The Back Door
1250 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY, 40204
The Back Door Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY, 40204 - Phone (502) 451-0659
- Website https://www.thebackdoorlouisville.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 4:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Trinnis M.
First time being in a bar in Louisville, and it was interesting. Impressively they served pitchers of Sierra Nevada and a pack a cigarettes for a reasonable price. Many pool tables to choose from. The bathroom is quite small, but the friendly bartenders make up for it.
(3)Leslie W.
I've been going to The Back Door for more years than I can to think about. It's an institution like the Outlook Inn just down the street. Having a long history with this establishment, I value it for what it is - a dive bar (or a local, if you prefer posher titles). The Back Door has been consistent for me over the years with strong & economical pours, good bar food, and nice folks. Does it get crowded? Yep. Does it sometimes seem like you may never get to the bar? Oh, yeah. Do the booming, food announcements sometimes scare the hell out of me by their intense, volume levels? Sure do. Having said that, this is the Highlands. Bars get loud. On most weekends and event/game nights, you should expect a crowd and a wait. What you should not expect, and rarely get for that matter, are food & drink prices this low in this neighborhood. No, The Back Door isn't the cleanest and the ambiance is nothing special - kind of dark, man cave meets basement wreck room. What you get is a bunch of people enjoying games of pool, sports on TV, or conversation with friends while enjoying stiff drinks and tasty food for a reasonable price. There are spots the the Highlands that I patronize for their lovely aesthetics and expert mixology. This isn't one of those places. Appreciate The Back Door for what it does well and you'll understand these four stars.
(4)Samantha F.
The drinks are strong and decently priced. The crowd really isn't for me, but my husband loves it. Other people must too because it is often hard to find a place to sit! Bartenders are friendly and husband says the wings are really tasty!
(4)Sarah R.
One important ratio: low prices/stiff drinks. The outcome? Best dive bar ever, and this is coming from a non-dive-bar-kinda-girl. When my husband suggested we meet friends at Back Door, I immediately put on my "ummm...I don't know how I feel about dive bars" face (if there is such an expression). Having visited some other similar places about Louisville, I know that scene isn't my prime place. But I went, on the promise of cheap drinks and a good crowd. I was so wrong. Man, was I really wrong. The place is actually pretty spacious, well ventilated, and with a diverse crowd. I was happy to see locals intermingling with students. Bikers with hipsters. Older folks and younger folks. The bar staff is nice and quick, and their pours are the heaviest in town. They usually have a few sports games on, and there's food (good food, too!) We loved sitting outside during the summer, and we love sitting inside. That particular night, we ended up staying three hours or so, and I'd go back in a heartbeat. This place is really a gem, so don't let the outside look or the location fool you into going somewhere else. It's the perfect place for a group of friends to go, get a cheap drink, and actually hear each other talk. A win in my book!
(5)Taryn M.
Great local dive bar with good bar food and strong drinks! Pool and games make this place a great stop along your bar hop or a good place to chill all night. Just don't put your drinks down on the pool table or face the wrath of the pool police!
(4)Nadia N.
So... after a birthday dinner across the street, my friend said we were going to the bar for some drinks. She had been telling me about this bar for days. Said they made stiff drinks and they were cheap. So... of course... I was all in!!!! After trekking across the mall parking lot, we walk behind some building and up a ramp to god knows what kind of place. But hey, I'm not opposed to a good dive bar if it's worth it. So, we went in, id's were checked and we headed to the bar. Think we spent about $12 on three drinks and boyyyy was it strong! They don't skimp on the liquor at all. They've got bar food, tables and chairs, pool tables, and I think some arcade games. But... ummm divey may be a nice term for it. At the bar, as I am waiting for the drinks I'm taking off my coat and go to lean on the bar. Oops, dont do it! There's someone's nasty chewed up gum on the bar. I guess the place is popular, because it was packed. No problem, I can fit into almost anywhere. Except when there is no seating and a collection of shifty looking people in close proximity. Lol Okay, my anxiety may have gotten the best of me. However, I don't mind going back. It's a vibrant place and the energy is charged. The drinks are strong and the people aren't rude - whether or not they look appealing. Lol. I think with the right preparation (maybe some sanitizer on my part) I could have an almost drunken blast here.
