Louisville suggestions (Bardstown, Buechel, Albany: hotel, neighborhood, theatre)

[vraiblonde]

Hello! My partner and I are coming to Louisville right after Derby week as part of a year long "roam the country" tour. Any suggestions on what we should see and do? What are some fun unique restaurants we should check out? We're more interested in the offbeat, not fine dining type of places.

Thanks!

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Hello! My partner and I are coming to Louisville right after Derby week as part of a year long "roam the country" tour. Any suggestions on what we should see and do? What are some fun unique restaurants we should check out? We're more interested in the offbeat, not fine dining type of places.

Thanks!

As far as things to do, what are your interests?

[rybys]

Park on Bardstown road and go walking, you will find many eclectic bars and restaurants that meet your criteria along the way. The Dragonking's Daughter, El Camino, Wild Ginger, Seviche...there's an Ethiopian and an Argentinian restaurant that are very good but I've forgotten their name.

[dilbertW]

Probably you are referring to Mayan cafe and Queen of Sheba (ethiopian). Both serve good food and are small places. Mayan cafe has authentic items by chef Bruce Ucán.I won't call it fine dining though. Queen of sheba is a casual place. Hillbilly Tea is another place i have heard a lot, but i have not been there.

[rybys]

I've eaten at Mayan cafe and really enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I was thinking of....I don't think they're worth mentioning honestly as I've never met anyone who loved it. Hillbilly Tea is worth a visit as well.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by rybys

I've eaten at Mayan cafe and really enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I was thinking of....I don't think they're worth mentioning honestly as I've never met anyone who loved it. Hillbilly Tea is worth a visit as well.

Many of you may have not been to Louisville in while....Hillbilly Tea closed after the location got blocked off from the new W ALoft Hotel. The old Argentinian restaurant on bardstown rd has been close for years. For the last 6 months, it has been a french/continental restaurant called La Chasse....it is among the top tables in teh city, and Louisville is easily a top 20 foodie city, if not top 10.

[Kostellic]

Bardstown Road all the way. There are so many cool and tasty restaurants-but honestly, when I have friends visiting, I always feel it's a must to take them to O'Sheas for some drinks then walk just a little ways and stop for a big late night slice of Spinellis pizza. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal anywhere on Bardstown road though.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Hello! My partner and I are coming to Louisville right after Derby week as part of a year long "roam the country" tour. Any suggestions on what we should see and do? What are some fun unique restaurants we should check out? We're more interested in the offbeat, not fine dining type of places.

Thanks!

You need to eat in every neighborhood...including southern Indiana. This will show you around the city.

downtown, eat at Proof on Main, and Catch 23 or Theatre Square Marketplace. Eat breakfast at Wild Eggs, and have lunch at Doc Crows on whiskey row. Check out the distilleries and museums while in that area Have drinks at Meta or 8up (also a decent central hotel to stay in as 8up is atop the Hilton Garden Inn downtown)

In Nulu, have breakfast at Toast or Ghyslain, and eat Royals, Harvest, Mayan Cafe, or Wiltshire on Market.

The Highlands has too many to list, but there were a few listed. Just make sure you drive up Cherokee rd, willow and everett ave, patterson, glenmary, and longest ave...and check out cherokee park. This is some of the most beautiful historic housing in the USA outside new england IMO.

In Old Louisville, eat at Bucks, Amici, or 610 magnolia. Have a late night drink at the dive bar Mag Bar. Have lunch at Griffith's to get a feel for UofL's campus.

In clifton and crescent hill, eat at volare or varanese, basa or barcode, and have drinks at crafthouse or the Hub (opens soon).

In St Matthews, have pizza at Coals, and hit the bars at Tin Roof, Drakes, Gerstles, and Molly Malones at night. Lots of neat shopping boutiques around that area near Coals too, like Clodhoppers and Dandelion boutiques (use yelp)

Take a walk along waterfront park see the abraham lincoln statute, then walk across the Big Four bridge to Jeffersonville, IN. Check out Schimpf's candy museum, have a beer at Red Yeti, and a burger at Big four burger bar.

Drive over to New Albany In and check out their awesomedowntown. Shop at Dress and Dwell, eat at Habana blues, the Exchange, or the newly opened Brooklyn and the Butcher.

Check out some of Louisville's areas that need work but which could rise. Eat at the Table in Portland, and visit the Portland museum to find out about an area that has lots of urban decay, but is trying to rebuild.

Check out some of the inner ring suburbs with ethnic eats. Check out "little vietnam" in the area near annie cafe and vietnam kitchen in Beechmont. Stop by Churchill downs and the Ky derby museum on the way back, and have lunch at Wagner's pharmacy.


Check out an emerging ethnic strip in Buechel, and stop at Jasmin Bakery for bosnian or al watan for authentic middle eastern.

There is so much more, and so many cute little suburban towns....gaslite square in jeffersontown, old main street in middletown, downtown lagrange, and even the new urbanist area known as norton commons....PM me for more

there are outlet malls, a casino, golf, really neat hiking and outdoorsy stuff, and even the world's largest indoor cave zip lines. There is even a treetop ropes and biplane course, big parks to canoe in, etc.