Accommodations
Finding a place to lay your head in Louisville isn’t hard. The majority of lodging establishments in the city are clustered in five convenient locations—downtown, the area around the airport, Bardstown Road, the East End, and southern Indiana—and rooms can be found in quaint bed-and-breakfast inns or high-rise buildings in the center of it all. In addition to budget motels and extended-stay accommodations, there are also grand hotels steeped in tradition and sleek contemporary hideaways focusing on art, showing that the area has something for every taste and budget.
1. Aleksander House
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 637-4985
Address: 1213 South First St.
Description: A graceful 1882 home centrally located in one of America’s most significant historic preservation districts, the Aleksander House has 14-foot ceilings, original gleaming hardwood floors, period light fixtures, stained-glass windows, and fireplaces. Each guest room is uniquely decorated in eclectic or period furnishings with fine linens and down comforters. Rooms are spacious with queen- and king-size beds, writing desks, telephones, cable, wireless Internet, and private baths. Other amenities include terry-cloth robes, hair dryers, coffeemakers, irons and ironing boards, refrigerators, and overhead fans. Romantic “sweetheart” and spa packages available.
2. Austin’S Inn Place
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 585-8855
Address: 915 South First St.
Description: Just blocks from the center of downtown Louisville and at the outskirts of Old Louisville, this moderately priced inn is housed in two beautifully refurbished 1888 Victorian homes. An ideal location for family reunions, Austin’s Inn Place is also a popular choice for office parties, wedding receptions, business meetings, and training sessions. Elegantly decorated throughout, this B&B features eight guest rooms, three dining rooms, a parlor, game room, party room, and bar. A fountain and lush garden adorn the off-street gated parking. All beds have memory-foam pillow-top mattresses and fine linens.
3. Campion House
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 212-7500
Address: 1234 South Third St.
Description: At the time of this writing, innkeepers Anne and Alan Bird hadn’t yet completed the renovations on this 1880s mansion that will join the ranks of Old Louisville bed-and-breakfast inns, but rooms will be available in the near future. In the meantime, two suites are available in the Carriage House—both with living room and full kitchen at one end, and a bath with whirlpool tub and shower. Bedrooms feature queen-size beds and large closets with iron and ironing board for your convenience. Each suite includes individually controlled heat and air-conditioning, multiline phones, cable TV, and high-speed Internet access.
4. Central Park Inn
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 638-1505
Address: 1353 South Fourth St.
Description: Listed on the National Historic Register, this magnificent three-story residence from 1884 displays an array of period furnishings and examples of exquisite handcraftsmanship. Once home to vinegar manufacturer Vernon Price, the stone residence sits directly across from Old Louisville’s Central Park, one of 18 Olmsted-designed parks in the city, and is just blocks from I-65. Seven rooms, all with private bath, include four elegant queen and king guest rooms, a two-bedroom suite, and the Carriage House, which has its own kitchenette. Package deals are offered, as are regular specials such as “Stay Three Nights and Get the Third Night Free.”
5. The Columbine
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 635-5000
Address: 1707 South Third St.
Description: A stunning, white-columned Greek Revival facade greets overnighters at this former residence of one of Louisville’s mahogany kings. Built in 1896, the Columbine is located only two blocks away from the University of Louisville, and it is a very short walk to campus where you can visit the Speed Art Museum, Rauch Planetarium, and a cast of Rodin’s famous statue, The Thinker. With its abundance of gleaming millwork, glorious double staircase, and amber-hued stained-glass window on the landing, the Columbine is one of the most popular bed-and-breakfasts on Millionaires Row.
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Address: 1317 South Fourth St.
7. 1888 Rocking Horse Manor
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 583-0408
Address: 1022 South Third St.
Description: Located close to downtown on Old Louisville’s Millionaires Row in a beautifully restored Richardsonian Romanesque mansion from 1888, this popular inn combines Old World charm and modern amenities to ensure a memorable stay for its guests. Towering ceilings, hand-carved fireplace mantels, stained glass, and solid pocket doors abound, giving a glimpse of what it must have been like to enjoy a life of luxury at the height of Kentucky’s Gilded Age. The mansion was once home to bourbon baron Max Selliger. Spanish and Portuguese spoken.
8. Gallery House
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 635-2550
Address: 1386 South Sixth St.
