Proof Positive: Bourbon City’s Top Shelf Honors

LOUISVILLE, KY. (Dec. 26, 2025) – As Bourbon City closes out another remarkable year, Louisville’s reputation as a top destination for festivals, food and affordable hospitality continues to soar. In 2025, the city earned national recognition from leading travel media and industry experts, solidifying its place as a must-visit for every traveler.

Festival Recognition

Louisville’s festival calendar is second to none, with Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life repeatedly named among the best music festivals in the U.S. Bourbon & Beyond was voted one of Pollstar’s “Music Festival of the Year,” while Louder Than Life was featured in top festival lists and drew record-breaking crowds in 2025.

Culinary Distinction

Louisville’s culinary scene continues to earn national acclaim with local favorites and signature dishes making headlines. The city was recognized for its legendary steakhouses, Hot Brown sandwich and vibrant foodie neighborhoods. Louisville’s food scene is celebrated for its authenticity, diversity and value, making it a top choice for foodies seeking memorable and affordable meals.

Hospitality & Hotels

Louisville’s hotels, inns and bed & breakfast properties shined for their attentive service with the Louisville Bourbon Inn rated “The Best B&B in the Country” by Tripadvisor’s audience. Chateau Bourbon was honored as “Innkeeper of the Year,” and the Inn at Woodhaven recognized as “New Member of the Year,” both by Select Registry Craft Lodging Awards. This impressive collection of accolades underscores Louisville’s leadership in guest satisfaction and hospitality excellence.

Affordability & Accessibility

Louisville stands out as an affordable and accessible destination, earning spots as one of the “Cities That Offer Incredible Food Scenes Without High Costs” and “Most Accessible Cities in the US.” WalletHub ranked Louisville among the “Best Cities for New Year’s Eve Celebrations” and “Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving,” highlighting the city’s value for travelers looking for seasonal destinations. Louisville’s walkable neighborhoods, free attractions like the award-winning Big Four Pedestrian Bridge and diverse festival calendar make it easy for visitors to enjoy world-class experiences on any budget.

These honors cement Louisville’s status as a leading destination, where leisure visitors and meeting attendees alike enjoy a lively, walkable downtown, world-class hotels and a year-round lineup of acclaimed festivals and culinary events.

Louisville is already making headlines for next year as one of Travel Dreams Magazine’s “Where To Go In 2026: Top Destinations, Events, And Celebrations” as well as one of the “10 Best Places To Go With Kids In 2026,” according to Family Vacationist.

Below is a compiled list of some of Louisville’s top accolades for 2025:

Overall City Accolades

• 25 LGBTQ Travel Destinations for 2025 – TravelPulse
• Best South CVBs/DMOs – Meetings Today
• 2025 Smart Stars Award Winner For Best Sporty CVB (Louisville Tourism) – Smart Meetings
• Top 50 Favorite Fests 2025 – Voter’s Choice (Bourbon & Beyond #3, Louder Than Life #40) – Music Festival Wizard
• Best Cities for New Year's Eve Celebrations (#15) – WalletHub
• Where to go in 2026: Top destinations, Events, and Celebrations – Travel Dreams Magazine
• 24 Unique Bachelorette Party Destinations Around the World – Good Housekeeping
• The 15 Best Places to Celebrate Black History Month in 2025 – U.S. News
• Black History Month Travel: 7 Domestic Destinations To Explore Your Roots – VIBE
• Our Top Places to Visit This May Across the U.S. – Travel Binger
• Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving 2025 – WalletHub
• 10 Most Accessible Cities in the US in 2025 – Wander.com

