The sun is shining, there’s a slight breeze in the air, and your stomach is likely growling. Sure Louisville has some amazing culinary spots, but you don’t want to sacrifice such a lovely day! Look no further for a solution. We have compiled a list of some of Louisville’s most charming patios and outdoor dining destinations — you can have the best of both worlds!
27 Louisville Patio Dining Destinations
Mussel and Burger Bar Downtown
113 S. Seventh St., Louisville, KY 40202 • (502) 749-6451
An urban paradise of sorts right at Seventh and Main, this patio is a hidden gem, with many longtime patrons unaware it even exists. Enjoy a brick courtyard covered in ivy, hip lighting and excellent music. This is Chef Fernando Martinez’s finest patio.
Portage House
117 E. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 • (812) 913-4250
Portage House is situated on the banks of the Ohio River in a restored home on the National Register of Historic Places. The chef-driven menu focuses on Midwestern cuisine richly sourced from farms in Indiana and Kentucky. Best of all, Portage House features a 40-seat veranda with unobstructed views of the Big Four Bridge and the river. The new boat docks are also a great place to tie up and enjoy a meal prepared by Chef Paul Skulas, who recently earned major kudos from none other than Bobby Flay.
Parlour
131 W. Chestnut, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 • (812) 914- 7400
Parlour is a craft pizzeria, beer garden and cocktail lounge in the restored Duffy Hancock House, a neoclassical mansion dating back to 1836, just at the foot of the Big Four Bridge in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It opened in April and has quickly become a favorite destination of Kentuckians and Hoosiers alike for its fire pits, cornhole and a fun carriage house with an incredible beer selection expertly curated by Windy Wonder, who has assembled 42 rotating taps focusing on Indiana and Kentucky beers, as well as harder-to-find imports like Saisons and Sours. Look out for tap takeovers, seasonal events and even beer yoga classes.
Steak & Bourbon
1321 Herr Lane, Ste. 130, Louisville, KY 40223  • (502) 708-2196
This new Westport Village steakhouse is a hotspot for summer flavor, hand-cut meats, and a booming bourbon selection. Couches are made for seasonal lounging and socializing and accented with red umbrellas, drapes and pillows for an exotic finish. Plus, all dogs are welcome!
8UP Elevated Drinkery
350 W. Chestnut St., Louisville, KY 40202 • (502) 631-4180
8UP’s rooftop bar is a local favorite. The cocktails, food, view, swanky seating … it’s all good up there. Eight stories atop the Hilton Garden Inn, 8UP is the perfect rooftop spot for an after-work drink, a girls’ night or a place to impress your Louisville guests.
Molly Malone’s
933 Baxter Ave., Louisville, KY 40204 • (502) 473-1222
Our favorite Irish pub also has one of the best patios at its Bardstown Road location. Molly Malone’s patio, complete with string lights and lovely greenery, overlooks the busy street. It’s a perfect location for people-watching and an afternoon cocktail or late-night brew. It’s also the best location for Louisville’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Holy Grale
1034 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204 • (502) 459-9939
OK, people, if you haven’t been to Holy Grale yet, then move this spot to the top of your must-try list. Its unique building (an old church with the most beautiful stained glass windows), variety of beers, delicious menu and biergarten, dressed with string lights and flowers, is the perfect place if you want to sit outside and have a few beers. And you won’t be disappointed with the food, either.
North End Cafe
1722 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 896-8770
One of my personal favorites for nice patios and Bloody Mary’s, North End Cafe’s Frankfort Avenue location is one of the best on the street. Perched above the road, it’s a great spot for watching the sunset (sit toward downtown) and enjoying a nice glass of wine or one of the many delicious menu items.
Captain’s Quarters
5700 Captains Quarters Road, Prospect, KY 40059 • (502) 228-1651
Another favorite (and a place I’ve been going since I was a kid) is Captain’s Quarters. Sit on the outdoor patio, which is so close to the Ohio you can touch it, and watch the barges and boats float by. We hear it’s a pretty great spot to be on Sunday evenings during the summer, too.
Mike Linnig’s
9308 Cane Run Road, Louisville, KY 40258 • (502) 937-9888
If you’ve lived in Louisville your whole life, you’ve likely heard of this hidden seasonal treasure. Mike Linnig’s has the best fish sandwich in the city, and has since 1925. This family-owned, family-friendly seafood joint off Cane Run Road sits on the banks of the Ohio and is always crowded. If you’ve never been, we suggest you go.
Amici
316 W. Ormsby Ave., Old Louisville, KY 40203 • (502) 637-3167
Amici has come highly recommended by StyleBlueprint readers. Located in Old Louisville, Amici’s courtyard patio is complete with fountains and chimes that create a perfectly relaxing environment in the middle of the city. As the name suggests, this is a great, intimate spot for a meal with friends.
Seviche
1538 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205 • (502) 473-8560
For those who love to watch the hustle and bustle of Bardstown Road, the Seviche patio is for you. This patio is open in the cooler months as well, with lots of heaters outside to warm guests as well as the best seviche/ceviche (however you want to spell it!) in town.