Description: Although this quaint Victorian near the corner of Sixth and Magnolia looks like it’s been there for at least a hundred years, it is actually one of the newest additions to the neighborhood. Adhering to strict neighborhood guidelines for architectural continuity, the owners built a modern bed-and-breakfast with contemporary amenities and old-fashioned charm. Since a chef and an artist are the owners, you’re sure to enjoy interesting interior decor and get a good morning meal to boot. While you’re here, make sure to buy a souvenir box of Louisville Cookies, luscious house-made chocolate creations sporting a fleur-de-lis, the symbol of Louisville.
9. Inn At The Park
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 638-0045
Address: 1332 South Fourth St.
Description: Herb and Gayle Warren, the owners of the DuPont Mansion, operate this comfortable inn overlooking picturesque Central Park as well. Arguably one of the most beautiful of Old Louisville’s bed-and-breakfasts, this redbrick mansion was built in the 1880s for Judge Russell Houston according to plans by renowned local architect, Mason Maury. Beautiful mahogany wainscoting, coffered ceilings, and a gently curving staircase greet guests upon their arrival. A fireplace with rare double-flue design and Rookwood-pottery surround keep watch as innkeeper Helga Vikre serves overnighters her famous gourmet breakfasts. Apart from five guest rooms in the main house, there are also three whirlpool suites in the carriage house.
10. Magnolia Cottage
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 635-2550
Address: 1386 South Sixth St.
Description: Part of the Gallery House property, the Magnolia Cottage offers long-term guests complete privacy in a cozy turn-of-the-century urban cottage just steps from Central Park and St. James Court. Ideal for business travelers who enjoy having a place to meet with clients or host meetings, the cottage features a classic floor plan with living room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, and bath. At 750 square feet, the cottage sleeps four when the sleeper sofa is used. Extended stays only.
11. The Mayflower
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 634-7804
Address: 425 West Ormsby Ave.
Description: Looking for something different in Old Louisville? The historic Mayflower has furnished executive suites in a boutique setting, with a four-star restaurant—Buck’s—on the ground floor. The Mayflower was designed by renowned architect Valentine Peers Collins, and completed in 1926 at the height of the Roaring ’20s. With its distinctive two-story, limestone facade and Beaux Arts design, it became one of Louisville’s most distinguished residential addresses, and today it is a popular choice for extended stays.
12. Samuel Culbertson Mansion
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 634-3100
Address: 1432 South Third St.
Description: A beautiful example of Renaissance Revival architecture, this sprawling mansion at the heart of Old Louisville’s Millionaires Row was built in 1897 for Samuel Culbertson, the Kentucky Derby president who started the “garland of roses” tradition in 1932. His sons would achieve fame as the “Little Knights of Kentucky” when local author Annie Fellows Johnston immortalized them in her best-selling Little Colonel series. Today, their spirit lives on in the lavish suite bearing their moniker, and guests can enjoy it for a reasonable rate.
13. Bashford Manor Bed-And-Breakfast
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 295-9005
Address: 2227 Bashford Manor Lane
Description: Named for the famous nearby farm that produced three Derby winners—and was unfortunately razed in the 1970s—this recent addition to the roster of Louisville bed-and-breakfasts sits just off Bardstown Road at the outskirts of South Louisville. A significant horse farm in its own right, it was known as the old Bray Place for many years, producing Derby winner Lookout in 1893 and runner-up Proctor Knott in 1889. Additional services offered include dry cleaning and in-room massages.
14. 1840 Tucker House
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 297-8007
Address: 2406 Tucker Station Rd.
Description: Nature, history, and tranquility seem to coexist at the Tucker House, a Federal farmhouse set on five wooded acres with gardens and a spring-fed lake. Enjoy the beautiful landscape from the comfort of the deck or brick patio, or put on a pair of hiking boots and explore the area more completely. On-premise sights include the original stone springhouse, dry-laid masonry wall, and the quarry that supplied the stone for the foundation of the main house over 160 years ago. Overnighters can choose to lay their heads on a comfortable queen-size bed or an authentic 1820s rope bed, and they can refresh themselves in the in-ground pool. Special last-minute deals could get you 10 percent off.
15. Inn At Woodhaven
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (502) 895-1011
Address: 401 South Hubbards Lane
Description: With the nearby parks and its many porches and gardens, this Gothic Revival mansion from 1853 is a popular destination for overnighters in search of a respite from the hustle and bustle of Louisville’s East End business corridors. The main house features elaborately carved woodwork, winding staircases, and spacious rooms tastefully decorated with antiques and period fixtures; additional lodging is available in the Carriage House and the charming Rose Cottage.