Central Louisville

With a close proximity to downtown and the Ohio River, Butchertown was once home to the Bourbon Stock Yards, which established tanneries, cooperages, distilleries, blacksmiths and other businesses. In 1966, the area was re-zoned to be partly residential, and under the guiding eye of the Butchertown Preservation District, homes were rebuilt and the community stabilized. Today, Butchertown is home to a number of local artisan stores and restaurants, local breweries, the Copper & Kings distillery, and Louisville City FC.

Frankfort Avenue is the heart of these walkable neighborhoods that are home to many restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques. Crescent Hill and Clifton are also home to the American Printing House for the Blind as well as the Louisville Water Company’s Crescent Hill Reservoir. On the last Friday of each moth. travel up and down Frankfort Avenue on the free Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop stopping into the stores and art galleries along the way to find hidden, local treasures.

Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, downtown Louisville is home to businesses, parks, restaurants, and museums. The urban core of the city, downtown is the oldest part of Louisville and has recently seen a resurgence of epic proportions. Whiskey Row, the historic location of the city’s first-ever distilleries, has exceeded its original glory and now houses modern bourbon distilleries, top-notch restaurants run by James Beard Award winners, as well as condominiums and apartments for downtown living.

Germantown’s quaint streets are lined with shotgun houses and locally-renowned restaurants in a perfectly walkable setting, minutes from downtown. Young couples, local artists, retired veterans, and everyone in between call this uniquely eclectic neighborhood home. Recently, Germantown has seen an influx of urban homesteading, and it’s not uncommon to see sustainable backyard gardens or chickens nearby. Here you’ll find a mix of dive bars, vegan eateries, street festivals including the Annual World Championship Dainty Contest, and some of the city’s best local bakeries.

Literally a neighborhood built on high land, the Highlands is a fun and funky part of Louisville. Situated along Bardstown Road, the Highlands is home to Cherokee and Seneca Parks, two of Fredrick Law Olmsted’s natural creations. The Highlands is also home to many bars, restaurants, breweries, and shops, all within walking distance from residential properties. The area also finds itself host to many parades and festivals throughout the year.

NuLu, short for New Louisville, is the East Market District of downtown. Situated between Butchertown and downtown, it’s best known for its art galleries, original restaurants, local shops and antique stores. NuLu is also focused on developing a culture of sustainability with eco-friendly renovations and a “Green-Up” program for cityscapes.

Located just south of downtown, the historic neighborhood of Old Louisville offers the largest contiguous collection of Victorian mansions in the United States. Old Louisville is home to Louisville’s Central Park, which hosts the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and the St. James Court Art Show which is an annual juried art show featuring over 700 artists.

Originally named for the number of smokestacks located there in the 19th century, Smoketown has benefitted from a recent revitalization. This historically African-American community was originally a neighborhood where homeownership was possible for all people. Recently, the area has been revitalized and the updated shotgun-style homes now exist among small business and house young couples.