(3)The N.
In 2002, cool little bar. Now just a trendy hangout. Takes for ever for a drink. Loud. Almost as many "bouncers" as bartenders. Slow. Slow. Slow!!!!
(2)Sumshee K.
For a buncha years, I spoke highly of The Back Door. They have a good place in so many ways. But after multiple occasions of defending a few of the servers when friends bitched about their inattention, I gave up. Regularly, I found that when you are standing between the magic tubes in the center of the bar, you are more assured some attention...even if they already had your credit card stashed away.This HAS happened mostly with a few particular servers. They know who they are; they have several times received 10-cent tips. HOWEVER....THE BACK BURNER GRILL is always freaking outasight with their food and THEY have always been TOTALLY on top of serving customers. I would go into the place just for food, but likely, never again for drinks. I would only order food at the window in the back, never from the bar help, therefore...the quality of service is too spotty.
(2)Christopher S.
So....I'm apparently a regular at The Back Door, and I'm not completely sure how I feel about that! HAHA Actually, The Back Door is very low key, the drinks are cheap, and the food is good. It's the perfect place to just sit back and enjoy conversation with a friend. The crowd is diverse, and it is usually fun to listen to the conversations going on around me. If I don't want to spend a fortune to hang out with someone for the evening, The Back Door is the place to be.
(4)Bruce E.
i'm always surprised at how many people really like this place. It's disgusting it's old it's outdated the people are rude the food is horrible. If that's the kind atmosphere you like go for it.
(1)Mary R.
Over time, The Back Door (aka the Crack Whore) has become my favorite place to get shit-faced. It has a diverse clientele, with crusty old regulars perched at the bar, prematurely cirrhotic thirty-somethings huddled in booths, and even a handful of newly minted 21-year-olds occasionally breaching the crowd. Translation: there is both the opportunity for fascinating people-watching and random, entertaining interaction. Drinks are cheap and strong and there's a new special every day--if you don't mind swill, you can often catch a well drink for $2.50. Personally, I don't mind paying the $3.25 or $3.50 for something less asstastic. Another reason I am so fond of the Back Door is that I frequently travel in a pack, and it is one of the most accommodating bars for large groups. In addition to a lengthy bar, there are two large open rooms (one with pool tables), a smaller back room, and additional seating out on the deck. There's also a kitchen that serves up a variety of fried goodness that you should only touch after massive alcohol consumption. In case of emergency, I recommend the sampler platter, which is a big brown pile of fried mushrooms, cheesesticks, jalapenos, jalapeno poppers, wontons, and just about anything else they turn up in the kitchen. I do have one complaint: a while back, they performed some renovations and installed some TVs, at least one of which seems to be totally devoted to advertising and some sort of music system that plays crap rock (i.e., music that makes you want to take a dump) including waaay too many '90s ballads. The TVs are incredibly annoying and distracting, and come on, do I really want to chug whiskey to the Counting Crows?
(5)Vicky A.
Great food, great atmosphere and a great place to enjoy yourself (smile!) The Back Door is one of the favorite hangouts of my A.B.E Girls and I. Check the place out---it's worth every penny you'll spend (smile!)
(4)Rachel F.
Car ride over: Elizabeth: "This will be my first time to the back door." Alex "I've never been to the back door either." Me: "Really? How have you guys not gone yet?" Laughter. Funny funny guys. This time I'll start with why they lost the final star. Getting a drink on a Saturday night sucks. No table service, which is no biggie - it is a dive. But the lines all around the bar are constant and even if you can get right up to the bar, you are looking at a good 15-30 minutes. For a beer. That's obnoxious. Okay, so now that the negative is out of the way, let's focus on the positive. To be so packed at the bar, there was actually still usually a table or two open. This is not your average dive with one room and 5 tables. A large front room with the bar and a bunch of tables, second room with the foosball and skeeball and more tables and then a big back room that is the pool hall. Also found the setting great with our large group of people that kept changing up. The noise level and music level were perfect for chatting but still had a good energy to it. Pretty sweet little back entrance to the bar in the pool area too, but still going to take a while. Though I did love that one of my friends got a round for 8, because hell, while you're at it might as well, and they gave him a box of cold high lifes to carry over - like Santa and his elves with a box full of goodies. Classy and awesome. 2.75 rum specials reminded me how overly sweet rum is (though I gladly accepted the price!) and my 5.50 Maker's and Ginger was Maaaaaker's and Ging. So definitely stiff drinks for when you're in a tight spot at the back door. Get it?
