Your Updated Guide to NuLu

The neighborhood known as NuLu (which means “New Louisville”) lies between the Central Business District, Irish Hill, Phoenix Hill, and Butchertown, and is emerging as a new way of living and working in a historic urban area. It is home to multiple hotels and apartment buildings, and locals know it as a go-to for plant-based soaps, custom candles, small-batch ice cream, and delicious seafood. Here’s your guide to shopping and dining in one of the city’s most vibrant communities.

WHERE TO EAT + DRINK

• Akasha Brewing Company: Known for its creative, small-batch beers, this pet-friendly brewery offers a laid-back space to sip on a few brews while enjoying a game or two. (SB Tip: Weekly trivia and game nights are announced on social media.)
• bar Vetti: The bar Vetti menu includes seasonal and regional Italian dishes infused with the tastes of Kentucky. Whether it’s seasonal mushrooms from Frondosa Farms or Jake’s Fresh Country Sausage, many of bar Vetti’s dishes use local produce and house-made pasta.
• Biscuit Belly: Find scratch-made biscuits baked fresh around the clock, served as a sandwich or Southern-style with one of four gravies. There’s a variety of lunch picks, too, as well as coffee and breakfast cocktails.
• Cherry Pickin’ Juicery & Goods: This hoops-inspired juice bar blends wellness with a playful sports aesthetic. Known for its bold pink interior and basketball-themed touches, the shop serves cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and fruit-forward bowls designed to fuel an active lifestyle.
• Chicken Cock Whiskey: Established in 1856 and based in Bardstown, Chicken Cock Whiskey offers a bar, tasting room, and shop in NuLu. Try the Exclusive Flight, which delves into a few barrel-proof offerings, as well as the brand’s second-oldest age-statement bourbon.
• Emmy Squared: The square-shaped pies found at Emmy Squared are made with fluffy middles and cheesy frico crusts, and are available in a variety of flavors. Try the famous Hot Brown Pizza or check out the other menu offerings, including both red- and white-sauce pies, along with salads, sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers.

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• Feast BBQ: Named “Louisville’s Best Barbecue Restaurant” by LEO Weekly readers since 2015, Feast BBQ offers a variety of smoked meats and scratch-made sides. Seating is first-come, first-served at this counter-service eatery.
• Goldie’s: Daily offerings include seasonal drink specials and locally made bagels, pastries, and sandwiches. But Goldie’s also features a neighborhood pantry and gift shop, where you can find natural wines, beers, spirits, seasonal greeting cards, gift bags, and wrapping paper.

• Grind Burger Kitchen: Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, this restaurant’s mission is to serve superior, chef-driven burgers made with the best local and regional ingredients. If you like spice, order the fries with some ghost chili mayo on the side — and don’t skip the desserts from Smor Nordic Bakery!
• La Bodeguita De Mima: Enjoy traditional Cuban flavors seven days a week. We like the pollo asado, a mojo-marinated, half-roasted chicken topped with mojo onions and served with gravy, rice, black beans, and sweet plantains.

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• Louisville Cream: Known for its premium, small-batch ice cream, Louisville Cream’s fun flavors include Coffee with Bourbon Cream, Pistachio Honeycomb, and Bourbon Smoked Pecan, to name a few. The shop also offers a few vegan flavors and baked goods like brownies, cookies, mini pies, and other treats.
• Lou Lou on Market: Though the menu is New Orleans-focused, there are plenty of other options, including some created just for kids. Standout dishes include the Crawfish Bayou Dip, Creole Seafood Fettuccine, Roasted Chicken Salad, and Lou Chicago Pizza. The restaurant also boasts patio seating and a cozy, underground speakeasy that offers weekly live music.
• Mayan Café: Enjoy dishes rooted in traditional Mayan cuisine, utilizing local ingredients. Try the Cochinita Pibil, made with slow-roasted pork from Garey Farms, achiote sauce, and pickled onions — and don’t miss the famous tok-sel lima beans!
• SEVEN Cocktails + Bourbon: Seating at this elevated, moody cocktail bar is on a first-come, first-served basis, but reservations are available for the private room. Enjoy a variety of cocktails and spirit-free drinks, as well as a selection of wine and upscale bar fare.

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• Tacos D Amor: This restaurant focuses on authentic dishes made with fresh ingredients, from classic street tacos and enchiladas to burritos, flautas, and empanadas.
• Taj 807: Established in 1999, Taj is a neighborhood bar that’s all about good drinks enjoyed by great people. Follow them on social media for specials like Negroni Week as well as “baraoke,” or karaoke at the bar.
• TAJ 811: This no-frills speakeasy promises strong drinks and bartenders who know what they’re doing. Inside, the bar is dark, tight, and loaded with custom metalwork, raw details, and unique artwork. Behind the bar is a lineup of 150+ bourbons, plus a wide selection of beer and cocktails.
• West Sixth Brewing NuLu: Featuring an indoor beer garden as well as ample outdoor, bar, and upstairs seating, West Sixth Brewing’s NuLu location is a pet-friendly space offering a wide variety of beers on tap, plus slushies, boozy hot chocolate, and more.

