17 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Louisville

Butchertown is a beacon for hipsters and cocktail lovers looking to strut their stuff in a cool Louisville neighbourhood. Wedged up to the Ohio River at the eastern end of Main Street, it buzzes with life in the evening hours. 

Bars usually take centre stage in Butchertown – expect just about everything, from vintage speakeasies to edgy rooftop venues. Fire-warmed High Horse and moody Whirling Tiger are among the most acclaimed nightlife spots in the neighbourhood. Make sure to spend some time strolling its western side, which hosts historic shotgun houses from the 1800s.

Louisville Palace Theatre is a landmark in the city’s theatre district, noted both for its history and elegance. Opened in 1928, the venue was formerly known as the Loew's and United Artists State Theatre. You can’t miss the dramatic facade and the spectacular interior will further impress visitors with its Spanish baroque motif.

As a member of the audience among the 2,800 seats, you’re surrounded by velvety drapes and gilded borders and, looking up, you’re treated to a curved and beautifully carved vaulted ceiling. Despite the classic features, modern music concerts, movie events, live shows and more bring the Palace Theatre’s stage to life. Even without a show, the theatre alone is worth a look.

Whiskey Row is the legendary epicentre of Kentucky's world-famous whiskey industry. Or, at least, it was up until the 1920s. Today, the street is one of the main arteries of Downtown Louisville, running for a block along Main Street from the base of the Clark Memorial Bridge.

Whether you're seeking a taste of the cask vintage or just somewhere to kick-start your night on the tiles, you'll find it in Whiskey Row. Potent bourbons clink in the rowdy taverns of Merle's Whiskey Kitchen, The Bar at Fort Nelson, and Third Street Dive. Some of Louisville's best-hidden bars are in This part of town also hosts some of Louisville's best-hidden bars, including Backside and Hell or High Water. There are artisan pizzas on offer next to southern BBQ grills if you're craving some late-night grub. 

The Mercury Ballroom is one of Louisville’s most happening venues for live concerts and music events, housed inside the Prohibition-era Wright and Taylor Building. It’s easy to spot on 4^th and Chestnut streets, thanks to its deviant late gothic revival and Tudor revival façade, which uses glazed architectural terracotta.

Entering the venue, you’ll find a modern and funky space with one of Louisville's best sound and light systems. Besides tribute bands jamming out your favourite tunes, artists who take the stage here have included the likes of pop star Meghan Trainor and rock bands Mayday Parade and Ghost.

Head to the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co to learn all about the traditional distilling process of proper Kentucky bourbon. It's been going since 1880 and the maestro whiskey producers still occupy the very same spot that they did way back when – in a brick-built warehouse down on the side of the Ohio River, only a short walk away from Whiskey Row itself.

It's best to have an early dinner if you want to check this one off your list post-meal. Tours tend to finish around 6 pm each evening. They include walk-throughs of the main barrel rooms and stories of the first whiskey pioneers of the South.

Actors Theatre of Louisville is a performing arts venue that has been presenting colourful line-ups of live plays and Broadway musicals since the 1960s. Besides top productions, the theatre also regularly rolls out community outreach offerings such as training, seminars and workshops, as well as theatre tours and exhibits with visual artworks showcased in its free galleries.

Among the notable productions shown here are classics such as A Streetcar Named Desire and Steel Magnolias, and canon works like Dracula, A Christmas Carol and Romeo and Juliet. The plays are presented in the 3 venues within Actors Theatre of Louisville, namely the Pamela Brown Auditorium with mezzanine-level balconies available, Bingham Theatre, and Victor Jory Theatre.

Head down to Sidebar at Whiskey Row for some of the best burgers in downtown Louisville, paired with your choice from their great selection of bourbon and craft beers. located on 2^nd Street, it occupies the elegant Whiskey Row Lofts, which was built as the headquarters for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad company back in 1877.

It’s a great place to come with an empty stomach for their unique, handcrafted hamburger blends from certified Angus beef, chuck, brisket, and short rib with no trimmings, added fats, fillers or binders. Then, let them educate you on America’s native spirit – skilled bartenders can whip up a historic bourbon cocktail for you to go with your fine burger stack.