(4)Cynthia D.
This is a place where you go to get sloshed. Tanked. Wasted. Toasty. Whatever you want to call it, cheap drinks poured very strongly. Cozy area near a fireplace can feel like home if you are so inclined. Pool tables for those who partake in such a thing. Not a secular crowd in any way. You'll find the young, old, beautiful, ugly, poor, rich, unemployed, and every other walk of life panning up to the bar to get their drink on. This is a great departure from some other nightlife which you practically need a secret membership card just to show up. Go here, and take a designated driver and $20. You'll like it, and you'll have a hangover the next day to prove it.
(5)Victoria T.
The kind of bar that only happens over time and by accident. Well drinks are cheap enough to allow the hardcore drinkers to stay all day (and night). Call drinks are available (but expect to be called "princess"). Food is of the standard deep fried variety.
(4)Rebecca S.
Not my favorite bar. First the positives...strong drinks at a cheap price. Great location with lots of parking in an often over-crowded Bardstown area. The drawbacks...overcrowded, loud, STINKY. Somehow I left absolutley reaking of smoke, having sat inside the smoke-free bar the entire time. Lastly, there is no table service so it's a big "free-for-all" mess. We left after one drink and the thought of fighting for a second round didn't even cross my mind. If you are hoping to enjoy an evening with good friends and great conversation, this is probably not the place to go.
(2)Brandon B.
Drink liquor here. Heavy pours and cheap. The crowd was a good mix of people. It was a great place to watch a game, they have a projector and large screen in the back. They have Golden Tee too.
(4)Josh K.
Really great place for fairly cheap drinks, playing pool and hanging out with your friends. I don't know if this is what I consider a dive but it certainly isn't a snotty ritzy place either. The atmosphere is warm, people seem to have fun, not too many restrictions. There is a decent menu for drinks. In terms of food, as far as I know it's mostly typical bar food but still tasty. Would def recommend.
(4)Layne M.
Amazing place, I wouldn't change one thing about it. Drinks are cheap and magical. Service is awesome. Fellow barmates are diverse and interesting. The food is absolutely amazing also. We've actually gone here just to eat many times now, without even ordering a drink. The food is worth it. Burger is amazing, and so is the black bean burger. Sides are really good too, all of them I've tried.
(5)Doug H.
cheap, strong drinks. nuff said. a genuine louisville bar. a welcome break from many bardstown bars in the area.
(5)Cinimod S.
Have I reviewed this place already? Nope, thats just the three day stupor fogging the memories (or lack thereof) of my nights and following days. I can't remembering leaving this bar unimpaired. Strong drinks at cheap prices.
(4)Michael P.
These reviews are all pretty right on. Lest we forget the awesome barkeeps, though. Every time I go, the bar is staffed with very friendly, very southern middle-aged ladies who pour the drinks strong, call you "sugar," but will beat an ass or two if circumstances should yield such a response. Expect to get buttered for under $20.
(4)Andrew K.
A comfortable dive bar loved by many with REALLY affordable boozing, i.e. Absolut flavored martinis for less than $3 and whisky drinks for $2.25. There are friendly, slightly creepy, old men with long grey beards (reminiscent of Santa Claus after Jenny Craig), lots of space for pool, darts, and foosball. And, the waffle fries were delish. The place stays open late. The bartendresses were mid-fifties, frosted-haired Southern women who looked more like dental hygentists than bar people. Overall, a taste of Louisville.
