Your guide to donuts in LOU

Ultimate guide to donuts in Derby City

Box full of various donuts in front of a yellow building.
Nothing beats a box full of Hi-Five Donuts on a sunny morning. | Photo by LOUtoday
Louisvillians, we’re pleased to tell you that today is the eve of National Doughnut Day, which actually is observed twice in the US — once on the first Friday of June and again on Nov. 5.

So that you can plan to celebrate this foodie holiday appropriately, we’ve written a hole guide to donuts in Derby City. Read on for TK places to get your fill, or no fill if that’s your jam.

🍩 Savory

Hi-Five Doughnuts, 1101 E. Main St.

These “ladies of the morning” are bringing you (almost) endless options when it comes to a savory donut — from the KY Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich to The Mini Widoughmaker made with fried chicken, bacon, a farm fresh egg, and smothered in sausage gravy, corn flakes + a grape drizzle. Did you almost pass out? Because we did.

DYK: Hi-five Doughnuts is Louisville’s first woman-owned and operated donut shop. Owners Annie Harlow + Leslie Wilson started their fried dough journey in 2013.

🍩 Custard

La Pana Bakery y Cafe, 1001 Logan St.

If you’re looking for a custard treat off the beaten path, try this Oaxacan-inspired micro bakery’s lechecilla donut, which are cinnamon-sugar coated donuts filled with Oaxacan vanilla custard.

Drink pairing: Try it with the cortado on the menu — iced or hot.

🍩 Vegan

Julian’s Kitchen, available at V-Grits, 1025 Barret Ave. + Cafezinho

A variety of donuts in a box.

Julian’s Kitchen specializes in vegan donuts.

Photo by @julianskitchenky.

Reader and self-proclaimed donut aficionado Chris W. wrote in to tell us that Julian’s Kitchen, a ghost bakery, is “making some of the best donuts anywhere — from classic glazed to devil’s food cake to apple fritter and hamburger donuts” + they’re all vegan.

Drink pairing: Since you can pick up these vegan delights in V-grits, also home to Chimera Brewing, we suggest sipping its Evolution barrel-aged rye porter for a nice roasty pairing.

Click the button below for more aglazing donuts — including square, classics, hidden gems + more.
DONUT STOP READING NOW
Who has the best glazed donut in Louisville?

A. Nord’s Bakery
B. Heitzman Traditional Bakery and Deli
C. North of Lime
D. Clifton Donut Shop
CAST YOUR VOTE

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Nov. 4
  • An Evening of Art & Architecture | Friday, Nov. 4 | 6-9 p.m. | Restored Victorian Mansion in Beechmont, 4556 S 3rd St. | Free | Tour this recently restored Victorian mansion + hear from a home historian, browse local art, and enjoy snacks and drinks.
  • Celebrating Alun | Friday, Nov. 4, Saturday, Nov. 5, Saturday, Nov. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W. Main St. | $39.20-$123.20 | Celebrate the life + artistry of the Louisville Ballet’s former artistic director through three of his past works.
  • Horrorpalooza Weekend | Friday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 6 | 5 p.m.-12 a.m. | Waverly Hills Sanatorium, 4400 Paralee Dr. | $30-$165 | This three-day convention features horror movie actors and makeup artists, psychics, ghost hunting seminars + more.
  • Liquor Lab Cocktail Class | Friday, Nov. 4 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Liquor Lab, 823 E Market St. Ste. 103 | $65 | Mix up three cocktails with drink experts during this hands-on class + bites from local restaurants.
  • The Taylor Swift Party: Taylor Swift Night| Friday, Nov. 4 | 9 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom, 611 S. 4th St. | $12-$25 | Swifties unite for this Taylor-made dance party.
Saturday, Nov. 5
  • Autumn Hygge Dinner | Saturday, Nov. 5 | 6-10 p.m. | The Butcher Rose, 1607 Frankfort Ave. | $160 | Enjoy a cozy seasonal dinner + gathering experience.
  • ColorFest | Saturday, Nov. 5-Sunday, Nov. 6 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd., Clermont | Celebrate the beauty of fall foliage at this festival with a corn pit, mud pie kitchen, pumpkin rolling, giant slides + more.
  • Louisville City FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies | Saturday, Nov. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Lynn Family Stadium, 350 Adams St. | $21-$137 | Watch the boys in purple compete for the trophy in this USL Championship Playoff game.
Sunday, Nov. 6
  • Ghouls and Gobbles | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 12-2 p.m. | Louisville Nature Center, 3745 Illinois Ave. | $15 | Explore the mystery of the forest at this all-ages hike where costumes are encouraged.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS

