Old Seelbach Bar
500 S 4th St, Louisville, KY, 40202
Old Seelbach Bar Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
500 S 4th St
Louisville, KY, 40202 - Phone (502) 585-3200
- Website https://www.seelbachhilton.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Valet, Garage
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Paid
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Gregg M.
The wife and stopped in at the Old Seelbach Bar for a nightcap before heading back to our hotel. We wanted to check out the iconic Old Seelbach Bar, where among other things, the classic Seelbach cocktail was created. The bar was located in the stately Seelbach Hilton just off of the hotel's main lobby. It possessed a classy look and feel, but was largely empty and otherwise dead when we arrived around 9:30pm on a Thursday night. Its emptiness made finding a couple of seats at the bar very easy. We were well met by the bartender who took our orders and made our drinks with obvious care and skill. When in Rome or, in this case, the Old Seelbach Bar it was a no-brainer to have one of their namesake drinks, made with Old Forester Signature, Cointreau, Angostura and Peychaud's bitters, topped with sparkling wine, and garnished with an orange peel. It was effervescent and as refreshing. For my second go, I asked the bartender for something with a bourbon cocktail, stirred, boozy and bitter. I didn't catch all of the ingredients he incorporated into my drink or if it had a name, but suffice it to say, it captured everything I was looking for in my order. While I can't compare drink prices here with many other Louisville establishments, it seemed exceedingly fair especially when compared to NYC, DC or Vegas. I left satisfied and would gladly return again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Petrice H.
This is a great little bar. First off, the service is outstanding. Our bar server, Bob, was great. We also did a tour with Patrick the head of security and it was great. Patrick is a wealth of knowledge about the Seelbach. There is so much history and so many great stories to be heard. We only ordered drinks but they were so on point. The bar area is nice and so comfy. There is an area for lounging and tables and the bar that is long and full of top shelf liquors! I give the Old Seelbach 4 stars because it is nice but it's right off the street so people can peep in which is a bit creepy.
(4)marianne r.
Wanted to love this place but overall the experience was just blah...asked the bartender if they served cider and was told no...while I was looking at the wine list because they had no cider I noticed that there were bottles of cider in the fridge!!!I ordered one and there was no recognition on his part that he had mislead me,no moment of opportunity to break the ice and connect with a customer.I had an empty glass for about 5 mins before I flagged him down for another cider( there was only 5 people at the entire bar) and just overall it seems like the customers were more of an annoyance and inconvenience than an opportunity to up-sell and connect with new people.I work in the industry so it was a missed opportunity on his part as we ended up leaving cos there was ZERO interaction to make us stay
(2)Kristy N.
This bar is 5 stars on ambiance and history! Loved the sitting at the bar in this historic hotel! We had a couple drinks and they were made well by a friendly bartender. We didn't try the food.
(4)Stephen F.
Big disappointment. Bar has no charm that you would expect. Bartender unfriendly and didn't even know his own beer list. No ambiance at all.
(1)Megan A.
I came in here for a pre dinner drink and will have to say the experience was great. We sat at one of the high tops in the bar since the actual bar was full (at 6:30pm on a Friday). Our waitress/bartender was great, she even sparked up conversation in a friendly manner and added a stamp to my urban bourbon book. I ordered a dirty martini and it was made just the way I like it. My friend ordered the Horse's Neck, which was a very well done bourbon drink. I'd recommend this bar if you're around the area. It's worth taking a look!
(5)Kirk S.
Nice enough place, staff had a little attitude. Manhattan came out up when I asked for it on the rocks. Good drink after it was corrected. Friend ordered a martini that was also sent back, but again was great when it finally arrived. The staff warmed up on our second round. Would have given a 3.5 if available.
(3)Frances A.
Amazing Hotel and bar/grill in Louisville Ky.. The appetizers were on point and the drinks were great . Go there and enjoy yourself !!
(5)Kent H.
I just stopped here to sample the local tipple, bourbon, and I was duly impressed! Besides ever bourbon ever brewed, they had an excellent lineup of Scotch too. One of my favorites that I used to bring back from frequent trips to Glasgow, Glenfarclas, was surprisingly represented. It's a nice setting, and I left it up to the discretion of the bartender to hit me with her choices...and they were all good!
(4)Shannon M.
