North of Bourbon is a soul food restaurant in Germantown, Louisville.
Editorially verified May 31, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Gumbo, Cornmeal-fried catfish
Must order: Cornmeal-fried catfish and gumbo, with a bourbon flight from the 300-bottle wall.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Happy hour runs 15:30-17:00 Tuesday to Saturday; kitchen stops at 22:00.
Address: 935 Goss Avenue, Louisville, KY 40217
Monnik Beer Co. on East Burnett in Louisville brews Belgian-inspired beer in a Schnitzelburg brewpub, the neighbourhood's Friday-night beer-hall headquarters.
Signature: House-brewed beer, Pretzel and beer cheese
Order: A pretzel with house beer cheese and a flight of four house beers.
Tip: Walk-in for the bar or beer garden. The kitchen serves until late on weekends.
Monnik Beer Co. on East Burnett in Louisville brews Belgian-inspired beer in a Schnitzelburg brewpub, the neighbourhood's Friday-night beer-hall headquarters.
Signature: House-brewed beer, Pretzel and beer cheese
Order: A pretzel with house beer cheese and a flight of four house beers.
Tip: Walk-in for the bar or beer garden. The kitchen serves until late on weekends.
Akasha Brewing on East Market in Louisville turns up the funk with wild-fermented sour beers from a NuLu taproom tucked between Feast BBQ and Grind Burger.
Signature: Wild-fermented sour beer, Brewpub plates
Order: A flight of wild sours and an IPA alongside a brewpub burger or shareable.
Tip: Walk-in for the taproom. Closed Mondays; weekend afternoons run busiest.
Wagner's Pharmacy on South 4th in Louisville has cooked breakfast since 1922, the Derby-week diner across from Churchill Downs that locals call one.
Signature: Country ham breakfast, Hot Brown
Order: Country ham, two eggs, biscuits and gravy, sweet tea on the side.
Tip: Breakfast until 10:30 weekdays, all day Sunday. Closed Mondays.
Highland Morning on Bardstown Road in Louisville cooks Highlands breakfast plates and stuffed French toast, named one of USA Today's best brunch spots.
Signature: Biscuits and gravy, Stuffed French toast
Order: The stuffed French toast or biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon.
Tip: Walk-in only. Get there before 10:00 on weekends or expect a 30-minute wait.
Con Huevos on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville cooks fresh Mexican breakfasts from a Clifton corner kitchen, the brunch counter locals lean on for chilaquiles.
Signature: Chilaquiles con huevos, Chipotle poached huevos
Order: Chilaquiles con huevos with green sauce, plus a horchata.
Tip: Walk-in only. Weekend waits run 20 to 40 minutes; weekday mornings are easier.
Big Bad Breakfast on Barret Avenue in Louisville cooks Chef John Currence's all-morning Southern menu in the Highlands, the city's outpost of the Oxford.
Signature: House-cured bacon plate, Southern fried chicken biscuit
Order: House-cured bacon plate with two eggs and stone-milled grits, plus a $5 happy-hour cocktail.
Tip: Walk-in only. $5 cocktails Monday to Friday from 07:00-10:00. Kitchen closes at 14:30.
