Highlands

Welcome to the Highlands

Truly representing the best of Louisville, the Highlands embrace the city’s weird and wonderful, from the eclectic mixture of residents to the exciting restaurant scene, all nestled within a walkable and vibrant parklike setting. Centered on Bardstown Road and located in the rolling hills east of downtown, the Highlands offer a perfect blend of residential and commercial space, featuring the area’s best nightlife and fine dining while still boasting the city’s most elegant historic manors as well as decadent estate homes converted into sizable apartments and condos. Whether searching for a sip of Louisville’s best local brew or a long-lost album in a mom-and-pop record store, the Highlands will not disappoint. 

What to Love

Diverse demographic: For those who don’t want to be defined by any demographic, the Highlands is the place to be, featuring an array of classes and careers from burgeoning artists to established professionals. Three-story Victorian homes divided into spacious apartments may be home to recent college grads, while next door in a bright “Painted Lady” a prestigious local attorney and her young family may live. Working class watering holes share sidewalks with five-star fine dining, and tattoo parlors are interspersed with local artisan boutiques and bookstores. For these reasons and more, Highlands homes are often favorite choices for those “New to Lou”.

Park paradise: Tucked within the heart of the Highlands, Cherokee Park is the green jewel of Louisville’s crown, originally unveiled in the late 1800’s by acclaimed landscape architect and designer of Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate and New York City’s Central Park, Frederick Law Olmstead. Featuring over 400 acres situated in dreamy meadows, sweeping hills and forested woodlands, Cherokee Park caters to a wide audience of outdoor lovers, from families enjoying one of the numerous playgrounds to runners stretching their legs on a mountain-like trail. Bonus: Cherokee Park features a 2.4 mile scenic loop throughout the park with dedicated lanes for recreational use, offering a sizable and safe space for bikers, strollers, joggers and four-legged friends. 

Night fever: The hottest spot on any Saturday night, The Highland’s Bardstown Road is a bustling hub of glittery nightlife, from crowded sports and pool bars to electrifying dance clubs with bright open-air terraces. The Highlands’ Chill Bar and Nowhere Bar are favorite spots for the local LGBT community, offering a fresh and entertaining setting to mingle and meet with friends. Local college students will enjoy weekends on the 900 Block of Baxter Avenue, where rows of bars and eateries will be sure to serve up a good time, day or night. 

What to Do: The perfect Saturday in the Highlands may look like brunch and jumbo mimosas at local favorite, Le Moo, followed by a leisurely walk through Cherokee Triangle and an afternoon visit to independent bookstore, Carmichael’s Bookstore, for a new read and cup of coffee at Heine Brother’s next door. Someone else’s perfect Saturday could be a trip to Holy Grale, an early 1900’s church turned craft beer bar, followed by a dinner at latin restaurant, Seviche, or Louisville fine dining landmark, Jack Fry’s. 

What to Expect

A wonderful variety of homes with styles ranging from traditional three-story Victorian to incredible stone manors with European inspiration to charming shotgun homes with German-style architecture. Because the majority of homes in the Highlands were constructed in the late 1800s to mid 20th century, Highlands homes will satisfy lovers of historical homes, plus many homes will be perfect projects for house flippers or investors. While many side streets offer a leisurely and traditional neighborhood quaintness, if you do not love a slight daily bustle around your home, the Highlands may not be the right fit.