Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Louisville

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Louisville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

La Bodeguita De Mima

4.9

4.9 (3805)

$30 and under

Cuban

East Market St - NuLu

About the restaurant

Hailing From Cuba, Fernando and Yaniel Martinez have brought their passion and love to the plate, showcasing generations of love passed on by their mothers. Are you ready to experience some of the best Cuban food this side of the equator?

From plantains to the classic Cuban sandwich, we have all of the classic Cuban specialties covered with our twist, of course! Come visit us to see what Louisville has been missing.

At Mima's, we believe in creating an inviting and invigorating atmosphere. That's why you can find different choices to choose from. Whether you're enjoying a delicious dinner in our dining room, a tasty Mojito at our bar, or even a fine hand-rolled cigar on our patio, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Top review

JP602

Dined 2 days ago

Great food and customer experience!

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Guacamole Modern Mexican

4.8

4.8 (1725)

$30 and under

Mexican

East Market St - NuLu

About the restaurant

Guacamole Modern Mexican is Louisville’s destination for authentic Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. Our award-winning chefs have created a menu that typifies the best of Mexican food and cocktails while still bringing their own inimitable style and personality to the plate and glass. Immerse yourself in the ambiance of our one of a kind restaurant featuring handcrafted cocktails, fresh ingredients, and contemporary vibes.

Top review

Sara

Dined 3 days ago

As always, the food and service - amazing! Such a good atmosphere and we all cleaned our plates.

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Popular dish

Carne Asada

Popular dish

Carne Asada al Carbon

Popular dish

Nachos

Watch Hill Proper

4.8

4.8 (36)

$31 to $50

American

East Louisville

About the restaurant

Watch Hill Proper Bourbon Bar & Kitchen is a unique restaurant experience located in the heart of bourbon country. Open to the public, we offer the largest selection of American whiskey in the country along with a world class cocktail program made entirely with American whiskey. Chef Michael Crouch is a master of blending flavor to pair with our whiskey, cocktails, and wine offerings.

Top review

Kerry

Dined on Sep 12, 2024

Fantastic service, cocktails and food. And the whiskey wall is simply amazing. Would recommend again and again!

Varanese

4.7

4.7 (4578)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Frankfort Ave - Crescent Hill

About the restaurant

Varanese settled in Louisville because of its successful independent dining scene, and he believes that the people of Louisville will appreciate fresh ingredients, prepared with a creative flair and a culturally diverse menu. Varanese’s eclectic menu boasts an array of options from stuffed grape leaves, and fried green tomato salad, to new signature entrées: the seared boneless pork chop, and caramelized orange salmon. Finish with a fried banana accompanied by a house-made oatmeal cookie dough ice cream dessert. This New American style restaurant will comfortably seat 150 guests between its bar, dining room and four seasons patio. The four seasons patio of Varanese is an addition to the building, which has a dramatic 20-foot slate water wall. The space is enclosed by a serpentine of glass doors, which retract to offer an outdoor dining experience. Varanese is located at 2106 Frankfort Ave. in the Historic Clifton neighborhood

Top review

Carol

Dined 2 days ago

Enjoyed our food very much and ambiance was great. Service was not good. Server was very friendly but very slow. Took forever for her to take our order. Maybe she had too many tables. Won’t keep us from coming back. Overall a great experience.

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Popular dish

Bread Pudding

Popular dish

Beef Tips & Tortellini

Popular dish

Flat Iron Steak

Senora Arepa - St Matthews

4.7

4.7 (244)

$30 and under

Venezuelan

St Matthews

About the restaurant

Senora Arepa is about flavor. We strive to say something important to the world through our food and drinks. We don't just feed the palate, we feed the imagination & the soul. At Senora the heart is the arepa, along with a superb menu inspired by Venezuelan culinary roots, ingredients, and flavors.

We're all about family. Come be a part of ours and enjoy some delicious Venezuelan cuisine!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Sep 26, 2024

My little group had a wonderful time eating delicious food and learning about Venezuelan cuisine from our waitress. Waitress was absolutely on point. She helped us decide what to order and was a fantastic server!

