I was fortunate to have a 30th surprise party thrown for me at Mint on Mellwood and it was the…read morePERFECT venue. The staff was incredibly accommodating and worked with my family on logistics, catering, bar options, parking and keeping the entire thing a surprise up until the moment I walked through the door. The venue itself was very clean, spacious and flexible. My favorite part about it was all the Kentucky derby memorabilia that fills the walls - it's like walking through a museum! I highly recommend using this venue for parties, receptions, showers or anything else you can think of.

Mint on Mellwood is a great space to have any kind of function or gathering. It is very fitting…read morethat it is "Mint on Mellwood" because it is owned by Mint Julep Tours! The area is located in the Butchertown area where you are surrounded by other great restaurants, breweries/distilleries, boutiques, the arts, etc. The space is open & has the potential to be any kind of set up you want. We had hot & cold hors d'oeuvres, so I assume there were ways they were kept warm & cold between replenishments. The bathroom facilities were very neat & clean. The onsite staff were very inviting, social & professional.

Beautiful space, helpful waitstaff. The bar no longer makes cocktails of any kind. It is now a…read moretasting bar where you can get a flight of bourbon or a pour. As a lover of cocktails, I was pretty sad to discover those were eliminated. I also understand that it likely shortens the guest visit time since people are more apt to be tempted by an additional cocktail... which allows for more turnover in this smallish space. You arrive to this area after a tour. Alternately, you can request to be put on a list to visit this area from the gift shop. The list doesn't involve texting you when you're up, so you need to be hanging around or risk losing your place. The gift shop bar was pouring samples of one spirit during our wait (not of your choosing, more of a "this is what we're pouring today" situation) which was appreciated. The gift shop itself is really lovely, so that can help burn a little time as well. Last call was at 4pm if I remember correctly, which is fairly standard for distilleries in KY.

Hidden gem at Rabbit Hole. You can't make a reservation here, but you can ask to go up from…read moredownstairs where the gift shop is. There is an amazing balcony with comfy chairs that are perfect for a beautiful day. The relaxing balcony is half the reason to go, and it was extra nice that they ensure it isn't packed.

The Angel's Envy distillery is pretty much the #1 reason that my top-tier chum who literally went…read moreto the school of hospitality and I decided to go on a trip to Kentucky, and after actually visiting, justified it as well. During an early 2025 trip to Washington, D.C., we went to multiple establishments and, coincidentally or not, encountered this specific bourbon and just loved it. The most notable occurrence was at Jack Rose Dining Saloon, where I had literally the best Old-Fashioned I've ever had, using a special Angel's Envy that hung out in some sherry barrels for a while. Since then, we've both regularly ordered it when given the opportunity, and ultimately decided that the best way to appreciate this fine spirit was to go right to the source. So to the mothership we went. My chum did most of the heavy lifting here and scheduled a bourbon tour with Louisville Food Tours (very strong recommend) that featured Angel's Envy at the first stop. It's hard to really put into words what this building looks like as you walk in and explore, but it's just so...nice. It's classy without being inaccessible, and it just felt like a true cathedral of bourbon. As tasteful as the bourbon it makes. During our initial tour, we were probably in the distillery for a solid half hour plus, getting a quick tour of the still and fermenters before being led into a side room on the second floor to formally taste some bourbon. Paula was our guide, both during this tour and later on, and was just enormously impressive, which I touched upon in my review of the official tour as well. She's no-nonsense and loves her bourbon - who can't relate? We learned how to inspect the bourbon in the glass, to take a test sip to numb the pain receptors and to truly appreciate the subtle notes in the bourbon with the second sip. It was legitimately helpful, useful information that we're both going to utilize going forward. After our three-hour tour ended (go hard or go home), it wasn't even much of a discussion - we came back here for a few hours to soak in more of the atmosphere and drink some more bourbon. At this point, it was probably close to 5ish but the place was still pretty busy; somehow we were able to secure spots at the bar upstairs and made ourselves at home. I wish I could remember the name of our bartender (blame the time that has elapsed, not the bourbon), but he was very good, social without being oppressive and was just present and let us do our thing. After sipping straight bourbon for most of the afternoon, I switched to the Bourbon Renewal, which you'll be shocked to know includes Angel's Envy but is a more summer, fruit-forward cocktail and super refreshing. Was the right call and hit the spot. (We also got waters because that's the responsible thing to do.) We finally went back downstairs to the gift shop, which doesn't feel like the right term - it was more majestic than something you'd walk into after going through, say, a museum for an hour or two. It's enormous and offers numerous bourbons and also some very high quality swag. We reunited with our chum Paula and sampled their limited edition two-grain, which was created due to a fortunate mistake in which the rye wasn't added so it's just the corn and malted barley. You CAN see the difference and taste it; to me at least, it's more caramel-y than their normal single barrel. We each bought a bottle to bring back to the homeland. My chum basically bought half the store, but I remained calm/deliberate and my only other purchase was a MAGNIFICENT black hoodie. I'm not kidding - I love hoodies and have probably owned dozens over the years, and this is literally the best quality one I've had. It has this interesting front pouch pocket design with like a pocket within the pocket for high-priority items like your ID or credit cards, and the hood itself is interesting. It's just really good and I wore it all day the next day as we slowly made our way back to the East Coast. It's been washed and carefully placed in my closet, where it will reign supreme when the weather inevitably turns nippy again. It's not an exaggeration to say we probably spent hundreds of dollars (at least not thousands) directly and indirectly involving Angel's Envy on this trip. Worth it.

