Explore Louisville’s Neighborhoods
Clifton and Crescent Hill
You'll find great restaurants and shopping in Clifton & Crescent Hill along Frankfort Avenue
Take a stroll along Frankfort Avenue, the main thoroughfare through the leafy and charming Crescent Hill and Clifton neighborhoods. You’ll find historic homes and buildings, treelined streets, alfresco dining and locally-owned shops peppering this railroad-lined avenue and one of the city’s noted “Restaurant Rows.”
Butchertown
Louisville's original meatpacking district
One of Louisville’s oldest neighborhoods, Butchertown, just east of downtown, was the city’s original meatpacking district with butcher shops dominating the area in the 1800s. These days, though one large meatpacker still anchors the area, Butchertown is in the middle of a renaissance and is seeing an influx of tasty restaurants, chic boutiques, the city’s only brandy distillery, and a state-of-the-art soccer stadium.
East Louisville
A destination for shopping, dining, and family fun
Louisville’s eastern suburbs, mostly located between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265), are home to thriving communities like St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, Middletown and Norton Commons. Each East End community features some of the city’s top restaurants, plenty of shopping and indoor recreation and countless outdoor activities.
Downtown Louisville
Explore Downtown's three main districts: Whiskey Row, Museum Row & South Fourth Street
Downtown Louisville is a vibrant and historic district that offers something for everyone. Whether you're interested in exploring the city's rich history and architecture, experiencing the local culture and cuisine, diving into a distillery experience or enjoying outdoor activities along the Ohio River, there's no shortage of things to see and do.
The Highlands
Louisville’s original “Restaurant Row”
The Highlands is home to Louisville’s original “Restaurant Row” and is also known for local nightlife and shopping. Between restaurants, bars, boutiques, and galleries, you’ll also find many inviting retreats in the many independent coffee and tea shops. With its Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century architecture, the Highlands is as quirky as it is charming.
Germantown and Schnitzelburg
Shotgun homes, dive bars and German heritage
Germantown and Schnitzelburg were named after the influx of German immigrants who first settled into the neighborhood in the mid-1800s. The area is dotted by one of the largest collections of shotgun houses in the country. A popular local saying is that there’s a dive bar on every corner. Recently, the neighborhood has become a mix of the old and new, maintaining its rich history while welcoming hip eateries and bars.
Nulu
“18 Best Food Neighborhoods in America” - Thrillist
The East Market District of downtown, also referred to as NuLu (standing for New Louisville), has become known for its unique art galleries, specialty stores, antique shops and award-winning culinary scene. In fact, it has been named one of the “Best Neighborhoods in America” by Thrillist.
Old Louisville
Louisville’s historic Victorina neighborhood
Old Louisville has the most extensive collection of restored Victorian homes in the country and is the third-largest Historic Preservation District in the U.S. Built as a suburb in the 1870s, this neighborhood consists of more than 40 city blocks of Victorian-era homes – considered some of the oldest, largest and most beautifully preserved homes in the city. Amid the rich architecture of this community, you’ll also find a high concentration of quaint bed and breakfasts, inns, and unique dining options surrounded by the beauty of mature magnolia and oak trees.
Shelby Park and Smoketown
One of Louisville’s original neighborhoods
A historically Black neighborhood since the Civil War, named for the numerous smoke-producing kilns that once fired bricks in Smoketown and for the centerpiece 16-acre Shelby Park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Smoketown and Shelby Park neighborhoods, located southeast of downtown, are diverse and vibrant art-filled communities.
Portland
One of Louisville’s original neighborhoods
Located on the banks of the Ohio River on the western edge of downtown, Portland has a history deeply tied to the river. In its early years, the neighborhood was an independent river city that served as a port for the boats transporting people and goods around the Falls of the Ohio. During that time period, Portland’s bustling commercial activity attracted many new residents to the area. Today, this growing neighborhood is once again attracting new businesses and residents.
South Louisville
Louisville’s traditional South End neighborhood has a rich history that continues to be written
In recent years, South Louisville has experienced a renaissance. Young families of second and third-generation residents have moved into this area, and many have come from across the globe. With this mix of old and new, the area has become a multicultural community that’s rich and diverse.
Southern Indiana
Located just one mile across the Ohio River
Located just one mile north of Louisville, Southern Indiana is a quick hop over the bridge from downtown and has charming riverfront communities with revitalized, walkable downtowns, historical attractions and up-and-coming restaurants.
West Louisville
West Louisville is comprised of nearly a dozen neighborhoods including Hallmark, Park Duvalle, Parkland, Russell, Beecher Terrace, Chickasaw, Shawnee and Portland, bordering the Ohio River
West Louisville contains nearly a dozen neighborhoods bordering the Ohio River, including Algonquin, Hallmark, Park DuValle, Parkland, Russell, California, Chickasaw and Shawnee. The area celebrates its strong African American heritage with historical attractions, including The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, Muhammad Ali’s boyhood home, St. Stephen Church, Simmons College of Kentucky and the recently established the Louisville Urban League Sports and Learning Campus.