The Louisville Guide

Travel

There is a rideshare/roommate locator tool, which can be found here.

Hotels

The Homewood Suites near the Louisville Airport has reserved a block of rooms for us at $120 a night. This hotel is about halfway between the airport and the School of Music (and about as close to the University as a major hotel chain comes). You can book a room here: Homewood Suites Booking Link University of Louisville School of Music.

There are also other chain hotels in the area—the “near the airport” options are recommended both for affordability and location, but the Nulu (“New Louisville”) area and downtown also have a lot of hotel chains. If you’re looking for a more unique experience, there are also a lot of Bed & Breakfasts in the Old Louisville area (much of which is walking distance to the university)

Restaurants and Coffee

Note: I’ve done my best re: vegetarian and vegan options. Many places around here offer both, but I suggest going to the restaurant’s website to double-check!

Coffee on or near campus:

Starbucks: two locations on campus – one at the main library (Eckstrom library) and one in the Student Activities Center. Eckstrom is usually busier, but it’s a shorter and less-convoluted walk.

Bayt Al Mocha – a short walk (~8 minutes) from the School of Music with coffee and pastries. Great for an afternoon pick-me-up and near some good lunch options!

Cardinal Boulevard – Walking Distance from School of Music:

Fast food staples like QDOBA, Jimmy Johns, Taco Bell, and Tropical Smoothie Café are all located on Cardinal Boulevard (mostly to the west)

Fire Oven Pizza – more than a regular pizza place, Fire Oven offers Gluten free crusts, vegetarian options, and “Indian style” pizza (including a Tikka Masala pizza!). Great for groups or anyone looking to satisfy a pizza craving.

Noodles and Company – go here for everything from mac n’ cheese to Pad Thai. They have a number of vegetarian options.

Mt. Fuji Japanese Cuisine – Extremely vegetarian friendly! A theory department go-to where the stir fry is all made with vegetarian “chicken.” (It’s so good!) They also have sushi and Bubble Tea.

Student Activities Center (SAC) – On-Campus:

Fast food chains in the SAC include Chick-fil-a, Wendy’s Panda Express, and more. The building also offers a multi-restaurant area with more local options.

Short Drive: (lunch or dinner)

Old Louisville Tavern (walking distance or a short drive, in Old Louisville): A School of Music staple for American-style pub-grub—students and faculty alike go here after concerts or a long day) Some vegetarian options.

Burger Boy (walking distance or a short drive, in Old Louisville): A classic 24-hour diner run by some good folks. Great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or midnight snacks.

Monnik Brewing Company (short drive): A frequent dining option for the School of Music faculty and staff. American-style pub-grub, draft beers, and cocktail specials. Vegetarian options available.

Neighborhoods with Lots of Food Options:

Each of these areas has a LOT of great sit-down dining options as well as bars and other shops. I’m providing some highlights from each!

NuLu (short for New Louisville)

Guaca Mole – Modern Mexican place with good Tex- and/or Cali-Mex. Sometimes there’s a mariachi band.

LouLou on Market – A Cajun and soul food restaurant in Kentucky. Frequently has jazz music outside or in their lower level lounge area (I highly recommend the food and the music).

Naïve – An inventive, eclectic Latin-inspired option. Great for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Outdoor seating available dependent on weather.

The Highlands/Bardstown Road:

Dragon King’s Daughter – Asian-Mexican fusion restaurant and bar with amazing food. They have excellent sushi (with names like Sushi & the Banshees), kimchi BBQ beef tacos, eggplant quesadillas, and bibimbap.

Holy Grale – American-style food in a (decommissioned) church. The food is excellent; the building and décor are beautiful. There is an outdoor seating area in good weather!

Sarang – One of Louisville’s hidden gems, this hole-in-the wall Korean place is easy to miss, but worth finding! The couple that owns and runs the place are excellent chefs (they are also super sweet!).

Germantown:

Logan Street Market – open late on weekends, Logan Street Market includes a bunch of delightful restaurant options in one centralized place. Current options include: Full Arepa, K-Bop, Jerusalem Café, and Zibas Bistro. A great place for an indecisive group!

Toasty’s Tavern – an American style pub and bar in the heart of Germantown with options for vegetarians and vegans. The food is delicious (and often fried!).

The Post – this pizza place comes highly recommended by our faculty and staff. New York style pizza with vegetarian and gluten-free options!

Bars and Speakeasys with Something Special:

Even if you don’t drink, these places offer a lot more than booze—most also have mocktails or other offerings!

Bar Genevieve – a rooftop hotel bar in NuLu with good cocktails, a light-bites menu, and amazing views of the city. More expensive than other options in the area, but the view is worth it!

Hell or High Water – Louisville’s most famous speakeasy. It’s in the downtown area. You’ll want to make reservations – this place fills up fast on the weekends. The décor is breathtaking (as are the cocktails and mocktails). No food options here, but they are near some of downtown’s best restaurants. (Note: trying to confirm whether they have an elevator!)

Neat Bourbon and Bottle Shop – this award winning, bourbon-centric bar specializes in small-cask and/or aged bourbon. They are the place to go for bourbon connoisseurs (or interested newbies!). This place doesn’t have food options but is near a bunch of restaurants!

J. Graham’s Café at The Brown Hotel – Home of the original Hot Brown, a Louisville local delicacy. The best description of the hot brown I’ve run into was “it’s a casserole that thinks it’s a sandwich.” J. Graham’s has the best one in town and they offer a “small” version of it for lunch and brunch.

(Non-Conference) Entertainment

Speed Museum of Art: A stone’s throw from the School of Music. This museum’s collection punches well above its weight, so to speak. The museum includes rotating shows or collections highlights on the 2nd and 3rd floors, selections from the permanent collection and an art-house cinema on the 1st floor, and a basement level devoted entirely to regional artists and design. There is also a café and a gift shop. A must if you are an art-lover or just need to decompress.

Louisville Slugger Factory: Louisville is famous for bourbon, bats, and the Derby (which inconveniently does not start with “b”). The Louisville Slugger Factory offers regular tours where guests can see the manufacturing process. You can also buy a souvenir bat that’s small enough to fit in your suitcase.

Churchill Downs and the Derby Museum: Churchill Downs regularly holds horse races throughout the year – the track is open most weekends for those wanting the experience. The Derby Museum includes information about horses and trainers; historic equipment, trophies, and other paraphernalia; and yes, an entire section on Derby attire—including the hats! There is also a gift shop.

Cherokee Park: An Olmstead Park in the heart of Louisville. Take a short walk, a long walk, or drive around the loop and enjoy the extensive canopy, birds, and other wildlife. If you’re an early morning person, enjoy great views of the sunrise from Dog Hill.

Cave Hill Arboretum & Cemetery: Driving around a cemetery may not be for everyone, but this cemetery is a Level 3 Arboretum with more than 500 labeled examples, including many not native to the area. It also houses some beautiful sculptures and mausoleums. Famous graves include Muhammad Ali, Colonel Sanders, Enid Yandell (local artist and sculptor), and Thomas Tobin (a famed illusionist from the early 1900s lost to time until Lance Burton—the magician—rediscovered his grave in 2018!).