45 Best Cocktail Bars in Louisville

“More than I was expecting! As you walk in the doors you are greeted by one of the friendly staff. The showroom has everything a Mitchers fan could ask for: shirts, coasters, books, and of course many of their Bourbon selections. It was a 15-20 min wait to get up to the bar. The host was very polite. When it was my time, the elevator opened as she called me and she said “your chariot has arrived” made me smile. As I came off the elevator I was greeted by Georgia and she showed me my seat at the bar. A glass of water and an assortment of snacks was waiting. The snacks were small pretzel balls, dried bananas, and crunchy quicos. The crunchy quicos (corn nuts) are a must try(see sticker).The first drink I ordered was the Falls of the O-H-I-O Fizz. It was delicious! Frothy due to the egg white, with a little touch of sweet, and gentle burn from the bourbon. The second drink I ordered was the Fort Nelson Crusta. The presentation was beautiful. There’s a whole lot of sweet in this one. The sugar brim was the icing on the cake. Georgias service was outstanding, I can’t say enough. Her and her team are experts at their craft. The setting is very warm and down home. I highly recommend this place if you’re single or on a date. Georgia and her staff will make you feel at home. I’ll be back.“

“My husband and I had a staycation at Hotel Genevieve and decided to walk into Lucky Penny with no reservation. Although I would highly recommend making a reservation, we did get seating right at the bar as soon as a couple was walking out. The incredible host/server Shae was so kind and seated us right away. She was very helpful to us and to all the other guests that were there. The bartender was also great and made sure that we were taken care of. Definitely will be back! It's such a cool space, it really doesn't feel like you're inside a disco ball. The drinks were great also!!“

“We stopped at Rosette’s for a hearty breakfast before heading out for the day and we were seated and served promptly. An unruly gentleman was harassing the staff and causing a stir. Management came in and rectified the situation professionally. The staff and service was supreme, the food very tasty. Highly recommend! Andrea was just fabulous!“

“We had cocktails at a small table near the bar. The drinks were great but the service was TOP TIER!! We instantly hit it off with our server, Shea. She was outstanding- so friendly, helpful, upbeat and personable. Truly a unique experience!“

“Amazing atmosphere. Love the cocktails and food“

“This restaurant is truly a gem! The hostess and server were charming and fun, the atmosphere was gorgeous, and the food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Thank you all so much for making my birthday celebration feel so special!!“

“Excellent meal and service!“

“Expert level Bourbon cocktails and a phenomenal BOLA inspired menu. A MUST eat/drink!“

“I had an amazing time at Michter's. The tour was informative and the tasting was the most informative and engaging. They are everything bourbon should represent. I'll come back for sure. The bar upstairs has incredible cocktails to enjoy as well!“

“Excellent food-huge scallops were delicious as were the crab cakes and short ribs. Try the frites or goat cheese spread which are both delicious. For dessert we tried the blonde brownie with Vietnamese coffee ice cream and it was wonderful. We'll definitely be back for another meal.“

“Hands down, the best restaurant in Louisville! We stayed in Hotel Distill, where the restaurant is located, the first week in April. We ate breakfast every morning, with the exception of our departure morning, and we ate dinner there every night except 2 nights! Everything we had that week was amazing; the food, drinks, atmosphere & hospitality were all on point! If you are in the Louisville area you are missing out if you don’t stop in for dinner!“

“The tacos are great and they have free arcade style arcade boxes“

“I went here on a Friday night around 6:45 with a party of three. I was able to immediately get a table, and I noticed the place started to fill up shortly after 7:00. This place is so cute! I really loved the ambiance, and the attention to details with the decor is amazing. It was a clean facility (including the bathrooms), and there was ample parking around back (you do have to pay, however). As for the service, I was pleased with the attentiveness. There was one point where the gap in service was a little longer, but it was a time where a bunch of people had just walked in. I was accidentally charged for food that was meant to be split with my party, and I didn't notice until I had already paid (my mistake obvi), but the server refunded it and only charged me for my two drinks instead. It was so kind! I am currently not drinking, but my friends ordered the Sangria and the Cosmopolitan. They said both were amazing! I order the non-alcoholic beverage called One Week, and it was delicious! I would recommend that more non-alcoholic options are added (I was told they only have alternative tequila, and I think alternative whiskey would be a great add). We also ordered the Kentucky Queso, Roasted Garlic Hummus, and Double Dark Chocolate Mousse. The queso was to die for, and the mousse was so rich! I will say the hummus was underwhelming as I expected it to have a stronger taste of garlic. Overall, I really enjoyed our time here! I would definitely recommend to others, and will likely take others here!“

