Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Down One Bourbon Bar

    3.5 (367 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Mexican, American
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Down One Bourbon Bar Photos

    Business Info

    DOWN ONE BOURBON BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Down One Bourbon Bar

    Recommended Reviews - Down One Bourbon Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pollock tacos
    Sarah E.

    Service was very helpful in deciding what to order and describing the food. And the food came out quickly, however we were there at an off time. Tortilla soup was delicious. And it was a good portion with a good amount of chicken. Pollock fish tacos were delicious. Each taco had two nugget sized pieces of fish. It had some peppers and corn slaw that added an acidity and crispness. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very much a pub feel but cuter. It's got an older aesthetic with old fashioned lights and a small lounge area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The music is loud but not too loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely recommend this place if you need a spot downtown before an event.

    Amazing $5 Happy Hour Cheesecurds
    Anne S.

    Our second visit was even better than our first when we came through Louisville last year. Service is excellent and there is incredible values to be found. Of note are excellent bourbon flights. Perfect to try if you can't make it to the local distilleries.

    Bethany L.

    This was...not the vibe. A group of my friends came in shortly after they went through a menu refresh - they were passing out coupons for 10% off. We already had dinner reservations, so just came for a quick app and a round of drinks. We ordered the pretzel bites; I took one bite and my friends audibly laughed at the face I made...they were still essentially frozen inside. The staff quickly remade them and they were fine. Nothing special. Drinks were standard. When we went to pay, the 10% off was only applied to vote - apparently there is a state law about discounting alcohol...but the coupon did not mention any exclusions. With the false advertising and the half-baked food, this was definitely not the best place to stop while in town.

    $5 happy hour pretzels
    Felipe W.

    I'm visiting Kentucky and came across this hidden-away, beneath-ground level restaurant and bar on main Street. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We stayed in a lounge area with cozy chairs for watching derby which felt like a speakeasy![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I was hunting for bourbon based foods and saw this. The happy hour specials (cheese stuffed pretzel bites and brisket chili) were good for the price. The bourbon bread pudding was spectacular, definitely get it! The staff is friendly and answered our questions about the area, thank you!

    The end of a good day local IPA
    Jeffrey M.

    I stopped in for some drinks the marketing is all over Galt House. The prices are normal unless you go for happy hour that is 3-6 I got a flight for Four Roses 10 bucks and a local IPA 7.00 You can get chips and salsa for 3.00 during happy hour.. Cool Bourbon stop check it out.

    Well Old Fasioned and cheese curds
    Katie A.

    $7 well Old Fashioneds and $5 HUGE serving of cheese curds during happy hour (4-6pm every day they are open)-- yes please! We come here any time we are at a downtown event. The staff are always friendly, and food and drink is great and reasonably priced. Very easy to walk to from any downtown location and directly next to Galt House--you don't even have to cross a street.

    Cheese curds with ranch and marinara dip, which were both great.
    Lizz I.

    Wow, we had a great experience here. So glad that we gave this place a try. We ordered sliders, Mac and cheese and the cheese curds and the bourbon bread pudding. Absolutely. Everything was good with a great flavor and fresh and just tasted great overall, I would definitely come back here again. Customer service was great.Absolutely no complaints at all.I say, give this place a try for yourself.

    Jay T.

    Nice place for food and drinks. Went with a group of friends. The service was good for as busy as they were. The menu was kinda Tex-Mex. We enjoyed the beef nachos, Mexican corn, shrimp taco and a side of mac and cheese. I would return.

    Ahi Tuna Poke bowl
    Daniel T.

