Louisville’s Highlands is comprised of a number of neighborhoods, including Phoenix Hill, Cherokee Triangle, Tyler Park, Bonnycastle, and Belknap. But the oldest, as the name suggests, is the Original Highlands.
This neighborhood as a seamless mix of quiet residential streets, dense shopping strips, and bars + restaurants for day and nightlife. If you haven’t explored it in a while, it might be time to rediscover why so many people love to call it home.
Need to know
The Original Highlands neighborhood covers the area between the busy Baxter + Barret avenues, from Broadway to Rufer Avenue. It presents a microcosm of the things Louisville loves. It features more than one managed natural landscape, maintaining a natural feel.
Barret Avenue is home to a host of quirky, local shops, and Baxter + Bardstown are home to some of the best restaurants Louisville’s foodie scene has to offer. The Original Highlands Neighborhood Association hosts events like the Tom Owen CycLOUvia, fall festivals, and tree planting initiatives.
The early days
The neighborhood is called “The Highlands” because it sits on a high point between the north and south forks of the Beargrass Creek. The Original Highlands was the first part of the area to be developed, going back as far as the early 1800s.
Construction on the Louisville and Bardstown Turnpike — aka Bardstown Road — attracted German immigrant farmers to the Original Highlands, which was then called New Hamburg. The farmland was subdivided after the Civil War, and a street car line extended from the city to the Highlands in 1871.
Many of the houses in the Original Highlands were built between 1884 and 1895, a mix of Victorian brick mansions, shotgun homes, and Queen Anne-style houses.
Can’t miss
Running low on time? The Original Highlands has you covered at any hour of the day. If you’re there in the morning, get a short stack at Big Bad Breakfast. If it’s five o’clock somewhere, close out the night with a cold one at Awry Brewing — you can thank us later.
Eat
The Original Highlands is located between two major thoroughfares for Louisville foodies. Barret Avenue has more shopping options, but it features plenty of good eateries too. The meeting point of Baxter and Bardstown is part of Louisville’s “Restaurant Row,” and has restaurants for just about anyone.
- Big Bad Breakfast: This breakfast + brunch place has classics like pancakes and eggs, plus specials like house-cured Tabasco brown sugar bacon. Pro tip: Stop by for a happy hour Monday-Friday, 7-10 a.m. for $5 cocktails.
- Wiltshire Pantry: This cafe and bakery has fresh bread daily, plus breakfast, coffee, and pastries. It’s equally prepared to deliver your breakfast on the way to work or to cater your next event.
- Fish House: This Louisville staple has it all — catfish sandwiches, chowder, shrimp, oysters, and more. If you’re more in the mood for a sweet treat, try their beignets — plain or a rotating daily special.
- Jack Fry’s: This restaurant, located at the intersection of Baxter and Bardstown, has been open for almost 100 years. Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner.
- O’Shea’s: One of several Irish pubs in the Original Highlands, O’Shea’s is perhaps best known for its huge, fenced in patio with exterior window service. Pro tip: The burgers pair well with a spiked milkshake.
- Molly Malone’s: This Irish pub hosts regular events, including pub bingo every Wednesday, Irish music every other Thursday, and vegan happy hour specials on Thursdays.
- Froggy’s Popcorn: Popcorn, cinnamon nuts, chocolate, licorice caramel, and more are all on offer at this snack shop. The gift baskets + boxes are perfect for the holidays.
- DiOrio’s Pizza + Pub: Grab a New York-style pizza, a hoagie, or a beer at the Highlands location of this Louisville staple.
- Kebab House: This Mediterranean restaurant serves falafel, shawarma, and kebabs, plus salads + baklava for desert. Pro tip: Try the lentil soup + hot sage tea.
Drink
- Shop Bar: This neighborhood bar is a combo drinking + shopping experience. Try seasonal and signature drinks — even one that comes in a boot-shaped glass — then shop handmade gifts, antiques, and more at the namesake shop.
- Holy Grale: Built inside an old chapel, this taphouse has a rotating selection of beers from around the world, plus cocktails, spirits, and wines. It’s part of the same complex as the Bar Grale wine shop and Gralehaus cafe.
- Quill’s: This Louisville coffee shop has several locations around town, including one in the Highlands. Bonus: It was a finalist in LOUtoday’s 2024 coffee shop bracket.
- Moka & Co: Recently renamed from Haraz, Moka is a Yemeni coffee + tea shop serving an array of hot and cold coffee drinks, plus pastries, refreshers, tea, and smoothies.
- Sis Got Tea: Get loose-leaf tea, hot drinks, or iced specials at this community tea house with an ever-changing menu.
Shop
- Fat Rabbit: This vintage shop has clothes, knick-knacks, books, records, movies, and more. If you’re after more vintage shopping, check out our guide to Louisville’s second hand shops.
- Butcher Cabin Books: It’s all horror all the time at this bookstore. Shop mystery, horror, sci-fi, and more — look for the building with the bloodstain paint job.
- Derby City Market: Midcentury furniture, clothes, and oddities are all on offer at this resale store.
- Barret Babes: Shop vintage clothes and local art, or grab a surprise grab bag and roll the dice.
- Unorthodox: This oddities, antiques, and art shop has everything from incense to local art, to tea and tarot cards.
Arts + culture
- Art Savvy Gallery: This art gallery has paintings, jewelry, and more — you’ll know it by the art displayed out front.
- Artist and Craftsman Supply: Get all your art supply needs at this artist-owned and operated store, and ask the expert employees for help on your next project.
- Garner Large: This gallery is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with rotating displays of local and regional artists.
Where to live
If you’re sold + looking to buy a home in the area, here are some housing options currently on the market:
- 1412 Hepburn Avenue | 5 beds, 3 baths | $725,000 | This Victorian home has a hand-carved stairwell, stained glass windows, and an en suite bathroom.
- 1513 Morton Avenue | 3 beds, 4 baths | $450,000 | This three-story house has a kitchen ideal for a home chef, plus a bold and iconic yellow exterior paint job.
- 1521 Christy Avenue | 3 beds, 2.5 baths | $347,900 | This single-family shotgun has two primary suites, wood countertops, and off-street parking.
