Old Louisville

Old Louisville is known for having the largest collection of restored Victorian homes in the country and is the third largest Historic Preservation District in the United States. Built as a suburb in the 1870s, this neighborhood consists of more than 40 city blocks of Victorian era homes – considered some of the oldest, largest and most beautifully preserved homes in the city.

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

EAT & DRINK

Start your day at North Lime Coffee & Donuts with made-from-scratch donuts and professionally crafted espresso in a renovated 19th-century building.

Old Louisville Tavern is known for hand-patty burgers and house-cut fries, and Burger Boy is open 24/7 with a full breakfast menu. A Louisville institution since 1947, Dizzy Whizz is famous for their Whizzburger, a double-decker hamburger with a secret special sauce. For a nostalgic jaunt, walk up to the trolley car to place your order for a tasty burger at Ollie’s Trolley, one of three remaining locations in the country. The Granville Pub, established in 1939, is another classic spot where you can get a great burger and where you can also watch a game, play pool or darts, and listen to live music. Mag Bar is another neighborhood classic where you can listen to live music while enjoying drinks and bar bites.

Renshoku Ramen has a variety of Japanese, including JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken), and rice bowls. For Jamaican, Roof Top Grill gets rave reviews for their Caribbean classics while Falafel Oasis is an excellent choice for Middle Eastern delicacies. If you’re craving soul food, Lucretia’s Kitchen is a great stop.

610 Magnolia is considered one of the city’s finest restaurants. Chef-owner Edward Lee (a James Beard award-winner who starred on “Iron Chef America” and “Top Chef”) blends European techniques with seasonal, local, and organic products during a six-course, prix-fixe dinner.

Buck’s Restaurant & Bar 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. Craft beer lovers will want to visit Old Louisville Brewery, a microbrewery and neighborhood community hangout, and Noble Funk Brewing Company, where you’ll also find Noble Hearth Craft Pizza. Another neighborhood pizza spot is Pizza Donisi. Birdie & Vi’s is a friendly antique store with a patio and casual bar, where the owners spin vinyl for the customers while their lazy cat naps. Fleur de Tea offers carefully sampled and sourced teas from around the globe, while Old Louisville Coffee Co-op, another neighborhood hangout, stays open late to host open mics, poetry readings, comedy, and art. The House Lounge is a neighborhood bar providing a relaxing atmosohphere for the LGBTQ+ community.

DISCOVER

For lovers of the Bard, check out Kentucky Shakespeare, presenters of one of the longest-running free Shakespeare festivals in the country. Check out nightly performances during the summer at Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Central Park.

Each fall, they also offer a spooky ticketed event at their Old Louisville headquarters. 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 sculptures from around the world. Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum hosts special events each month and includes an outdoor art park, piazza, and a restaurant, Est. 1927 by Marigold, whose name pays tribute to the date the museum was established.

Another popular fall tradition is to experience the vibrant St. James Court Art Show, held annually in October, featuring over 600 artists from across the nation. This juried fine arts and contemporary crafts show takes place amidst the stunning Victorian architecture of Old Louisville, offering visitors a unique blend of artistic excellence and historical charm.

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.

Louisville Memorial Auditorium offers rich history and architectural beauty while offering a variety of concerts and stage productions. Also, check out Old Louisville’s variety of walking tours with themes from historical to architectural to ghostly, where you can see neighborhood landmarks like the “Pink Palace” and the Witches’ Tree.

Featured Attractions & Things to Do