Downtown Louisville

Explore Downtown's three main districts: Whiskey Row, Museum Row & South Fourth Street

Downtown Louisville is a vibrant and historic district that offers something for everyone.

Whiskey Row & Museum Row
South Fourth Street

Whether you're interested in exploring the city's rich history and architecture, experiencing the local culture and cuisine, diving into a distillery experience or enjoying outdoor activities along the Ohio River, there's no shortage of things to see and do. From the Muhammad Ali Center and the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and Waterfront Park, the area is home to a range of cultural attractions that are sure to please. Downtown Louisville is a must-do experience that offers a unique blend of entertainment, education, and fun. Explore its three main districts to learn more.

Whiskey Row & Museum Row

Lining downtown Louisville’s Main Street is one of the country’s largest collections of castiron facades, Revivalist and Chicago Schoolstyle buildings. Built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this historic architecture is second only to SoHo in New York City. Louisville’s Whiskey Row has seen a revival with new distilleries and attractions re inhabiting the area that once served as home to the Bourbon industry from the mid-to-late 1800s. Museum Row is home to notable museums all within a few walkable blocks.

Named one of the best Main Streets in America, this downtown thoroughfare is a must for Bourbon experiences and some of the city’s most iconic attractions.

South Fourth Street

As the city’s primary retail and entertainment corridor for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, Fourth Street was the place to see and be seen. Folks flocked to the area to enjoy an evening out at the theater, dine and shop. Today, the 500 and 600 blocks of South Fourth Street are a must-visit destination for dining, nightlife, and attractions.

Downtown Restaurants

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Whiskey Row & Museum Row

Eat & Drink

Kickstart your day at Blackbeard Espresso or Wiltshire Pantry Bakery & Cafe, which is also a go-to lunch spot for locals, along with The Main Eatery, In Season, Addis Grill, and Corner. Two Louisville mainstays, Bristol Bar & Grille and Bluegrass Brewing Company, are also great options for a classic American lunch or dinner.

For straightforward Southern cuisine, there’s Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar, or Dasha Barbours Southern Bistro. For a tasty burger, try Sidebar, Nic & Norman’s, or Mussel & Burger Bar. For Mexicans, there’s Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant or Zombie Taco at Bar Moxy. For quick, yummy pub fare, there’s O’Shea’s Downtown and Troll Pub Under the Bridge. If it’s pizza you’re craving, there’s Luigi’s or The Misfit Lou, which also serves pizza, along with sandwiches.

For upscale dining, Proof on Main puts an unexpected twist on Southern-inspired cuisine. Vincenzo’s brings old-school Italian. Monk’s Road Boiler House is a luxury chophouse from Log Still Distillery with a tasting room and speakeasy-style bar. Choosing from the many outstanding steakhouses, like Morton’s, Jeff Ruby’s, Steakhouse Bourré Bonne, or Repeal, is not easy, but there’s no wrong choice here. Inside the Galt House Hotel, you’ll find Walker’s Exchange and Swizzle, a rotating restaurant and bar high atop the hotel overlooking the Ohio River.

Discover

Every few steps on a walk down Whiskey Row, you’ll find distilleries, tasting rooms, Bourbon experiences, and distillery bars. At the west end of Main Street is Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery, where you can tour a restored 19th-century building named for the historic fort, sample a lineup of Michter’s award-winning whiskeys, and enjoy a cocktail in The Bar at Fort Nelson. At Hillerich & Bradsby Co.’s Barrels & Billets, learn the art of whiskey making and even craft your own custom blend to take home. Step inside the Bardstown Bourbon Company to experience interactive tastings and sip cocktails in their bar. At Pursuit Spirits, choose from a range of experiences, from a visit to their cocktail lounge, Trial + Error, to tastings and private barrel selections. At Green River Tasting Room, explore interactive Bourbon exhibits and enjoy handcrafted cocktails. Nearby, Buzzard’s Roost, a microdistillery, invites you to take part in guided
tastings, whiskey education classes, and flights at their bar. At Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, tour the first distillery to open on Whiskey Row after Prohibition, or just stop by the chic ON3 Bar. At Old Forester Distilling Co., learn about the Bourbon-making process from fermentation to barrel firing in the on-site cooperage and aging in the urban rickhouse, or just raise a glass at George’s Bar.

The KFC Yum! The Center is a 22,000-seat arena that has continuously hosted a who’s who of performances. Founded in 1964, Actors Theatre of Louisville occupies a theater complex with three stages. The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, just a few blocks away, is home to the Louisville Ballet, the Louisville Orchestra, and the PNC Bank Broadway in Louisville series. The Louisville Comedy Club brings local and national comedic acts to Whiskey Row.