    I visited Down One Bourbon Bar on Monday, November 13, 2023 at around 6 pm. This review is based solely on the food and service and not the bar because I didn't order any alcoholic drinks. The shareable cheese curds were the only thing worth noting food-wise. I don't usually order cheese curds for the table, but I glad someone else did because I was non-stop eating it. I liked the thinly sliced jalapeño, which gave the fried cheese curds a nice kick. I ordered the ahi tuna poke in a bowl format and it was very bland and dry. Maybe I should have ordered a traditional taco, but wanted to try something different... and ended up regretting that decision. Service was excellent. My server was very nice and accommodating. I came with a large group and she was very patient with everyone when taking orders. I was surprised she was able to split the check per person.

    Fried Ice cream
    Monica G.

    Betty was such an amazing server today during lunch! Her sweet demeanor really made our experience there great, along with the amazing food. I really liked how well seasoned the brisket chili is - not too salty and just the right amount of spice. The camarones taco did not disappoint either. And the grand finale of the fried ice cream was just so delicious I had to share! We were in a party here in the previous night and we also had great food then along with amazing drinks. Try the Southern Belle! Definitely will be back!

    Jeff B.

    Was hungry after a work conference and went for a walk to find food. Stumbled upon Down One Bourbon Bar and decided to give it a try. It's kind of a cool location as the entrance is on the street level but you walk down stairs to get to the outside patio entrance. The place itself was pretty full and I just sat at the bar. I ordered a drink as well as the 3 Pigs Taco. The food itself was pretty decent, Overalll I liked this place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good vibe, cold beer, and decent food[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Exterior
    Joseph G.

    Down one bourbon bar is a downtown Lousiville bar and eatery located right in whiskey row next door to the kfc yum center. After attending several events at the yum center me and a buddy of mine joked "this place is never open". Well at a recent November event we attended this place was finally open. So we stopped in for dinner before our show. The ambience here is very nice. You walk down some setups almost In like a basemen or cellar type feel. The decor is bourbon themed and very rustic and spacious. Very nice vibe here. Our service on our visit here was pretty good. Got our order, food and drinks to us In a timely fashion where we easily made our show on time. The food menu was mainly consistent of tacos. Which was a slight surprise for me as I don't always think it tacos and bourbon as natural partners. I personally ordered the 3 Little Pigs Taco. Pleasantly surprised on how big the taco was and I must say it was really good. Very flavorful and filling. A nice choice and one id order again. Overall this was a very nice surprise and I'm glad we finally caught this place open. Would absolutely come back. We didn't sample the bourbon this time. But next time we likely will.

    $5 Maker's Mark glasses
    Poco P.

    Drew was fantastic & super knowledgeable on bourbon. I said he should be a tour guy at a bourbon distillery also. He made the best Old Fashioned we had ever had & trust me we have had many! We left Las Vegas the night before so that's saying something! We had three! The live band of three guys were entertaining as well. Very cute bar w/ a lounge area & a plush sectional. They also serve food. The saying is 'What tacos can't fix, Bourbon will.' Hilarious. My only little issue is the lighting. It's so bright for a chill bourbon spot. I highly recommend this spot especially if Drew is working! Very glad we stopped in after our dinner at Rubys & spent the hour or so w/ Drew & his mixologist type Old Fashioned. And they sell some unique Makers Mark glasses for $5. Better deal than the distillery!

    El Borracho Bowl

    See all

    Review Insights

    11 years ago

    Signature drinks very good. Bar staff very very nice. Going back later for food and more bourbon.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    The shrimp was spicey and delicious. Greens are great. Would highly recommend. No doubt when return would order same thing.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 10 of 10

