South Louisville

In recent years, South Louisville has experienced a renaissance. Young families of second and third-generation residents have moved into this area, and many have come from across the globe. With this mix of old and new, the area has become a multicultural community that’s rich and diverse.

EAT & DRINK

Start your morning before heading to Churchill Downs, as many horsemen do with biscuits and gravy or a Pam & Jack’s omelet at Wagner’s. The old-time pharmacy with a soda fountain has been a Louisville institution since 1922.

Colonial Gardens, a revitalized historic entertainment complex, is home to a cluster of local eateries: The B.A. Colonial, where you can indulge in Bourbon, burgers, sandwiches and salads. Union 15 offers a delectable selection of pizza, sandwiches, beer, and desserts and Back Deck BBQ, famous for its ribs and smoked wings.

Delicious and inexpensive international dining options abound, including Vietnamese restaurants Cafe Thuy Van, Annie’s Café and Vietnam Kitchen (a top pick of many Louisville chefs). Savor Salvadoran flavors at La Guanaquita, explore Ethiopian cuisine at Habesha, and enjoy Asian fusion from breakfast to dinner at Yummi Yummi Sushi Restaurant.

Mike Linnig’s has been serving up fried fish, frog legs, shrimp, pan-fried oysters, turtle soup and more since 1925. Nestled in a shady grove along the Ohio River, you can have your seafood served to you indoors or out, all while enjoying the view.

Week-End Burgers, open every day except Sunday, is known for fresh beef burgers made the classic way, good, tasty, and messy.

If you have a taste for barbecue, you’ll enjoy Rubbies, a local favorite for 30+ years, and the rustic Shack in the Back BBQ in Fairdale. The Derby Café Express at the Kentucky Derby Museum features grab-and-go and made-to-order breakfast and lunch items. If you’re in town on a Saturday from March through November, stop by the Suburban Social Club Fish Fry for an authentic South Louisville tradition since 1927. There, you’ll find “Green River” style fish, sold by the pound (cash only) alongside slaw, fries and signature marinated onions.

If you need a caffeine fix, get fueled up at Sunergos, a micro-roastery and coffee shop in the eclectic Beechmont neighborhood that also highlights local artists.

DISCOVER

The South Points Scenic Area along the Ohio River is surrounded by thousands of acres of forested knobs and open space and is a prime destination for outdoor recreation. The Jefferson Memorial Forest is the largest municipal urban forest in the country and is the site of more than 35 miles of scenic woodland trails for hiking and trail running and another 11 miles for equestrian use. For mountain biking or fishing, don’t miss a visit to Waverly Park. South Points is also home to Iroquois Park, an Olmsted-designed park, that hosts concerts in the Iroquois Amphitheater and is also the site of the annual Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular.

Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay Water Park are two parks in one with more than 70 rides and attractions, including 6 world-class roller coasters and areas designed especially for families and young children. See firsthand how Bourbon and whiskey are
made from start to finish at the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery, which is home to the Garden & Gun Club, one of only two in the country.

The area boasts some of the most beautiful views of the Ohio River Valley, with many accessible while hiking along a trail atop its many knobs or biking the Louisville Loop, which stretches from Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing through West Louisville and into downtown.

History aficionados can explore a 19th-century farm on the Ohio River at the Farnsley-Moremen House. Or, take in The Little Loomhouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the biggest repository of original and classic textile patterns in the United States.

Experience live racing and sip a Mint Julep at Churchill Downs, home of the legendary Kentucky Derby, during the spring, September, and fall meet. While there, enjoy Matt Winn's Steakhouse. Experience the thrill and traditions of the Kentucky Derby every day at the Kentucky Derby Museum, where a 360-degree high-definition multimedia show, exhibits, a café and a gift shop await visitors.

Featured Attractions & Things to Do