Today 10 Best. Every tour guest gets a mini version souvenir and a chance to ‘Hold A Piece of History.’ Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row offers a variety of food and drink options including Doc Crows (and Doc’s Bourbon Room), Patrick O’Sheas, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, Sidebar at Whiskey Row and Troll Pub Under the Bridge. New to Whiskey Row is Goodwood Brewing and Spirits, a dynamic hub for fun, offering a combination of live music from near and far, great food, event spaces and multiple bars in the heart of downtown.
With close to a dozen distilleries in or around Louisville, you’ll find a watering hole that’s sure to please. Louisville’s distilleries are quite popular—don’t forget to reserve your spot well in advance at any distillery you want to partake in. The historic Brown Hotel celebrated the hotel’s 100-year anniversary in 2023. The Georgian- Revival- style hotel property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You may recognize the hotel as the birthplace of the iconic Kentucky Hot Brown, an opened-face turkey, tomato, cheese, and bacon sandwich invented a few years after the hotel’s founding. The sandwich is celebrating its centennial anniversary next year, so it’s stuck around a while! Just a short drive from downtown is Paristown Point, a quirky development nestled between the tight-knit communities of Germantown, Smoketown, Phoenix Hill and the Highlands. Housed in the Paristown Arts & Entertainment District is the Village Market, a food eatery featuring five local restaurant concepts, some of which are new since their opening. A Louisville institution is the renowned Stoneware & Co, offering handcrafted pottery since 1815. This colorful store is a delight to browse their handcrafted selections of patterned pottery, along with personal- ization options. For a vintage thrill, check out the nearby Fleur de Flea Vintage Urban Market, a 35,000 sq. ft. warehouse with 150-plus vendors sell- ing relics of years past.
Further down Main Street, the Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural experience to learn more about the life and legacy of Louisville’s hometown hero. Hotel Bourre Bonne is new in Louisville, complete with an upscale new steakhouse in their ground- floor restaurant. Another new downtown dining spot is Steak & Bourbon, right across from Derby City Gaming Downtown. This entertainment hub is in the heart of downtown and provides a great hangout after-hours. While downtown, do more than just window shop for souvenirs at the newly renovated Louisville Visitor Center, centrally located at Fourth and Jefferson streets, which has all your Louisville gear. Louisville’s Visitor Information Center also offers free downtown walking tours that provide historical and architectural anecdotes about the city, while exploring the heart of downtown Louisville on foot. Take a step back in time aboard the Belle of Louisville, the last remaining authentic Mississippi River- style steamboat left in the world! Or see the River City onboard the Belle’s sister vessel, the Mary M. Miller. Another iconic attraction not to be missed is the his- toric Churchill Downs and fan favorite, the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is fresh off celebrating the 150th anniversary of the historic Kentucky Derby. Bourbon is big in Louisville and there are no shortages of places to sample America’s native spirit.
Have you checked out Louisville’s Germantown neighborhood lately? Germantown was named after the influx of German immigrants who first settled into the neighborhood in the mid-1800s. The area is dotted by one of the largest collections of shotgun houses in the country. Local favorite Check’s Café has been a Germantown neighborhood tradition for more than 60 years. It’s the kind of place where cold beer and inexpensive, tasty food (German and American dishes) go hand in hand. Rolled oysters or JULY 2025 25
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