Today we are going to chat about Louisville a city that is much more than just horse racing and bourbon tasting. Recently I visited Louisville, Kentucky for a work trip. This was one that I gladly extended an extra night as I have heard what a fun town it is.
Where to Stay
Louisville is located right on the Ohio River across from Indiana. During my trip, I stayed at the Galt House which has recently undergone an extensive facelift. It is the only riverfront hotel in the city and offers beautiful views and very large suites at a very reasonable price. I will note that it was reasonable for the time of year I visited. The rooms in Louisville skyrocket during the Kentucky Derby which I will discuss later in this post.
In early March, I tried to run outside but it was quite cold therefore, I ended up visiting the indoor gym. This was one of my favorite parts of the Galt House Hotel. The view from their gym offers panoramic views of both the city and the Ohio River.
That said, there are a lot of nice hotels in the city and a quick Airbnb search shows quite a few nice places as well.
If you are able to visit during the warmer months or you prepare for outdoor activities better than I did, take a peek at the waterfront park. I was told by multiple locals that it has a great running route and is safe for solo travelers.
Where to Eat
There is no lack of options when choosing somewhere to eat in Louisville. I opted to have breakfast at my hotel each morning to start my day off on a healthy foot. If you haven’t checked out my post about healthy eating while traveling, now is a great time to do that!
So, with that, here are a few of my favorite Louisville restaurants:
Mussel and Burger:
Mussel and Burger has quite the casual atmosphere with bar seating and plenty of tables. The bartenders were very kind and provided good conversation as I was traveling alone. It was March Madness during my visit and the place was packed with visitors watching the games.
Try the fig salad for starters, it was delicious. I also had the Mussels Basquiase which was also super yummy, the broth was very flavorful. My bartender said all of the salads are good and the mussels I chose were the best on the menu. Yay for good food decisions 🙂 They also have a long list of inventive burgers so if you are looking for good food in a casual setting, check this place out.
The Bar at Fort Nelson:
Okay, so I know the name of this post is Louisville: More Than Just Horse Racing and Bourbon but it wouldn’t be a Louisville post without at least mentioning their contribution to the spirits world! The Bar at Fort Nelson is located on the second floor of Michter’s.
This bourbon and specialty cocktail bar is super inviting and quaint. During my visit, they had a special winter menu with rotating selections that were as beautiful as they were delicious. The bartenders were very knowledgeable and personable, they even provided recommendations for Fante Coffee which I’ll discuss below.
Fante’s Coffee House:
One of my favorite things to do in a new city is to find great coffee. As I mentioned above, Fante’s was recommended by my bartender at Fort Nelson and my Uber driver who picked me up from the hotel also validated how good this place was. In fact, he even stopped in for a coffee after dropping me off, I guess he wasn’t joking!
Fante’s offers specialty lattes and they roast onsite. It is less than a 10-minute Uber from Galt House downtown. I had a decaf latte and a Chorizo burrito from their limited menu and both were great. They also sell pastries that looked delicious. I will definitely be back next time I’m in Louisville!
The Troll Under the Bridge:
The Troll Under the Bridge is a decent little gastro pub with a dining and bar area. They also have tons of burger options, I had the chicken salad and a salad as a lighter option. Several of my co-workers also ate here and were super satisfied.
Jeff Ruby:
Jeff Ruby is an upscale steakhouse with sushi offerings, huge desserts, great cocktails, and an extensive wine list. This place is definitely a splurge but absolutely worth it. I dined with friends and we enjoyed sushi apps, steak and fish for entrees, and finished the meal off with one of their huge desserts split 8 ways, that is how big they were!
I would recommend trying the Holiday in Paris cocktail. A combination of Michter’s Rye, Aperol, Pomegranate, Rosemary, Balsamic Vinegar, and Vermouth. I can’t wait to try my hand at recreating this at home sometime soon!
Proof:
Proof was one of the restaurants that came highly recommended by several folks. We sat at a high top in the bar. They obviously had a good bourbon list, decent wine, and a fun charcuterie board. Proof also has a super cute dining room in case you wanted a more formal dining experience.
Not great with directions? Not to worry. When you are walking along Main Street, you won’t miss Proof. There is a 30-foot-tall golden statue of David near the entrance!
Things To Do
Louisville is the home of the Louisville Slugger, the Bourbon Trail, The Muhammad Ali Center, and of course, The Kentucky Derby. Tours are available at both the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Muhammad Ali Center is also said to be a great stop. Since I was here for work, I didn’t make it to either but adding the Ali Center to my list for sure!
All along the so-called Whiskey Row, you’ll find famous bourbon stops. Even if you don’t drink bourbon, consider a tour where you’ll learn about the history and how it is made. It is definitely very interesting and you are bound to learn something new about the history of Kentucky.
The Kentucky Derby is a prestigious horse-racing event held in Lousiville at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May every year. In 2023, The Derby will celebrate the 149th running! The race is known for high ticket prices and even larger wagers made by the rich and famous. Like many large horse races, everyone dresses to the nines and celebrates by drinking the Mint Julep, the official Kentucky Derby cocktail.
You should expect this to be quite an expensive week if you are planning to attend. Hotels book up months in advance and the tickets to attend can reach up to $13,000. I think I’ll just be watching the race and admiring the beautiful fascinators at home this year!
Safety
If you’ve been around the blog for a bit, you’ll know my stance on visiting new places. As always, be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables safe and within sight. This is no different than the advice I would give in any city including my own. In general, I never felt unsafe during my travels here and for most of this trip, I was traveling solo.
It was recommended to not walk around downtown alone at night so take that for what it is worth.
Louisville, Kentucky
While I was only in this city for a few days, it was welcoming and there was plenty to do, see, eat, and drink. We love hearing from you! If you’ve been to Louisville, comment below and let us know about the highlight of your trip! If you are looking for another great city to explore over a long weekend, check out our article on Alexandria, Virginia!
Safe and healthy travels!