Right downtown and close to many other places. This was great to check out. Learned a lot about the…read morehistory. Our tour guide, Paula, was fabulous. She was attentive, informative and taught us how to get past the initial burn of bourbon. I much enjoyed the bourbon and the chocolate pairings were a nice surprise. We were able to get tickets the night before at a time that worked well for us. The bar area is a nice place to hang out and if you don't do the tour you can still go get some tastings.

It's been 10+ years since I last visited Locust Grove, so I was excited to recently, when I stopped…read moreby for their annual book sale fundraiser. First, what a beautiful spot! I only got to see a sliver of its many acres, but my blood pressure dropped just from driving up to its main building. And if you are a bibliophile, don't miss this annual book sale! The proceeds benefit Locust Grove, and it boasts an awesome, overflowing selection of used books. I got there right when it opened at 10 a.m., and by 10:15, everyone was shoulder to shoulder. I came away, though, with a box of books for my and my family, costing just $30. The volunteers were great too, taking everyone's stacks of books to set aside while they shopped for more. I would love to come back for a proper tour and to bring my kids. Can't believe this site is just 10 minutes from my house and that I haven't properly enjoyed it yet. I'm excited to learn more about it!

Before heading out, we checked Locust Grove's website and it listed tour times with no indication…read morethat the main house was closed for installation of new HVAC. Nothing on their website made any indication that tours were not available. The house and museum are normally open Tuesday to Sunday in February but with the HVAC work, the house has been closed for two months (January and February). It is scheduled to reopen on MARCH 1st. Obviously, others must have known the house/museum was closed as we only saw 3 or 4 other non-staff visitors while we were there. That said, we did enjoy a 12 minute video presentation in the visitors center and did have a chance to see exhibits detailing the site's history - also in the visitors center. After the visitors center, we did a walking tour of the site and read all the signs explaining the purpose of each building. The walking tour was interesting. We need to return sometime after March 1st and actually get a tour of the main house and museum.

Must try: Signature Cocktails!…read more Why: What a neat experience enjoying some cocktails inside a restored church. The bar wall filled with liquor bottles ceiling high was like wow! I enjoyed the Revival Cathedral and Rhubarb Revelation specialty cocktails made with Heaven's Door Whiskey. Both were refreshing and went down smoothly. I didn't try any food but many folks around me seemed to enjoy their meals and drinks. Notes: I came on a Sunday around dinner time and it was packed. Luckily, I found a seat at the bar because someone was just leaving when I arrived. Bartender was welcoming, friendly, helpful and attentive all while serving back to back customers. The decor, stained glass, chandeliers, and walls filled with bottles was really cool to see. Great ambiance for small or large groups. Tons of seating at bar, tables, and comfy side chairs. I'd like to come back with family and friends to enjoy other drinks and try their food next time.

