The Highlands

The Highlands is home to Louisville’s original “Restaurant Row” and is also known for local nightlife and shopping. Between restaurants, bars, boutiques, and galleries, you’ll also find many inviting retreats in the many independent coffee and tea shops. With its Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century architecture, the Highlands is as quirky as it is charming.

EAT & DRINK

The Highlands is a foodie haven, boasting an array of eateries that cater to every palate. Kick off your culinary adventure with Latin-inspired dishes at Seviche, where you’ll find celebrity chef Anthony Lamas whipping up culinary delights. La Suerte beckons with authentic Mexican fare. And taco aficionados will want to try Taco City, I Love Tacos, and Noche Mexican BBQ.

Joy Luck introduces diners to a world of Pan- Asian cuisine, while Heart & Soy/Roots elevates plant-based Asian dining. For sushi, try Dragon King’s Daughter, Sapporo, or Daisuki. GOGi 1055 Korean BBQ is perfect for barbecue enthusiasts who want to grill their own meats. If you’re in the mood for noodles, choose Japanese at Ramen House or Vietnamese at Pho Cafe.

At the elegant ROC, enjoy flavors from owner Rocco Cadolini’s native Sorrento, Italy. Paseo prepares Southern European-inspired dishes in their wood-fired oven. For a Southern French menu, La Chasse delights, and Koko + Rae Caribbean Kitchen serves fast, casual favorites from jerk chicken to oxtail. Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar features American cuisine with Mediterranean and Southern influences For more casual, but equally delicious, Mediterranean, try Shiraz.

Jack Fry’s, a Louisville icon, charms diners with its upscale Southern-inspired dishes. There’s also the wine-centric LouVino and fried chicken-forward The Eagle. Locals swear by the green chili wontons at Bristol Bar & Grille.

Pizza lovers will want to try a pie at Impellizzeri’s. Sink your teeth into a burger or grab a scoop of homemade ice cream at 80/20 @ Kaelin’s. If you can’t decide on one cuisine, sample from the extensive international menu at Ramsi’s Café on the World. For a late-night bites, there’s Spinelli’s and Cafe 360, a hookah bar and lounge.

Cap off your culinary adventure with a sweet treat from “The Cookie Lady” at Kizito Cookies or homemade goodness from Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company.

The Highlands is also home to a bounty of coffee shops, tea houses, local breweries and bars. Indulge in the delightful world of bubble tea at Fun Boba Tea, The Bep Teahouse, Tiger Sugar and Boba Tea & Ice Cream. The local brew culture offers an array of options, including TEN20 Craft Brewery, Great Flood, Gravely, Hi-Wire Brewing, Mile Wide Beer Co., River City Drafthouse and Public House by Against the Grain. Holy Grale, a gastropub located in a 1905 former Unitarian church, has rare beers from around the world. The adjacent Gralehaus serves breakfast and lunch and is Louisville’s only “Bed and Beverage.”

The Highlands nightlife is legendary and neighborhood bars are a great place to play pool, hear live music or perform karaoke. The 1920s-inspired Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop serves 200+ varieties of Bourbon. With its elegant Art Nouveau decor, Darling’s is a lovely spot for a handcrafted cocktail. Check out some of the neighborhood’s LGBTQ bars, Chill Bar and Big Bar, conveniently in walking distance from each other. The Highlands also has several Irish pubs, including Molly Malone’s, O’Shea’s, Flanagan’s and Shenanigans.

DISCOVER

If you’re looking for a little adventure, there’s Louisville Mega Cavern, home to underground zip lines and a ropes course. For family fun, visit the Louisville Zoo. Hike, stroll, picnic, or just relax at Tyler Park and Cherokee Park, a 400-acre park designed in 1891 by Frederick Law Olmsted. Take a walk through 296 acres at Cave Hill Cemetery and Arboretum, the final resting place of Muhammad Ali and Colonel Harlan Sanders.

SHOP

Bardstown Road is lined with unique, locally owned shops. For fashionistas, there’s Clay & Cotton, Discoveries, Dot Fox, Pitaya, and Surprise Lily. If you’re shopping for vintage, there’s Acorn Apparel, The Capsule, The Groovy Aura, hey tiger, Vintage Banana, and Vintage Style and Designs. For art enthusiasts, Edenside Gallery and Enchanted Elm Arts & Gifts showcase local talent. Leatherhead has been offering quality leather goods for over half a century, and Electric Ladyland has been a psychedelic beacon since 1978. Carmichael’s Bookstore was established the same year and is still a centerpiece of the community. Music lovers will want to visit Matt Anthony’s Record Shop, Surface Noise and The Great Escape, where comic lovers will also find themselves at home.

Featured Attractions & Things to Do