Gertie's Whiskey Bar prides itself on having a wide selection of the local tipple. Just a glance inside will show that they aren't lying – there are long lines off twinkling bottles of the honey-hued good stuff. Head to the joint in the hip East Market District, also known as NuLu. It's around 20 minutes' walk from Whiskey Row itself.

Inside, things are at once stylish and classic. Exposed red-brick walls provide the backdrop, while wooden beams and metal light fixtures give it an edgy, industrial touch. Seating varies from high tables to cosy leather couches in a downstairs whiskey cave. You're not limited to straight bourbon as the staff also make some of the most celebrated cocktails in the neighbourhood.

Howl at the Moon Louisville is a great venue in the city’s Fourth Street Live! entertainment complex where you can spend a fun night out dancing and singing along to duelling pianos. As its focal feature, the pianos often bring out the best singer in everyone, occasionally throwing in a few hilarious acts in between to keep the crowd cheering on.

Most of the performers are multi-instrumentalists who can play anything besides the piano. They also play across different music genres. The party vibe gradually builds up through the night, so don’t forget to pick up novelty bucket drinks from the bar to help lubricate both your vocal cords as well as your evening.

Stevie Ray's Blues Bar is one of the top old-time evening spots in Louisville for grooving to live blues, jazz, and even rock, 6 nights a week. The vibe here is very casual and laidback, with a well-stocked bar serving cold cocktails to help make your evening here even smoother.

Live bands play all types of music and hits, though headlining bands often perform single-hour sets from 8 pm. If you’re becoming a little peckish during the night, you can grab sandwiches from a food truck that’s often parked out front and bring them in. Hit the back patio if you want to sit back or chat with your zesty Bloody Mary or margarita.

Derby City Gaming in Louisville is the answer to the city’s lack of traditional, commercial, Vegas-style casinos, with about 1,000 cool games and slot machines in its collection. Kentucky has a gambling law that only permits horseracing bets, so you won’t find traditional slot machines or any table games like poker or blackjack here.

Instead, you’ll be able to spin and win on mobile slot games as well as retro horseracing machines. There are titles such as Super Charged 7s, Bridgette’s Biergarten, Triple Action Dragons alongside many others. Interestingly, most do look – and play – like slot machines.

A spooky Louisville ghost tour is a great way to learn about the city's dark past. These take place in the mysterious lanes and alleys of Old Louisville each night of the week. Choose from a family-friendly tour or an adults-only tour – the latter has more gore and grit.

Dedicated tour guides whisk you from haunted mansions to infamous murder scenes spinning tales of Voodoo curses, grisly deaths, and legendary ghosts as they go. Tours usually get booked out fast on major holidays and during weekends in the summer, so be sure to reserve in advance.

Kentucky is the undisputed global capital for bourbon production, with some 95% of the world's supply made in and around Louisville. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail was created to help visitors make a self-guided discovery of this barrel-aged, corn-based whiskey and enjoy some samples at distilleries along the way.

Stop first at the Frazier History Museum, the official starting point of the trail and a wealth of information about what to see and do on the trail. There's also an exhibition, tastings and storytelling sessions about such characters as the bootlegging and kidnapping couple George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his wife Kathryn. Don’t forget to pick up a trail map and passport, which you can get a stamp in at each distillery you visit. 

Fourth Street Live! is a party and dining hub in downtown Louisville that has live music venues, restaurants and bars. It's set up as an open-air walking street but the clear canopy covering the top keeps it dry regardless of the weather. Enjoy some hearty eats at such places as Guy Fieri's Smokehouse or the Hard Rock Café, or try a taste of real Kentucky bourbon at the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse. There's also a food court for quick and cheap eats.

Gaming fans should stop by Tavern on 4th for some billiards, darts, pinball or bocce ball sessions, while those who love a tipple will want to check the schedule of the regular Wine Walks hosted on the street.