Justin & Teoh’s Guide To:
Louisville, Kentucky
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Let’s Go Outside
Check out some of the great parks Louisville has to offer!
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This park was 2.5 blocks from the apartment we shared in the Highlands. We loved to run through this park with the dogs.
We recommend venturing off of the paved scenic loop and onto one of the upaved trails!
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This park was designed in 1891 by Ferederick Law Omstead, the designer of New York’s Central Park. The park has a 2.4-mile paved scenic loop and several trails that can take you along Beargrass Creek.
The park is located in the Highlands and is walkable from Bardstown Rd.
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Walk across the bridge to visit Jeffersonville, IN where there are a few cute shops and restaurants.
Go around sunset or at night so you can see the bridge lit-up by changing, multicolored lights.
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Waterfront Park is a joint non-profit organization and public park running alongside the Ohio River in Louisville’s downtown. The park used to be a spread of scrap yards and waste piles but is now a beautiful park that hosts many of Louisville’s large events (Forecastle, Thunder Over Louisville, Waterfront Wednesdays). The park has a pedestrian bridge, the Big Four Bridge, that connects Louisville with Jeffersonville, IN.
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The Parklands is absolutely beautiful. This park’s trail is part of the Louisville Loop, a 100-mile bike trail that will encircle the city and connect several of the city’s parks when completed.
If you need to go for a long (or short) run, this is a great place to do it. There is scenery everywhere. You’ll run through shaded woodlands, alongside creeks, and through open fields.
This is where Justin did his long runs when training for a marathon.
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The Parklands of Floyds Fork is a nearly 4,000-acre public parks system under development along the Floyds Fork watershed in Louisville. It is one of the largest and most ambitious metropolitan park projects in the nation. Currently, the park is comprised of five public parks with a bike/running trail connecting them.The park is nearly five-times the size of New York’s Central Park.
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Go visit the giants!
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As Kentucky's Official State Arboretum, Bernheim features 16,000 acres of wildlife sanctuary, a landscaped arboretum and a visitor center that has an open, airy design, combining the latest "green" construction techniques. Packed with indoor and outdoor exhibits – including the Forest Giants, canopy tree walk, scent and sound mazes, and new trails and walkways – Bernheim offers many opportunities to enjoy and learn about nature.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
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The Post
New-York-style pizza that is available by the slice. Look out for their featured pizza of the month - if it’s chicken & waffles pizza, please let us know so we can get some too.
Located in: Germantown
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Ramsi's Cafe
Ramsi’s Cafe on the World offers a selection of dishes from around the world - all of which taste great. If you want to leave brunch with your stomach stuffed and ready for a nap, check out their Sunday Brunch Buffet.
Located in: The Highlands
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Sapporo
Sapporo Japanese Grill & Sushi is probably Louisville’s best sushi restaurant. Offering, sushi, shashimi, hibashi, and some Asian-fusion dishes, you will have no problem finding something delicious.
TIP: We lived across the street from Sapporo. If there is a long wait and you have a small party, see if there are some seats available at their sushi bar.
Located in: The Highlands
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Galaxie
Oh the memories that have been made thanks to Galaxie’s fantastic margaritas. With its low lighting, trippy projections, and (often) house music, Galaxie is a chill yet sophisticated bar.
These are our favorite margz in town and they can be paired with equally excellent food.
Located in: Nulu
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Sunergos Coffee
This local coffee company is (more or less) our favorite local coffee roaster. They offer classic espresso drinks as well as a selection of two drip coffees. Teoh usually gets an oat milk latte and Justin usually goes with a black drip coffee.
TIP: Their original location in Schnitzelburg is right next to Nord’s Bakery (see below). The true Louisvillian move is to get a donut (or two) and then walk over to Sunergos where you can enjoy it with some coffee.
Multiple Locations
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Safai Coffee
We frequented this coffee shop often when we lived just down the street from it. A local micro-roastery, Safai serves their coffee alongside a variety of fresh crepes and an array of baked goods from Wiltshire Pantry.
