Day-by-day eating plans for Louisville: weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.
Day-by-day plans
Louisville bourbon weekend: Whiskey Row and beyond
- ★ 4.8
- 2 days
- Bourbon-focused two-day visit
A weekend built around the Whiskey Row distilleries, the Hot Brown at the Brown Hotel and one chef-driven dinner at MeeshMeesh in NuLu.
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Day 1Saturday: Whiskey Row distilleries, Hot Brown lunch, MeeshMeesh dinner
- Morning
- Open at Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on West Main at 11:00 for the first tour, then walk down to Michter's Fort Nelson at 801 W Main for a second tasting.
- Afternoon
- Hot Brown lunch at J Graham's Cafe inside the Brown Hotel on West Broadway. After lunch, tour Old Forester Distilling Company at 119 W Main on Whiskey Row.
- Evening
- Dinner at MeeshMeesh Mediterranean on East Market in NuLu, chef Noam Bilitzer's 2025 James Beard finalist kitchen. Book through Tock 60 days ahead.
StopsEvan Williams Bourbon ExperienceMichter's Fort Nelson DistilleryJ. Graham's CafeOld Forester Distilling CompanyMeeshMeesh Mediterranean
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Day 2Sunday: Angel's Envy, Lou Lou brunch, Doc Crow's evening
- Morning
- Angel's Envy Distillery tour at 500 East Main, the port-finished bourbon experience. Tours run every 15 minutes; book online.
- Afternoon
- Sunday brunch at Lou Lou on Market in the former Decca space on East Market, shrimp and grits with andouille and a brunch cocktail. Mayan Cafe and most NuLu kitchens skip Sunday lunch, so Lou Lou is the easiest sit-down brunch in the neighbourhood.
- Evening
- Bourbon and brisket at Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse on West Main, the city's deepest bourbon bar with 2,700 expressions on the list.
StopsAngel's Envy DistilleryLou Lou on MarketDoc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar
Louisville first-timer weekend: the city's defining plates
- ★ 4.7
- 2 days
- First-time visitor, two days
A first-timer weekend built around the plates Louisville invented: the Hot Brown at the Brown Hotel, a Wagner's Pharmacy breakfast, Plehn's Bakery cake and a bourbon flight on West Main.
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Day 1Saturday: Wagner's breakfast, Whiskey Row, 610 Magnolia dinner
- Morning
- Country ham breakfast at Wagner's Pharmacy on South 4th, the 1922 diner across from Churchill Downs. Closed Mondays; Saturday is its busiest day.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at J Graham's Cafe at the Brown Hotel for the original Hot Brown. Walk Whiskey Row to Old Forester for an afternoon tasting.
- Evening
- Dinner at 610 Magnolia in Old Louisville, chef Edward Lee's Southern-Korean tasting menu. Book on OpenTable two weeks ahead.
StopsWagner's PharmacyJ. Graham's CafeOld Forester Distilling Company610 Magnolia
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Day 2Sunday: Plehn's, Logan Street Market, Proof on Main
- Morning
- Plehn's Bakery on Shelbyville for a slice of Truffle Torte cake. Plehn's is closed Sundays; pick up the cake Saturday morning instead and save the slice.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Logan Street Market in Shelby Park, the public market food hall with 30+ stalls including FOKO Lou breakfast tacos and Hay Shin Asian plates.
- Evening
- Dinner and bourbon flight at Proof on Main inside the 21c Museum Hotel. Walk the contemporary art exhibitions between courses.
Louisville Derby week: a three-day Kentucky Derby plan
- ★ 4.6
- 3 days
- Derby week visitor, three days
A Derby-week eating plan: a Mint Julep at the Brown, Derby Pie for dessert, Hot Brown lunch, a Kentucky BBQ pulled-pork dinner and the Derby Day racetrack canteen.
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Day 1Thursday: Hot Brown lunch, MeeshMeesh dinner, Lobby Bar nightcap
- Morning
- Coffee and pastries at Please and Thank You on East Market in NuLu. Get a warm chocolate chip cookie for the walk.
- Afternoon
- Hot Brown lunch at J Graham's Cafe at the Brown Hotel, the original 1926 recipe. Walk over to Muth's Candies on East Market for a box of modjeskas.
- Evening
- Dinner at MeeshMeesh Mediterranean in NuLu followed by a Mint Julep at the Lobby Bar at the Brown Hotel where Derby week traditionally peaks.
StopsPlease and Thank YouJ. Graham's CafeMuth's CandiesMeeshMeesh MediterraneanLobby Bar at the Brown Hotel
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Day 2Friday: brunch, Mark's Feed Store BBQ lunch, Bourbon Row evening
- Morning
- Brunch at Highland Morning on Bardstown Road, the USA Today-listed brunch with stuffed French toast.
- Afternoon
- Drive out to Mark's Feed Store on Shelbyville Road for a pulled-pork plate with burgoo and two sides, a Kentucky BBQ standby since 1988.
- Evening
- Bourbon Row evening: tastings at Angel's Envy on East Main, then Down One Bourbon Bar under the Galt House Hotel on West Main.
StopsHighland MorningMark's Feed Store Bar-B-QAngel's Envy DistilleryDown One Bourbon Bar
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Day 3Saturday: Derby Day, Wagner's breakfast, Churchill Downs
- Morning
- Country ham breakfast at Wagner's Pharmacy on South 4th, across from Churchill Downs. The Derby-day racetrack canteen since 1922.
- Afternoon
- Walk over to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby (first Saturday of May). 125,000 Mint Juleps will be poured today.
- Evening
- Post-Derby drinks and dinner at Proof on Main inside the 21c Museum Hotel, the bison burger and a bourbon flight.
Louisville bourbon day: distillery row and Old Forester
- ★ 4.7
- 1 day
- Bourbon pilgrimage, single day
A Louisville bourbon day on the downtown distillery row, with a hot brown lunch and steakhouse dinner.
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Day 1Day 1: Distillery Row from west to east
- Morning
- Distillery tour at Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on West Main Street at 10:00, then walk to Old Forester Distilling on the same block.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at J. Graham's Cafe in the Brown Hotel from 13:00 for the original Hot Brown, invented at the hotel in 1926. Coffee at Quills Coffee on Bardstown Road after.
- Evening
- Dinner at Jack Fry's at 19:30 for the canonical Louisville fine-dining room (since 1933) and a flight from the bourbon wall.
StopsEvan Williams Bourbon ExperienceOld Forester Distilling CompanyJ. Graham's Cafe at the Brown HotelJack Fry's
Louisville Derby week day: mint juleps and burgoo
- ★ 4.6
- 1 day
- Derby week, single day
A Louisville Derby week day with the canonical Kentucky plates: a KY Brown breakfast, the races, and a mint julep to close.
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Day 1Day 1: NuLu to Churchill Downs
- Morning
- Breakfast downtown at Wild Eggs on South Floyd Street at 09:30 for the Kelsey KY Brown. Walk east into NuLu along East Market Street.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Mayan Cafe at 13:00 for the Mayan-fusion menu and a margarita. Drive to Churchill Downs for the afternoon races.
- Evening
- Dinner at Proof on Main at 19:30 in the 21c Museum Hotel for the contemporary Kentucky menu, finishing with a mint julep at the lobby bar.
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