I am astounded that this type of service exists in this so called classy bar. The bar was not busy this past Wednesday night. There were two open seats at the bar with nothing in front of the seats indicating that they were unavailable. Before we even approach the seats, the bartender immediately states that these seats are taken. I ask how so, since they are empty and no drinks or food are present in front of these seats. He once again says that they are taken and did not even provide an answer or explain that we could sit elsewhere in the bar. His attitude was pleasant and definitely not customer oriented. So we grab a seat at a table, the server was nice and efficient. This bar is completely overrated. It is simply a basic hotel bar with overpriced drinks. $13 for the seelbach cocktail, I don't mind paying a higher price for cocktails, but make it so that your customers are treated with respect. A waste of my time and money. Do yourself a favor and skip this bar, you will find much better service and better quality drinks at other bars in this city.
(1)Theresa M.
Horse's Neck is worth a try. I loved it!
(4)Bill J.
I keep stopping back by this place even though the experiences are mostly average. There were two servers working the bar area, but neither one of them appeared to be interested in working very hard. If you're paying $20 for one domestic beer and one glass of wine, you should expect your server to check in with you a couple of times vs. just disappearing until you have to flag her down to get the check. It's definitely one of those "must try when in Louisville" places, but it doesn't really live up to the hype. The hotel lobby smelled like the hotel was having a problem with their plumbing, if you know what I mean. I also heard guests complaining that they were trying to check in at 5 PM and they were told that their rooms still hadn't been cleaned yet.
(3)P B.
This bar was once a hidden gem in Louisville. Some d bag manager must have watched too much bar rescue and came in and decided it was time to remodel. They got ride of a perfect antique mahogany bar and replaced it with plastic. The seams on the fake marble on the back wall do not even line up. A damn disgrace. Still good bourbon choices but the ambiance is not the same. You can't replace original. Some people just don't get it.
(1)Seth B.
Used to be great, now lit up like Wal-Mart and a drink list like you'd expect from, well, a Hilton. Quite a fall from grace for a classic. Ought to be a busy late night spot but instead it's lit up like it's time to vacuum.
(2)Chip L.
I take a lot of my out of town friends to the Seelbach Bar for a drink. One drink... then we leave. The Seelbach is a gorgeous piece of Louisville history, and the hotel and the bar share a great architecture and decor. The rathskeller downstairs is worth walking through even though it's normally empty. But the bar is kind of pricey and it's catering to an upscale crowd that just isn't what I'm into. If you haven't seen it, stop by for a drink on your way to the Palace or Marketplace or something else nearby, and at least you can say you've been.
(2)Tom E.
It was a Saturday night, and I wanted to take my 94 year old grandmother to the casino- I mean hell, that is like our favorite bonding time. However, she was nowhere to be found (I later heard she was at a carnival at her church, I should have looked there!). With that being said, I headed back to the hotel, to go drink my sorrows away. I heard the Seelbach had a famous bar (I vaguely saw it when I checked in earlier...), and I decided to check it out. What was there to lose? Oh yea, there were 2 weddings going on that night, all of the rookie drinkers flooding the bar. Thankfully, I was able to get a table, facing the TVs (there were 2, one at each end of the bar). I was greeted after a few minutes, and I didn't really look at a menu, I just went straight for the ol Makers n Coke. It came out quickly, and I may or may not have ordered a handful more. One thing I will tell you about this place is that the chairs are pretty damn comfortable. I mean like really comfortable- as in I almost fell asleep in it. But there was too much eye candy keeping me awake. Let me rephrase that- there were too many girls stumbling up the ramp, and it was too entertaining for me to close my eyes. Speaking of stumbling, I almost did the same damn thing, but I power hour'd my drinks. Even though I didn't get to see a menu, I saw they do serve food there. Wish I got to try it, as room service was only ok. I would have to say this is one of the higher end bars in the city, as it usually gets on highly regarded lists. With that being said, I would like to see it busier on weekends- and not with just wedding parties...
(4)Louann B.
This place is great for middle aged, or old white dudes. I'm staying in the hotel and visited the bar after a day of work. This place is mediocre at best. The service was OK. The chips were from a bag, and the queso was thick and cold. There are so many good restaurants on Fourth St. Don't waste your time.
(2)Roadwarriorinheels Z.
Service not the friendliness group of folks I've met. The bartenders were extremely glum and not friendly at all. Not sure of the issue here but I'd pass.
(2)John F.
Stopped in at the bar while staying at the Seelbach. Drinks were expensive as expected but well made. We had a male server we started with that was great. Our second server was a female that didn't do a very good job. She couldn't get our bill right until the third attempt. Very convenient having the bar in the hotel. Nice atmosphere. We sat in a living room area which was nice for our group of 6.
(4)Michael G.
