The Top Restaurants in Louisville, KY
You can’t deny that a trip to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby is one of the best ways to spend your time and money – between the mint juleps, horses and hats, everyone has a great time at the Derby. But Louisville is more than a place to visit one weekend a year. The city is rich in culture, history and has a dynamite food scene.
As one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachians, Louisville is emblematic of American expansion and manifest destiny – which is also the ethos of one of their most famous residents, Colonel Harlan Sanders. Thanks to a concentration of companies like Kentucky Fried Chicken’s parent company Yum Brands, Louisville Slugger, and Brown Forman, young professionals have been flocking to the area over recent decades, revitalizing the City’s downtown area into a bustling, walkable food and dining scene.
Head to hip neighborhoods like the Highlands, Old Louisville, and NuLu to find the kind of chef focused dining experiences you’d find in major cities along the east coast. Thanks to students from the University of Louisville, the music and bar scene can rival any of the bawdiest college towns in the country. If you haven’t explored Louisville it’s time to saddle up and check out our list of the Best Places to Eat in Louisville, Kentucky.
1. Hammerheads
921 Swan St | Louisville, KY 40204
With your favorite American grub and a friendly environment, it makes for a perfect dinner night. Sitting inside or outside? Both are available, so head over whether it’s alone or with your favorite person.
2. The Eagle
1314 Bardstown Rd | Louisville, KY 40204
Looking for your Southern cravings to remember? The Eagle is not only a food hall, but a beer hall as well. Great dining and a good time? Sign us up!
3. The Charcoal Restaurant
2805 N Hurstbourne Pkwy #100 | Louisville, KY 40223
Mediterranean classics and the best chicken originating from Jerusalem, The Charcoal Restaurant is the definition of authentic. It’s a staple in Louisville!
4. Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar
127 W Main St | Louisville, KY 40202
Known as an OG in Louisville, Doc Crow’s brings the experience to the eating. If you’re looking to satisfy your BBQ needs and quench your thirst, this is the place to be and to see!
5. District 6
3930 Shelbyville Rd | Louisville, KY 40207
Coming from Vietnamese traditions and made with market fresh ingredients, District 6 is the answer to your hunger. Traditional yet innovative, it’s the best of both worlds.
6. Against the Grain Brewery
401 E Main St | Louisville, KY 40202
Barbecue and beer, the two peas in a pod. This bold and creative craft beer scene brings the vibes and the menu, it’s hard to miss! Against the Grain Brewery is the hotspot you have to be at.
7. Yummy Pollo
8. Copper & Kings
1121 E Washington St | Louisville, KY 40206
Chic, Cocktails, and connection. Copper & Kings is all about having a connection with your food and enjoying it fully. A menu full of classics, with their own twist. Come fall in love.
9. Everyday Kitchen
552 E Market St | Louisville, KY 40202
Serving modern comfort food with a vibe to fit every single day, there’s always something to choose at the Everyday Kitchen. To them, culinary is art and it shows. If you’re not there, you’re missing out!
10. Jack Fry’s
1007 Bardstown Rd | Louisville, KY 40204
Known restaurant in Louisville since back in the day, Jack Fry’s serves American grub with a heavy Southern influence. They have a reputation to make your mouth water. Welcome to the South, y’all!
11. Louvino
SEVERAL LOCATIONS
Needing a place to drink a glass of wine and dine? Louvino lands you a place to relax and enjoy a Southern meal with a seasonal menu for variation. Come out and get some Vino!
12. Repeal Oak Fired Steakhouse
101 W Main St Unit 101 | Louisville, KY 40202
Perfectly done steak? Oak-fired too? You’ll find it all at Repeal Oak with their inclusive fine dining. They say it’s a call for celebration, and good steak will do it to you!
13. North of Bourbon
935 Goss Ave | Louisville, KY 40217
With food for the soul being their motto, you know you’ll be taken care of at North of Bourbon! Using their Louisiana roots to provide a Southern cuisine experience, you’ll feel right at home. Back to the Bayou!
14. In Season
324 W Main St | Louisville, KY 40202
From farm to restaurant, In Season strives to provide the best and nothing less. Being 100% scratch made, your stomach will thank you later. It’s definitely in season to be here.
15. Cask Southern Kitchen & Bar
9980 Linn Station Rd | Louisville, KY 40223
Taking traditional Southern recipes and adding a twist, CASK is a place you won’t forget. With beer and bourbon alongside your meal, it’s fine dining and a fun time!
16. La Bodeguita de Mima
725 E Market St | Louisville, KY 40202
Want to feel like you’re in Havana? Here’s a little Havana to indulge in the best of Cuban foods, music, and communities. You’ll never miss out on love and passion at La Bodeguita!
17. 610 Magnolia
610 W Magnolia Ave | Louisville, KY 40208
Bringing modern to the South and doing it right, that’s 610 Magnolia for you! Their motto is celebrating everything Louisville, so you’ll feel full and familiar!
18. Buck’s Restaurant
19. Barcelona Bistro Bar
10415 Taylorsville Rd | Louisville, KY 40299
With authentic Spanish food, you’ll feel like you’re in Barcelona yourself! Tapas, drinks, and good vibes. It’s all at Barcelona Bistro!
