The Highlands

Louisville's original "Restaurant Row"

The Highlands is home to Louisville’s original “Restaurant Row” and is also known for local nightlife and shopping. Between restaurants, bars, boutiques, and galleries, you’ll also find inviting retreats in the many independent coffee and tea shops. With its Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century architecture, the Highlands is as quirky as it is charming.

Highlands Restaurants

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Eat & Drink

Kick off your culinary adventure with Latin-inspired dishes at Seviche, where you’ll find celebrity chef Anthony Lamas whipping up his signature delights. La Suerte beckons with authentic Mexican fare, and taco aficionados will want to try Taco City, Tacos D Amor, and Noche Mexican BBQ.

Heart & Soy/Roots elevates plant-based Asian dining. For sushi, try Dragon King’s
Daughter, Sapporo, Daisuki, or Yi Sushi Omakase. HaiFry serves Osaka-style Japanese cuisine, and GOGi 1055 Korean BBQ is perfect for barbecue enthusiasts who want to grill their own meats. For noodles, there’s Kiwami Ramen and Pho Cafe.

At the elegant ROC, enjoy flavors from owner Rocco Cadolini’s native Sorrento, Italy. Paseo prepares Southern European-inspired dishes in its wood-fired oven. For a French menu, M. Peppers is a delightful bistro. Kashmir is a longtime favorite for Indian. Hurry for Curry serves Nepalese, Tibetan, and Indian dishes, and Mom’s Kitchen A.K.A. KOKO + RAE serves fast, casual Indian favorites and Caribbean cuisine. Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar features American cuisine with Mediterranean and Southern influences. For a more casual, but equally delicious, Mediterranean option, try Shiraz. Jack Fry’s, a Louisville icon, charms diners with its upscale Southern-inspired dishes. There’s also fried chicken-forward The Eagle.

Good Belly is a New York deli-inspired sandwich shop with a “from-scratch” kitchen. Drip n Dough has gourmet hot dogs, coffee, and doughnuts. Pizza lovers will want to try a pie at Impellizzeri’s, Wheated, or Spinelli’s, which is open late. Sink your teeth into a burger or grab a scoop of homemade ice cream at 80/20 @ Kaelin’s. If you can’t decide on one cuisine, sample from the extensive international menu at Ramsi’s Café on the World.

Cap off your culinary adventure with a sweet treat from “The Cookie Lady” at Kizito Cookies, gâteaux from La Pâtisserie Française, or homemade goodness from
Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company.

Indulge in the delightful world of bubble tea at Fun Boba Tea, The Bep Teahouse, Tiger Sugar, and Boba Tea & Ice Cream. The local brew culture offers an array of options, including Big Rock Bar & Brewery, Mile Wide Beer Co., River City Drafthouse, and Rose Hill Lagerhaus. Holy Grale, a gastropub located in a former Unitarian church built in 1905, offers rare beers from around the world. Next door, Bar Grale serves natural wines, and Grale Goods offers breakfast and baked goods. Stop in to Gralehaus for coffee or brunch.

The Highlands’ nightlife is legendary, with clusters of bars and clubs within walking distance of one another. Beyond the Sun offers nightly live music and entertainment from top DJs while serving steaks, pasta, and seafood. The Hub is a favorite late-night dance spot. The 1920s-inspired Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop serves 200+ varieties of Bourbon. With its elegant Art Nouveau décor, Darling’s is a lovely spot for a handcrafted cocktail. Epiphany is a craft cocktail bar bringing farm-to-table to the beverage world. The Louisville Cigar Company has a full bar and heated patio. Chill Bar and Big Bar are two of the neighborhood’s popular LGBTQ bars. The Highlands is also home to several Irish pubs, including Molly Malone’s, O’Shea’s, Flanagan’s, and Shenanigans.

Discover

If you’re looking for adventure, there’s Louisville Mega Cavern, home to underground zip lines and a ropes course. For family fun, visit the Louisville Zoo. Hike, stroll, picnic, or just relax at Tyler Park and Cherokee Park, a 400-acre park designed in 1891 by Frederick Law Olmsted. Take a walk through 296 acres at Cave Hill Cemetery and Arboretum, the final resting place of Muhammad Ali and Colonel Harlan Sanders.

Shop

Bardstown Road is lined with unique, locally owned shops. For fashionistas, there’s BAZ and BEA, Clay & Cotton, Discoveries, Dot Fox, Pitaya, and Surprise Lily. If you’re shopping for vintage, there’s Acorn Apparel, The Capsule, The Groovy Aura, hey tiger, and Vintage Banana. For art enthusiasts, Edenside Gallery and Enchanted Elm Arts & Gifts showcase local talent. Leatherhead has been offering quality leather goods for over half a century, and Electric Ladyland has been a psychedelic beacon since 1978. Carmichael’s Bookstore was established the same year and is still a centerpiece of the community. Music lovers will want to visit Better Days East, Matt Anthony’s Record Shop, Surface Noise, and The Great Escape, where comic lovers will also find themselves at home.

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