Holy Grale ★ 4.6
$$$$
HighlandsMon-Wed 17:00-22:00, Thu-Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat 14:00-23:00, Sun 14:00-22:00.
Holy Grale on Bardstown Road in Louisville pours Belgian and German imports from a converted 1905 church, the late-night Highlands beer hall with 30 taps and a stained-glass aesthetic.
TipWalk-in for the bar. Kitchen serves Belgian-style fries with the European beer list.
Wick's Pizza Parlor ★ 4.3
$$$$
HighlandsMon-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00.
Wick's Pizza on Baxter Avenue in Louisville pulls pies and pours pints until 22:00 on weekends from a Highlands corner, the city's busiest game-day pub and post-bar pizza stop.
TipWalk-in only on weekends. The bar takes orders direct.
Play Louisville ★ 4.4
$$$$
ButchertownWed-Thu 20:00-02:00, Fri-Sat 20:00-03:00, Sun 20:00-02:00. Closed Mon-Tue.
Play Louisville is the city's leading gay dance club, set in Butchertown with drag shows, weekly guest performers and a sound-system dance floor running into the early hours.
TipWed to Thu 20:00-02:00, Fri Sat 20:00-03:00, Sun 20:00-02:00. Showtimes 21:00 and 23:00.
The Whirling Tiger ★ 4.2
$$$$
ButchertownWed-Sat 18:00-02:00. Closed Mon-Tue/Sun.
The Whirling Tiger on Story Avenue in Louisville pairs a mid-century cocktail bar with a 300-capacity live-music room, the Butchertown venue that runs DJ nights and touring acts.
TipWed nights are live music. Check the calendar for headliner tickets vs walk-in nights.
Mercury Ballroom ★ 4.5
$$$$
DowntownDaily varies by event.
Mercury Ballroom on South 4th Street in Louisville is the downtown 800-capacity concert hall booking touring rock, hip-hop and indie acts, the city's mid-size live-music room.
TipTickets on Ticketmaster or Live Nation. Standing-room-only floor.
Headliners Music Hall ★ 4.5
$$$$
ButchertownDaily varies by event.
Headliners Music Hall on Lexington Road in Louisville is the 600-capacity Butchertown rock club booking touring indie, metal and Americana acts, the city's longest-running music room.
TipTickets on the venue's site. The standing floor sells out fast for headliners.