“Delicious, start to finish. my favorite place in Louisville.“

“The deceptively named Pretty Decent is much more than. One would be forgiven for not knowing what to expect out of a “botany shop and cocktail bar,” but that is indeed what they do and what they do extremely well. Pretty Decent sells house plants and whips up drinks. The former are healthy, vibrant, and well displayed, and the latter are tastefully crafted and reasonably priced. For a place that does ostensibly only two things, they do those two things remarkably well. My partner got a Villa Alta, and I got a Carajillo, which may be one of the best cocktails ever found in Louisville. Incredibly easy 5 stars.“

“Great bartenders! Very fun atmosphere. I had Jinro grape soju, Hite Korean beer, and a Negroni.“

“We had a girls night out at Square Cut and it was fantastic! We had the “chefs table” menu so we could try several different things and every single bite was amazing. My favorites were the pumpkin dip and mussels. I’m looking forward to my next visit!“

“We love stopping into Neat when we are in town. You never know what vintage pours will be available. We always stop to see what they have because they have pours you can't get them anywhere else. We have tried many vintage pours from Neat and it is always a fun stop in the. Bourbon Trail.“

“We had the absolute best tour at Copper and Kings. We visited half a dozen distilleries and took tours and this was by far our favorite. We did the culinary tour and our tasting at the end of the tour was paired with amazing bites prepared by Chef Josh. Everything was delicious and the portions were larger than we expected for small bites. The quality of the food was excellent. It was one of the best meals we had in Louisville - tied with Proof on Main and the Cuban restaurant. Our tour guide Daniel was super knowledgeable, funny, and incredibly personable. We loved Maple the dog too. This is a must do when visiting Louisville because the Brandy distillery offers something a little different than your usual Bourbon tour, the food is impeccable, and the people are super friendly.“

“The food is wonderful and you get to cook the meat yourself at your table! Pretty awesome!“

“Really cool atmosphere, great cocktails. Bar tenders are very helpful and knowledgeable. Stated long enough for my husband and I to each have 3 drinks that were all different. They were all great in their own ways. Definitely a “Must Visit” place in Louisville.“

“We had the the chicken livers, hot brown, and shrimp and grits. The portions were huge! All of the dishes we prepared excellently. Flavors and presentation were excellent. Service by the wait staff was excellent. Prices were very reasonable. I had an Old Fashioned to drink and it was done right. I will definitely be back!“

“Amazing vibes! I cant wait to go again!“

“Jessica & Harrison were perfect company this afternoon. This place is all about Cheese, Cheers, and Charcuterie’s!!!! If you are looking for a light atmosphere, great conversation, delicious cheeses & meats. This is your place!!! Ohhh I forgot to mention they have a well stocked selection of spirits, as well as a quality selection house cocktails.“

“Food was prepared so well!! All our dishes were nice portions, excellently prepared. Sangria was better than we had in Spain! Waitress was very busy but served us well The only big negative was the noise level. You could not hear folks at your table We would return considering the food was top notch! Yummy mushroom soup, crepe, meat croquettes, empanadas, etc.“

“What a wonderful bar to visit while we were visiting. They have a ridiculous number of bourbons to try at very reasonable prices. The other cocktails were also reasonably priced. I loved all the messages of inclusivity in the bar. Why don't we have bars like this in South Florida?“

“Such a fun place! We enjoyed drinks/beer from the self serve tap wall, while our son did racing simulations. We will have to check out the axe throwing and VR sometime soon!“

“completely cool, great cocktails!“

“I just got back from a week in Mexico and I was craving some delicious empanadas. I prefer Argentinian over the Mexican masa style, so I was excited when I lucked across Señor Empanada’s Facebook. They were super friendly and responsive via messenger and I had an order placed for delivery the next day. They arrived hot, fresh and absolutely incredible. Be sure to order the chimichurri to go with them - it is out of the world.“

