Louisville has plenty of things to do, whether you live here or are visiting. Recently, we decided to plan a day out and do a few things downtown that we’ve been meaning to explore.
First up…
Lunch!
There are a ton of great spots in Downtown Louisville to eat at or grab a drink. High on our list to visit is Merles Whiskey Kitchen. This restaurant and bar have been high on our list to visit, so we finally made that happen.
Given that Kentucky is all about that bourbon, and well, bourbon is a type of Whiskey, having a “Whiskey Kitchen” on Louisville’s famous “Whiskey Row” just makes perfect sense. Whiskey Row takes up the 100 block of West Main Street and Washington Street. Many of these buildings are their original offices and warehouses belonging to companies in the bourbon and tobacco segments.
On the corner of W. Main St. and 2nd Street, Merle’s Whisky Kitchen sits in one of these older historic buildings. Naturally, the decor is almost all whiskey-themed, with plenty of bourbon barrels and artwork representing the various brands and history of the industry.
They describe their food as Southern to American cuisine. They boast about their award-winning fried chicken (it’s really good!). Their menu includes other favorites like pulled pork sandwiches, melts, burgers, and an interesting selection of tacos, which includes their award-winning Green Chili Pork taco.
And to start things off, anyone who serves bacon by the pint is going to be a winner. Their Candied Bourbon Maple Bacon was amazing. Be warned, it has a bit of a bite! You will need to use the hand wipes they give you!
Next up was…
Dessert
Just two blocks east of Merles in Ehrler’s Ice Cream.
Eherler’s has been a Louisville tradition since 1867, when founder Joseph Ehrler opened his own milk farm and delivered fresh milk to customers. At their greatest, there were over 20 Ehrler’s Dairy stores in the Louisville area. New owners in 1977 started transitioning the stores to be more ice cream-based stores. Currently, there are two locations, one downtown and one in the Highlands.
The downtown store is just one block off Whisky Row. They have nine all-time flavors and additional seasonal flavors. You’re hanging out on Whisky Row, so you may as well have their Bourbon Pecan Fudge flavor. You can, of course, get them in waffle cones, as well as cups and pints.
Evening Entertainment
There are, of course, plenty of bars and pubs to visit. There are plays, concerts, and other things you can attend, but one of the things you should certainly do is take on a bit of Louisville history while relaxing. So why not go on a river cruise on a historic steamboat?
The Belle of Louisville is one of the last authentic steamboats operating on rivers in the United States. Built in 1914, this 111-year-old boat is on the National Register of Historic Places… Except this place moves! Typical cruises run for two hours and travel around six miles up and down the Ohio River. Some cruises include meal options, and most have live music/DJs or narration.
One of the amazing cruises is the Sunset and Moonlight cruise. Relaxing on the river, while watching amazing sunsets, and arriving back in time to see Louisville’s beautiful skyline at night. Cruises vary based on the day of the week, so make sure to check their website in advance to find out what cruises are available during your visit.
This is just one of the many possibilities you can do in Louisville!
Other sites from the day
