Downtown Louisville: Explore the Heart of the City : GoToLouisville.com Official Travel Source (2024)

The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience gives visitors an insider’s look at the process of crafting Kentucky Bourbon at an artisanal distillery. Old Forester Distillery’s tour has an on-site cooperage, urban rickhouse and bottling line, along with George’s Bar. After an extensive restoration, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery in the 19th-century building named for the historic fort that once protected Louisville. Distillery tours end with tastings and guests are welcome in The Bar at Fort Nelson, an elegant second-floor space overlooking Main Street. At Hillerich & Bradsby Co.’s , you’ll learn about the art of whiskey making and create your own blend that you can take home. The newly opened Bardstown Bourbon Company features interactive education and tasting experiences.

is a 22,000-seat, state-of-the-art downtown arena that continuously hosts a who’s who of musical acts and performances.

Founded in 1964, Actors Theatre of Louisville occupies a theater complex with three performance stages. The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, just a few blocks away, is home to the Louisville Ballet, Louisville Orchestra, StageOne Family Theatre and the PNC Bank Broadway in Louisville series, as well as numerous community theater performances throughout the year. The Louisville Comedy Club brings local and national comedic acts to Whiskey Row.

Museum Row on Main Street boasts several one-of-a-kind attractions within its stretch of walkable blocks. From history to Bourbon to modern art, there is something for everyone, including Frazier History Museum (home of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center), , Kentucky Science Center, KMAC Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Roots 101 African-American Museum, and 21c Museum Hotel, whose art exhibits are free and open 24/7 to the public.

For nightlife, there’s a co*cktail bar Expo and hidden speakeasies Wild Swann and Hell or High Water. If you want live music, head to Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar or Number 15.

Relax after a night out at Pelo West or , both offering a wide range of salon and services.

Treat yourself to a Mint Julep or an Old Fashioned at before ordering Louisville’s Official Sandwich – the world-famous Hot Brown. It was created at the hotel in the 1920s 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 open-air 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. The historic Seelbach Hotel is the location of Tom and Daisy’s wedding in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. Head to the Old Seelbach Bar, which conjures an opulent, early 1900s vibe worthy of Jay Gatsby himself, to order a Seelbach co*cktail.

Look for the Tom Bullock mural outside of Sway, the Hyatt Regency Louisville’s restaurant, which serves farm-to-fork Southern-inspired fare.

If you’re in the mood for seafood or steak, there’s Brendon’s Catch 23. This official stop on the city’s Urban Bourbon Trail® boasts a selection of more than 100 Bourbons. 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 German-crafted beer and eclectic American food, there’s Gordon Biersch Brewery. Pizza Bar boasts many pies and slices, and TGI Fridays serves classic American fare.

For your sweet tooth, there’s The Fudgery. A short walk south on Fourth Street, you’ll find even more restaurants and bars. For Mexican food, there’s La Terraza and Mi Casita on 4th. Sicilian Pizza & Pasta offers 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 co*cktail, Meta is a must. You’ll find classics as well as playfully modern concoctions. Enjoy specialty co*cktails, like the Oliver Lewis Old Fashioned, named for the jockey who rode Aristides across the Kentucky Derby’s first finish line in the elegant Black Jockeys Lounge.

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 excellent place to catch performances by both national and up-and-coming artists. Embark on an adventure at Locked-In: The Louisville Escape Game, where you and your group engage in immersive challenges and puzzles.

Louisville 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. For a comedy show, check out Laugh Louisville.

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.

Discover the region’s first Bourbon-certified chocolatier and Bourbon Truffles in the adorable chocolate shop Art Eatables. Around the corner is Beaded Treasures, where women entrepreneurs handcraft jewelry using semi-precious gemstones. A few blocks away is the K.U.L.A. Art Gallery, filled with contemporary artwork. Fourth Street Live! also hosts various events, such as Hot Country Nights, The MELANnaire Marketplace, and many others.

A downtown shopping trip is not complete without a stop at the Louisville Visitor Center to pick up Bourbon and Louisville-themed gifts to enjoy at home.