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Where to Eat Outdoors Around Louisville UPDATED

by Steve Hacker
1 comment / new
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by Steve Hacker
1 comment / new

It's the middle of July, and instead of forcing the city indoors to avoid sweltering heat and humidity, the weather has chosen to be amazing. With the rare chance to eat and enjoy some cool breeze and a bit of sunshine this week, Eater collected reader input and consulted a few other sources to come up with a list of great places to enjoy both food and the great outdoors around our city. We posted some recently, but thought a couple of other places (Namnam Café, The Joy Luck) deserved mention. Any other additions, suggestions or sour grapes are, as always, welcome in our comments section.


· Where to Eat Outdoors Around Louisville [-ELOU]
· Where to Eat Along The Ohio in Louisville [-ELOU-]
· All Eater Louisville Maps [-[-ELOU-]

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The Marketplace

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Eater readers have described this "upscale patio" as having "a giant waterfall, nice lounge seating ... tucked away from the crazy of downtown." [Photo: Yelp]
651 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 625-3001
(502) 625-3001

Down One Bourbon Bar

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What Eater readers have called "[f]or sure the best patio in downtown" is a nice place to sample over 100 bourbons. [Photo: Facebook]
321 Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
502-566-3258
502-566-3258

Garage Bar

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This former gas station's wood-fired pizzas and craft beers are popular year round, but as one Yelper says: "the outdoor seating and ping pong tables are the real reason to go." [Photo: Facebook]
700 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 749-7100
(502) 749-7100

Decca

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Eater readers have described this NuLu spot as "great in the evenings, even better when they have live music going" and "easily the most gorgeous al fresco in town ... maybe the nicest I've ever come across." [Photo: Facebook]
812 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40206
502-749-8128
502-749-8128

The Silver Dollar

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Enjoy this Clifton honky-tonk's whiskies and what one Yelper calls the "best Chicken & Waffles in Louisville" on a 70-seat covered patio. [Photo: Facebook]
1761 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
502-259-9540
502-259-9540

The Grape Leaf

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This venerable Mediterranean restaurant's outdoor seating has been described as "wonderful," with one Yelper claiming: "I've never actually eaten inside and I don't think I'd care to as the outdoor area is really what makes this place so special to me." [Photo: Facebook]
2217 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 897-1774
(502) 897-1774

Varanese

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Chef John Varanese's restaurant has outdoor seating plus a four-season patio area with its own island of indoor/outdoor ambience. [Photo: Facebook]
2106 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 899-9904
(502) 899-9904

El Mundo

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Hidden behind this this Frankfort Avenue restaurant with its "made-from-scratch take on Mexican and Mexican-American classics" is "one of the city’s liveliest outdoor patios." [Photo: Yelp]
2345 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
502-899-9930
502-899-9930

Volare

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Old school elegance and Italian classics can be enjoyed on this Frankfort Avenue flagship's outdoor patio. [Photo: Facebook]
2300 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 894-4446
(502) 894-4446

O'Shea's Irish Pub

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Beer, beer cheese and Irish-ish food that goes well with beer are all available at this pub with a patio described as a place worth "drinking all afternoon." [Photo: Facebook]
956 Baxter Ave, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 589-7373
(502) 589-7373

Holy Grale

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Eater readers have described the outdoor setting of this beer-centric, repurposed church as "the backyard you've always wanted." [Photo: Facebook]
1034 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
502-459-9939
502-459-9939

Joy Luck

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Alvin Lin and family's upscaled takes on Taiwanese cuisine (along with craft cocktails) can be enjoyed on a pleasant patio offering a view of folks strolling along Bardstown Road.[Photo: Facebook]
1285 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 238-3070
(502) 238-3070

Ramsi's Cafe On the World

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This eclectic Bardstown Road outpost has a patio that reminds one Yelper of "a New Orleans place, with the fountains and decor." [Photo: Facebook]
1293 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 451-0700
(502) 451-0700

El Camino

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What is arguably the city's best Mexican restaurant also has what is arguably the city's best patio, complete with fire pits so it's available year-round. [Photo: Facebook]
1314 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 454-5417
(502) 454-5417

Seviche A Latin Restaurant

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Anthony Lamas' award-winning, Latin-inspired cuisine offers tableside-made guacamole, pisco sours and more at several outdoor tables at a corner on Bardstown Road. [Photo: Facebook]
1538 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205
502-473-8560
502-473-8560

namnam cafe

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Tucked into a small cinderblock building at the corner of Wallace and Wilmington avenues, this tiny Vietnamese place serves a small menu of good, fresh Vietnamese food, and now also offers a petite patio for seasonal enjoyment.[Photo: Facebook]
318 Wallace Ave, Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 891-8859
(502) 891-8859

211 Clover Lane

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Tucked away in a quiet St. Matthews cul-de-sac, this pleasant little restaurant possesses a quite lovely outdoor dining space. [Photo: Facebook]
211 Clover Ln, Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 896-9570
(502) 896-9570

Corbett's: An American Place

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The restored Van Allmen dairy mansion has a lovely, pillared front porch. Thankfully, it faces away from the Costco next door. [Photo: Facebook]
5050 Norton Healthcare Blvd, Louisville, KY 40241
502-327-5058
502-327-5058

