The first Quills opened in Germantown in 2007. | Photo by Quills Coffee
For richer or pour over, Louisville’s coffee shops are what keep us going in the morning.
Derby City has no shortage of masterful baristas, aromatic roasts, and foamy lattes. But if you’re having trouble deciding on a spot, gather some brews clues with our guide to some of the best coffee shops in Louisville.
Pro tip: If you need to refine your order, review the different kinds of coffee before stepping up to the counter.
Specialty drinks
Fante’s Coffee House | This cozy Irish Hill spot features a blackboard with seasonal specialty drinks. Try the hot honey lavender lemonade in the summer or the campfire mocha during winter — it’s served with a floating marshmallow + a cookie on the side.
Best bites
Cafe Kiwa | Strawberry mochi, gochujang shrimp, and an impressive selection of teas join signature lattes + classic coffees at this Korean-inspired tea house and restaurant.
Jazz Thursdays | 7-10 p.m. | Whiskey Thief | Free | Visit NuLu’s newest tasting room, for live jazz + classic cocktails at this weekly event.
Friday, June 20
Racing Louisville vs. Orlando Pride | 8 p.m. | Lynn Family Stadium | $19+ | Get ready for an exciting match as Racing hosts the defending champs, the Orlando Pride.* Downtown Drive-in | 8-11 p.m. | Brown-Forman Amphitheater | Free entry | “The Fast and the Furious” will begin at sundown + TEN20 Craft Brewery will be slinging snacks and drinks.
Saturday, June 21
Pollinator Palooza | 10-11:30 a.m. | Jefferson Memorial Forest Environmental Education Center, Fairdale | Free | Make your own bird feeder, design a bee hotel, and create a butterfly suncatcher to celebrate National Pollinator Week.
Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour | Saturday, June 21-Sunday, June 22 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Conrad-Caldwell House Museum | $20+ | Step behind the fences of Old Louisville homes to get a peek into private garden and green spaces of the nation’s largest Victorian residential neighborhood.
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Juneteenth. Observe the day with a free community day at the Muhammad Ali Center, a celebration at 4th Street Live, or a free show at the Kentucky Opera.
Community
Affordable housing, a library, and the Baxter Avenue Theaters were all among the priorities Highlands residents put forward at a community meeting for the Mid City Mall property, which is up for sale. There will be more meetings as development plans come together — we’ll keep you posted. (WHAS11)
Development
The West End Opportunity Partnership is considering a new proposal to purchase the Nia Center on behalf of Goodwill, which plans to construct affordable housing on the site, which currently houses a number of small businesses. The new proposal includes more funding to support those businesses as they transition out of the space. (Courier Journal)
Closed
Patrick’s on Frankfort Avenue is now closed. The bar has been open for ~80 years. Keep an eye on our new restaurant roundup to see what moves into the space. (Louisville Business First)
Open
But when one door closes... High Horse Bar is now back open. After closing its Butchertown location, the spot has moved to NuLu with a shift away from live music and a focus toward a pure bar atmosphere. (Louisville Business First)
Community
Lynn Family Stadium will host the Butcher Block Party next Saturday, June 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Stop by for games, local vendors, and silent auctions, all benefiting Feed Louisville.
Edu
Voting is open for the Courier Journal’s high school of the year. You can vote in the boys and girls category, voting closes Tuesday, June 24 at 6 p.m.
Number
$0. That’s how much it costs to post unlimited job listings on LOUtoday’s Job Board. Try it now + get connected with top local talent.
Isthe future of housing built in just one hour? This company is selling assembly-line constructed homes that are folded up, shipped off, and unboxed on-site.†*
Finance
$4,000 an ounce by 2026? That’s the new gold rush. Don’t be the miner who missed the claim. A gold IRA lets you hold real gold, without storage, and with modern-day tax perks. Plus, no wagon and stagecoach drama.†*
Tatcha’s top-rated serum stick. It visibly reduces fine lines, locks in moisture, and promotes healthier, more radiant skin. Bonus: Pair it with the brand’s best-selling and award-winning water cream moisturizer.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
If you’re anything like me, you sometimes forget to revisit the biggest attractions that Louisville has to offer — it’s easy to do when you’re a local.
I recently visited the Frazier Museum for the first time in a while — and the “Love + Marriage” exhibit is well worth a look. Louisville was once a fashion destination, with dressmaker Madame Glover drawing brides from around the nation.
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