Don’t Sleep on Louisville’s Food Scene

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 27, 2023) — Louisville is one of the 10 cities on Travel + Leisure’s 2023 list of ‘Best Food Cities in the U.S.’ Louisville was awarded a spot on the coveted list for the city’s independent restaurant scene and Urban Bourbon Trail® (UBT) offerings.

The travel magazine captured Louisville’s essence saying: “While Louisville is best known for its bourbon, you won’t want to sleep on its exciting food scene. Boasting more than 2,500 restaurants plus several award-winning chefs, Louisville is sure to delight food and drink enthusiasts alike. You need not skip town without embarking on the Urban Bourbon Trail, which highlights Louisville’s best bourbon bars and restaurants — over 40 of them, to be exact. While it may be tricky to hit the whole trail, must-visits include Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, and Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar. Finally, you can’t leave Louisville without trying the city’s signature dish, the Hot Brown. This delicious open-face sandwich — which features turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and Mornay sauce smothered on Texas toast – dates back to the 1920s when it was first invented at the Brown Hotel.”

The Brown Hotel is celebrating 100 years on October 25 and is kicking off the celebration with a tableside mint julep experience in the hotel’s lobby bar beginning in April, Mint Julep Month. In addition, the hotel will be offering summer promotions at a discounted price of $19.23 in honor of the 1923 opening of the Brown Hotel.

The UBT is expanding just ahead of Mint Julep Month and the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. Louisville Tourism has released the names of the new bars and restaurants joining the famed cocktail and culinary trail for the 2023 season. The UBT highlights some of the city’s best local Bourbon bars and restaurants through an online digital passport which also offers a variety of promotions and discounts. Sign up and find a complete list of the Urban Bourbon Trail® stops can be found online at www.gotolouisville.com/ubt.

While planning a trip to Louisville, guests can download a copy of Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to see the city's top attractions, culinary hotspots and bourbon distilleries. Visitors also can get additional city attraction, lodging and dining assistance at gotolouisville.com.