Eat & Drink

• 10 Cities That Offer Incredible Food Scenes Without High Costs – Inkl
• North America's Leading Bourbon Distillery Tour 2025 (Rabbit Hole, #1) – World Travel Awards
• The Best Of American Craft Whiskey (Peerless, #8) – USA Today 10Best
• 10 Must-See Craft Distillery Tours In The United States (Peerless, #9) – USA Today 10Best
• The 29 Best Bars In America In 2025 (Darling’s) – USA Today
• The Top 100 Date Night Restaurants In America (La Bodeguita De Mima, #59) – Yelp
• USA TODAY's 2025 Restaurants Of The Year (Decade) – USA Today
• 10 Must-Visit Candy Stores In The US That'll Hit The Sweet Spot (Shimpff's Confectionery #1) – USAToday
• Best Speakeasies Across The US (Hell Or Highwater, #2) – USA Today 10Best
• The Best Dive Bars In America (Seidenfaden's) – USA Today 10Best
• The 10 Best Beer Festivals In The US (Tail Spin) – USA Today 10Best
• The Most Iconic Sandwich In Every US State (Hot Brown) – The Daily Meal
• Where To Find The Best Biscuits In The South, According To Southern Chefs – (Butchertown Grocery Bakery) – Southern Living
• The Best Burger Spot In Every State (Burger Boy) – FinanceBuzz
• 50 Must-See Restaurants Across America (Shirley Mae’s Café) – One From Every State
• The Most Iconic Signature Casserole In Each State (Hot Brown) – Cheapism
• 10 Best American Steakhouses You've Never Heard Of But Must Visit (Repeal) – Eat This, Not That!
• The Most Legendary Steakhouses In The South (Pat’s Steakhouse) – Southern Living
• Best Steakhouses in America (Le Moo) – USA Today
• Best Under-the-Radar Hot Dog Stands Across America (Red Top Hot Dogs) – Cheapism
• The 16 Undisputable Best Sandwiches In America (Hot Brown) - Chef Standards

Play

• Music Festival Of The Year (Bourbon & Beyond) – Pollstar
• 10 Best Arts Districts In The US For A Creative Escape (NuLu) – USA Today 10Best
• Take A Scenic Stroll On The 10 Best Riverwalks Across The US (Waterfront Park, #1) – USA Today 10Best
• Best Attraction For Sports Fans: Kentucky Derby Museum (#2), Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory (#4), Churchill Downs (#5), And Muhammad Ali Center (#10) — USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
• A Guide To U.S. Museums To See This Year (Speed Art Museum) – New York Times
• 10 Best Sporting Events To Travel For In 2025 (Kentucky Derby) – Escape
• 10 Best Car Shows In The US (NSRA) – USA Today 10Best
• 15 Major Sporting Events In 2025 Worth Traveling For (Kentucky Derby) – Conde Nast Traveler
• Best Mini Golf Course (Puttshack Louisville) – Newsweek
• The Best Art Museum In Every State (Speed Art Museum) – Finance Buzz
• Best Dinner Cruise (Belle Of Louisville) – USA Today 10Best
• The Best Music Festivals Of 2025 (Louder Than Life) – Hollywood Reporter
• The 14 Best American Music Festivals To Visit For Every Genre (Louder Than Life) – Yahoo Creators
• The Best Country Music Festivals In The US For 2025 (Bourbon & Beyond) – Holler
• 24 Great Places To Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Without A Crowd – Travel Pulse
• The South’s Coolest Airport Lounges & Amenities (Bistro Le Relais) – StyleBlueprint
• 10 Top Walking Tours To See The U.S. By Foot (Phantoms Of Prohibition) – AARP
• 15 Iconic Sports Events Every Fan Should Experience (Kentucky Derby) – Vocal
• Top 10 Pumpkin Patches In The Nation (Huber’s) – USA Today 10Best
• 8 Of The Most Haunted Places In The USA (Waverly Hills) – Lonely Planet
• The Best Free Attraction In Every State To Enjoy On National Savings Day (Big Four Bridge) – FinanceBuzz
• Best Black Museums Across The Country To Visit This Juneteenth (Muhammad Ali Center) – The Root

Stay

• Best-Rated Bed & Breakfast In The Country (Louisville Bourbon Inn) – Tripadvisor
• Innkeeper Of The Year (Chateau Bourbon) – Select Registry Craft Lodging Awards
• New Member Of The Year (Inn at Woodhaven) – Select Registry Craft Lodging Awards
• The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels Of America® (Brown Hotel) – Historic Hotels Of America
• The South's Best Classic Hotels 2025 (Brown Hotel) – Southern Living
• The Most Stunning Hotels In Every State (#17, The Brown Hotel) – FinanceBuzz