Things To Do
Circa 1856 Louisville
This spot is one of our absolute favorites. This spot makes our favorite cocktails we've had on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Nestled in the heart of NuLu neighborhood, this destination is home to a tasting and retail space upstairs and a speakeasy downstairs. We visit Chicken Cock virtually every single time we're in Louisville.
Churchill Downs
It's pretty difficult to visit Louisville and not stop by the most iconic horse racing track in the world. Check the website in advance to see if you can catch some races.
Fourth Street Live!
This is a 350,000-square-foot dining, entertainment, and retail complex in downtown Louisville. This strip has numerous restaurants, bars, and live music venues. Great nightlife.
Frazier Kentucky History Museum
Frazier Kentucky History Museum is the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This museum has an extensive collection of bourbon artifacts, tours, and bourbon tastings.
Kentucky Derby Museum
The Kentucky Derby Museum is the official tour provider of historic Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co
This craft distillery is one of our favorites in Louisville. We recommend either the tour or the tasting. If you do the tasting, make sure you try the Absinthe-finished bourbon.
La Bodeguita De Mima
We visited La Bodeguita on our first visit to Louisville and fell in love with the ambience as well as the food. If you like Cuban cuisine, this is your spot. La Bodeguita is nestled in Louisville's NuLu neigborhood, which is a half mile from our wedding venue. We recommend sitting outside.
The Last Refuge
This is great spot for all things food, music, and bourbon. This is a premier restaurant, music venue, and whiskey bar located in a repurposed 1880s German Methodist church in Louisville's NuLu neighborhood, which is roughly 0.5 miles from our wedding venue. The visuals in here are mesmerizing. Bourbon towers to the ceiling, and so much of the old church infrastructure remains in place. This is a must visit for a pizza and some pours.
Logan Street Market
This is the city's only public market. This hub is home to numerous food and beverage options, coffee, and bourbon stops. There is something for everyone.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
For the sports enthusiasts. Guests have the ability to create a personalized bat.
Mammoth Cave National Park
We visited Mammoth Cave National Park on our first visit to Kentucky in January 2025. There are trails above ground, but the highlight is most definitely the cave system under the surface. The Historic Tour is the classic tour to go on, but the Domes and Dripstones tour digs deeper into the more niche parts of the caves. It's a great day trip. Keep in mind as you book tours that Mammoth Cave falls in the Central Time Zone and Louisville falls in the Eastern Time Zone.
MeeshMeesh Mediterranean
Meesh Meesh makes incredible mediterranean cuisine. It's such a neat, intimate space. It's conveniently located in the NuLu neighborhood. As a heads up, Meesh Meesh is reservations only when it comes to dining. The restaurant is only open for dinner (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and is closed on Mondays.
Mussel & Burger Bar
This spot is true to its name as it serves both burgers and mussels, which is eclectic to say the least. The burger selection is vast and there's a ton of fun, niche choices to pick from if you go that route. If you're a mussels person, have at it! The back deck is the place to sit on a nice day.
Old Forester Distilling Co.
A crowd favorite when it comes to distilleries in downtown Louisville. This distillery sits in the middle of the Central Business District, which has numerous bars and restaurants within walking distance.
Rabbit Hole Distillery
This distillery is a favorite of ours. The Overlook Bar is a great rooftop spot for neat views of the city and great cocktails. We recommend you go on the "Dareringer" tour.
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. Louisville
This tasting room is such a great vibe. Guests can thieve bourbon straight from barrels, which makes for a fun, interactive experience. Live music is a common thread at this spot, and the cocktails are good.