Old Louisville

Old Louisville has the largest collection of restored Victorian homes in the country and is the third largest Historic Preservation District in the U.S. Built as a suburb in the 1870s, this neighborhood consists of more than 40 city blocks of Victorian Era homes – considered the oldest, largest and most beautifully preserved homes in the city.

Amid the rich architecture of this community, you’ll also find quaint bed and breakfast inns and unique dining options surrounded by the beauty of mature magnolia and oak trees.

EAT & DRINK

610 Magnolia is considered one of the city’s finest restaurants. Chef-owner Edward Lee (a James Beard finalist who starred on “Iron Chef America” and “Top Chef”) blends European techniques with seasonal, local and organic products during a six-course, pre-fixe dinner. Buck’s, an official Urban Bourbon Trail® stop, combines European luxury and modern style with linen tablecloths, artfully mismatched china, white flowers adorning the bar and live piano music nightly in the historic Mayflower building.

North Lime Coffee & Donuts serves made-from-scratch donuts and professionally crafted espresso in a renovated 19th-century building. A Louisville institution since 1947, Dizzy Whizz is a step back in time, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try its famous WhizzBurger, a double-decker hamburger with a secret special sauce. For another nostalgic trip, walk up to the trolley car to order a tasty burger at Ollie’s Trolley, one of the three remaining trolleys in the country. Old Louisville Brewery is a brother-owned microbrewery aiming to be a destination spot and neighborhood community hangout.

DISCOVER

For lovers of the Bard, check out Kentucky Shakespeare, presenters of one of the longest-running free Shakespeare festivals in the country. Stop in and admire the architecture at the Louisville Free Public Library. At the Speed Art Museum, art lovers of all ages can see paintings and sculpture works from around the world. Kentucky’s oldest and largest museum hosts special events each month and includes an outdoor art park and piazza and the restaurant, Wiltshire at the Speed. History buffs will want to tour the Conrad-Caldwell House with its ornate stained glass and handcrafted woodwork and take in the programming at the Filson Historical Society.

For families, a fun and educational option is the Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium located on the nearby University of Louisville campus.

Old Louisville has its own Central Park, which is often the center of community events. Also, check out Old Louisville’s walking tours with themes from architectural to ghostly.

Featured Attractions & Things to Do