AMBER'S GUIDE: KENTUCKY DERBY & LOUISVILLE

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL: Derby is the first Saturday in May every year. I would recommend arriving into town on Thursday so that you can take full advantage of the festivities.

WHERE TO STAY: Hotels are going to be super expensive downtown, so I would recommend checking out Airbnb. The Highlands/Bardstown Road neighborhood is really eclectic and centrally located, so I would try to stay around there if possible. For hotels, we like21c, the Grady, the Moxy, and Hotel Distil.

BEFORE YOUR TRIP: Obviously one of the best parts of Derby is the fashion. As a local, the only place that I trust to design my hat is Dee’s Hat Shop. You get to pick the hat, feathers, flowers, etc. and they are more than happy to make small adjustments to your hat until it is exactly how you want it. Hats for Derby can be really expensive, so check out their fascinators if you want an option that is a little easier for your budget.

Also, you will need to make reservations at all of the places that I mention, as everything will have hour long waits otherwise on Derby weekend.

thursday.

Once you check into your hotel, head to Bulleit Distillery for one of my favorite bourbon tours in the Louisville area. As mentioned, you will need a reservation before coming on Derby weekend. If you want to stay local, there is the urban bourbon trial, but I would REALLY recommend taking the time to venture just outside the city to learn about the history of bourbon in Kentucky.

After your afternoon bourbon tasting, you will likely be ready for dinner. I recommend heading to Garage Bar in the NuLu area. It is one of my MUST-VISIT places in Louisville whenever I have friends in town. For dinner, their pizza is the way to go, but your dinner will likely turn into drinks as this is one of the best outdoor spots in Louisville as well. Sip on specialty drinks and play ping pong while you enjoy your first night in Louisville.

friday.

As a local, I ALWAYS recommend getting seats to Oaks instead of the actual Derby. It is the EXACT same thing as Derby, except tickets are about 1/3 of the price. I also feel like Oaks is a classier event. Just like Derby, there will be plenty of celebrities, cigars, mint juleps, and giant hats. It will be a long day, as the official oaks race is #11, so don’t feel like you need to be there right at the first race. For parking, we typically park at Papa John’s Stadium. I also recommend getting pre-packed lunches from Paul’s Fruit Market, since food can be really expensive (though some tickets may be all-inclusive).

While you are at Churchill Downs, don’t just move between your seat and the betting windows! Make sure to go over to the paddock to size up the horses and jockeys before they race. Also, if you find that mint juleps aren’t your favorite drink, try a Lilly, the specialty cocktail of the Oaks.

If you have enough energy for dinner, head to Mussel and Burger Bar. The wait can be quite long, so try to call ahead, but it's in a central location. My personal preference if you're willing to drive a bit further is the Pine Room.

saturday.

Since you are in town for Derby weekend, I am assuming you still want to go to The Kentucky Derby. Since everything is 10x more expensive this weekend in Louisville, my recommendation is to get tickets to the Infield for Derby, since you bought actual nice seats for Oaks. As a disclaimer, you will not see any horse racing in the infield. Instead, it’s just a giant party with live music, food trucks, and for lack of a better term, debauchery. Mentally prepare yourself for the infield, but it is a good option to keep the festivities rolling while not paying crazy prices to be at Derby. Head to the back of the track for the view of the big screen and an occasional horse running by.

Again, if you have energy for dinner, check out The Silver Dollar. They have traditional Southern food, a great back patio, an AWESOME whiskey menu, and a fun atmosphere. Be sure to grab an ice cream at the Comfy Cow for dessert.

sunday.

You will be exhausted by Sunday, so head to Please & Thank You for the best coffee and chocolate chip cookies in Louisville (even if it’s early, you MUST try the chocolate chip cookie). The main location is in NuLu, but the Frankfort Ave. location is nice too if you haven’t gotten to check out the Highlands area. If you need a more substantial meal, Le Moo, Gralehaus or Decca are great for brunch. Nouvelle Bar & Bottle and the Champagnery are very cute wine bars for an afternoon drink as well!