
The Highlands
Louisville's original "Restaurant Row"
This lively neighborhood is Louisville’s original “Restaurant Row,” known for its casual pubs and sushi bars alongside breakfast joints and chef-driven bistros on Bardstown Road. As well as being a foodie hub, the area is also celebrated for its unique collection of artisan shops and is one of the most popular neighborhoods for local nightlife. If it’s a quieter atmosphere you crave, bookstores and java shops meet that need with a variety of independent coffee shops around the neighborhood. The Highlands is as quirky as it is charming, boasting Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century architecture.



EAT & DRINK
The Highlands has been a foodie haven in Louisville for decades. Long-time staple Jack Fry’s is a favorite for locals doing a business lunch or a special date. You can also spy celebrity chef Anthony Lamas (a James Beard semifinalist) whipping up culinary delights at his Latin restaurant Seviche.
Try modern American cuisine with Mediterranean and Southern influences at Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar. Joy Luck serves up Asian cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. Find tacos at El Taco Luchador or Noche Mexican BBQ. For Southern-inspired dishes, there’s wine-centric LouVino and fried-chicken forward The Eagle, where large tables with fire pits keep you toasty on the patio. Pizza lovers will want to try a pie at Impellizzeri’s. Sink your teeth into a burger or grab a scoop of homemade ice cream at 80/20 at Kaelin’s. For a late-night bite or drink, there’s Café 360, open 24 hours a day.
Several spots cater to vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, including Heart & Soy, Roots and Shahar Café. Upscale Italian pub fare can be found at ROC, an official Urban Bourbon Trail® stop. And locals swear by the Green Chili Wontons at Bristol Bar & Grille and the extensive international menu at Ramsi’s Café on the World. Cap off your culinary adventure with a sweet treat from “The Cookie Lady” (a local favorite) at Kizito Cookies.
The Highlands is also home to many local breweries and beer bars, including Great Flood, Gravely, Mile Wide, River City Drafthouse and Public House by Against the Grain. Holy Grale, a gastropub featuring a rotating beer list in a 1905 former Unitarian church, is the perfect place to find rare beers from around the world. For fans of Holy Grale, the adjacent Gralehaus is Louisville’s only “Bed and Beverage,” offering accommodations above the dining area for visitors 21 and up. On the menu, you’ll find Southern-style breakfast and lunch, like biscuits and duck gravy. Or enjoy a beermosa in the picturesque beer garden.
The Highlands nightlife is legendary and neighborhood bars are a great place to play pool, hear live music or perform karaoke. Check out some of the neighborhood’s LGBTQ bars within walking distance of one another: Chill and Big Bar. 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 a bit of adventure, there’s Louisville Mega Cavern, home to an underground zip line, ropes course and bike park. You won’t find another place like it in the world. For family fun, visit the Louisville Zoo. Hike, stroll, picnic, or relax at Tyler Park and Cherokee Park, a 400-acre municipal park designed in 1891 by Frederick Law Olmsted.
SHOP
For fashionistas, several locally-owned boutiques pepper Bardstown Road, including Clay & Cotton, Discoveries, Edenside Gallery, Pitaya and BAZ and BEA Boutique. National retailer Urban Outfitters also calls the Highlands home. For avid readers, Carmichael’s Bookstore is a must-visit.
Featured Attractions & Things to Do
5 Elements Spa
1905 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40205
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Highlands
We are a full service Salon and Spa in the heart of the highlands! We combine a relaxing and luxurious interior with a...
Against The Grain Brewery Public House -Highlands
1576 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40205
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Against The Grain Brewery Public House -Highlands
Highlands
Public House is located in the former Cumberland Brewery and is steeped in Louisville's brewing history and tradition. The...
Cave Hill Cemetery
701 Baxter Ave.
Louisville, KY 40204
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Highlands
Cave Hill has been blessed by a succession of competent and innovative landscape gardeners, and Louisville has been a...
Cherokee Golf Course
2501 Alexander Rd.
Louisville, KY 40204
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Highlands
Cherokee is one of the oldest municipal golf courses in the United States & an excellent place to improve your short-iron...
Cherokee Park
745 Cochran Hill Road
Louisville, KY 40206
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Highlands
Cherokee Park's main feature is the 2.4-mile Scenic Loop, with separate lanes for vehicle traffic (one-way) and...
Commonwealth Theatre Center
1123 Payne St.
Louisville, KY 40204
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Highlands
The Louisville area's leading theater conservatory for young people.
Farmington Historic Plantation
3033 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40205
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Farmington Historic Plantation
Highlands
Completed in 1816, this Federal-style home was the center of a 550-acre hemp plantation owned by the Speed family. Abraham...
Gravely Brewing Co.
514 Baxter Ave.
Louisville, KY 40206
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Highlands
Our beer styles vary as much as our musical selections. From “holy crap that’s hoppy!” to “that's one of the best lagers...
Headliners Music Hall
1386 Lexington Rd.
Louisville, KY 40206
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Highlands
Locally owned and operated, HEADLINERS MUSIC HALL is the premier live entertainment venue of Louisville, Kentucky. We...
Hi-Wire Brewing
642 Baxter Ave.
Louisville, KY 40204
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Highlands
Located at 642 Baxter Avenue, the 5500-square-foot taproom opened in summer 2021 is our second taproom outside of NC, and...
Louisville Mega Cavern & Mega Zips All Underground Ziplines & Adventure Tour
1841 Taylor Ave.
Louisville, KY 40213
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Louisville Mega Cavern & Mega Zips All Underground Ziplines & Adventure Tour
Highlands
An all underground Mega Zip lines and adventure tour featuring six underground zip lines, including a fun filled dual...
Louisville Zoo
1100 Trevilian Way, PO Box 37250
Louisville, KY 40213
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Highlands
1,400 animals from all over the world. 90 developed acres that can accommodate anything from company picnics of 10,000 to...