(3)dave w.
love this place. in college, i used to get loaded on 2 dollar vodka + juice nights. great mix of people, always a good time!
(5)Kelly B.
Always a good, casual stand-by. Each time I come (which averages about once a year), the place seems to have a few more patrons and *new* renovations. But the drink prices never seem to increase and the vibe remains low-key. Definitely a keeper.
(4)Johnny L.
Best wings on bardstown road.
(5)Sarah W.
Loved the drink specials. The large number of pool tables, tvs and other things to do was great. The music was not too loud. Everything in a bar that I like. Great service. The people were friendly and widely assorted.
(5)Shannon D.
This place is pretty amazing. I'm here more than I like to admit only because it is close to my home. They have CHEAP STRONG DRINKS and what I consider one of the best people watching spots in Louisville. What I love most about this place is there really isn't a "scene". You will find anyone and everyone from the freshly new 21 year olds to the old regulars with their guts pressed up against the bar and every kind in-between. I always have a good time when I go there. I'm always laughing up a storm and having fun when it's busy and always meeting decent nice folks to talk to when its slow. The bartenders are friendly and it really is "like a box of chocolates". Thank you Back Door for keeping me on my toes.
(5)Amelia P.
Really good grilled cheese; really cheap drinks. I spotted "the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my whole life" here once. He was so good looking it made me nauseated. In a kinda good way. Alas he has never appeared again, nor has a man his equal ever been spotted........
(5)Josh E.
They make the drinks extra sting extra strong with that sting. I make it a priority to tip accordingly. The best place to play pool with buddies too. Maybe one day I'll have my portrait retired up. Highly unlikely but I'm just calling a spade a spade here. It's well drinks but the prices are reasonable. I don't typically eat the food although I have. Circumstances prompted such but at any rate, no complaints.
(5)Eve V.
This is a bar's bar. Not stuffy, or pretentious, nor seething with hipster doofus scenesters whining about the juke selection. Your uncle or your kid brother would both feel welcome here. Cheap cheap booze, pretty decent bar food ( excellent wings) and AWESOME service. This place is great for a group, but the sort if bar you can slither into alone and someone will yammer with you so you don't feel stupid being alone.
(4)Roger C.
Good food.cheap drinks. Somewhat dark inside. Service slow sometimes but overall a great little hangout.
(3)Samantha F.
I love this place! Within walking distance and great music and beer prices
(4)Nick P.
Best bar in Louisville. They have cheap, strong drinks. Seriously, the bar tenders pour heavy here, it's great. The food is also among the best bar food in town. The fajita-dilla is delicious, the wings are delicious, the nachos are delicious. It's all incredible. They also have a really big outdoor patio (they enclose it and heat it in the winter). They have ski-ball, darts and a good number of pool tables. This will always be my go to bar. Forever.
(5)Alex H.
I have never had a bad experience at the back door. On the bustling weekends when everyone is out partying and looking to get drunk (not that you can' do that here as well) the Back Door seems immune. That is one of it's best features. It is a quiet place to escape with good prices on wings (they are good too) and beer and to play a little pool while bardstown road descends into madness just outside it's doors. Don't come here if you are looking for a party, Come here if you are looking for a nice night out with a few friends in a inviting atmosphere. The staff is absolutely awesome and professional. PS: I also recommend the loaded potato skins.
(5)Amanda W.
This was my third time being here. Staff is friendly, drinks are great, and the food is great. I love the atmosphere, nice area for outside smoking. The only thing I don't like is having to wait forever to get to play pool. We celebrated a friends birthday here last night, and we couldn't have picked a better place.
(4)Kristie T.
Last night was my third time being there. The crowd is always very large which tells you it's a great place. The prices are right and there is plenty of space for large groups. I've tried a few bites of several different meals and they were all pretty good. Found out last night you can get homemade chips for $1! This was a large enough serving to satisfy three of us. They were so good too. I forgot to take a photo. I love PBR and they have it on tap.
(4)Brooke P.
