List of Top 6 Louisville Bars Not Included in USA TODAY's 2025 Bars of the Year
In the vibrant city of Louisville, Kentucky, the bar scene continues to thrive, with a diverse range of establishments offering unique experiences for locals and visitors alike. While USA TODAY's Bars of the Year 2025 list has recognised some of the city's finest, there are several other bars that have garnered attention for their distinct offerings.
One such staple is The Merryweather, nestled at 1101 Lydia St. This Schnitzelburg bar took over the former Lydia House in 2019 and now serves a variety of drinks, including tropical cocktails and creative concoctions like a house-made PB&J tequila. The Merryweather also hosts watch parties, offers pinball and arcade games, and features weekly food vendor pop-ups.
Another noteworthy bar is The Rooftop Bar, located in Shelby Park. This establishment serves classic cocktails and its own creations, such as "Copper Dreamsicle." The bar boasts a nice-sized patio, sweeping city views, and an opportunity to try different concoctions made with Copper & Kings products.
In the Bonnycastle neighbourhood, Darling's made it onto USA TODAY's Bars of the Year 2025 list. However, six other Louisville bars that were considered notable but did not make the final cut remain unnamed.
Tartan House, situated in Butchertown, is an upscale cocktail bar that celebrates Scotch in a town known for bourbon. This bar, which has gained national attention, has been featured on lists such as Bloomberg's Best Cocktails and Bar Experiences of 2024 and InsideHook's 50 best whiskey bars in the world in 2024.
Hell or High Water Bar, a speakeasy-style bar located at 112 W. Washington St., opened in 2018. This bar survived flooding and a fire in 2015 to complete its project. One of the cocktails offered at Hell or High Water is a vodka drink called "First Impressions," which has herbal and bright flavours reminiscent of Provence.
Seven, a newer, higher-end bourbon bar, opened in January 2024 in NuLu. The bar offers signature cocktails like the "Number One Old Fashioned" and a premium version made with wagyu-washed Eagle Rare bourbon.
Lastly, Canary Club, located in Shelby Park, serves natural wine, cocktails, cheap beer, and small bites. Despite not making USA TODAY's Bars of the Year 2025 list, Canary Club is one of the bars worth celebrating that did not make the cut.
The USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2025 list features 29 bars, ranging from honky-tonks to fancy cocktail lounges to a dive bar inside a former tax office. These unnamed Louisville bars, while not included in the list, continue to contribute to the city's dynamic and diverse bar scene, offering unique experiences and flavours for all.
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The Merryweather in Schnitzelburg offers a unique fusion of food-and-drink experiences, featuring house-made PB&J tequila, watch parties, and weekly food vendor pop-ups, expanding the vibrant world of Louisville's lifestyle scene.
Canary Club's natural wine, small bites, and cheap beer in Shelby Park are a testament to the diverse and thriving home-and-garden of Louisville's bar scene, although it didn't make the USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2025 list.