Enter to win the third Fly Away Friday Giveaway 🛫

Breeze Airways plane at SDF
You’re one flight away from sunny Tampa, Charleston, New Orleans, and San Francisco via Breeze Airways. | Photo provided by Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Got the travel bug? We’ve got just what you need. We’re launching our third Fly Away Friday Giveaway, in partnership with Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF).

LOUtoday readers have a chance to win two roundtrip airline tickets out of SDF to their choice of a nonstop destination from a list provided by the airport.

Ready to hit the skies? Enter below by Wed., Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. ✈️ *
ENTER THE FLY AWAY FRIDAY GIVEAWAY

Weather
  • 78º | Sunny | 7% chance of rain
Seasonal
  • NuLu’s Christmas pop-up bar Miracle on Market will return on Wed., Nov. 23. It will be the sixth year for the themed bar known for its kitschy decorations + holiday drinks — like the SanTaRex tiki drink served in a green dinosaur glass. Once open, it will deck the halls seven days a week. 🎄
Biz
  • A solar power company with local ties broke ground in Charlestown, IN on Wednesday. While EightTwenty’s offices and warehouse are Indiana-based, its reach is not. The full-service solar contractor, established in 2021, plans to create 40 jobs + expand to serve Derby City — which it already does by contributing to Give Solar projects in Louisville. (The Lane Report)
Tech
  • Kentucky’s first Best Buy Teen Tech Center is now open at the YMCA at 1720 W. Broadway thanks to the nonprofit organization and GE Appliances. The learning center provides underserved teens with access to technology from video production to coding robots — and offers mentorship programs, training opportunities, and more. (Spectrum News1)
Traffic
  • Louisville Water’s $17 million Frankfort Avenue Main Replacement Project is near completion. The orange barrels along Frankfort — near the Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant — have been removed and the road has reopened. The year-long project replaced one of Louisville Water’s oldest water mains in an effort to deliver more drinking water. 🚰
Eat
  • Louisville Pizza Week returns Wed., Nov. 14-Tues., Nov. 20 and that’s amore. Grab $9 pizzas from participating local eateries — like Danny Mac’s, Wick’s, and Parlour — for a chance to win the grand prize of $300 in gift cards. 🍕
Outdoors
  • Louisville Grows is looking to plant 150 trees — that’s right, 150 trees — in the Algonquin + Hallmark neighborhoods on Sat., Dec. 3, but they can’t do it alone. The environmental nonprofit is seeking volunteers to dig in on the planting day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lend a hand. 🌳
Community
  • ‘Tis the season for festive fun — so check out this list of must-do holiday activities in LOU this season (think: pop-up Christmas bars to dazzling light displays + more). 🎄 *
Shop
Announced
  • Show your support for local journalism by joining the LOUtoday membership program. Membership has some awesome perks like exclusive birthday deals, discounts from our online shop, Six & Main, and more. Plus, 100% of membership funds help support our local editorsthat’s us, Katie and Sarah. Learn more + sign up. 💻
Travel
  • Dreaming up a trip to the Bahamas? This Spanish Wells private cottage might just be your new happy place. It’s steps from the turquoise water, fully air conditioned, and is rated five stars. Book it as a January getaway or the best holiday gift ever for $299 avg/night. 🌊*
Featured Deal
  • Now through Sat., Nov 26, The Body Mechanic of Louisville is offering 20% off on 100% natural products grown + manufactured in KY (think: bath bombs, salves + oils). Snag the deal.*
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THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Senior City Editor Katie.

Editor’s pick: Okay, I have to admit something. I don’t care for donuts.

Are you all still there? Good.

Even though they aren’t my jam, I’d be remiss not to mention my childhood donut shop, William’s Bakery, in Clarksville, IN. It was a Saturday morning tradition and the thumbprint cookies are still a holiday favorite.


Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Find out what to do on Thursday in Louisville.
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Editorial: Sarah Shadburne, Katie Molck, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.


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