    Ask the Community - Down One Bourbon Bar

    You might also consider

    Hammerheads

    Hammerheads

    4.5
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Have heard about this gem for 20 years but never tried it until last night. Wife and I sat at the…read morebar - love the atmosphere: spacious dive bar with low ceilings and wood paneling. There are also picnic tables out front. You get a faint whiff of the grill/smoker upon entering. Kylie was our bartender and she was fabulous - knowledgeable, friendly, and answered all of our questions with patience. Wife ordered a mango margarita and doesn't like a lot of tequila, so Kylie went half and gave her a shot on the side in case she wanted to add more. It was wonderful. I had a couple of beers. We started with the fried mushrooms, which aren't what you would expect. It's two large portobellos cut into chunks, battered, fried, and served with sun-dried tomato mayo. They were great. I then ordered a duck taco, brisket taco, and a side of Grippo Fries with smoked mayo. I'd never tried duck but that taco was smack-a-lackin'. The brisket taco was also good, and the fries were fantastic - sweet and spicy, fresh cut, and crispy. Wife ordered a pork belly slider and truffle fries. She enjoyed the slider but didn't care for the fries - just not her thing. The portions here are large. A side of fries will feed three people. We took a hefty portion of them home, as well as some of the mushrooms. We could've sat there at the bar and spent 3 hours socializing and enjoying a smattering of cocktails - love the setting. Look forward to going back and trying one of the burgers at some point.

    Well I'd classify this place as a dive bar in the sense of the word. It's definitely not 4 star…read morenoted and maybe not the best exclusive signage and overall 4 star appeal; but it a diamond in the rough, persa. This place is quaint, nice location (on a corner ) decent seating, not a big outdoor dining area, the bar is long and has the memories of the old day saloon. Now the food; terribly good! Menu isn't extensive but good items and variety that will satisfy anyone's appetite. It was Father's Day but as soon as it opened they were quickly filled with patrons and people kept coming; even waiting to get in. The fries in duck fat were awesome. Since so many baskets of fries like this for a long time. The smoked wings are great, meaty and savory. I had the pork belly tacos; my only disappointment was you only get 2 per order. The fine combination of ingredients were splendid and the pork belly so tender. My wife had the bbq pork sandwich on pretzel bun. Very good tasting and this was with no bbq sauce on it. If you're in the area, do yourself a a favor and stop in. I can't wait to go back ( as we live in southern Indiana) so might be a bit but definitely want to try a few other items.

    Photos
    More of the bar
    More of the bar
    PBLT Sandwich - Definitely overall Pretty good! Needed another slice or two of pork belly but otherwise super tender. Would get again!
    PBLT Sandwich - Definitely overall Pretty good! Needed another slice or two of pork belly but otherwise super tender. Would get again!
    Beer served!

    See all

    Beer served!
    Bourbon and Burgers

    Bourbon and Burgers

    4.3
    (89 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    This is the second time I've visited Bourbon and Burgers and have honestly been blown away both…read moretimes. We dropped in on Oaks night and even though it was pretty busy we were able to grab two seats at the bar. The only downfall of this was the time of day and the position of the Sun blaring through the garage door windows blasting me in the face however that cannot be helped or avoided, just a heads up for anyone who is super sensitive to the sun and arrives around sunset. I started with a Sunset Spritz and looked over the menu, there are so many great options to choose from and I was really torn on what to get but decided on the blackened Mahi Mahi sandwich (you can also get grilled or fried, but the bartender recommended blackened) and an order of sweet potato fries. The fries come with a side of a smoky pineapple chutney of some sort and even though I'm not a huge fan of anything that's really smoky it was absolutely delicious and a great combo. Seriously 10/10 recommend. The sandwich was also fire! I am extremely picky about sea food, especially since I used to live near the cost so it was always fresh and it definitely did not disappoint. I was so full when we left lol My husband got the beef sliders as his entrée with a side of regular fries tossed in roasted garlic pepper. I tried them and they were just OK. The sweet potato fries are definitely where it's at! I am really looking forward to going back and trying out some new items like the Cheeseburger Hand pies, Chicken tenders or one of their boozy milkshakes ... it sounds delicious doesn't it!