The Village Anchor
11507 Park Road, Anchorage, KY 40223 • (502) 708- 1850
There are actually two patios at The Village Anchor in Anchorage. One is upstairs with The Village Anchor and the other is downstairs attached to The Sea Hag. Both are beautiful places to enjoy your sweet potato fries with marshmallow creme and bourbon barbecue dipping sauce.
Napa River Grill
1211 Herr Lane, Louisville, KY 40222 • (502) 423- 5822
Napa River Grill has a great patio and an even better happy hour with an incredible wine list and a small bites menu. We love sitting out here in cooler months as well, with help from the fire pit tables.
Dairy Kastle
575 Eastern Pkwy., Louisville, KY 40217 • (502) 634-8990
The popular walk-up ice cream spot is a staple of summertime in Louisville. It’s also the perfect place for your pup! What’s better than taking your dog on a walk and making a stop at DK? Nothing beats some delicious soft serve ice cream in the South!
The Comfy Cow
1301 Herr Lane, Ste. 118, Louisville, KY 40222 • (502) 425-4979
This Louisville favorite is a popular option to cool off in the summer months. The Westport Village location offers plenty of outdoor seating for you to soak in the sun as you enjoy a scoop or two of ice cream. An added bonus is the concert series the venue holds every summer.
Heine Brothers’ Coffee
3965 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40220 • (502) 409-6762
Heine Brothers’ is another local spot where outdoor seating is divine. The boxy, glass building is hard to miss, and the coffee is even harder not to crave! This is the only coffee shop we have featured on the list, but with 17 different Heine Brothers’ locations throughout Louisville, it is guaranteed you will find one that you’ll soon call home base.
ROC
1327 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204 • (502) 459-7878
With bright red chairs and natural wooden accents, this is one patio atmosphere you must make it to. Authentic Italian cuisine in a great location, ROC transports you to Italy without having to leave the city limits of Louisville. Don’t forget to order the homemade pasta, but be warned that you’ll never want to go back to that ol’ store-bought stuff after this!
Decca
812 East Market St., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 749-8128
Having been featured in Garden & Gun, Bon Appetit and on The Food Network, to name a few, this is one spot that locals and critics alike highly recommend. If you’re looking for upscale food that is also locally sourced, look no further. Decca’s outdoor patio is a dream, complete with trickling water fountains, lily pad-filled fish ponds and greenery galore. We can’t speak highly enough about this picture-perfect scene.
RYE
900 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 749-6200
It’s one thing to have beautiful outdoor seating and fantastic food, but when you add live music, we couldn’t be happier! From July to October, Rye hosts Back Porch Sessions, a free concert series that supports local artists. Founded on the belief that food and social interactions are meant to be married, Rye brings an approachable setting to dining that we absolutely adore and admire.
Wiltshire on Market
636 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40202 • (502) 589-5224
Wiltshire on Market provides creative cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. Come join Chef Rory O’Connell in an intimate restaurant environment with a menu that changes weekly, ensuring that you’ll never get bored. The patio space here might be small, but the local meals are well worth it.
El Mundo
2345 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 899-9930
Imagine: a crisp margarita on a porch illuminated by colorful and eclectic art. Throw some grilled fish tacos into the mix and we are good to go! Since 1995, El Mundo has been a local favorite for Mexican cuisine paired with a fun, kitschy environment.
The Eagle
1314 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204 • (502) 498-8420
Strung overhead lights, tabletop fire pits, and good ol’ fried chicken are just a few things you can expect to find at The Eagle. A large mural (we love a good mural!) of an eagle head watches over as you enjoy brews and comfort foods at this all-American joint.
Eiderdown
983 Goss Ave., Louisville, KY 40217 • (502) 290-2390
German-inspired comfort food finds its home at Eidertown. With an ever-changing cycle of meal and drink specials on rotation, finding something worth raving about isn’t hard. Order a bratwurst and take a seat at a street-side table for an authentic European experience.
VINT
2309 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 894-8060
We mentioned Heine Brothers Coffee earlier on this list, but we couldn’t help but to mention their fantastic merging, VINT. It’s namesake comes from the word “vintage” and the shop holds tight to this vintage ideal of quality coffee coming to you with with efficiency and grace. VINT has a vine and wisteria covered outdoor seating section with plenty of seating options where you can enjoy this locally brewed coffee.
The Grape Leaf
2217 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 897-1774
In the heart of Clifton is The Grape Leaf, one of Louisville’s first Mediterranean restaurants. The Grape Leaf’s patio is rustically beautiful and provides a calm getaway from the busy street, surrounding itself by a brick and wrought iron wall and beautifully covered in vines. This semi-covered oasis is perfect for sitting in the shade and enjoying a hummus trio.
Atlantic No. 5
605 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202 • (502) 883-3398
Nestled on busy Museum Row, you’ll find this cozy little place perfect for breakfast and lunch. Atlantic No. 5 offers outdoor seating that provides guests with a view of one of downtown Louisville’s most iconic and historic streets. Enjoy one of their fresh baked goods or Sunergos Coffee at this go-to spot for many locals to get their daily dose of delicious!
Enjoy your patio dining experience, wherever you take a seat!
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