Germantown

Germantown was named after the influx of German immigrants who first settled into the neighborhood in the mid-1800s. The area is dotted by one of the largest collections of shotgun houses in the country. A popular local saying is that there’s a dive bar on every corner. Recently, the neighborhood has become a mix of the old and new, maintaining its rich history while welcoming hip eateries and bars.

EAT & DRINK

Kick off your morning at Big Bad Breakfast or Bean, where you can watch them roast your coffee beans before exploring the neighborhood. There’s also Breakfast AF and Pizza AF for delicious eats and dessert next door at Baked AF.

Full Stop is your one-stop shop for basics from coffee, burgers and everything in between. Hammerheads’ selection of house-smoked meats and duck-fat fries have attracted a huge following to this tiny restaurant. Look for the stuffed hammerhead shark just above the entrance.

Four Pegs Smokehouse & Bar is a welcoming gastropub that serves smoked foods and inventive dishes for carnivores and vegetarians alike and is located in a historic building that’s been a landmark in Germantown for 150 years. Local favorite Check’s Café has been a Germantown neighborhood tradition for more than 60 years. It’s the kind of place where cold beer and inexpensive, tasty food (German and American dishes) go hand in hand. Rolled oysters or fried bologna, anyone?
Hauck’s Corner is also one of the most historic sites in the area. Opened as Hauck’s Handy Store in 1912, this is where the World Championship Dainty Contest got its start (keep reading). Its menu includes classics like the bologna sandwiches and beer that made the original Hauck’s a local favorite.

If you have a taste for Italian, there’s Sarino. Or, order up a slice of New York-style pizza at The Post. Dine while seated in an oversized Bourbon barrel at North of Bourbon, one of The New York Times’ 50 Favorite Restaurants in 2024. Their menu, with expansive Bourbon offerings spilling over five pages, celebrates the connection between New Orleans and Louisville forged by the exporting of Bourbon downriver.

Dairy Kastle and Dairy Del have been Louisville summer traditions for decades. If you’re here during the warm weather months, pop by their walk-up counters for a soft serve ice cream, chili dogs and other summer treats that’ll serve up nostalgia with the yumminess. Looking for something out of the ordinary, that tastes extraordinary? Stop by Nord’s Bakery for one of their legendary maple bacon doughnuts.

For craft beer enthusiasts, Awry Brewing offers a full array of brews from ales to kombucha, a pub grub menu, and a rooftop patio, providing a perfect vantage point for soaking in the Germantown neighborhood. Monnik Beer Co. is a Schnitzelburg gathering place with twenty taps and a full menu, including vegetarian and vegan options. The newest addition to the neighborhood’s brewery scene, Hop Atomica brews an extensive range of beers and offers a menu featuring wood-fired pizzas, salads, and sandwiches.

For nightlife, Zanzabar has established a reputation among locals for being a go-to live music venue featuring both local and national acts. It’s also home to a vintage arcade. The Merryweather hosts a rotation of unique pop-up food vendors, from Lou Oyster Cult to Huddy Dawgs, and has full-service bar that’s open late. Karaoke enthusiasts will appreciate 21st in Germantown, where you can sing seven nights a week. Spin the drinks wheel at The Pearl of Germantown if you’re feeling indecisive, and enjoy tunes on the jukebox or live DJs on the weekend at this buzzing neighborhood hangout. Relax on the roomy patio at Nachbar, a laid back dive bar.

DISCOVER

Schnitzelburg is home to the annual World Championship Dainty Contest in July. Since 1971, this imported German game has drawn people to Goss Avenue. The game calls for a broomstick handle, the wood dainty (similar in size to sidewalk chalk, sharpened to a point at both ends) and an open street. Players (who must be 45 or older) hit the dainty like a baseball. The person who hits their stick the farthest wins.

SHOP

There is a trove of vintage and vinyl treasures to be found in this area. The Nitty Gritty is a classic vintage and costume shop that has been outfitting locals for decades. It anchors a row of brightly painted shops along Barret Avenue where you’ll find Fat Rabbit Thrift & Vintage, Barret Babes, Ultra-Pop, Butcher Cabin Books, which specializes in horror, Goldheart: Stones and Such, Derby City Market and ShopBar, a curated boutique and full bar housed in a 100-year-old garage with a patio. Around the corner, find Artist & Craftsman Supply. Over on Goss Avenue, find more vintage at The Neon Flea and What the Lou, the latter giving ‘80s MTV vibes with its records, rock tees and sports jerseys.

Featured Attractions & Things to Do