Plus, new ramen shop opening this spring.
6AM City In-house

Shine bright like a diamond 💎

8 Derby City businesses with AAA Four Diamond status
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 Marriott 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them to a nightly bourbon toast in the lobby at 7:33 p.m. — which in military time is 19:33, the year prohibition was repealed.

💎 English Grill
While currently closed until fall of 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.
4 MORE GEMS THIS WAY
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Monday, Feb. 27
  • Louisville Restaurant Week | Monday, Feb. 27-Sunday, March 5 | Various times |Various locations | $26-$46 | Try pre-fixe, three-course meals from 10+ restaurants with $1 of every meal benefitting The Hope Buss.
Tuesday, Feb. 28
  • The Moth StorySLAM | Tuesday, Feb. 28 | 7 p.m. | Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Rd., Louisville | $15 | Hear members of the audience tell five-minute stories about the agonies of love.
Wednesday, March 1
  • Yoga | Wednesday, Mar. 1 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Waterfront Botanical Gardens, 1435 Frankfort Ave., Louisville | $15 | Get an evening stretch at this all-levels yoga class — don’t forget to bring your own mat.
Thursday, March 2
  • Costume Figure Drawing | Thursday, Mar. 2 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville | Visitors 14+ can sketch a live model dressed in attire inspired from one of the museum’s artworks.
Friday, March 3
  • 2023 Southern Crossings Pottery Festival First Pick Friday | Friday, Mar. 3 | 5-9 p.m. | TEN20 Craft Brewery, 1020 E. Washington St., Louisville | $10-$20 | Get the first opportunity to buy functional ceramics from 12 artists with a complimentary drink and hors d’oeuvres provided.
  • 4th Annual Fish Fry-Days | Friday, Mar. 3 | 6-9 p.m. | The Merryweather, 1101 Lydia St., Louisville | Free | Enjoy beer pitcher specials and fried food from POCO.
Saturday, March 4
  • 2023 Turtleback Ridge Maplefest | Saturday, Mar. 4 | 12 p.m. | Turtleback Ridge Brewery, 6769 Mount Pleasant Rd., Ewing | Free | Celebrate maple season in Kentucky at this brewery and farmstead with grove tours, live music, maple treats, and more.
We have a calendar filled with events and 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

Weather
  • 71º | Morning thunderstorms, wind | 74% chance of rain
Coming Soon
  • Pop-up restaurant Renshoku Ramen is slated to open a brick-and-mortar in the former Barry’s Cheesesteaks on Second Street in Old Louisville sometime in May. Renshoku placed third last year for “Best Ramen” in the LEO Readers’ Choice Awards and is also known to dish out Oden — a Japanese fish cake stew. (Louisville Business First)
Arts
  • Doo Wop Shop and The Belle of Louisville are just a couple of places on the cover of the 2023 Louisville Tourism Visitors Guide — available for free at the Louisville Visitor Center. The watercolor-esque artwork was created by local artist Bri Bowers — known for her illustrations of notable Derby City landmarks. 🎨
Watch
  • Louisville Metro Council held the 21st Annual Black History Month Program last week where each of the 26 council members honored a Louisvillian with an award for their community accomplishments and services. Watch the program to see which of our neighbors were recognized — it begins at the timestamp 16:20.
Plan Ahead
  • Tickets are on sale for Thunder at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday, April 22 which includes options for reentry wristbands to the soccer stadium, parking, and tailgating. Based on your ticket choice, attendees have access to restrooms, food and drink vendors, and family-friendly activities. 🎆
Wellness
  • Did you know? Mushrooms help increase natural energy and decrease inflammation. Derby Fit’s Elite Recovery Protein powder has mushrooms along with other natural ingredients, like tart cherry and pea protein, to help improve energy, digestion, fitness, and recovery. Sign up for the Derby Fit newsletter to get 10% off your first order.*
Shop
  • Say goodbye to wrinkled clothes. This sleek garment steamer is leakproof and lightweight, making it easy to steam your clothes from home or while on the go. Bonus: It heats up in just 30 seconds and is suitable for a wide range of fabrics. 👚 *
Finance
  • If cash back is king, this card is royalty. With a big sign-up bonus, up to 5% cash back, no annual fee, 0% APR until 2024 + more, it’s basically a no-brainer. *
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6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Katie.

Editor’s pick: I know its about a two hour drive from Louisville, but making the trip to the Turtleback Ridge Maplefest this Saturday, March 4 is totally worth it.

The small, family homestead in Ewing, KY is a magical maple getaway with a microbrewery on site where they make brews from the maple water they tap from their trees.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Don’t miss out on the 10th anniversary of Tailspin Ale Fest.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Katie Molck, Lennie Omalza, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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