Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Lobby Bar

    4.5 (112 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    The Lobby Bar Photos

    Business Info

    THE LOBBY BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Classy
    Upscale

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Lobby 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

    Derby pie
    Marie S.

    Came here just for dessert on the Sunday after Derby. The decor of the hotel is beautiful and did a little bit of shopping. They had a special Derby menu, so everything was a lot more than usual. I got the Derby pie (which was hiked up to $14) - was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. I felt that service was a little selective, as my server tended to cater more to the patrons who looked like they would spend more money. 2026 #38

    Hot Brown
    Shawn H.

    We had the Hot Brown sandwich and a Smash burger with bourbon barrel fries. The entire meal was excellent. The decor is fantastic -straight out of prohibition era elegance. The service was superb. The Hot Brown is something you need to do at least once if you're into the history of Louisville and the Brown Hotel. It's a heavy meal with a glue like sauce that holds it all together. Nothing light about it. The smash burger was very good and the bourbon barrel fries where killer. It was an elegant, classy meal, in a beautiful restaurant.

    Bourbon martini
    Megan K.

    When I say this is one of the best meals I have had in my lifetime....I mean it is simply one of the best ever. My dad has forever talked about getting a hot brown sandwich from the Brown Hotel for as long as I can remember. So when I stayed there a few weeks ago, I obviously had to get one. For research purposes, obviously. I kicked off my solo dining adventure with a Buffalo trace martini that is not for the faint at heart. The basket of bread and butter they brought me was definitely needed after that. It was wonderful to sit there and sip while listening to a live piano player rotate through some Billy Joel and Disney music. Then my hot brown came out and it was so delicious I almost cried tears of joy. I ate only half and saved the other half for the next day, and can confirm it tastes just as amazing on day 2 as day 1 if anyone is wondering. The bourbon barrel fries too had great seasoning and were very tasty. Then it was time for dessert. I was celebrating 2 years of freedom this night so I did what nobody else has apparently done before: I ordered all the desserts on the dessert menu. Please let me also preface this with saying I did not eat all of those in one sitting either. They were future breakfast and desserts for the next few days since my room had a fridge in it. Girl math dictated that would actually be a cost savings plan. And it was. The chocolate striptease was amazing lit on fire and tasted like a decadent and luxury level cake. The strawberry cheesecake was beyond flavorful, the ice cream dessert with the olive oil flakes was so unique and tasty with the cracker crumble, and the pie was just one of the best. Needless to say, next time I'm back in Louisville, I'll be booking a room here again. Also major shoutout to everyone working here who kept coming up and asking about everything, as well as my server: you made my night and y'all are awesome human beings who deserve raises.

    The Hot Brown
    Matt R.

    Great service and ambiance. The Hot Brown was amazing. A must try! Salad was good but nothing special. The server was knowledgeable and attentive. Bartenders at the hotel were exceptional!!!

    The Hot Brown
    Chris L.

    This place is all it's cracked up to be. Classy place. The Hot Brown is definitely pretty good. It's like fondue with a giant slab of turkey in it. I really enjoyed it. Kind service.

    Nancy D.

    Dining at the historic Brown Hotel was a true Kentucky experience -- from the iconic Hot Brown to a perfectly crafted Old Fashioned and rich Derby Pie. The atmosphere was a charming blend of casual and dressed-up guests, but dressing up definitely enhances the experience and makes it feel even more special. The food was delicious and well worth trying. I'd happily return just to soak in the old-world charm over a drink -- it's a nostalgic gem. I visited on a Wednesday, early evening --the crowd was growing. Restaurant is on the 2nd floor.

    Cheeseburger
    Gordon S.

    Wonderful lunch spot that takes you back in time! We were in Louisville for a wedding and heard about the "Hot Brown" so we definitely had to to stop. Did not disappoint. An open faced turkey sandwich with delicious sauce, baked to perfection. Jess doesn't like turkey, but thought it was one of the most delicious sandwiches she's ever had. Also tried the burger and it was huge and delicious. Apps were barrel fries and lobster Mac...both excellent and eaten before we remembered to take pictures lol. Inside is a beautiful example of life in the early 1900's. Enjoyed walking around and seeing the sites. Stop in for a bite. It's worth it.

    The Hot Brown (petite)
    Tully B.

