South Louisville

In recent years, South Louisville has experienced a renaissance. Young families have moved into this area of second-and-third-generation residents, 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 like many horsemen do with biscuits and gravy or a Pam & Jack’s omelette at Wagner’s. The old-time pharmacy with a soda fountain has been a Louisville institution since 1922. Located on the premises of Churchill Downs Racetrack and inside the Kentucky Derby Museum, the Derby Café & Bourbon Bar features iconic Louisville food like Derby-Pie®, the Hot Brown, and burgoo.

Across from Iroquois Park, 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, Back Deck BBQ, famous for their ribs and smoked wings, Hokkaido Ramen & Sushi Bar, Costa del Sol Restaurant & Grill, and Craft House Pizza.

Delicious and inexpensive international dining options abound in South Louisville, including Vietnamese restaurants A Chau Restaurant, Da Lat’s Cafe, 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.

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.

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. 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.

In the heart of Beechmont, you’ll find the The StrEatery, a food hall, with a variety of vendors representing the diversity in this foodie-rich neighborhood: Anko Japanese Kitchen & Sushi, Fresh Out the Box Asian Street Food, Str8 Drop Wings, and CharCUTErie Creations. Just next door, you can get fueled up at Sunergos, a micro-roastery and coffee shop 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. Jefferson Memorial Forest, the largest municipal urban forest in the country, is the site of more than 40 miles of scenic woodland trails for hiking, trail running, and equestrian use. For mountain biking or fishing, don’t miss a visit to Waverly Park. South Points is also home to Olmsted-designed Iroquois Park, which hosts concerts in the Iroquois Amphitheater and is also the site of the annual Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular. Kentucky Kingdom and Water Park offers adrenaline-packed adventure with over 70 thrilling rides and attractions, including 5 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, home to the Garden & Gun Club — one of only two in the country.

Enjoy some of the most beautiful views of the Ohio River Valley while hiking 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 meets. 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 gift shop await visitors.

Featured Attractions & Things to Do