LGBTQIA+ Kentucky Road Trip: A Guide from Louisville to Northern Kentucky

Kentucky is queer– is what I thought to myself over and over again throughout my road trip through the Bluegrass State. Kentucky is dotted with queer cities, small towns, Southern hospitality and a whole lot of sparkle. 

Grab your backpacks –we’re going on an adventure: four days, three nights, two queer cities and “The Most Beautiful Small Town in America.”

Stop 1: Louisville – Queer History, Disco Fever, and Iconic Architecture 

The starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the birthplace of the disco ball, and home to the largest collection of Victorian mansions in the country; welcome to Louisville, Kentucky, y’all!

Day 1, check into The Myriad Hotel, a disco ball factory turned queer-owned boutique hotel located in the heart of Louisville's historic gayborhood. A truly one-of-a-kind stay, the hotel features 65 guest rooms, an outdoor heated pool (Myriad Swim Club) lined with Pride flags, the Paseo Mediterranean restaurant, and Switchboard coffee/bar in the lobby. The rooms are spacious, the ceilings are high, the beds are comfy, and the vibes are good.

For lunch, head straight (but queerly) to Proof On Main. Located inside the 21c Museum Hotel, Proof on Main is an LGBTQIA+-friendly farm-to-table restaurant serving Southern and Appalachian-inspired cuisine with an extensive bourbon selection and eclectic decor. While the food is fantastic, the real highlight is being surrounded by queer art, including “The Last ‘Gay’ Bar in America,” an installation by Fallen Fruit. Make sure to check out the free art museum inside the hotel as well.

Next, go shopping in the NuLu neighborhood, Louisville’s unofficial gayborhood, lined with queer-owned businesses, coffeehouses, intimate restaurants and cool vintage shops. Make sure to stop in Louabull, a queer-owned shop owned by two gay Dads. You’ll find queer graphic t-shirts, gifts, and souvenirs. Explore the historic gayborhood nearby and stop in queer-friendly bookstore Carmichael’s Bookstore. For vintage, check out Acorn Apparel, The Capsule, The Groovy Aura, hey tiger, and Vintage Banana.

For dinner, Le Moo is Le Answer. It’s a queer-owned, award-winning steakhouse–definitely a splurge, but worth every penny. Order their smoked old fashioned, an 8oz filet with wagyu truffle butter, and a side of mashed potatoes. Le Moo is also popular for its Sunday drag brunches and recognized as one of the best places to go for brunch in Louisville.

Grab a drink at one of Louisville’s queer bars. For a towny gay bar and the best patio in Louisville, do Chill Bar. For multiple dance floors and nightlife, head to Play Louisville. For a great cocktail and something in between, go to Big Bar.

If you have time, I highly recommend adding a guided tour. The Queer History Tour with Louisville Food Tours takes you through the gayborhood, sharing stories of LGBTQ+ history and icons, and is led by a local queer guide. The Old Louisville History and Architecture Tour is led by David Dominé, a local author and historian. The tour includes history on the city’s historic mansions and a peek into hidden romantic walkways. Both tours are amazing.

Stop 2: Bardstown – Bourbon Culture and Small Town Charm

Did you know Kentucky produces ~95% of the world’s bourbon? Day 2, we’re off to The Bourbon Capital of the World. Located just 45 minutes outside of Louisville, Bardstown is a charming historic town home to 11 unique distilleries within 16 miles of Court Square.

For the ultimate bourbon-themed getaway, check into the Trail Hotel, the world’s first bourbon-centric boutique hotel. The hotel features 95 rooms, eight themed suites, multiple bars, and a restaurant centered around (surprise, surprise) bourbon pairings. Guests can also enjoy a private golf simulator, the pool, and a wellness program designed to help you recharge between bourbon tastings.

Downtown Bardstown is walkable and lined with local shops and restaurants. You can visit just about every spot in around an hour or two. Some recommendations include The Blind Pig Bourbon Market, Bourbon City Kitchen & Trade Company Express Market, and Making Good Scentz (queer-owned).

If you only go to one distillery, I recommend Heaven Hill Distillery. It’s the largest family-owned and operated distillery in the country. Do a Bottled-in-Bond 90-minute tour. You’ll learn about the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act, a law that set standards for how bourbon is made and aged. The experience includes a walk through two different warehouses (called rickhouses), where the barrels are stored and aged, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how bourbon is made.

For dinner, head to a bourbon-themed restaurant with speakeasy vibes. The Rickhouse Restaurant and Lounge is most known for their menu of over 150 bourbons and specialized bourbon flights. Popular menu items include their steak and pork chops, but I loved their pecan honey salmon. For a night cap, head to The Old Talbott Tavern, The Volstead Bourbon Lounge, or 3rd Street Tap House.

Before heading out, grab a coffee at Lem’s Cafe and a yum yum donut at Hadorn’s Bakery for the road.

Stop 3: Covington and Northern Kentucky – Home of the Quirky Queer

Day 3, hop in, we’re heading to Northern Kentucky! Consistently earning a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, Covington is a progressive, community-driven city with a perfect amount of spice and quirk. Located just across the river from Cincinnati, it’s known for its arts scene, riverfront views, and 19th-century architecture. It’s home to the NKY Pride Center and a growing number of LGBTQIA+-owned businesses and bars.

Check into The Pickle Factory Hotel. Yes, it was once a pickle factory and yes, they fully embrace the theme. Located in the heart of downtown Covington, The Pickle Factory Hotel is a design-forward boutique hotel with contactless check-in and apartment-style rooms with a full kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living room space.

Shop MainStrasse Village or downtown Covington. One of my favorites is CHAD (Creative House of Art and Design), a queer and quirky art supply store and creative hub–the perfect stop if you’re in the market for a souvenir fridge magnet. Take a workshop or attend a drag performance in their queer bar in the back, “The Secret.” Check out the vintage shops like Artmarkit (queer-owned) nearby and grab a midday pick-me-up at Roebling Books & Coffee. 

Stop by Revival Vintage Bottle Shop & Bar, a two-story bar and retail shop dedicated to rare and vintage spirits. Co-owner Shannon Smith launched the concept in 2020 with a mission to make vintage bourbon more accessible.

The best sandwiches in Covington are at Reka’s Butcher Shop and Delicatessen. Opened in 2024 by married couple Shelbi and Ashley Nation, Reka’s is a lesbian-owned butchery named after Shelbi’s great-grandmother. The shop blends Italian heritage with a whole-animal approach, sourcing locally with the idea that a cow can feed a village with nothing going to waste. Grab an OG Italian to go and continue exploring the neighborhood.

Do a tasting experience at New Riff Distilling, an LGBTQIA-run distillery just outside of Covington putting a “new riff” on old traditions. After, head to their upstairs cocktail lounge for a cocktail and snack. 

Dinner at Mama’s on Main is a must. Their menu is stacked with authentic handmade pasta, including popular spaghetti and meatballs, cacio e pepe, and ricotta gnocchi along with delicious craft cocktails.

Covington has a bunch of local queer events. Check Queer Kentucky or Midwestern Lesbian for a local meet-up or event. And raise your glass to the end of your queer Kentucky adventure at Bar32 or Rosie’s Tavern and head back home in the morning!