Running in the Marathon in Louisville this weekend, need suggestions

Try Eiderdown

Mix of Southern food with some German style. Also the beer menu is great.

p.s. its not walking distance... my bad.

Enjoy the Derby Marathon. Got my best time there. Its very flat except for Cherokee park. Enjoy running around the track at Churchill Downs.

don't get shot.

Carry whatever handgun you have

Win

Your run will be fine. The hoodlums usually aren't up that early to shoot your arse anyway.

There's a lot of places along Main Street (where the Galt House is) where you could pretty well walk up and down and find something if none of these suit you.

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good restaurants

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RIVUE is a pretty nice restaurant that is actually a part of the Galt House (it's a rotating restaurant on the top floor). Upscale and has a decent raw bar and the lamb is pretty good as well. I'm pretty sure it's reservations only or at the very least I'd recommend reservations.

Jeff Ruby's is just in front of the Galt House at the corner. Another upscale joint, but great steaks. Also recommend making reservations here as well.


Hillbilly Tea is a more casual place about 3 blocks down on the right on 1st street. They call themselves an Appalachian tea house but they have a great spin on some backwoods food. I'm not a big catfish person but I have friends that get the tea smoked catfish whenever they go. The bourbon BBQ short ribs are more up my alley.

I haven't been to Doc Crows but I've heard good things. It's a southern smokehouse and raw bar. It sits in an old 1880's building on what we call Whiskey Row that has been renovated.

If you decide to hop on one of the trolleys in the area instead of just walking, Proof on Main is another upscale place but it's absolutely worth it. Great food and great atmosphere. Sits within the 21c Museum Hotel. Just look for the giant gold David replica. The Proof bar is nice as well.

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bars

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Troll Pub Under the Bridge is a cool little place a couple blocks from the Galt House (just by the 2nd Street Bridge). Just a smaller local bar that's from an old speakeasy. If it's nice they have a little outdoor area that sits between the buildings on Whiskey Row. Also has a small dining area.

Sidebar at Whiskey Row is another that's right there by the Troll Pub. Just opened and have heard good things about it as well.

If you're a craft beer fan I highly recommend Bluegrass Brewing Company. They're our major local brewery and have some great craft beers. Food is decent as well. If you've never had one and don't want to venture down to The Brown Hotel, try their Hot Brown. It's a heavy dish but total comfort food. About a block down from the hotel.

Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar is in the Galt House itself. Just a small bar but it has up to 150 different bourbons. If you want some of that elusive Pappy Van Winkle, that'd be your best chance within walking distance.


My biggest suggestions if you're set on walking distance is to stay the hell away from 4th Street Live (you just walk straight up 4th street from the Galt House). The locals here despise it and it's usually all watered down drinks and overpriced everything else. About the only place worth a shite there is the Makers Mark Bourbon Lounge. And it's touch and go.

And just use the same common sense you would in any major city. If you decide you do want to get out and about, if you make a left out of the Galt House and go about 13 blocks then make a right on Baxter Avenue you'll head into the thick of the local bar scene. Lots of bars and restaurants down that way as well.

Hope this helps. And good luck on your run.

No problem.

I also forgot they'll have all kinds of Derby Festival stuff going on outside of the marathon in case you want to check it out. I'm pretty sure the Chow Wagon is set up on the Belvedere which is also right behind the Galt House but it may not open until after you leave.

Im in downtown Louisville about every weekend --- Belle has it right. Good advice

Thanks, I'll report back when I get back. I'm pumped.

I forgot about the Wild Eggs location downtown. Great breakfast foods. It's a bit of way down the road for walking distance though.

When HJJ came up we went and he demanded a return visit.

I go to the original one in St. Matthews (East End of the county/city, about 20 mins from downtown). The only thing I've had there that I'm not nuts about is their grits because they're a little soupy. Everything else is spot on.

2:30 during the week and 3:00 on the weekends.

LINK

It's been a while since I've lived there but I always liked the Bardstown Road bars, St. Mathews area by Trinity High Scholl has some cool bars, and 4th Street Live used to have a cool vibe but I think BGB said it's gone down hill a little lately.