang out in. Think free juke box, relaxed vibe, and Sharpies for patrons to take to the walls in back.
As for drinks, well, this is Louisville, after all, so they've got your good bourbons. And you're getting a craft cocktail – just minus the craft price tag. We're talking six bucks for a beautiful Old Fashioned. But it's still a neighborhood bar, so if an ice cold, cheap beer or $3 shot is more your style, they've got that, too
39 locals recommend
The Pearl Of Germantown
1151 Goss Ave What happens when you take an old neighborhood watering hole in an up and coming neighborhood and re-open it with the talent behind one of the best whiskey bars in town (the team from the Silver Dollar)? You get the kind of place a bar owner like that would want to hang out in. Think free juke box, relaxed vibe, and Sharpies for patrons to take to the walls in back.
As for drinks, well, this is Louisville, after all, so they've got your good bourbons. And you're getting a craft cocktail – just minus the craft price tag. We're talking six bucks for a beautiful Old Fashioned. But it's still a neighborhood bar, so if an ice cold, cheap beer or $3 shot is more your style, they've got that, too
Old Louisville gets its first microbrewery! This is a Big Deal.
19 locals recommend
Old Louisville Brewery
625 W Magnolia AveOld Louisville gets its first microbrewery! This is a Big Deal.
Essentials
This is the closest good grocery story. They also have a great bourbon selection with really good prices.
232 locals recommend
Kroger
1265 Goss AveThis is the closest good grocery story. They also have a great bourbon selection with really good prices.
Sightseeing
At long last, the home the Champ grew up in is open to the public. Ali's boyhood home was abandoned for a shameful number of years but has been restored and offers an inspiring peek at his early life.
7 locals recommend
Muhammad Ali Boyhood Home
3302 Grand AveAt long last, the home the Champ grew up in is open to the public. Ali's boyhood home was abandoned for a shameful number of years but has been restored and offers an inspiring peek at his early life.
Parks & Nature
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, this is one of Louisville's most beautiful parks, and our favorite place to walk.
383 locals recommend
Cherokee Park
745 Cochran Hill RdDesigned by Frederick Law Olmsted, this is one of Louisville's most beautiful parks, and our favorite place to walk.