Located in: The Highlands
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El Mundo
We choose to go here so often that, one day, we said “we need to stop and actually try new restaurants.” This is a Mexican eatery that uses local ingredients and has tasty margaritas. Their Crescent Hill location offers counter service on the first floor and dine-in seating around the side on their patio and second floor.
Located in: Crescent Hill, The Highlands
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Big Bar
This was where we met on our first date in January 2017! This gay bar (well known by the locals) used to be a tiny sliver of a bar (hence the irony in its name). The bar expanded next door, bringing with it a new dance floor and loft space.
You looking for the gays? They’re here!
Located in: The Highlands
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Havana Rumba
Serving traditional Cuban food and great cocktails, this is a festive and down-to-earth restaurant. On weekend nights, you can expect live music and the periodic (loud) birthday celebrations performed for guests by the staff.
Located in: The Highlands
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Gravely Brewing Co.
Teoh’s favorite brewery. Gravely was founded in 2017 and has 14 taps which include seasonal one-offs and their “greatest hits.” The Mayan Cafe (whose brick & mortar is in Nulu) has a food truck here serving Mayan street food. It’s also a great music/performance venue.
Located in: The Highlands
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Wiltshire Pantry Bakery & Cafe
This bakery and café offers an extensive selection of expert pastries, desserts, and artisan breads as well as breakfast and lunch fare. (Yes, their food is as good as their picture makes it look.)
Located in: The Highlands, Downtown
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Logan Street Market
This market is a converted 25,000 square feet warehouse that is now filled with 25+ locally owned and operated food, beverage, provisions, and artisan shops. If your group can’t decide where to go - check it out as there is probably something for everyone! (We recommend La Pana Bakery!)
Located in: Germantown
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Nord's Bakery
To quote Alton Brown: “Nord’s Bakery: A Louisville institution.” Their donuts are great (and not ridiculously overpriced like those other donut shops in town!).
TIP: Grab some donuts and head next door to Sunergos (see above) to pair your donuts with some great coffee.
Located in: Schnitzelburg
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Naive Kitchen + Bar
This female-owned restaurant is a chic and airy veggie-focused cafe serving smoothies alongside hearty salads & fresh-pressed cocktails. If you want to feel modern and sophisticated (or just eat really good food), this is your place!
Located in: Nulu
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V-Grits
V-Grits is a vegan brewpub that serves vegan sandwiches, salads & sharing plates. They also offer their own craft beer and kombucha within their industrial-chic space.
Located in: The Highlands
VEGAN
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Heart & Soy / Roots
One of Teoh’s go-tos. This is a modern, casual eatery serving vegetarian & vegan Asian-fusion dishes plus a wide selection of teas. Their food is delicious! It is located along Bardstown Rd., not even a block from Big Bar.
Located in: The Highlands
VEGAN OPTIONS
Bourbon
Louisville is synonymous with bourbon.
In the U.S., bourbon is a $4.6 billion industry. Bourbon is a whiskey that is produced from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn, is aged in new, charred-oak barrels, and is bottled at 80+ proof.
FUN FACT: Justin & Teoh were part of a 12-person team that participated in the Bourbon Chase, a 200-mile-ish relay race stretching between Louisville and Lexington taking place over a 24+ -hour period. Justin ran the wrong way on his first leg (adding a mile to his 10-mile leg) and Donald Trump nearly spoiled the finish on his way to Lexington for a campaign rally.
Below are a few places you can visit for some bourbon experiences.
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Located in Nulu, this craft bourbon distillery offers guided tours in their industrial-chic facility.
Rabbit Hole is a 5 minute walk from the AC Hotel.
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As bourbon ages in its barrel, a small percentage evaporates, often called the angel’s share. So, one might refer to what’s left behind as the angel’s envy. This young distillery, located close to Louisville Slugger Field, offers distillery tours that include guided bourbon tastings.
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The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
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The Bourbon Trail is a road-trip style experience for bourbon lovers to visit many of Kentucky’s bourbon distilleries. The trail takes you from Louisville through Bardstown to Lexington, KY. While it would take several days to visit all of the distilleries, you can still make a day-trip out of visiting a few of the distilleries!
The Welcome Center for the Bourbon Trail is located at the Frazier History Museum in downtown Louisville.