Dive bars are not always my scene, but The Back Door is exceptional. We got a pitcher of PBR for less than $10, in a comfy booth to watch some Monday Night Football. It pulled a relatively diverse crowd, and despite its nondescript location on an alley, it had a welcoming vibe inside. And the jerky man is there... will be back.
(4)Mihir K.
Dive bar. Yes, as dIvey as a dive Bbar can get. Bad Smell - Check. Beer Selection - Very good. Check. Lots and lots of liquor - Check. Cheap - Double Check!! Food - Usual bar fare, but surprisingly tasty quesadilla. Check. Finding the place is a little tricky, because its literally a back door to a mall, next to all the dumpsters in an alley. You get the picture. It was fun watching OKC Thunder beat Miami.
(4)Jeff D.
I like cheap drinks and pretty girls. You get plenty of both here. I once paid for eight drinks for less than $25. That's a steal. Did I mention the pretty girls? I wish Indy's dive bars were this attractive. I'm not sure I'd even call this a dive bar. The only issue is that it's so popular you sometimes have to wait a while for a drink. Have not tried the bar food, but it smells pretty good and they serve late. Bring a $20 and a good set of eyes and you'll be set for hours.
(5)Kathy V.
We came here for a friend's laid-back birthday deal (to play skee ball and have some drinks). We all got some food too, and I have to say, while it isn't going to be super fancy-schamncy stuff, I was impressed by it, considering the place. The burgers were quite good, and I heard good things from the others in the group regarding the wings. My only complaint about this particular evening was, considering that it was a Monday evening, and not particularly busy, (seriously...*maybe* 20 people in the bar area besides us...and the pool players weren't hogging up the bar or anything) that the service at the bar was strangely sluggish. Kind of annoying. But I'll get over it. Drinks were well made, though. So props to that!
(4)Jessica L.
I love that this place is within stumbling distance from my apartment, but we still don't go there too often. It is a Highlands gem, though. In that sort of way that you describe a dive bar as a "gem." The lower your expectations, the more pleased you'll be. There's always an interesting crowd; half of them are painted on the wall. Not the fastest service in the world, but the drinks are cheap and STRONG. Not the most nutritious options on the menu, but boy are they delicious. Especially the bombers.. I have dreams about them. Basically, if you like cheap, no-frills drinks and delicious, likely-fried food, the Back Door is for you.
(4)Angel T.
Looking for an awesome place to hang out? This truly is the place to be... The atmosphere is great, the people are respectful, the drinks are great... The bar food is awesome... Love this place...
(5)Adam C.
Great bar that seems to be busy no matter when you go, which is a good sign. Drinks are reasonable, food is above average for bar food. Plenty of pool tables and tvs for big games. Wings are good, plenty of good sauces to choose from. Definitely a go to bar for any game if you just want to relax and watch the game.
(4)D h.
Big bar that is easy to get comfortable at. Fast bartenders that know how to do their job. Probably 20-25 stools. stone bar top with classic rail. Pipe foot rest. Cluttered bar back gives the back door tons of character. Opposite the bar are tons of lower eating tables and a large "liquor" mural. Back room contains pool tables & games. Not a ton of nice TVs, but enough to watch the game. Not easy to get to when walking, but plenty of parking. Compared to 4th street live, the back door is the greatest place on earth, but compared to the countless other options on bardstown, it's just average. Reasons for the 3-star rating.... - the outdoor patio. At first seems nice but smells like garbage. In fact, it is garbage since you are on the side of the bldg near the trash bins. - the other patrons. only been here a couple times and not late into the evening, but can imagine there are a few fights late into the evening (again, never seen one, but the white trash idiots doing shots at 9pm were looking for one). - the food. slightly below average bar food. but only ate here once, so maybe just a one-off mistake. will be back, too much character to avoid. may change rating in the future.
(3)Merritt G.