After reading all the hype about this place (F Scott Fitzgerald etc), seeing the sign above the door listing this place as one if the best bars in America, and seeing the beauty of the hotel lobby, I expected a lot more. The bar is shabby. Yes, there are two expansive pieces of mahogany, but so what. The bartender was lazy and so woefully uninformed and unenthusiastic. We thought to try new bourbons and he first plunked down a bottle that I recognized. I asked him how much it was a glass and he gingerly replied "$100." Oh, sure. Then we asked him for another recommendation and he said: "it's all bourbon - I don't know." Well, what bluegrass spirit... I could not imagine a dingier, worse place to drink. Avoid at all costs. And why this place is on the urban bourbon trail is a mystery.
(1)Lauren C.
I've never been impressed by a drink here, but I've never hated mine either. On my last visit, the bartender was very eager to get us out the door, even with 10 minutes until closing. I keep going back, waiting for the Old Seelbach to impress me, but it never does.
(3)Planters V.
Consistently ranked "TOP 100 BARS IN THE WORLD" Great place for a sophisticated evening. The jazz can be loud, but isn't that the point? Sometimes, it can be a little stuffy depending on the clientele. But this old lady of a Hotel is a MUST if on a business trip, or trying to WOW out of towners.
(4)Allison O.
What an awesome place! We stopped in here on the recommendation from the bartender at Maker's Mark - he told us that it's this super cool historic bar in a hotel that Al Capone used to stay in, and he had secret tunnels in the place. How cool is that?! Bob, the bartender, was very friendly, and he gave me some awesome bourbon recommendations. I tried the Russell's Reserve 10 year and it was great. Super cool place, awesome atmosphere, and in a gorgeous hotel.
(5)Eduardo C.
This is a great bar, with plenty of room for large gatherings. The room had some character and a nice display of drinks with attentive bartenders. Old Seelbach has been featured in some encouraging lists by critics and I have to agree with them. If you stay at the Seelbach Hilton, visiting this bar is a no-brain er.
(4)Sarah F.
Beautiful, historic old bar located within the Seelbach Hilton Hotel, immediately adjacent to 4th Street Live! in downtown Louisville. As a tourist, it's definitely worth a look around the lobby and public spaces of this beautiful hotel and having a drink in the bar. They're known for their bourbon selection, but they have a pretty expansive drink selection beyond that as well, and also serve food.
(4)Amy C.
Kentucky Fried Chicken. Tobacco. BOURBON. Guess which famous Kentucky export, J was most interested in? I made the intro. J meet Old Seelbach Bar, Old Seelbach Bar meet J. J was impressed by the over SIXTY BOURBONS listed on the formidable bourbon list. Old Seelbach Bar was impressed with J's downing of a Maker's Mark neat despite his cold. I knew they'd get along! However, the Old Seelbach Bar's eats were much less impressive. The Tomato Bisque was ok in flavor but was so chunky that I felt like I was eating a cup of pasta sauce with croutons. My Fried Green Tomatoes were bland and disappointing but I suppose that's what I get for ordering tomatoes in the dead of winter. The red pepper aioli that came with it couldn't help the cause. We liked J's Louisville Hot Brown though. It came with the standard bread, turkey, and bacon and the Mornay sauce on it was great. There were some mashed potatoes buried in there too. We'll definitely be back! The bourbon beckons...
(4)Donald L.
Not a bad but there are much better choices in Louisville.
(2)Evan B.
This update serves to notify readers that there is no longer a live band every weekend at the Old Seelbach Bar. This is extremely disappointing! It no longer has the 1940's feeling of sipping bourbon while listening to great jazz. However, I will say that the removal of a live band does not take away from the history of the bar and the Old Seelbach is still a must visit on the Urban Bourbon Trail.
(3)Christopher W.
This was one of our stops on the Urban Bourbon Tour. Just stopped in for drinks towards the end of the night. Nice atmosphere and wait staff. Wish the waitress/bartender would have talked to us about the history of the bar. Someone at another bar told us much later in the night.
(3)David I.
LOUD! Did you hear me? LOUD! And not the crowd, the jazz band. Jazz is meant to be a subtle complement to your evening, but this was LOUD. I couldn't hear my wife or the waitress at all. The eye candy was decent, the crowd was friendly and the drinks pricey. We had one drink and left so I could hear something.
(4)Mach P.
