With a long tradition including various ways to dodge around Prohibition, Louisville maintains many, many fine bars and restaurants happy to serve up a beer or cocktail in just about any part of town. As we expect both locals and visitors may be looking for a libation, Eater has assembled a cross-section of high, low and in-between spots that serve adult beverages around the city. Drink responsibly, and have a happy Derby!
There's a limo covered in glitter outside, "exploding seagulls" in the restaurant and an apple-offering Pan perched on the corner of the bar. Even without the delicious craft cocktails, it's like you're already drunk.
The monumental bar at St. Charles Exchange has to be at least 18 feet high and probably twice as long. This ebony, booze-bedecked behemoth, along with leather-padded chairs and benches and some amazingly tall mid-19th- century windows make this an exceptional place to enjoy a craft cocktail. Fortunately, St. Charles Exchange offers plenty.
This penny-floored, posh-wallpapered cocktail emporium occupies what was formerly a speakeasy, then a strip club, and continues the clubby, somewhat salacious traditions of both.
This downtown spot has more than 100 bourbons, sorted "first generation" (1792 to Prohibition), "second generation" (post-Prohibition to 1980) and "the modern era" (1981 to today). It's fun for the whole (legal drinking age) family!
This recently opened restaurant/tequila dispensary from the inventors of Wild Eggs has over 100 different tequilas along with Mexcian-inspired dishes and something called a "were-jaguar."
Craft beer, Bloody Marys and bacon on a stick, all housed adjacent to a beautiful ball park. Definitely not the worst place in the world to enjoy a drink.
This hip/posh pizza joint attracts a crowd regardless of the weather, but when it's warm and the garage doors are open, it's one of the hottest drinking spots in one of the city's hottest neighborhoods.
Think you're an expert on beers? Hit the tasting bar, chat up Sergio and find out otherwise. The place may seem kind of dive-y, but it does have a world of beers, and it's almost never closed.
A rotating menu of eight beers on tap, with at least four brewed in house at this Bardstown Road establishment. Enjoy the art while sipping a cold one.
There's a limo covered in glitter outside, "exploding seagulls" in the restaurant and an apple-offering Pan perched on the corner of the bar. Even without the delicious craft cocktails, it's like you're already drunk.
The monumental bar at St. Charles Exchange has to be at least 18 feet high and probably twice as long. This ebony, booze-bedecked behemoth, along with leather-padded chairs and benches and some amazingly tall mid-19th- century windows make this an exceptional place to enjoy a craft cocktail. Fortunately, St. Charles Exchange offers plenty.
This penny-floored, posh-wallpapered cocktail emporium occupies what was formerly a speakeasy, then a strip club, and continues the clubby, somewhat salacious traditions of both.
This downtown spot has more than 100 bourbons, sorted "first generation" (1792 to Prohibition), "second generation" (post-Prohibition to 1980) and "the modern era" (1981 to today). It's fun for the whole (legal drinking age) family!
This recently opened restaurant/tequila dispensary from the inventors of Wild Eggs has over 100 different tequilas along with Mexcian-inspired dishes and something called a "were-jaguar."
Craft beer, Bloody Marys and bacon on a stick, all housed adjacent to a beautiful ball park. Definitely not the worst place in the world to enjoy a drink.
This hip/posh pizza joint attracts a crowd regardless of the weather, but when it's warm and the garage doors are open, it's one of the hottest drinking spots in one of the city's hottest neighborhoods.
Think you're an expert on beers? Hit the tasting bar, chat up Sergio and find out otherwise. The place may seem kind of dive-y, but it does have a world of beers, and it's almost never closed.
A rotating menu of eight beers on tap, with at least four brewed in house at this Bardstown Road establishment. Enjoy the art while sipping a cold one.
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