The Holy Goat

Recommendations

 

Holy Goat Visitor Recommendations

Our neighborhood, NuLu, boasts some of the city's best shops, restaurants, bars, distilleries, and galleries. Have a stroll up and down Market Street (and to a growing extent, Main Street, which runs parallel) to get a sense of the flavor. Most of the restaurants in the hood source much of their menus locally, as there are so many great farms nearby, and you'll note that on the menus as you dine. Some of our favorites include: Garage Bar, Bar Vetti, La Bodeguita De Mima, Meesh Meesh, or Mayan Cafe for table service, and Feast, Royal’s Hot Chicken or Grind Burgers for fast-casual dining. Pho Ba Lou is great for Pho & Vietnamese Sandwiches. Even the wine bar next door, Nouvelle, sources cheeses from local goat farms (ask for the "Sofia.") Oh, and check out Decade and Naive in Butchertown, both about a 10 minute walk! 

Check ahead if your stay includes a Monday; lots of places are closed that day!

COFFEE/TREATS/BREAKFAST

Please and Thank You: at Market and Shelby, for coffee and a chocolate chip cookie

Quills: at Main and Shelby, for great coffee and knocking out a little work on your laptop

Louisville Cream: around the corner at 632 E Market, for some of the most delicious and creative flavors you’ve experienced

Biscuit Belly: at Main and Campbell, for the newest, fanciest biscuits & fixins in town

Butchertown Grocery Bakery: at Main and Shelby, more upscale but worth a peek inside to see what beauty they are conjuring

OUR OWN DISTILLERY

Rabbit Hole is visible from our front door! Take a tour to get familiar with their process, or head straight to The Overlook, their bar on the top floor

OUR OWN BREWERIES

Tour Goodwood, or just have a drink and enjoy some live music. The NuLu area also houses West 6, Akasha Brewery, TEN20, and the Falls City Beer Garden.

Most Fun Activities: sing your favorite songs at Norae Bar Karoake or hit some golf balls while you eat and drink at Five Iron Golf.

Most Fun Exercise: walk across the Ohio River via the Big 4 Pedestrian Bridge straight into Indiana (try Parlor Pizza with its beer garden once you’re on the other side) - kids love Louisville’s Waterfront Park playground below.

Most Fun Exercise, Runner Up: a bouldering session at Climb NuLu - little kids climb free

Most Unexpected Experience: have a bite, a cocktail, and listen to live music at Last Refuge, maybe the most impressive renovated church after the Holy Goat ;)

Best Views: The Overlook on the top floor of Rabbit Hole Distillery and Bar Genevieve on the rooftop of Hotel Genevieve.

Jessi & Creighton’s Favorite Burger in The World: “the Chain” at Grind Burger

Jessi & Creighton’s Favorite Salad in The World: Chop Chicken Salad at Feast (substitute smoked tofu for veg option).

Jessi & Creighton’s Go To Cocktails: District 8 at Garage Bar or Margarita from Gertie’s.

Best Patio: Nouvelle wine (and cocktail!) bar next door.

Little Bit of Everything: Stroll down to NuLu Marketplace for great outdoor seating and access to local beer from West 6, divine cocktails from Gertie’s, incredible Detroit-style pizza from Emmy Squared, or drink while crafting at The Craftery.

Quick Provisions: Evergreen Liquors is just a block a way for stocking up on your bar supplies or basic groceries, and even sitting down for tasting.

BEYOND NULU

Our friends Nicole and Kaitlyn have just opened a new Whiskey Bar called TROUBLE in the Shelby Park neighborhood. It’s a great place to try flights of different spirits, and it’s particularly great if you know a LOT about whiskey (some rare pours) or NOTHING about whiskey (try the “Help, I want to like whiskey!” flight). And their cocktails are MWAH! The interior is cozy and the patio out back is chill with delectable food truck appearances. While there head across the street to Perso for incredible eats and more masterful cocktails.

Gravely is a great local brewery with a big venue and a GREAT HILLTOP VIEW during sunsets! The Mayan Cafe (a NuLu fave) has a permanent food truck there, and we recommend it ALL. Veg options abound. 

For years, most distilleries were out in the countryside. Now distillers have seen the light, and there’s no shortage of distilleries in downtown Louisville: Old Forester, Angel’s Envy, Copper & Kings (brandy), Evan Williams, Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc., Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, Michter’s and Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Happy bourbon trails to you!

You can also schedule a walking tour of everything you need to know about the history, distilling, and craftsmanship behind Kentucky’s world-famous Bourbon Whiskey,

ALL OF THESE GET THUMS UP FROM US:

  • The Muhammad Ali Center

  • Speed Art Museum (AH-mazing - and check out their cinema)

  • Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum

  • 21c Museum Hotel (galleries on the lower floors with the attached Proof restaurant)

  • Louisville Slugger Museum (part of Museum Row)

  • KMAC (part of Museum Row) - for Kentucky arts & craft

  • Frazier History Museum (part of Museum Row) - a great interactive bourbon exhibit on top floor

  • Kentucky Science Center (part of Museum Row) - if you need a place for kids to let off steam

LIVE PERFORMANCES:

  • The Kentucky Center, which includes the Brown Theater

  • The Palace

  • Zanzabar (specializing in local and regional acts)

  • The Last Refuge

  • Whirling Tiger

  • Headliners

  • Paristown Hall

WEIRD IN THE BEST WAY: Idlewild Butterfly Farm - a MUST for bug lovers!

MOST DELICIOUS BRUNCH: TIE - 1. Con Huevos (get the drunk burrito with pork, half red / half green sauce) 2. Blue Dog Bakery (get the breakfast pizza - poached eggs & bacon!!)

FOR THE LATEST HAPPENINGS: https://www.gotolouisville.com/attractions/, do502, LEO Weekly, and Louisville Magazine