The Back Door holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first bar I went to on my 21st birthday. The drinks are cheap, and they have hands down the best bar food in town. The pool tables are available if you go early on a weeknight. The place is often packed on the weekends and can feel like a meat market with all the frat guys around. Normally on the weekdays it is a pretty chill place. The BLT, chicken nachos, french fries, and pizza are all delicious. The servers are friendly, and will remember you if you come by often enough. The main bar up front has touch screen video games, and they are addictive. The outdoor patio (on the side of Mid CIty Mall) is fairly large, and partially heated in the winter. My only complaint is that as it is a dive bar, it is often not the cleanest place in the world, and I feel that detracts from the place a bit.
(4)Colleen W.
Delicious food and cheap drinks. It's the original neighborhood bar, with bartenders who've been there over 20 years. The back door is always a great time. It can get crowded on busy nights but you're guaranteed a great time!
(5)Andrew K.
Backdoor has some of the best bar food in town. If you've never been, then you should stop in, grab a beer, and order yourself a delicious plate of hot wings! Seriously they are some of the best. The prices range for food and drinks are reasonable. One of my favorite things about The Backdoor is the kitchen guys who literally YELL your name over the intercom system. It's priceless and they're super nice. This bar always seems to have a mixed crowd so the people watching is decent. Pool tables and and skee ball are a lot of fun after a few drinks. They have weekly specials so check it out!
(5)Andy C.
This place is hard to beat. Cheap drinks that are poured generously, pool tables, and a great slightly hidden location... However, their food gets a nod from me. Their sushi grade tuna sandwich is amazing!!!
(4)Ben S.
When I'm in a new town, I like to try to jump around to plenty of different, highly-touted spots to get a feel for the city, its people, its style, its quirks, and its general personality. The reliable Yelp patrol paints some very helpful recommendations, and I like to pick and choose the spots that seem most promising, then get in, check them out over a beer and maybe a meal, and ramble on to the next place to keep seeing more. The Back Door made me want to stay put all night, and I felt like that said a lot (and not just because we out-of-towners went all the way around the wrong side of the Mid-City Mall to find the entrance). My friends and I were drinking well (and cheaply), throwing darts, laughing and bending elbows with some locals, playing some pool, and just generally enjoying ourselves something mighty the entire time we were here. After a couple of hours, feeling like we should continue on to discover more places, we moseyed around Bardstown some more, but didn't match the earlier fun. We should have stuck around - one star deduction for me, but Back Door gets all five. I'll know better next time - The Back Door was easily my favorite bar in Louisville.
(5)Brian B.
I never regret a trip to the Back Door. Well, sometimes the next morning. There's no place on earth that pours stiffer drinks for such an affordable price. A wide variety of folks stroll through the doors, making this a prime spot for people watching. The food is surprisingly good, there's a whole separate area for playing pool and there's even Skeeball. I mean, come on. Huge, cheap pours of bourbon and Skeeball. What else do you need?
(5)Ghia W.
6 pool tables 75 cents per game, 2 roller ball game machine for fifty cents. Pretty cool bar.. They play nice cool country or slow rock music. They have tv and definitely if you need to go watch the football game with your friends. They have tables in the front where the main bar is and they have table where the pool tables are. Its a pretty busy bar on weekends. People like this place because the drinks are pretty cheap.. People that are playing are cool. Lots of pretty girls playing hanging around, drinking lol. Food: Their tater tots is amazing!! The cheese inside in it is the bomb! Def try the original chicken wings.
(4)Emily E.
Meh. Atmosphere is nothing to write home about and kind of out of the way. Being from out of town, I'm not sure why this place was so highly touted. Would suggest a quick beer here.
(3)John R.
Ok, I guess. I'm kinda indifferent about the Back Door. And that make me less likely to recommend it to friends. But it's ok, if you don't have high expectations for a bar. To it's credit, the backdoor is the best place in the city (in my opinion) to go play pool. You can get a pool table a lot easier than any other pool bar I've been to. There's also a lot of seating. Patio outside, lots of booths, seats near the pool tables, etc. It also has skeeball and arcade games. However, the bartenders tend to be AS SLOW AS MOLASSES. It's unbelievable. And it's harder than it should be to get a drink. When you go to other better bars that attract a larger crowd, bartenders are constantly moving, constantly getting multiple drinks ready at the same time. These bartenders are all older and slower. And that isn't a problem in and of itself. They just don't seem to be eager to serve the customer, and it shows. The drinks are reasonably priced, though. And you can spend a few hours in there playing pool and hanging out on the patio and time will fly by. The food is good enough to satisfy me. And I have no other major complaints. I just hate bars that don't put the customer experience first. And it seems the Back Door would prefer people just play pool and never bother them with drink orders.