Museum Row on Main Street offers many one-of-a-kind attractions, including the Frazier History Museum (home of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center), Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Kentucky Science Center, KMAC Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Roots 101 African-American Museum, Flame Run Glass Studio and Gallery, and 21c Museum Hotel, with free exhibits open 24/7 to the public.

For nightlife, there are hidden speakeasies, Hereafter, Wild Swann, and Hell or High Water. If you’re looking for live music, head to Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar or Goodwood Brewing + Spirits, which has multiple bars and food. Relax after a night out at Woodhouse Spa, a full-service spa, or at Pelo West and Bourbon & Blush, both of which offer a spa and a full range of salon services.

Shop

Art Eatables is a premier Bourbon chocolatier known for its Bourbon chocolate truffles. Duluth Trading Co. is home to men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, including its popular “Buck Naked”™ underwear line. The Shoppes at The Galt House Hotel include gift shops and men’s and women’s clothing boutiques. All of the museum gift shops offer unique items, among other souvenirs.

South Fourth Street

Eat & Drink

Treat yourself to a Mint Julep or an Old Fashioned at The Brown Hotel Lobby Bar
& Grill before ordering up Louisville’s Official Sandwich, the world-famous Hot Brown. It was created at the hotel in 1926 and has been a fixture on the menu ever since, inspiring other versions across the state.

For elevated views and cuisine, go to 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen. This openair rooftop bar and restaurant is located on the 8th floor of the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown. During the winter months, you’ll find themed igloos, perfect for parties and special occasions. Look for the Tom Bullock mural outside of Sway, the Hyatt Regency Louisville’s restaurant, which serves farm-to-fork Southern-inspired
fare.

For a casual lunch or dinner, Safier Mediterranean Deli is a favorite with locals. Next door, Metztli Modern Mexican Cuisine & Bar brings a modern twist to traditional Mexican flavors.

For luxury dining, there’s Brendon’s Catch 23, which offers steak and seafood, and Steak & Bourbon, both of which have extensive Bourbon lists and offer a premier dining experience.

Fourth Street Live! is filled with restaurants to suit any taste or mood. It’s home to Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse, where the celebrity chef’s passion for barbecue is evident. For meat lovers, Brazeiros Brazilian Steakhouse serves up carnivorous delights and gourmet sides. For Italian, there’s Benfinita. Pizza Bar boasts a vast array of pies and slices, and for your sweet tooth, there’s The Fudgery.

A short walk south on Fourth Street, you’ll find even more restaurants and bars. If you’re looking for a comfortable spot to watch a game and feast on elevated bar food, head to Parlay Sports Bar. For Mexican food, there’s La Terraza and Mi Casita on 4th. For pizza, there’s Spinelli’s Pizzeria and Sicilian Pizza & Pasta, offering an array of melt-in-your-mouth pizzas, including the Kentucky Hot Brown, which is piled high with roast turkey, bacon, and cheese sauce. For a craft cocktail, Meta is a must. You’ll find classics as well as playfully modern concoctions. For DJs, dancing, and VIP service, check out Midnight Club.

Discover

Experience the thrill of Derby City Gaming Downtown, a newly opened 43,000-square-foot entertainment complex with three unique bars and lounges, live entertainment, sports betting, and historical racing machines.

See a show at the Louisville Palace, which originally opened as a movie theater in 1928 and now hosts internationally renowned musicians, comedians, and performing arts events. The Palace is famous for its ornate interior, baroque architecture, and design. Nearby, Mercury Ballroom is another great place to catch performances by both national and up-and-coming artists.

Louisville's entertainment district, Fourth Street Live!, is an epicenter of nightclubs. With 35+ HDTVs, The Sports & Social Club is a great place to watch the game and enjoy classic pub food. For dancing, head to Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano bar. For bull riding, mosey over to PBR Louisville. Fourth Street Live! also hosts a variety of events, such as Hot Country Nights, The MELANnaire Marketplace, and
many others.

One block over, the Neo-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption is one of Louisville’s architectural landmarks. Built in 1852, the cathedral still celebrates Mass daily and welcomes visitors. Take a free tour of the historic Seelbach Hotel, where you’ll see the Rathskeller and the Grand Ballroom, the location of Tom and Daisy’s wedding in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. Afterward, head to the Old Seelbach Bar, which conjures an opulent, early 1900s vibe worthy of Jay Gatsby himself, to order a Prohibition-era-inspired Seelbach cocktail.

For a respite from the buzz of downtown, enjoy the many public art installations, play one of the four custom-designed outdoor pianos, or take a walk through the Trager MicroForest.

Shop

Discover the region’s first Bourbon-certified chocolatier and Bourbon Truffles in the
adorable chocolate shop Art Eatables. A downtown shopping trip is not complete without a stop at the Louisville Visitor Center to pick up Louisville-themed gifts to enjoy at home.

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