Walking Food & History Tour

Highlands Heritage Tastes & Tales Tour

Walking Food, History & Architecture Tour through the historic Highlands

Stroll through the historic Original Highlands and Cherokee Triangle neighborhoods savoring the story of Louisville and Kentucky through its cuisine.

As you walk along some of Louisville’s oldest and most iconic streets, you’ll taste (and drink) delicious local specialties; visit Cave Hill Cemetery, the final resting place of Muhammad Ali and Colonel Sanders; try a dish inspired by the Hot Brown in Muhammed Ali’s former boxing gym; sip bourbon in Louisville’s oldest bar; trace the footsteps of the immigrants who shaped the city; and admire opulent Victorian homes and historic architecture near stunning Cherokee Park.

QUICK DETAILS

  • Distance: 1.5 miles, flat
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Food Stops: 5 stops for local dishes & drinks
  • Capacity: 12 per tour
  • Time: 1:30 PM, Weds-Sundays
  • Accessibility: Wheelchair and stroller friendly

Explore the Highlands

The Highlands is one of Louisville’s oldest neighborhoods – and its most quirky. Historic Victorian homes branch off of the quirky Bardstown Road thoroughfare, lined with vibrant murals, eclectic shops and hip local restaurants & bars stretching all the way to Bourbon country.

Where

Meet at 956 Baxter Ave, Louisville, KY 40204

When​

Weds – Sunday, 1:30-4:30 PM

Tour Reviews

Read why guests have rated this tour 5 stars!

Highlands Food Tour in Louisville Kentucky

What’s This Tour All About?

Is it a food tour, a history tour, or an architecture tour? The answer, of course, is yes. Like the combination of rye, corn, wheat, and malted barley, this tour is the perfect blend of tastes and tales.

Over the 3 hours you’ll spend with us, you’ll get …

  • 4 Delicious dishes representing Louisville’s heritage
  • Bourbon tasting in Louisville’s oldest bar
  • 2 cocktails and 1 craft beer
  • The unfiltered history (and glamour) of two of Louisville’s most historic neighborhoods
  • Jokes that we proof-tested on other people first, probably
  • Audio headset (the better to hear those jokes)

Historic Highlands Food Tour Sneak Peek

As you explore the historic Original Highlands and Cherokee Triangle neighborhoods, you’ll unravel the history of Louisville one bite at a time – so come hungry and curious! Watch this video for a sneak peek.

What to Expect

We’ll be making 5 delicious stops, so come hungry! In addition to food, you can expect…

Beer & Bourbon

You’re in Bourbon City, y’all! (Mocktail tickets are also available.)

Audio Headset​

To help you hear us from a distance.

Small Group

Our tours max out at 12 people.

Walking

About 1.5 Miles. Wear comfy shoes!

FAQ’s About This Tour

Take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions about the Highlands Food & History tour.

You’ll be eating quite a bit – please arrive hungry! In total, you’ll be eating 5 delicious items. You will be full by the end of the tour, so plan to skip dinner or eat something light.

In addition to the food, you will be tasting both bourbon and beer.

Yes! Even without drinking, you’ll have a great time, eat plenty of delicious food, admire beautiful scenery, and enjoy fascinating stories about Louisville’s history. We also offer a reduced ticket price for guests who won’t be consuming alcohol.

This tour ends about a block away from where it begins, and our tour guide will make sure you know exactly where to go to get back to your car.

Prohibition Craft Spirits is a new distillery located just down the street from our tour. The distillery is about a 15 minute walk down Baxter Avenue. You can book a Prohibition-themed tour of the distillery and visit the speakeasy. Since this is a newer distillery, there are usually available tour slots even for last-minute bookings.

There are a lot of similarities between the two tours: both tours tell the history of Louisville through its cuisine, focusing on the specific history of each local neighborhood. Both neighborhoods are historic and quirky, full of diverse locally owned businesses, incredible food, and colorful murals. Both tours feature historic landmarks and beloved local eateries.

One primary difference is the scenery: the Highlands neighborhood is lush and green and full of beautiful Victorian homes, in comparison to the more industrial, urban vibe of the neighborhoods explored on the NuLu tour. In addition, the Highlands tour also focuses more on architecture than the NuLu tour.

In terms of food, the NuLu tour stops at more places for smaller bites, and the Highlands tour stops at fewer places for bigger bites. You end up eating about the same amount of food on each tour. The Highlands tour also includes more alcoholic beverages than the NuLu tour.

There is a paid parking lot behind Epiphany Bar, where your tour will end. There is also ample free start parking in the surrounding neighborhood. We recommend parking on side streets such as Highlands or Morton, and NOT parking on busy Baxter Ave.

Have more questions about our tours? Visit our FAQ’s page:

Louisville Food Tours Premium Bourbon Package

Elevate your experience with a hard-to-find, top-shelf bourbon pour! You’ll also receive a custom rocks glass, sleek slate coaster, and a set of engraved whiskey stones. The perfect tour enhancement for bourbon enthusiasts and a memorable gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions.

This $75 package includes:

  • Rare, premium bourbon pour
  • Customized rocks glass
  • Engraved whiskey stones
  • Slate coaster

Browse All Tours

Curious about our other offerings? Take a look at our other Louisville tours!