(3)April F.
Great dive bar.. I was in town for the night and found this place to have a drink at. Great service, bartenders were great. Great drink prices. Will for sure stop in again if I come back through.
(5)Jenna B.
We came here Friday night with some friends. It was slammin busy. But the bartenders were kicking ass and slingin strong drinks to all us thirsty sinners! Bar food, simple menu, everything I have tried is good- wings, poppers, nachos. All tasty and not overpriced. They have a patio for all the naughty smokers too lol.
(5)Megan F.
So, it's a typical Saturday night and a group of us are debating over a few different places to go. There may be four or five other options on the table but invariably someone hates this bar or that bar and then...it happens: someone suggests the Back Door. It's like pulling the Helen Keller card while playing Apples to Apples--the game is won. Everyone can get on board with the Back Door. No matter what your scene, age, race, orientation, etc., you're welcome at this dive. It's spacious, has awesome bar food and there are no worries about parking. But, let's be honest, the real reason no one turns away from this bar is because drinks are strong and cheap. $2.75 nightly specials!?! Unheard of except for Cahoots, but that's another story. Thanks to Jessica C. for mentioning the lemon drop! After reading that review and talking to the bartender, he made me a mixed drink version of the shooter that was fabulous and only $6.50. It had Three Olives Rangtang Vodka, lemon wedges, sugar and another kind of liquor whose name is escaping me at the moment...
(5)Meghan K.
Great neighborhood bar. The Back Door is delightfully unpretentious and attracts a diverse crowd. The kitchen is open late and prepares some of the best bar food in town. Nothing fancy, but cheap (strong) drinks, great wings, and a heated patio will continue to draw me back to The Back Door over and over again.
(5)Jasmine A.
Gotta love the Back Door. Great food and stiff drinks for cheap prices. Plus its a great place to play pool, darts, or just sit around with a group of friends and people watch. It certainly has a diverse crowd. I highly recommend the Back Door Bloody Mary. It's $5.75, served in a pint glass and has quite the kick. Happy Hour is 4pm - 8pm daily and you can get: $2.75 wells, $6.75 domestic pitchers, and $2.75 domestic pints. They also have additional drink specials nightly. $3.50 Jim Beam on Wed and the same price for Absolut Vodka on Sundays. This is one of my favorite spots to being out of town guests. There's a crowd every night of the week and its usually packed on the weekends.
(5)Jessica C.
This is a FAV of hubs and I. . . . TWO WORDS- LEMON DROP. (Did you get that? Lemon drop. As in, the shot. They make them home-made. Chilled vodka with about 20 real lemon wedges squeezed in and a sugar packet. And about as cheap as a drink will come. They are my favorite shot period!) I am defintely NOT a 4th street live kinda girl, and I love the smaller places where you can talk, hear people, hang out, and have a good adult beverage. Back Door is the place to accomplish this. Plus it is fun to try and match the paintings on the wall of real people to the "regulars" who are always there. . .
(5)Rachel E.
Hard for us to find-we managed though lol. Cider on tap, homemade chips, and a surprisingly awesome grilled cheese. Plus they donated 100% of food sales one night to The Arrow Fund, which helps abused animals :).
(5)Amanda D.
This place reminds me of 'Cheers' a place to go where everybody knows your name, not to mention all the faces on the wall start to look familiar after a while! Great food and I've never had a problem with getting it fast even on a Saturday. It's just a great anyone goes bar. There's a patio for smokers or people who like to be outside, pool tables and booths for the reserved folks and they have two sets of restrooms for each! I hate when I have to go and there's a line, never a problem here. Drinks are cheap and the staff are friendly. Bring the friends here if anywhere. Open til 4a.
