Louisville’s culinary scene easily rivals that of a much larger city. We never get tired of trying out a new restaurant and we could fill several vacations trying new food in the Derby City. Here are some of our favorites. We’ve focused much of our attention on those joints that have an especially “Louisville-y” vibe about them.
Please and Thank you
Grab your morning cup of joe and and some tasty treats at one of three Please and Thank You locations around town. They also have merchandise like t-shirts and coffee mugs.
The joint is a combination coffee shop, cafe and record store so you can browse vintage vinyl while sipping your latte. . (PSST! The original location in Louisville’s trendy NuLu neighborhood is especially fun.)
Flagship location – 800 E. Market Street, Louisville, KY 40206, 502-553-0113
Cafe Beignet
Sharing the space with “Green-River style” fish joint The Fish House, Cafe Beignet is open only on the weekends and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee. The eatery serves traditional breakfast foods with a streak of creole flavor including omelettes, chickory coffee and of course, beignets.
1310 Winter Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204, 502-561-1261
Wiltshire Pantry Bakery and Cafe
Stop by Wiltshire Pantry for pastries, artisanal breads, a rotations of soups, healthy salads and sandwiches. Perfect for those who like to indulge but appreciate a bit healthier fare. They are open for breakfast and lunch so you can stop by for a pastry and coffee in the morning and come back for a hot roast beef sandwich or a veggie reuben for lunch. Wiltshire has several branches around town, including one at the Speed Art Museum.
Several locations around town
Atlantic No. 5
Atlantic No. 5 is a beautiful eatery combined with a Main Street general store. They serve breakfast and lunch with dozens of options to choose from including soups, salads, sandwiches and homemade desserts. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, so take your pick of where you’d rather enjoy your meal. On your way out, pick up a few gourmet items in the general store with selection including jams, cheses, pastas, sauces, fresh bread and more.
605 W. Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-883-3398
El Taco Luchador
We just can’t resist a good Mexican joint. And what’s more fun than chowing down on authentic tacos, mexican sandwiches, and churros all in a space decorated with wrestling masks lining the walls. Our favorite tacos are the Carnitas, or is it the Barbacoa? Forget it! We can’t choose!
938 Baxter Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204, 502-583-0440
112 Meridian Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206, 502-709-5154
The Brown Hotel
Louisville’s iconic Brown Hotel offers legendary fine dining at several venues including the English Grill, J. Graham’s Cafe and the glamourous Lobby Bar. The hotel invented Louisville’s most legendary dish, the Hot Brown which you can order at their restaurants, the bar and even through room service if you stay at the hotel. You certainly have to try at least one during your visit to Louisville.
335 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 | 502-583-1234
Wild Eggs
Looking for a sunday brunch or rather have breakfast out than a sub-par hotel breakfast? Wild Eggs is an affordable chain serving Traditional Breakfast, brunch and lunch
This Kentucky girl always goes for their House baked buttermilk biscuits with home-made sausage gravy but hubby’s pick is the cinnamon roll which comes out in a hot skillet. There’s a kids menu with plenty of options that will satisfy the pickiest of kids and plenty of gluten free options.
Multiple Locations in Louisville and throughout Kentucky
Decca
Decca is one of our top picks for al fresco dining in Louisville. Their outdoor courtyard and casual dining room are both perfectly relaxed spaces to explore their menu of adventurous New American food. The 19th century historic building is decked out with local artwork and showcases local musicians with live music every weekend. The menu highlights local items, and the kentucky-raised ribeye is one of the best around. If you’d like to pair a drink with your meal, they have a nice selection of local cocktails to perfectly complete your meal.
812 E. Market Street, Louisville, KY 40206, 502-749-8128
Jack Fry’s
Southern style French food? Why yes please! This busy restaurant in the Highlands is always buzzing. The historic building was constructed in 1933 and the space is completely imbibed with Louisville and Kentucky culture with horse photos and memorabilia lining the walls. Don’t even think about trying to secure a last minute table during Derby weekend.
1007 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204, 502-452-9244
Vietnam Kitchen
We are quite partial to Vietnamese food and there’s only a few places in Kentucky to get our fix of Pho, Cha gio, and Banh xeo. However, this hole-in-the-wall joint in a strip mall fulfills our culinary cravings every time we start dreaming of Hanoi.
5339 Mitscher Avenue, Louisville, KY 40214, 502-363-7535
Proof on Main
Proof on Main is a unique eatery inside the 21c Museum Hotel which is a hotel/musuem with art throughout. Dine on Chef Levon Wallace’s signature dishes in a gallery-like setting with rotating exhibits of contemporary art gracing the walls. The menus change seasonally and often feature local produce sourced from the surrounding Ohio River Valley.
702 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-217-6360
Lilly’s Bistro
Lilly’s Bistro’s chef, Kathy Cary basically pioneered the local, farm fresh scene in Louisville several years ago and continues to deliver on her commitmitment to offer Southern-inspired and authentic bluegrass dishes crafted from locally-sourced ingredients. Organic vegetables, free-range beef and artisan cheeses are highlighted in Lilly’s delicious plates.
1147 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204, 502-451-0447
It would be impossible to list all of the great restaurants in Louisville here, but if we’ve left out your favorite, drop us a line in the comment section below and we will consider it when we update this post in the future!
If you are looking for something fun to do in Louisville, check out our calendar of Events in Louisville and the surrounding area!
