50 Best Bars near St. Matthews

“Great fun night with friends“

“We're here during a really busy college football time and the staff are really exceptional. Rachel remembers my stupid pain in the butt order and is so kind to everyone. Rest of the staff is great too. I've been in customer service my whole life and I so appreciate being treated so well. Thanks to Saints. We see you.“

“Definitely a 10/10 experience!“

“We’ve been dragging our feet about going to Decade for dinner. Why? Who knows, but that’s been a mistake. We had a fantastic dinner with friends and will definitely go back. The food was great. Cocktails were good, but a tad on the small side (so we had 2). As for the food, we started with (and shared) the mixed greens salad, stone fruit salad, and the arancini. Delicious all around! For dinner we each got something different, blue crab bucatini for me (outstanding), halibut (he loved the squid ink couscous), beef with pappardelle (raves, especially about the pasta), and the burger (loved). It gets loud in there b/c of the brick walls, but it’s a good vibe. We’ll be back!“

“Excellent experience and creative cocktails!!!“

“Quaint, quiet, couple atmosphere nice drinks I will be back“

“We had a great experience! The buffalo chicken egg rolls are a must get!“

“We found this gem looking for a cigar lounge to relax. OH MY DEAR GOD how is this place not just packed to the gills with people. A large variety and eclectic bourbon. Friendly staff. You can buy hard to find bottles at damn near MSRP. Of this isn't on your list of to see places your missing out. We had a bourbon from 1940 and it was fantastic.“

“Really nice bar with a great atmosphere.“

“A huge thank you to The Galt House Hotel in Louisville for the wonderful hospitality during Nick Dittmeier’s stay. The location, service, and comfort were top-notch — a perfect home base for a hometown artist. We’re grateful for hotels that support touring musicians with style and care. 🎶🏨 #NickDittmeier #GaltHouseHotel #LouisvilleProud #TourLife #MusicianFriendly“

“This is the first time my partner and I have been to Louisville and we decided to stop by Meta. If you too decide to stop by you'll be met with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The bartenders were so chill and willing to work with us to get our drinks just how we'd like them. Nataleigh and Khryss were super awesome and made my partner and I feel so welcome! Thank you guys so much for making our time in Louisville that much better! We hope to see you again next time we visit!“

“J. Grahams Cafe was superb. My mother loved it. The staff were helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back.“

“As we all know, today I went to Planet of the Tapes. It was a cool summer day and my cousin and I tasked ourselves to find a record store that was open. We did and we went there, then left. That part had little to nothing to do with Planet of the Tapes. We also ate kebabs which is another meaningless fact but not for the bit where I spied a bidet in the bathroom when I went teetee. I too own a bidet and love it! I don’t know if planet of the tapes has a bidet, but what they do have is an excellent unique atmosphere, great tunes that are at the precise decibel of maximum listening pleasure, drinks that are the perfect mix of booze to mix ratio if you are into that sort of thing, and did I mention moon pies? I know what you’re thinking. Chris, there are moon pies at Publix. Why don’t we just drink there? I’ll tell you why…Publix doesn’t have excellent events going on frequently. Where the last time you got to watch a gore movie at Publix. Probably only once and you had to stream it on your tablet didn’t you….and I bet you watched it alone and everyone thought you were shoplifting. I don’t frequent this side of town but there used to be a big fun bar beside it called Jillian’s or something, I can’t remember, anyway ample parking so I don’t have to Uber because I can’t parallel park. Let me tell you something else. If you don’t go here and see what all the fuss is about I will tell everyone that you have the hots for your stepmom and secretly draw pictures of her gams all day then spray her perfume on them. PS I noticed one of the tags above says rooftop. Yes, they have a roof on top.“

“Mellwood Tavern is a treasure. Great food and drinks and the best staff in town. The fried chicken and sides they serve on Tuesdays and Thursdays are second to none. Live music is always great and they have the friendliest patrons you’ll find anywhere. It’s a really special place and we’re lucky to have them in the ‘Ville!“

