Hip, Friendly, and Underrated

National media heaped praise on Louisville in 2017 declaring the city one of “America’s Favorite Cities” and one of “America’s Friendliest Cities”. The outstanding culinary scene was acknowledged with rankings such as “12 Cities You Must Visit in 2017 if You Love Food” and “Under the Radar Culinary Gems”. The Bourbon experience was buzzing as one of the “Best Cities for Whiskey Lovers” and the list goes on…

Here is a roundup of some more of the acclaim Louisville garnered in the past year:

Overall

• “America’s Favorite Cities Overall” – Travel + Leisure
• “America’s Most Underrated Cities” – Travel + Leisure
• “America’s Friendliest Cities” – Travel + Leisure
• “The Hottest Hipster Markets in America” – Yelp
• “7 U.S. Cities That are Hipper Than You Think” – Jetsetter
• "15 Charming Cities in the American South You May Have Overlooked" - CNN Travel

Eat & Drink

• “12 Cities You Must Visit in 2017 if You Love Food” – Citi Io
• “The Best Cities for Whiskey Lovers” – Redfin
• “Under-the-Radar Culinary Gems” – Tasting Table
• "Best New Restaurants" (Butchertown Grocery) - USA Today
• “Four Cocktail Markets Worth Watching” – Foodable Network
• “18 Best Grilled Cheeses in the U.S.” (Blue Dog Bakery & Café) – Food & Wine
• “The South’s 38 Essential Restaurants” (610 Magnolia) – Eater
• “31 Best Burger Joints in America” (Grind Burger Kitchen) – Thrillist

Play

• “11 U.S. Cities Perfect for a Weekend Getaway” – Conde Nast Traveler
• “18 Best Cities for Solo Travelers” – Travel + Leisure
• “12 Sizzling Summer Places to Visit” – Expedia
• “Top 8 Spiritual Sites in America” (Festival of Faiths) – Huffington Post
• “15 Bucket List Destinations for Baseball Fans” – Travel + Leisure
• “9 Southern Festivals Well Worth Adding to the Calendar (Forecastle Festival) – Garden & Gun
• “Best Half Marathon in America” (Urban Bourbon Half Marathon) – BibRave

Stay

• “Best Hotel in Kentucky” (21c) – Food & Wine
• “The South’s Best New Hotels” (Aloft Downtown) – Southern Living
• “Best Hotel Bars in America” (Proof on Main) – Tasting Table
• “20 Stunning Hotel Bars Around the Country” (The Brown Lobby Bar) – Food Network
• “Best Hotel in Kentucky” (The Brown Hotel) – Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards
• “Top Hotels in the South” (The Brown Hotel & 21c) – Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards

As the downtown convention center expands, nearly 2000 new hotel rooms come online and a Bourbon District emerges, the tourism industry is preparing to welcome a growing number of annual visitors to Louisville in 2018 and beyond. These national accolades have given travelers even more reasons to consider a trip to Louisville.