    When you see a place with this name... you're expecting them to do at the very least two things…read morewell. I'm happy to report that although I'm not much of a drinker these days, their burgers are indeed delicious. I had the bacon cheeseburger & my friend was talked into their "Argentinian" burger by our waiter. (which has "argentinian chorizo, provolone cheese, roasted tomatoes, chimichurri sauce, caramelized onions" on it) I'm also a sucker for some good wings so I had to also try their dry run wings... all very good! It was a beautiful & warm sunny day so we got to enjoy the nice patio seating outside and still were able to see the TVs. Surprised at the lack of street noise also! Very nice area & good restaurant! Would definitely go back!

    Photos
    Bourbon and Burgers
    Fried Mahi Sandwich
    Fried Mahi Sandwich
    Sweet potato fries with smoked pineapple sauce

    See all

    Sweet potato fries with smoked pineapple sauce
    Steak & Bourbon

    Steak & Bourbon

    4.6
    (114 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    My wife & I celebrated our anniversary at Steak & Bourbon downtown this year. We usually go to the…read moreWestport location, but we were very happy we went with downtown this year. First off, the location is prime and the venue is perfectly designed for the space it occupies. The wall of windows looking out to market/4th provide an excellent backdrop and light the space well in the afternoon/evening. The lounge style dining area has some excellent, comfortable furniture to relax and enjoy conversation. Of course, there are also more traditional sort of tables to sit at if you aren't into lounging. Long story short, vibes were great. The service was also stellar. Our server was Cole, and he made sure that we had a fantastic anniversary dinner. He had us wanting for naught, and made excellent recommendations for both food and drink. Top talent! Speaking of food and drink, magnificent! 10 ounce filet cooked perfectly medium and seared beautifully, a savory potato au gratin, steak hand pies with a nice, flaky crust, and delicious lobster bisque. All paired with a couple bourbon ball martinis and old fashioneds. If you are thinking of going, don't hesitate. You won't be disappointed and we will be back!

    I highly recommend Steak & Bourbon to anyone desiring wonderful atmosphere, great service and…read morephenomenal food. I went with family for a birthday celebration and was not disappointed. steak frites cooked to perfection w/shepard pie as a side was my dinner. The LARGE portion size of shepard pie as a side which could have been a meal itself. Go and have the experience for yourself. You will not be disappointed! Bon Appétit

    Photos
    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Steak & Bourbon Meatballs
    Steak & Bourbon Meatballs
    Lobster bisque

    See all

    Lobster bisque
    Holy Grale

    Holy Grale

    4.3
    (594 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Holy Grale is just that. If you're picking something else, you "chose poorly". Delicious beer…read moreselections freaky fresh on tap. Marvelous atmosphere with an interconnected beer garden in the middle. Stunning food offers that shine on their own and sing louder when paired with their beers. The team at holy grale also bring it all together with incredible service. The burger is incredible, but I always come back for the schnitzel platter. I only wish they had a spaetzle to go with it! The fries are proper chippies, thick square cut and long. Crispy outside, fluffy inside. And there are so many dips to choose from. Salads are crisp and light and a marvelous side. I cannot say enough good things. I love the grales.

    This place is definitely worth a visit just to see it. Fun spot and a very cool vibe inside. This I…read morebelieve was our 7th stop on our tour of Louisville distilleries and bars. We had a couple cocktails in here and the service was excellent even though it appeared they were filled to capacity. There were 4 of us in our party and we were seated at a table in the corner near the bar. Was definitely a cozy spot with so many people being in there and the bar being full. I had The Holy Ghost cocktail and it was a pomegranate hibiscus sour, it had just the right amount of sour! I do not like bitter drinks and this one was good and easy to drink. My husband had a couple of dark beers, I do not remember which ones but he liked them. They had a nice outdoor area but it was a bit too cool for that but it may be worth a return in the Spring to check it out. Bathroom was also really cool as the decor and theme spilled over into it. We will be back.