WHERE TO SHOP

• Adorn Louisville Bridal Shop: Say “yes” to an unforgettable bridal experience at Adorn Louisville, home to exclusive designers, one-of-a-kind gowns, and expert bridal styling. Appointments required.
• Bourbon Country Cannabis: Shop for a wide variety of THC and CBD products, including beverages, gummies, vapes, chocolates, caramels, tinctures, pet products, and more.
• The Dog Shop: Dog lovers will enjoy a delightful mix of exclusive, thoughtfully curated products from small businesses and emerging brands. Shop everything from dog treats and collars to apparel, totes, and stickers for the humans.
• Hazel + Hunt: This boutique promises a little something for everyone, with high-quality, hand-printed apparel that’s the perfect combination of classy, down-to-earth, vintage-inspired, and on trend.
• Monhegans: The collection at Monhegans mirrors the distinctive taste of its founder, Rachel Burns (who was 16 when she founded the company!), blending coastal New England charm with a touch of Western allure. Each garment is designed by Rachel and crafted with care.
• Pappy & Company: From decanters, flasks, and barrel heads to branded t-shirts, playing cards, and golf balls, Pappy & Company gifts have serious Kentucky vibes. Can’t-miss items include bourbon-infused gourmet goods like Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Nib Brittle or Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup, which won the 2020 Good Food Award.

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• Paxton’s: Offering affordable men’s fashion for the everyday person, Paxton’s has new arrivals weekly. Customers can expect to find items like socks, belts, fun printed sports coats, and trousers.
• Peace of the Earth: This store promotes peace and sustainability while supporting fair wages and a safe working environment for artisans worldwide. Customers can find soaps, hand sanitizers, lotions, and more from the owner’s branded line, as well as a curated array of gift items — including jewelry, pet products, paper goods, arts and crafts elements, books, toys, and home goods.
• Really Good Vintage: Specializing in high-quality vintage clothing, this shop also offers accessories, home goods, and original merch.
• Red Tree: This furniture store is packed floor-to-ceiling across two floors with unexpected finds, including solid-wood furniture, quirky decor, jewelry, gifts, and locally made art.

WHERE TO PLAY + EXPLORE

• The Craftery: Sip cocktails and mocktails while making a one-of-a-kind project at the city’s first and only DIY studio and bar. Crafts include everything from concrete coasters and planters to leather bookmarks, wooden signs, and more.
• Liquor Lab: This hands-on, interactive craft beer, wine, and spirits mixology experience is led by world-class bartenders. Attendees can craft their own bevvies step by step, shaking, stirring, and sipping a variety of drinks.  
• Maddox & Rose: This experiential candle-making space offers more than 80 scents at a 30-person bar. Experiences during regular business hours are available by reservation only; private parties during non-business hours can be reserved by special request.

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WHERE TO STAY

• AC Hotel by Marriott Louisville Downtown: Nestled in the heart of NuLu is the AC Hotel, offering everything from fine dining to high-end amenities. In addition to trendy, well-appointed guest suites, the hotel is part of the Urban Bourbon Trail and is in close proximity to popular distilleries. Before heading out, stop by the AC Lounge for a delicious, Spanish-inspired breakfast or a collection of tapas and handcrafted cocktails.

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• Hotel Genevieve: This chic lodging option in the heart of NuLu features six floors and 122 rooms. Set within walking distance of many shops and restaurants, the property also boasts its own restaurant, rooftop bar, mini-market, and speakeasy.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

• NuLu Bock Fest and Wurst Fest: If you happen to be in NuLu in the springtime, you just might be able to experience NuLu Bock and Wurst Fest, an annual event that celebrates bock beer — a rich and complex, malty, low-hop style lager. The event typically kicks off with a ceremonial blessing of the goats, followed by multiple races for both kids and adult goats. But Bock Fest is more than goat races — breweries serving bock beer brews often offer specials, and the event typically includes live music, a petting zoo, and other family-friendly activities.
• NuLu Fest: Each fall, the neighborhood celebrates all things NuLu with an annual street festival that began more than a decade ago. East Market Street — from the 600 through the 800 blocks — is shut down to traffic to make way for live music, food and retail booths, and a variety of activities for the whole family. The event lets people learn more about local businesses and celebrate the community’s growth. NuLu Fest typically takes place on the last Saturday of September.

Happy exploring!

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