Forget any preconceptions you might have of Louisville as a sleepy southern town.
Many of the bars here are open until 4am and it doesn’t take long to see why Kentucky’s largest metropolis bills itself as Whiskey City. With close to a dozen downtown distilleries (and more on the way), bourbon and rye lovers will find themselves spoiled for choice. And while most of them are clustered around the convention centre, it’s no surprise that there’s a somewhat corporate feel to that part of town.
Fortunately, the rapidly gentrifying NuLu and character-filled Butchertown neighbourhoods lie less than a mile to the east.
There are plenty of distilleries and bars to be found here as well (including a former church that now pours 1500 American whiskies ), but you’ll also find an array of small family-owned businesses and some great spots to eat. Given the almost unlimited options for whiskey tourism, it makes sense to enjoy this pedestrian-friendly area on foot, and Tempo By Hilton makes the ideal base.
Location
With keen fans lining up for distillery tours as early as 10 am, and more than 30 bars that qualify for the Urban Bourbon Trail (which requires them to have at least 60 bourbons on pour), it’s important to have plenty of options within walking distance. Fortunately, NuLu overdelivers on this count.
Tempo By Hilton is one block over from Market Street, a thoroughfare lined with locally-owned businesses like Quills Coffee, Please & Thankyou Cookies and Butchertown Grocery. Before you reach them, you’ll smell the malt and see the grain silos of Rabbit Hole distillery, which is literally across the road from Tempo By Hilton’s front door. Head up to the sixth-floor rooftop, and you can orient yourself with views over the broad Ohio River that skirts the city to the north (and separates Kentucky from Indiana), as well as the taller buildings of downtown Louisville to the west.
Design
Tempo by Hilton is one of Hilton’s newer brands, and it positions itself as a lifestyle choice for the modern traveller. In practice, that means an uncluttered design scheme that features plenty of natural textures and local reference points, with wellness features woven seamlessly throughout.
The wellness aspect is unobtrusive but welcome – plants are scattered throughout the hotel, breakfast includes options like smoothies and grain bowls, and water refill stations have still, sparkling and alkaline options. There’s also a metronome symbol that appears throughout the hotel and encourages guests to think about the rhythm of the day.
The lobby is filled with public art, including several “look up” moments like the floating timber ceiling that nods to the horse and tobacco barns dotting the surrounding countryside, while a white and orange resin piece looks like bourbon pouring off the street and leading to the elevators.
Rooms
This is a new build hotel (it opened on May 1, 2024, just in time for the 150 th Kentucky Derby), and it shows in the 130 up-to-date rooms. They’re divided into four classes (with either a king or two queen beds – there are no suites), and the emphasis on financial accessibility shows in rates that start at US$169.
My uncluttered room is comfortable and makes excellent use of the space. Rather than being divided into nooks, the open plan layout means there’s plenty of room for a clothes rack, armchair and small work desk. Plenty of lamps and downlights let me tailor the mood, while the bathroom has a large shower stall and an enormous mirrored door that amplifies the space.
In keeping with the wellness theme, the bedroom is called the Power Down Zone, and wireless chargers encourage guests to let go of their devices and relax. Bluetooth speakers in the bathroom mirror allow me to wake up with music while I shower, and when I step out of the bathroom, I enter a Get Ready zone with a backlit mirror where I can slowly power up for the day.
Food & Drink
The lobby cafe Moonsong is inspired by the Australian-influenced Bluestone Lane, so you’ll find decent coffee, breakfast bowls and avocado toast in the mornings, as well as light meals later on. There’s also a small bar area with a dozen whiskies, but it’s not trying to compete with the serious contenders nearby.
Head up to the sixth-floor rooftop restaurant High Stakes, and you’ll find a dining room decorated with classic sporting moments and a menu that offers a modern take on American classics. Classic bistro options like steak tartare sit alongside crispy Brussels sprouts with bourbon beurre blanc, Dijon acorn squash and pumpkin seed brittle. And don’t sleep on the flaky potato roll served in a hot skillet that’s stuffed with potato, cheddar and bacon and served with a pot of chive sour cream.
The drinks list offers a similar take on classics with a slight twist – think barrel-aged boulevardiers and flavourful local beers like the Falls City corn, barley and rye ale.
Indoor and outdoor areas allow guests to enjoy the views of Louisville in all seasons, and in addition to Saturday brunches with live music and Friday night DJs, the space hosts regular events like cocktail classes and bourbon dinners.
If you want a more thorough whiskey education, simply walk across the street to Rabbit Hole distillery, which opened in 2018. Tours begin with a high rye bourbon old-fashioned and end with a tasting that shows how specialty ingredients like chocolate malt and smoked barley influence the final product.
Amenities
Given the health and wellness focus, it’s no surprise that the property has a large fitness centre. Book one of the Five Feet To Fitness rooms and you can even have a Peloton bike beside your bed. A small market in the lobby sells everything from eyepatches to vitamin boosts and whole bottles of bourbon. Despite the emphasis on leisure travel, the large ground-floor common area has a mix of comfortable seats and desks, plus a meeting room that resembles a more stylish airline lounge.
There are also several pods for working, though the area is never busy during my stay. The hotel is also pet-friendly, and guests can bring pets for the very reasonable fee of $50 per stay.
Service
Check-in is a quick process, and the guest services are generally friendly but unobtrusive. When I ask the receptionist about his favourite local spots to eat and drink, he happily obliges and gives me a list of excellent recommendations.
Value
Part of the Tempo by Hilton brand identity is an emphasis on financial accessibility, and that shows in rates that start at a very reasonable US$169. But that comes with a big caveat – the Kentucky Derby is one of the USA’s legendary sporting events, and during Derby Week, the rates can skyrocket to $2000 or more (this mirrors the exorbitant rates you’ll find across town). If you really want to see a horse race in Kentucky and you’re on a tight budget, you’re better off going to Lexington for one of the lead-up events.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Tempo by Hilton Louisville Downtown NuLu
Address: 710 E Jefferson Street, Louisville, Kentucky
Contact: +1 502-901-9355
The author stayed as a guest of the hotel.