“Such a comfortable friendly place!“

“Fun place run by good people, Fantastic bartenders and a great atmosphere. Sunday Sinema is my pick to click !!!“

“Cool place!!! Great beer and burgers!!!“

“Friendly bartenders and delicious drinks (pictured is an espresso martini). There is a patio area in the back where they had bingo, but I did not get the chance to check that out. They offer live music and have outdoor seating, bar seating and large booths available as well. Cozy vibe and a great place to relax.“

“Amazing beer selection, vibe and owners!“

“Dear staff, thank you very very much for your great hospitality: We enjoyed your generosity and kindness on 18 february 2025. Very good and fresh made food in a really nice corner! Best regards from Family KERN from Cologne, Rhineland/Germany!😃“

“Blueberry bbq wings are simply Devine. Anxious to try blueberry bbq thighs. Cole slaw tasty. New management making fantastic changes. Chef knows how to blend taste and textures to perfection.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cheese & Vibes? Say Less. I walked into Cultured thinking I’d have a cute little cheese moment—and walked out a full-blown dairy enthusiast. 🧀✨ If you love great wine, perfectly curated cheese boards, and an atmosphere that makes you feel effortlessly cool, welcome to your new obsession. The selection?? Next level. Every cheese, every pairing, every sip of wine feels intentional, elevated, and just straight-up delicious. Like, I took one bite and immediately started questioning why I ever settled for basic grocery store cheese. (I’ve changed. I’m different now.) And the vibe?? Absolutely flawless. It’s giving "I’m sophisticated but also fun"—the kind of place where you could have a romantic date, a gossip-filled wine night, or just sit alone and pretend you’re the mysterious lead in an indie film. 🎭🍷 Final thoughts? Cultured isn’t just a wine & cheese shop—it’s a lifestyle. If you haven’t been yet, grab your people (or just yourself, no shame) and go treat your taste buds to something truly elite. 🧀🍷🔥“

“Spencer and Ellis are stupid amazing food came out so fast and accurate. They are A1 employees tip tf out of them“

“luv it here. do wish that when you enter, instead of one door where you run into the line of folks that are waiting for drinks, there could be another door that lets people in on the side with the bathrooms and booths. just makes it kinda awkward, but i'm not a weirdo so i won't dock points for that lol“

“Hands down one of the most unique eclectic literal gems of Louisville“

“Typical dive bar/billiards hall vibe. Staff were very friendly and helpful. My only complaint is the pool tables don't work perfectly. Some of the balls would get stuck in the table and staff would have to come work their magic to release them.“

“Fun trivia on Wednesday’s!“

“This place is always a hoot. Fridays and Saturdays karaoke is a lot of fun with genres and personalities all over the place! The dj is too funny.The bar staff are so nice and do well keeping up with the busy and loud crowds.Other nights, it's a low key place to have a drink and a chat.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Craftery: Sip, Create, Repeat. If Pinterest and happy hour had a baby, it would be The Craftery. 🎨🍸 This DIY dreamland is where you go to unleash your inner artist, sip on something strong, and leave with a project that’s both brag-worthy and totally custom. From paint to power tools, the vibe is very much "I made this—and also I’m fabulous." Whether you're here for a girls’ night, date night, solo creative moment, or private party, you’re guaranteed to have fun, laughs, and a cute new piece to show off. 💅🛠️ Owned by the ever-fabulous Kristy Miles Pearson, this spot is all about making creativity accessible and extra fun. The team is friendly, the drinks are flowing, and the playlist? Always a bop. 🎶 Final thoughts? The Craftery is the go-to for creative therapy—with a cocktail. Come thirsty, leave crafty, and bring your friends—because this is one experience you’ll want to do again and again. ✨🍹🎨“

“Went here to see a show for my partners 21st birthday and the staff were absolutely amazing! Zach was incredibly friendly and helpful, and made a mean cocktail. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for great music and even better drinks!“