“Such a beautiful surprise! Amazing food and a modern art installation that was really thought-provoking and beautifully done. I highly recommend Roof on Main!“

“Great drinks. Comfortable seats. Welcoming atmosphere!“

“Great Food and Drinks plus excellent service.“

“Great place to hang out and drink in Louisville. They are open late. Good music, can get crowded on the weekend. The open patio is great. We didn't eat there, I don't know if they offer food because this is definitely a place for drinking and not eating.“

“The food, service, and wait time was great. I will definitely be back and I recommend everyone to try this restaurant.“

“Listen. If you're in the area, thinking about where you should eat, take this into advisory.Picture this: you walk in, greeted by the most friendly, courteous and attentive staff! Then, you find something on the menu you find appetizing and itnshows up and blows yournexpectatuosn out of the water.... then when the check comes yourenpleasantly surprised and realize all the other spots are over priced over rated and under deliver.Go to to nic and Norman's ask for Alyssa and tell her devin sent you and prepare to see where the bar is set for exquisite dining with a friendly and inviting atmosphere that will make even the first timer feel like a local regular! I highly advise just asking to be surprised when it comes to.chossing from the extremely diverse menu that delivers with every punch!“

“We ate here for the first time yesterday. Food was delicious, service was excellent, and the atmosphere was very inviting. I highly recommend Gustavo's and we will definitely be back!“

“this little bar is just what I needed after a long start to my week. the regulars are friendly. the staff is top notch. 10 beers on Tap, and a wide variety of whiskeys and bourbon. along with a great kitchen menu. with daily specials on both. there is live entertainment, and KaraOke on Wednesdays. if you haven't been to this hikes point jem. you just ain't living right. come on out, they'd love to see you“

“This might be the spot in the hotel district (not sure what locals call it). An amazing, amazing, deep old fashioned and NY sour. So so good.It’s literally a library and feels so inviting. Their decor is fitting and it makes you want to stay. Could easily spend a few hours there chatting away.“

“I live very close to here and my kids like to go over just to run around.. there is tons of open space and seating on the covered patio n outside area. I have eaten at Jeffs doughnuts, Bandits pizza and Bunz burgers (I haven't eaten here since Bunz has moved to this location but Im quite sure its the same delicious food) and all 3 are super delicious. Jeffs doughnuts is kinda pricey.. for a doughnut i mean and Bandits pizza and Bunz burgers has very reasonable pricing. I would definitely recommend trying this place out. I will for sure be back to try all of the other restaurants.“

“Fun times in the hidden speakeasy“

“This is a nice place to shoot pool and hang out. It has that neighborhood bar feel, which is really nice nowadays. There is 6 pool tables and there is plenty of room to shoot and have fun. The lady that was bartending was very nice and all of the people that were in there, on a Monday night, were really friendly!“

“Try the Seltzery! Our favorite choice of drinks are the pina colada and blueberry margarita. The staff is incredible, ambiance is chill but poppy, and the place is so modern, our fav place in Louisville for a drink. Also - bring your dog with you inside or outside!“

“hate to leave a bad review but was disappointed in the food. the filet was just ok...not very tender...no sides came with it and for 59 thats ridiculous. The calamari was really good but could have came with a dipping sauce..we had to ask for one. The mushrooms were overcooked and too salty. The salads weren't big at all. The lump crab came in a tiny metal ramekin and it was salty as well and wasn't lump at all..it was shredded. Presentation on a lump crab shouldn't be served this way in such a fancy restaurant. on a positive note...the manager was very professional and they took care of the whole bill plus gave us dessert. I just want to leave this as constructive criticism for them so hopefully they improve the quality and quantity of their food for people paying high dollar. Maybe the chef was overwhelmed or having a bad night not sure. The environment was nice...gorgeous view. Just think there's a lot of changes that should be made to get a higher rating.“

“Absolutely fabulous! Highly recommend. From the moment we walked in everyone was very friendly and attentive. Sereniti was amazing. I couldn’t decide on a drink (not a whisky drinker) so I let her pick one for me ?and she didn’t disappoint. She even had them make it with a smooth whisky for me. The food was spectacular and so was the dessert (Sereniti recommended this too).“

“Good food and fun atmosphere“