    Photos
    Holy Grale
    Shishito & mushrooms in romesco w. sunny egg
    Shishito & mushrooms in romesco w. sunny egg
    Bar area

    See all

    Bar area
    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    3.9
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Stopped at Doc Crow's since it seems to be a popular spot. Upon walking in, it doesn't seem big but…read morethere's an additional space after the first section. The restaurant includes a long row of bar seating that extends to the other end of the restaurant, so there was no problem for me to find a seat on a busy day. I ordered the Mac n cheese and braised greens, and the Mac n cheese was really good and creamy. The braised greens were just okay, it wasn't the best greens I've had and it could use extra flavor. I don't know if this is a thing they do at Doc Crow's, but in my opinion the bartender excessively kept asking me what I wanted even while I was still looking at the menu. This definitely frustrated me since it was clear that I wasn't ready yet. I think she should have done a better job reading my cues to figure out when I am ready to order.

    We were due for an underwhelming experience, and I'm at least partially to blame for not having a…read moredinner spot lined up beforehand. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I spent most of the afternoon on a bourbon tour and a post-tour distillery so...food was needed. And quickly. In our mild defense, we didn't really know how the day was going to go or when we were actually going to have dinner, which made it a little tougher to pre-plan, but no research went into this at all and we paid for it. We wrapped up our bourbon adventures at the Angel's Envy distillery probably five or six blocks from here. Instead of being grownups and doing at least a quick/impromptu recon for spots, we literally just walked outside and down W Main St until we hit something. And we hit this, which was right on the edge of the main tourist area, pretty much Louisville's equivalent of the Times Square/MSG area. And as someone who works and used to live in NYC, you'd have to do a lot of convincing to get me to eat in that particular area - it's overpriced and the food/service just tends to not be very good, which makes you wonder what the appeal is for tourists beyond the convenience. But regardless, it's always struck me as an odd way for a tourism spot to put its best foot forward (or not). Doc Crow's is enormous, and when we were brought further into the restaurant to our table, I think we literally walked through three or four large rooms and navigated through multiple passageways. If you told me this place took up an entire city block or close to it, I'd believe you. Beyond the size/scope, there's nothing really distinctive that separates it from the myriad of other restaurants you'd expect to see catering to out-of-towners. It was the Friday evening of Memorial Day Weekend, so a place that I suspect is usually pretty busy was even busier and louder than that. Maybe not the greatest recipe after a bourbon tour, but who can say. On the app front, we got the Crispy Salmon Bites, which were fine. Not an item I typically see on a menu, even one with more of a seafood bent. I thought the cornmeal/panko breading was the right call; I'm a big catfish aficionado, so I'm of the opinion that cornmeal is underutilized, at least in the Northeast where I come from. Otherwise, nothing really mind-blowing there; probably would have made sense for it to be a different type of fish given the prep (I think salmon is best raw in a sushi roll or grilled), but it could have been worse. I don't think a ton of thought went into this on my end, but I went with the full rack BBQ ribs, along with a side of mac n' cheese. Again, okay, though not as flavorful as I would have hoped and I thought the ribs were on the dry side. Not their fault, but I always regret getting the full rack in hindsight because ribs have a deceptively significant amount of meat on the bones and a half rack is a very decent portion by itself; I am a work in progress just like everyone else. The mac n' cheese was also pretty dry, which I think you can see pretty obviously in the accompanying picture. Tasted and felt reheated at least once or twice. The service was pretty efficient given how busy it was, but our waiter was just on robotic autopilot. Not remotely personable and everything I said to him was responded to with, "For sure, for sure." Maybe he was having a rough night to start the holiday weekend, but it felt like he was just going through the motions and just checking off some boxes there. I went into this already predisposed to not like the generic tourist trap places, so grain of salt. But my recommendation if you have the time/bandwidth (now that I'm a cagey Louisville vet) is to bypass this area if you can and find something tastier and more interesting in the Highlands neighborhood. That's where the real ones are.

    Photos
    Beautiful Bar area
    Beautiful Bar area
    Heap N Chips
    Heap N Chips
    On a vibey street

    See all

    On a vibey street

    Down One Bourbon Bar - bars - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...