Village Anchor Pub & Roost

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Kevin Grangier has said he designed his opulent Anchorage restaurant "to look like a French bordello," though this feeling is fainter out on the wrought-iron lanai. There are also two additional outdoor seating areas. [Photo: Facebook]
11507 Park Rd, Anchorage, KY 40223
(502) 708-1850
(502) 708-1850

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The Marketplace

651 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
Eater readers have described this "upscale patio" as having "a giant waterfall, nice lounge seating ... tucked away from the crazy of downtown." [Photo: Yelp]
651 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 625-3001
(502) 625-3001

Down One Bourbon Bar

321 Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
What Eater readers have called "[f]or sure the best patio in downtown" is a nice place to sample over 100 bourbons. [Photo: Facebook]
321 Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
502-566-3258
502-566-3258

Garage Bar

700 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
This former gas station's wood-fired pizzas and craft beers are popular year round, but as one Yelper says: "the outdoor seating and ping pong tables are the real reason to go." [Photo: Facebook]
700 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 749-7100
(502) 749-7100

Decca

812 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40206
Eater readers have described this NuLu spot as "great in the evenings, even better when they have live music going" and "easily the most gorgeous al fresco in town ... maybe the nicest I've ever come across." [Photo: Facebook]
812 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40206
502-749-8128
502-749-8128

The Silver Dollar

1761 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Enjoy this Clifton honky-tonk's whiskies and what one Yelper calls the "best Chicken & Waffles in Louisville" on a 70-seat covered patio. [Photo: Facebook]
1761 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
502-259-9540
502-259-9540

The Grape Leaf

2217 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
This venerable Mediterranean restaurant's outdoor seating has been described as "wonderful," with one Yelper claiming: "I've never actually eaten inside and I don't think I'd care to as the outdoor area is really what makes this place so special to me." [Photo: Facebook]
2217 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 897-1774
(502) 897-1774

Varanese

2106 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Chef John Varanese's restaurant has outdoor seating plus a four-season patio area with its own island of indoor/outdoor ambience. [Photo: Facebook]
2106 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 899-9904
(502) 899-9904

El Mundo

2345 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Hidden behind this this Frankfort Avenue restaurant with its "made-from-scratch take on Mexican and Mexican-American classics" is "one of the city’s liveliest outdoor patios." [Photo: Yelp]
2345 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
502-899-9930
502-899-9930

Volare

2300 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Old school elegance and Italian classics can be enjoyed on this Frankfort Avenue flagship's outdoor patio. [Photo: Facebook]
2300 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 894-4446
(502) 894-4446

O'Shea's Irish Pub

956 Baxter Ave, Louisville, KY 40204
Beer, beer cheese and Irish-ish food that goes well with beer are all available at this pub with a patio described as a place worth "drinking all afternoon." [Photo: Facebook]
956 Baxter Ave, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 589-7373
(502) 589-7373

Holy Grale

1034 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
Eater readers have described the outdoor setting of this beer-centric, repurposed church as "the backyard you've always wanted." [Photo: Facebook]
1034 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
502-459-9939
502-459-9939

Joy Luck

1285 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
Alvin Lin and family's upscaled takes on Taiwanese cuisine (along with craft cocktails) can be enjoyed on a pleasant patio offering a view of folks strolling along Bardstown Road.[Photo: Facebook]
1285 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 238-3070
(502) 238-3070

Ramsi's Cafe On the World

1293 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
This eclectic Bardstown Road outpost has a patio that reminds one Yelper of "a New Orleans place, with the fountains and decor." [Photo: Facebook]
1293 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 451-0700
(502) 451-0700

El Camino

1314 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
What is arguably the city's best Mexican restaurant also has what is arguably the city's best patio, complete with fire pits so it's available year-round. [Photo: Facebook]
1314 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 454-5417
(502) 454-5417

Seviche A Latin Restaurant

1538 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205
Anthony Lamas' award-winning, Latin-inspired cuisine offers tableside-made guacamole, pisco sours and more at several outdoor tables at a corner on Bardstown Road. [Photo: Facebook]
1538 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205
502-473-8560
502-473-8560

namnam cafe

318 Wallace Ave, Louisville, KY 40207
Tucked into a small cinderblock building at the corner of Wallace and Wilmington avenues, this tiny Vietnamese place serves a small menu of good, fresh Vietnamese food, and now also offers a petite patio for seasonal enjoyment.[Photo: Facebook]
318 Wallace Ave, Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 891-8859
(502) 891-8859

211 Clover Lane

211 Clover Ln, Louisville, KY 40207
Tucked away in a quiet St. Matthews cul-de-sac, this pleasant little restaurant possesses a quite lovely outdoor dining space. [Photo: Facebook]
211 Clover Ln, Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 896-9570
(502) 896-9570

Corbett's: An American Place

5050 Norton Healthcare Blvd, Louisville, KY 40241
The restored Van Allmen dairy mansion has a lovely, pillared front porch. Thankfully, it faces away from the Costco next door. [Photo: Facebook]
5050 Norton Healthcare Blvd, Louisville, KY 40241
502-327-5058
502-327-5058

Village Anchor Pub & Roost

11507 Park Rd, Anchorage, KY 40223
Kevin Grangier has said he designed his opulent Anchorage restaurant "to look like a French bordello," though this feeling is fainter out on the wrought-iron lanai. There are also two additional outdoor seating areas. [Photo: Facebook]
11507 Park Rd, Anchorage, KY 40223
(502) 708-1850
(502) 708-1850