Captains Quarters Riverside Grill

4.6

4.6 (448)

$30 and under

American

East Louisville

About the restaurant

Captain's Quarters a historic restaurant in Louisville overlooking the Ohio River at Harrods Creek serving a wide range of seafood, steak, sandwich and salad options. With all of its meats and fish handpicked or market fresh there is plenty of dishes to choose from that will suit anyone's tastes. There is also a full bar that serves a range of cocktails, martinis and wines that will complement the meals at Captain's Quarters. While most popular in the summertime with outdoor decks, the cozy indoor views in the winter can be spectacular.

Top review

Bonnievip

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

What a wonderful place to eat for lunch on a hot, sunny day! My friend and I enjoyed shrimp tacos while sitting at a table by the window. It was lovely to look out at the Ohio River! Our server was very attentive.

The Last Refuge

4.4

4.4 (38)

$31 to $50

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

West Louisville

About the restaurant

Join us at The Last Refuge for a first look into Kentucky's High Church of Bourbon. Enjoy a sneak peek of our beautiful craft cocktails, featuring Bob Dylan's Heaven's Door Bourbon, accompanied with small plates and shareable pizzas. View our one-of-a-kind event space, located in a historic church adorned with original stained-glass windows and ornate woodwork from 1880. Cool off on our shaded patio and sip on a cocktail while listening to live music. Don't forget to follow us on social media @lastrefugeky to get the latest updates on our Grand Opening and launch of our incredible bourbon bar, featuring an 800-bottle whiskey portfolio! The Last Refuge is a 21+ establishment, persons under the age of 21 will not be admitted.

Top review

Tracyvip

Dined 2 days ago

Sat on the patio on a lovely evening with great food and service! Thanks!

Beyond the Sun Restaurant

4.3

4.3 (125)

$30 and under

Global, International

Highlands - Bardstown Rd / Taylorsville Rd

About the restaurant

Elevate your dining experience at our two-tiered establishment. On the first floor, savor the diverse selection of steaks, pasta, and seafood. Ascend to the second-floor lounge bar, where a vibrant atmosphere awaits with a tempting array of bar food delights, including burgers, chicken wings, pizza, and more. Indulge in the best of both worlds, where culinary excellence meets casual comfort.

For aficionados of fine spirits, our extensive bourbon and tequila selection is a true revelation. Sip on Kentucky's liquid gold, indulge in the smoky notes of tequila, or savor our special handcrafted cocktails that are a fusion of creativity and mixology expertise. Our bar is your gateway to an unrivaled spirits experience.

Not a fan of bourbon or tequila? No worries! We also offer an impressive selection of craft beers that cater to every beer lover's dream. Explore our carefully curated beer menu, featuring local and international brews, and discover your new favorite.

Top review

TomB

Dined on Sep 15, 2024

Lovely Restaurant, delicious food, great atmosphere and friendly staff! Price was very good, portions were large. Definitely going back!!!

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Oxmoor Center Mall

4.1

4.1 (132)

$30 and under

American

Westport Rd - Lyndon

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

DaveG

Dined on Jul 26, 2024

Great meal with our granddaughter And her friends

Black Jockey's Lounge

4.0

4 (468)

$30 and under

American

Downtown Louisville

About the restaurant

The Black Jockeys Lounge is committed to providing a fine dining experience that will have you on the edge of your seats. We have intentionally curated this establishment to be a perfect cocktail of education, food, luxury, and, entertainment. This is what the city needs and we are here to provide that unforgettable experience.
Black Jockeys Lounge is the Edu-tainment; destination for an Exquisite Gourmet Food, History, Art and Smooth Jazz!

Top review

Sheilavip

Dined on Sep 20, 2024

Our first time at Black Jockey’s Lounge was a great success. We sat at the bar and ordered an appetizer and drinks. The fried green tomatoes were excellent. For dinner, my husband ordered the black bean burger and said it was one of the best he had ever had. I wanted to try the Caprese Wedge Salad, but they were apparently out of iceberg lettuce. I had the Salmon with curry rice and sautéed spinach and loved it. Our bartender/waitress was friendly even though she was extremely busy. We will go back.

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