    Don't mess around, get the hot brown. If your like me and stuffed from thanksgiving get the petite version. The mornay sauce (Alfredo's mysterious and sassy cousin) is to die for. The turkey is great, the hot tomato just works and there are toast points hidden in the hot hot hot pan. Service is attentive and the ambiance is beautiful because it's the hotel! Get the hot brown.

    Ali's Smash
    Katherine D.

    Wow. Just wow. We expected this place to be good. We read all the reviews, but it exceeded our expectations. Everything was executed perfectly. Every drink, every dish... even with few and very simple ingredients. Incredible. We are highly impressed. Would definitely recommend.

    Steak Frites
    Katie P.

    Went for a really early dinner at 4:15pm which was limited menu but I had my eye on the steak frites and that was being served. I loved it. Fries had a cheese spice mix in them and were just perfect... steak was good too. They sat me in the back part and I was the only one there and the bartenders were doing an inventory so that was a little odd. Would have much more enjoyed the piano and vibe in the other side. But I will try it again when I'm visiting Louisville

    Inside
    Montana L.

    Stopped in here for dinner. The only reservation was 815pm, however the dining area was sparse. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. I opted for the Lobster Mac and Cheese side. My first entree came out lukewarm but the waiter brought me a fresh, hot dish! The Mac and cheese did not really have any signs of lobster, so I was a little thrown off. The Mac and cheese was a tad bland but the breadcrumbs added a nice crunchy texture. The derby pie was delicious! First time trying the walnut, chocolate pie.

    cocktails
    Rebecca H.

    I made a reservation here during our trip to Louisville because this is the inventor of the Hot Brown. We fucked up a few things on this occasion. For one, I thought our reservation was 7:30 and arrived at that time but it was actually at 7:15. We also didn't realize how beautiful and elegant the space was and definitely did not dress up for the occasion. You can imagine the embarrassment when we walked up the beautiful staircase to the sound of a fucking live pianist. Anyway, the staff at the Lobby Bar were kind enough to not outwardly notice either of our errors and were nothing but gracious and friendly. We both started with one of their cocktails from a lovely cocktail menu. I can't find it online so I can't provide details. Probably bourbon. Mine was good enough that I wanted to order another. I didn't because either I was not asked or because GF guilted me out of it. From the looks of it, GF ordered a mint julep. There were a few things on the menu I was interested in ordering including a salad. The fries with bourbon something ketchup were too good to pass up so we ordered that to start. I'm glad I didn't try to squeeze in a salad because this serving was ridiculous in a good way. Think a mount everest of fries. They were extremely crispy and seasoned to perfection. Definitely in my top 5 of best fries I've ever eaten. GF ordered the hot brown and reported that it was extremely rich and heavy but seemed to enjoy it. I ordered the pesto dish with veggies and rotini. The veggies were a nice touch but the sauce was wayyyyyy too creamy for me. The creaminess overpowered any other flavor of the dish and it wasn't worth the calories to finish. Very disappointing. My dish was enough to knock this down to at least a 3 but the ambiance of the space, the fantastic staff, and the delicious fries bumped it up to a 4 in my book. Perhaps their non-vegetarian dishes are better?

    Original Hot Brown (petite)
    Laura P.

    When in Louisville... you have to have a Hot Brown. Walked here for dinner our first night in Louisville. Didn't realize really nothing opens until 5 for dinner, so we were a little early and were directed to a seating area to wait, but we got to look around at the gorgeous decor. The hotel is just over 100 years old and is a really amazing piece of architecture. I felt really under-dressed but since it's the lobby bar, there were all sorts of people in and out of the bar. If I was going to the main dining room, I would definitely dress up. We were seated right at 5 and unfortunately I misplaced our server's name but she was very friendly and attentive. Found it - her name was Rein. We started with an Old Fashioned and a Kentucky Mule with a charcuterie board and then had the small hot brown and steak frites. The charcuterie was good- not enough cheese for my taste, but a nice starter. The hot brown was good what I expected and I'm glad I got the smaller o e because it's so rich. The steak frites took the cake - the steak was so tender with amazing flavor and the fries had a delicious seasoning that went perfectly with the steak. I would definitely come back for the ambiance and would order steak frites for both of us.