Plaque on the door says it was voted one of the top 100 bars but it was one of the worst. Went in for a Mint Julip because i wanted a classic Louisville cocktail. The waitress was not too pleasant and when we ordered the mint julip they didnt have the ingrediants to make it. Are you kidding me? For a "top bar" you should be able to make one of your cities most famous drinks. They said they usually only keep those ingrediants around Derby time. Settled for an $8.50 beer, terrible. There are better bars in the area. Go somewhere else.
(1)Arvin B.
Went to the Seelbach for a promotional event and I stopped by to check this bar out. Me, of course, being my only form of transportation, did not drink. Instead, I ordered the Bourbon chowder and it was delicious. Free crackers on the side too (oh wait..I think almost all restaurants serve crackers with their soup). Good experience and nicer atmosphere.
(4)Chris M.
Great ambiance in downtown and the BEST cocktail ever. Even if you don't like bourbon (which is crazy!), you will love the Seelbach cocktail. Helpful, friendly waitstaff. I'm not the type of fella that hangs out in hotel bars, but this place is just too great to pass up.
(5)G W.
Great bourbon selection, but the bartendress needs to go out and find a personality.
(3)Missy M.
Visited April 2011. Super friendly and knowledgable staff. They have a gagillion bourbons and our server knew them all. My significant otter wanted to try something different so our server asked him about his likes, dislikes and favs and made a suggestion. He followed this with yet another suggestion she made - I even liked this one - both were very much enjoyed. The atmosphere in the bar is very nice and they have many other beverages to try.
(5)Jon A.
Ohhhh... so I was suppose to drink Bourbon! Nowwww I get it. What is bourbon like a thing around here or something? Well, I'm just not gonna go and drink bourbon. My knee jerk reaction isn't to sit down at a table, pre-wedding and enjoy a nice bourbon. Maybe if I had a dinner, there are cigars and William H Taft walked in, Warren G Harding even. Nor, did I know I walked into a "Bourbon Bar." So from my research it seems this is "one of the best bars in the world," because of three reasons: it's old, it has a 50+ list of Bourbon choices and that it's quintessential Americana (as that ranking was by Londoners). Hmmmm... one, the placard is up above the door saying it is "one of the best bars in the world." That's. Just. Tacky. Look, I'm not trying to be knit-picky; but... they're the ones that said it first. Being old and having a long list of choices -- be it beer or bourbon -- doesn't just put you to the top of the heap. Anyone can stock a shelf. Maybe it's because bar owners of craft cocktail spots have upped the ante; maybe it's because just prior to this I was in the deeper South in Nashville and they took their bar-ness far more seriously (re: Patterson House.) Service was good, sure. But, what's this "great beer selection" others have written about? hmmmmm... miller lite, sam adams and Bourbon-Aged Kentucky Ale are the three beers on draft? That's not a selection that's a iron-clad fist thrust down upon my beer drinker forehead telling me "if you're gonna drink beer young lad, it's gonna be bourbon aged." (Note: I love bourbon barrel aged beers... love-love them. But come on that's enough already with all this bourbon propaganda. What is this The Bourbons regime!?) At any rate... the bourbon aged ale wasn't even up to snuff with others I've had. A little too tangy and sharp -- as if the aging was rushed. Shit, I'm harping here... the saving grace to this place... it seems to be an old bulwark of class surrounded by a corporate monstrosity, so it could be a hideaway from that blinged & tanned disaster. And, there's live music? Awesome. The chairs were super nice. I think I might've come off as a whiny hipster from the north. Welp, it happens.
(3)Scott M.
Tonight was the fourth time I've been here since New Years. It does have a good selection of Bourbon and the food is good but without a doubt the service is poor every time! Sometimes it was a bad waitress and other times it was the management staff with to few people working to take care of the customers! I know others felt that way tonight also!
(2)Brad W.
If you like the idea of drinking at the oldest bar in Kentucky (or was it Louisville?), and sitting where the famous and infamous have sat, and paying top dollar for cocktails, this is your place. While it is a beautiful old bar with a great history, if you take a left out the front door, there are a number of great places that are a lot less stuffy and costly. Highly recommend having one drink here for the sake of doing so due to the history, then move on to the other places on 4th street.
(3)John J.
Great "old hotel" atmosphere. Good food, excellent service. Bourbon beer (local beer) is a MUST try for any beer lovers. Absolutely ridiculous. I'm going to see if I can get some shipped to my house in Fla.
(4)jilian p.
We stayed at this Hotel, and frequented the bar a few times. They have live jazz, and the ambiance is great. For a hotel bar, the drinks are reasonably priced. The Seelbach cocktail is great!
(4)