Walking into The Last Refuge, there's a moment where you almost feel conflicted -- a bar inside a…read moreformer church carries a strange weight to it at first. The soaring ceilings, stained glass, and echoes of what the building once was make you pause and reflect. But then "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" came on, the drinks started flowing, the energy shifted, and suddenly you stop overthinking and simply admire the beauty of the space and what it has become. The atmosphere is stunning, moody, and unlike anywhere else. We originally ordered one of their signature drinks only to find out they couldn't serve it after the order was placed, but Alain handled it well and made things right with 30% off, which was appreciated. Also, huge thanks to Sean and Mike working security. Walk-ins were completely full for the night, and honestly without their help and kindness we probably never would've gotten a reservation. They treated us incredibly well and set the tone for a great evening. A memorable experience, beautiful setting, and a place that somehow balances reverence, history, and nightlife all at once.

Last time I was in Louisville I didn't get to see too many sites. I had a limited amount of time…read moreand made my way through the city hitting up the highlights. I wanted to see a lot more than I had time to see and when I found out I was coming here for work, I knew I was going to have more time in the evenings to see things. My work area for this week was right up the street from here. After I was done for the day, I made my way to the grounds to give a quick look around. I was one of two people in the area for the time that I visited which made for an easy and somewhat fast visit. I came here to take in the area and take a few pictures. I would have loved to have visited the museum portion of this, but they have some very odd hours that make it hard to visit if you are from out of town. Something like one Sunday a month. You can, it appears, rent the space for events and have a school field trip. This is on the National Historic Landmark rolls as it is the oldest ornamental water tower in the world. The water tower was almost totally destroyed by a tornado way back and they had to rebuild some of it. But for the most part, what you see, is what was there originally. Completed in 1860 it has served Louisville for years by supplying water to the city. Mimicking buildings you might find in Europe. A tower rising out of a Corinthian portico that holds up several statues. It's a beautiful place to spend your day to pass the time. Beautiful grounds to get your steps in. Benches to sit and watch the water flow on by, and some beautiful views.

Great place to visit. Must see if you are in Louisville. Know the process to get river water to be…read moretap water . Enjoyed and learned a lot. The tour guide is very knowledgeable. Two thumbs up.

Fun games, they have four to choose from, the food was good, we have the pizza and quick services,…read moreeveryone was very helpful.

I returned with my family for Mother's Day. This was my first experience booking the visit and it…read morewas easy. After visiting the website I chose the location, date, and time. A credit card is needed for the reservation. You have 3 hours ahead of time to cancel for a full refund: Five minutes before our reservation, I got a text to head to our course. Makayla set up our team and the ball assignment. We had a great time competing. The opportunity to win and lose points kept the top scores changing. I'm definitely considering coming back with my youngest for a $25 all day pass.

Our yearly work Christmas party has been held here the past several years. The place is always…read moreperfect for us. The restrooms/kitchen work well and the place is roomy and comfortable. It's also conveniently by the expressway for those who have to come from other cities.

My husband and I attended St Matthews Chamber of Commerce 2017 Legislative Coffee meeting there on…read moreMonday, March 20th. There is a large parking lot in front of the building. The event rooms look spacious and clean. This facility is very modest but it can be beautifully decorated for special events.

What a neighborhood gem! Since moving to Clifton/Crescent Hill, the Peterson Dumesnil House has…read morebecome an important part of our holidays especially. For the third year in a row, we attended the Easter egg hunt yesterday. Eggs are strewn all over the large lawn, and this event is large enough to feel like a community event while not being too big. It's still intimate and special. Important to know: This Easter egg hunt starts promptly at 10 a.m. If you arrive at 10:03 you'll miss out on eggs. We've also attended the Halloween event, complete with a small Halloween parade for kids in costumes along the driveway, and the Christmas open house with Santa. The PD House is large and stately but very welcoming. I love that it has become a symbol and gathering point for the neighborhood. It can also be rented out for events. I've passed by some beautiful weddings being held there. We are so lucky to have this landmark so close!

While I've never rented the space, the Peterson Dumesnil House is a well-known historical building…read morein Louisville. It is now overseen by the Foundation and is available for event rentals. It is also the annual site for the Crescent Hill 4th of July Celebration. They allow visitors to come inside to view the second floor and view raffle/silent auction items. The bathrooms have been updated and provide a mix of old and new. One room is a perfect bridal suite area with a 3-way mirror. Rentals of Peterson Dumesnil also include beautiful outdoor spaces, whether for intimate vow exchanges or to increase seating space with tables and bartenders on the front lawn. Parking is available nearby the space, primarily as street parking. Kudos to those on the Foundation for taking great care of this space and making it available for the public. To learn more about the history and family, view the website.