“The BEST boneless wings!! Try the Caribbean sauce, you won’t be disappointed. Love the atmosphere and outdoor space. Great place to go if you’re in Louisville!“

“Love this place! Amazing staff 😁“

“People are really friendly they make u feel at home, the atmosphere is amazing, and they always have great live music, Wednesdays are bingo nights and Thursdays they have open mike, hope to see u all there“

“Makayla was amazing. She was incredibly attentive to the party that we had (10+ of us) for a bachelor party. Being the bachelor and celebrating such an important time with friends and family she took such great care of us. Not only making sure we had the drinks that we wanted but bringing us the water and soda that we needed to continue enjoying the night safely.

I observed her personally experience some other patrons being less than appropriate and she handled those experiences with poise and professionalism.

I can’t thank the PBR Team enough for such a great and memorably experience especially Makayla for the time and the experience.“

“The extremely helpful and polite staff were a true delight. The coffee shop made me a “black eye”, which was strong and delicious. Art work throughout ranged from elegant to eclectic, but all pieces were beautiful. The rooftop bar is the jewel, with outdoor seating, spectacular views, and comfortable conversation spaces.“

“We loooooove the Silver Dollar!! We're so happy that our favorite neighborhood restaurant has reopened. We are looking forward to trying all of their new menu items. My dog & I enjoy sitting out back on their cute patio & my son is addicted to the Chicken & Waffles. I'd highly recommend Silver Dollar to anyone who wants to refine their bourbon palate. We've been indulging in the $40 bourbon flight specials on Wednesdays. All the Silver Dollar bartenders are very demure, very mindful especially Jay! We loooooove Whiskey by the Drink“

“If you are into dive bars with the locals then Marma Dukes is the place for you. They have the cheapest drinks in town and the atmosphere is always a blast. Saturdays there is karaoke and it is more fun than you can imagine. This bar is a true to live CHEERS where the locals know everyone's name and it is a very homely place to chill have drinks, play pool, and even on Saturdays let loose your best impressions of famous musicians.“

“Great place for awesome beer and great people. Also, there are some nearby food options including a pizza place next door(Twinspire) that delivers. For those of you looking for an NA option, they have a draft NA IPA that is top notch. Looks like they also have a stage for live music, check them out on social media for a schedule.“

“Great atmosphere and friendly staff“

“Simply the Best! Highly Recommended!!“

“We had a cheeseburger and we shared the hot wings. We had the wings shaken in buffalo sauce and they were perfect. The cheeseburger was so good and had been hand pattied. The bar had several beers on tap.We had good service and the prices were extremely reasonable!It is a tavern. So it is not too kid friendly.“

“This is a classy place where you can either get work done or just chill out. Rose, my favorite bartender, provides excellent service. Lastly if you ever need to impress someone or make yourself look sophisticated, then you need to come to Library bar.“

“Great atmosphere, Great people, awesome live music.“

“big fan of the blonde ale“

“priced just right. You will feel at home here. great service and friendly atmosphere“

“Came to watch volleyball and got my socks knocked off by the goat curry. When I got out of my ca, I was immediately hit by a wall of delicious food smells. Last time I was here, I guess I was too late for food. Never again will I be too late for food. The goat was supremely tender and the curry was mild enough for most folks. I got this with the rice and beans + veggies. Definitely coming back for the food.“

“Really fun location, close to lots of great spots!“

“I've known the owner for well over a decade. It's a great place.“

“A great gay bar in downtown Louisville. My first time here and I'd say I'd go back again if I had the time on this trip. Everyone was so friendly. There was no cover when I walked in on this night and it was a very busy night I was shocked about that as it was also pride in this area. I was told by multiple people to go here that were local and I would suggest going if you are in the area and looking for an friendly environment. The drinks were great and the bartenders knew exactly what to make. Dancers in the bar were all well put together and didn't look trashy at all. The music was on point and went perfectly with its vibe.“

“Great place and good food“