Support Us Button Widget

8 Derby City businesses with AAA Four Diamond status

Six hotels and two restaurants made the list out of 60,000 spots around the world.

Three-story building with a golden David statue out front.

21c Museum Hotel has been rated a AAA Four Diamond since 2008.

Photo by LOUtoday

Every year the American Automobile Association, better known as the AAA, releases its list of Four- and Five-Diamond rated hotels and restaurants from around the globe — and Louisville is shining bright like a diamond.

But before we reveal these eight gems, let’s take a look at what it takes to become one of its shining stars.

AAA conducts in-person inspections at ~60,000 properties in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean to see if they meet its high standards for cleanliness, comfort, and hospitality. Out of all those establishments, about 6.5% of hotels and 2.3% of restaurants meet the standards for a Four Diamond rating.Only 0.4% of hotels and 0.2% of restaurants become Five Diamonds.

Who’s on the list

💎 21c Museum Hotel
Louisville 21c is the first location for the boutique-hotel-meets-art-museum franchise. We recommended spending a night in the Cyclone room.

💎 Embassy Suites Louisville Downtown
This Hilton hotel is located in the former 19th century Stewart’s Dry Goods Company Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

💎 Hotel Distil
This Marriot hotel on Whiskey Row is known for giving guests a prescription card inviting them to a nightly bourbon toast in the lobby at 7:33 p.m. — which in military time is 19:33, the year prohibition was repealed.

💎 Louisville Marriott Downtown
Connected to the Kentucky International Convention Center, this hotel has been Four-Diamond rated since 2005 and is also part of the Urban Bourbon Trail.

💎 Omni Louisville Hotel
With a rooftop pool, five bars, three restaurants, a bowling alley, a spa, and a convenience market on site, it’s no wonder this upscale hotel made the list.

💎 The Brown Hotel
Famous for being the home of the Hot Brown, this 16-story, landmark hotel has been around since 1923.

💎 English Grill
While currently closed until fall 2023, this English Grill is The Brown Hotel’s signature restaurant — which has been serving guests for generations in its dining room with dark oak paneling and elegant ceilings. Don’t worry, you can still get a Hot Brown from the J Graham’s Cafe and The Lobby Bar & Grill on site.

💎 Vincenzo’s
This Italian restaurantwhere business casual attire is encouraged — promises an authentic experience with dishes like veal or chicken marsala, and five different pasta entrees.

More from LOUtoday
We all get the munchies.
This marker notes the location of the Clark family home — some of which is still there.
Do you remember the 21st night of September? Join us on a trip down memory lane to see what Louisvillians were up to this week throughout the years.
Pumpkin spice, apple crisp, and everything in between.
This Louisville pastor documented colonialism in Africa in the early parts of the 20th century.
Reservation for two, please.
Everything you need to know about raising your own chickens
“Stranger Things” better buckle up for this.
From beer and wine to margs and meal deals, we’ve rounded up local happy hours sure to put a smile on your face.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for beer.