5 editor picks in Louisville.
5 soul food places in Louisville we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Louisville | Soul Food across every city.
Soul food and Southern cooking sit close to the heart of Louisville's dining identity. 610 Magnolia on Magnolia Avenue in Old Louisville and North of Bourbon on Goss Avenue in Germantown both build on Southern technique, while Proof on Main and J. Graham's Cafe downtown work the same traditions into their menus.
Edward Lee's 610 Magnolia in Louisville runs a weekly tasting menu out of an Old Louisville Victorian, the chef's Southern-Korean flagship since 2003.
OrderWhatever the night's tasting menu opens with, then a bourbon pairing flight from the cellar.
TipBook on OpenTable for parties of six or fewer. Wednesday and Thursday seats open up first.
Proof on Main in Louisville pairs chef Cody Stone's Ohio Valley plates with a deep bourbon list, set inside the 21c Museum Hotel on West Main Street.
OrderThe bison burger from the local grass-fed herd, plus a bourbon flight built by the bar team.
TipWalk in for the bar menu before 18:00, then dinner reservations land easier on weeknights.
Lou Lou on Market in Louisville moved into the former Decca space, a New Orleans-rooted NuLu kitchen running shrimp and grits and Bananas Foster.
OrderThe shrimp and grits, the kitchen's loudest plate.
TipPatio seats are first-come on weekends. Book the dining room on OpenTable for Friday and Saturday.
J. Graham's Cafe in the Brown Hotel serves Louisville's original Hot Brown, the open-faced turkey-and-Mornay sandwich invented here in 1926.
OrderThe Hot Brown, served the way Fred Schmidt wrote it in 1926.
TipWalk-in for lunch. Book the Lobby Bar through the hotel for an evening Hot Brown and bourbon.
North of Bourbon on Goss Avenue in Louisville cooks Louisiana-rooted Southern plates with over 300 bourbons in a Germantown room named to The New York Times.
OrderCornmeal-fried catfish and gumbo, with a bourbon flight from the 300-bottle wall.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Happy hour runs 15:30-17:00 Tuesday to Saturday; kitchen stops at 22:00.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Get to know the story of Louisville one bite at a time on a guided food and history tour of the city's trendy NuLu District. Sample local favorites like bourbon balls ...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste paired bites, bourbon, and cocktails. Learn the unfiltered story of bourbon while exploring the vibrant NuLu district of Louisville.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Savor the flavors of Louisville on a guided food and drink walking tour. Learn about the city's history and legends from an expert guide as you explore historic Whiske...