    Old fashioned and a mule

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marie S.
    149
    1483
    2490

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Megan K.
    806
    1597
    9084

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Good food, good service, good atmosphere, good piano playing, pretty hotel with lots of history.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt R.
    48
    80
    46

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris L.
    14
    140
    210

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julie M.
    48
    854
    149

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ray R.
    126
    665
    1232

    1 year ago

    Really cool vibe and awesome staff. The food was spot on as well nothing to complain about here for sure.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    I was excited to find the addition of chicken wings on the appetizer menu. So disappointed. They were probably Pigeon wings. So very small.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of W C.
    1
    1426
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kevin B.
    321
    1473
    4080

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Colin W.
    187
    17
    18

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Lobby Bar

    You might also consider

    The Last Refuge - Bourbon on bourbon

    The Last Refuge

    4.1(174 reviews)
    1.0 miNuLu
    $$

    Are we talking "On Heavens Gate!"…read more Yes, Bob Dylan, that inspirational author, songwriter, wordsmith, and artist has a Bourbon. Now they were looking for where to build his so called place to breathe life into it. That "it," place. It's not in Nashville, it's here in small little Louisville. What better place than an old church? Bourbon and Church! Amen! All are welcome! Now they don't make it here this is where they come to pour it and enjoy the flavors of it. Is life about the ride? How about dinner and some Heavens Bourbon made and inspired by Bob Dylan in a church. It's a must! Now this is a small venue and off the beaten track of life. What drew me? A large image of Bob Dylan on a building, mural style seemed out of place. Come to find out explore more and salut to a better version of heaven in this world of art, music, and words that have never been better than now. This is not just a church but the grounds house an art deco museum to his work. It's true dedication to the man of Bob Dylan. A Tennessee whiskey, distilled in Pleasureville, Ky. This the final stop here at the Last Refuge to celebrate his legacy and better aged bourbon among us.

    This place came highly recommended for a restaurant to visit when in Louisville so it was our first…read morestop! Turning an old church into a bar/restaurant always makes for a unique environment. I loved walking through the rooms and seeing all the vintage details and stained glass. The Whiskey room has quite the shock factor with floor to ceiling bottles lining the walls. No complaints to be made about the service! It felt quick and smooth! The signature cocktails we ordered were very good (not pictured)! My only disappointment was the limited menu. The menu seemed to be mostly appetizers and pizza with some additional options for entrees. We ordered the Holy Fire Dip for a starter and it was delicious! It was warm and had great flavor. The waitress did need to bring more bread, the dipping options felt sparse. My husband and I split The Burnt Offering Pizza and Sanctuary Sliders, they were both solid. We both favored the pizza but would have liked more variety. I can see why this place comes highly recommended for the experience. I would definitely come back but hope they expand the menu by then!

    Photos
    The Last Refuge - Holy Fire Dip

    Holy Fire Dip

    The Last Refuge - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    The Last Refuge - Sweet Jesus

    See all

    Sweet Jesus

    Sidebar At Whiskey Row - Alternate Juror

    Sidebar At Whiskey Row

    4.3(945 reviews)
    0.8 miDowntown, East Main
    $$

    Highly recommend Sidebar! We've been here several times and it's always consistently great. The…read morestaff works perfectly as a team, creating such a friendly and welcoming vibe. The food comes out hot and tastes amazing. We have brought children with us and they loved the kids menu/food. We really like this place and visit regularly!

    Sidebar at Whiskey Row - dropping in this downtown bourbon bar I didn't expect to have one of the…read morebest burgers of my life, but that's what happened when I strolled in on a Saturday afternoon. The place was empty but the bartender was a good guide. His bartender patter had a rhythmic cadence as he extolled the virtues of their fare offerings. I went with the Death Penalty to chase a little heat, although the name is more menacing than the bit. This isn't a mouth scorching, heartburn inducing culinary dare, but quite simply a perfectly delivered burger with toppings that work well together to deliver a robust flavor with a nice touch of heat. Being my first time in Kentucky I asked for a recommendation for a nice shot of bourbon to sip while I waited for my meal, with the caveats that I'd like for it to be from a lesser known, small distiller and under $25 for the drink. He delivered with a shot of Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey that has a sherry cask finish from Limestone Branch Distillery. It was smooth with no bite and a nice linger. Three solid hits between the burger, bourbon and bartender - would definitely recommend.

    Photos
    Sidebar At Whiskey Row - Bar

    Bar

    Sidebar At Whiskey Row - Sidebar Salad

    Sidebar Salad

    Sidebar At Whiskey Row - Rice Krispie with Fruity Pebbles

    See all

    Rice Krispie with Fruity Pebbles

    The Lobby Bar - bars - Updated September 2026

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