Spring and summer in Louisville go hand in hand with hours spent with friends at local bar and restaurant patios. Here are four local patios and one just a short drive away for a little getaway.
Decca’s large outdoor courtyard and stage is the perfect place to spend the upcoming summer months. Equipped with a fire pit and beautiful water installation, the courtyard serves as a warm and curated space to enjoy live performances, food and gatherings. Located in the NuLu (“new Louisville”) neighborhood, Decca makes its home in a historically renovated 1870s building. Chef-Owner Annie Pettry uses influences from the South and Appalachia to develop her own take on American cuisine.
A brandy bar in bourbon country, ALEX&NDER features spectacular views of the Louisville skyline from the third floor of Copper & Kings Distillery, 1121 E Washington St. Born of the love of all things unconventional, the cocktails are classic, covers and indies – from a Brandy Alexander to a Mexican Old Fashioned to a Guns & Rosé – meant to illustrate and illuminate the gins, brandy, absinthe and liqueur produced downstairs, how to drink them and why. Surrounded by the rebirth of downtown bourbon distilleries, ALEX&NDER is a local favorite for late-night libations and Saturday and Sunday brunch. Grab a seat on the newly-covered patio while sipping The Ampersand with Copper & Kings American Craft Brandy, Copper & Kings Old Tom Gin, sweet vermouth, orange bitters and Destillaré Intense Orange Curaçao. Also, Copper & Kings recently debuted their new ground level patio bar. (As seen here and in the photo from Ron Jasin at the top of the page.)
HopCat Louisville, located at 1064 Bardstown Rd., is Kentucky’s largest hub for craft beer with 132 craft taps and a small-batch brewery downstairs. The spacious rooftop patio offers a breathtaking view of the hip Highlands neighborhood, along with a covered section featuring comfy couches and plenty of shade for relaxation. Guests can gather, drink and enjoy HopCat’s scratch-made menu affectionately known as “food your mom would make if she loved craft beer,” including the famous Cosmik fries and stuffed burgers. In addition to a wide range of regional, global, and Belgian beers, HopCat also hosts a full bar with a wide array of cocktails, and an impressive collection of more than 130 varieties of whiskey with an emphasis on Kentucky bourbon that will satisfy any palate.
Set on 100 acres of active farmland, Bottle & Bond Kitchen and Bar, 1500 Parkway Dr. in Bardstown, is located within Bardstown Bourbon Company, one of the country’s most modern and technically advanced new whiskey distilleries. Combining local and seasonal ingredients with regional flair, executive chef Felix Mosso offers simple, yet refined Southern comfort food, exceptional salads and farm fresh meats. Soak up the sun with a fresh, vibrant cocktail like cucumber basil spritz with prosecco and elderflower, rosé all day or gin and juice with sugar snap peas. Spend the evening with a sipper from Bottle & Bond’s extensive spirits collection, featuring whiskey, bourbon and rye brands from around the world, including a library filled with more than 400 vintage American whiskeys.
Nestled in Butchertown, Pizza LUPO’s Italian-inspired beverages are the perfect patio sips this summer. Grab a seat at one of the side patio tables and enjoy a Sammy Goes to Jalisco — a paloma riff with tequila, sambuca, grapefruit, lime and basil — or a crisp Mandorla Fizz with Nardini Mandorla, gin, lemon and egg white. Celebrate the return of warmer weather with a Negroni Sbagliato with gin, Campari and prosecco or White Negroni with Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Cocchi Americano and gin — both available by the glass or pitcher. Open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner, Pizza LUPO serves the city’s first and only true Neapolitan pizza. Share a pie or two with friends or enjoy antipasti like wood-fired oysters and Ful Madames Bruschetta (fava bean puree, house-made stracciatella cheese, hazelnuts, hot honey and mint served atop focaccia of the day). Salads, pastas and desserts are also available. Winner of Louisville’s Best New Restaurant, Pizza LUPO is at 1540 Frankfort Ave.