(5)Corey O.
Incredibly rude bartenders. Smoky. Overpriced bar food. Mean mugs and shoulder shrugs. Waited 22 min for a beer. And yes ....I timed it.
(2)Rakesh G.
This is a great late night spot with solid food and cheap beer. Nothing special, lots of pool tables and a good location put it up to a solid 4 stars.
(4)Kate V.
As an update to my first, sub-par review, I have now decided that the Back Door is A-OK by me. I went with a few friends last Friday night and it was busy, but not as horribly packed as I had encountered it before, and I had a really tasty cheeseburger. Still not my favorite place in town, but it's growing on me, and I know that inevitably, I will be back.
(3)Melanie K.
Rinse and Repeat Review. After glancing over the other reviews, I can see that many Yelpers feel the same about this local water hole. So just like when you need that extra push to decide if you want to leave your partner or not...let's weigh the pro's and cons. PRO-Strong Drinks for Cheap CON-Good Luck finding someone to serve you. PRO- Outdoor Patio CON- Smoking on Patio, which leaks in, which saturates whatever outfit you are wearing PRO-Local spot, no 20 something clubbers here CON-A ton of other people looking for the same environment. Over crowded and hard to find a seat or a server. PRO-Located in the Highlands with an actual parking lot CON- Located in an alley with trashcan's decorating the sides. Now it's up to you if you really still love them or if it's time to move on to a better bar. I know this place will still be around, because they do appeal to a large no drama crowd. I think for me though, I need to find a bar of my own (see Meat Review), this one is already taken.
(3)Mike T.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ANGRY ORCHARD ON TAP!!!! :) needs to be a bit cooler...but cant complain too bad...drinks are lethal and cheap and Sean the door guy is awesome! The food is pretty dag on AWESOME! love this place and the atmosphere is always fantastic, other than the occasional East End D-BAG in a Oxford sweater rolls in and attempts to be the loudest obnoxious idiot in the bar....
(4)Kayla B.
More of a college bar. Went here to try and play a round of pool, but tables were taken up by young couples who preferred to cuddle rather than play. Would retry again, it had fair drink prices.
(3)Sarah W.
All the reviewers have been dead on - the Back Door is a fun, easy going bar with super cheap drinks and a diverse crowd. Before Louisville's smoking ban, I probably would have ranked them a lot higher because they are exactly what I look for in a dive bar. Alas, they are the only bar left in Louisville where I still leave stinking of smoke. If you smoke, you'll love it, but if you don't, it's a big disappointment compared to the rest of the city.
(3)Ann K.
I LOVE this place! It is a HOOTY HOOTY HOOT!
(5)Ryan C.
This is one of the few places where you will find a hodgepodge, yes a hodgepodge, of all walks of life coming in. You have your regulars and your new comers, young (21 and over of course) and old, slackers, yuppies, professional and non professional, all races, etc... It's nothing fancy, but it works well. The drinks are cheap and not watered down. No, it's not a place to take your date to! However, if you are seeking a comfortable place with a group of friends or to mingle and meet new new people it's great place to go. Several pool tables, small room with a games, a fireplace and outdoor seating for you smokers! Typical bar food.
(4)Kyle M.
This bar has always been referred to as a staging ground by myself and friends. Why? Because when you're wanting to tear Bardstown road up on a Friday or Saturday night, you can ALWAYS count on The Backdoor to serve great, strong drinks for a very decent price. What do I mean by great? Imagine getting a 7 and 7 and literally two thirds of the sucker is nothing but pure booze. Yeah, perhaps it's a little excessive, but you definitely don't see the people there complaining. And of course this goes on without mentioning the great pool and darts they have there as well. Whether you're looking for a casual drink, or ramping up a night of debauchery, The Backdoor hits the spot. Fake Edit: This place is also great for late night food. Great proportions for very decent prices. If you haven't been here, don't let the name phase you, its awesome.
(4)Victor B.
I love this place. It's typical, casual, and most of all American! Had a couple drinks when I was there last time. But seriously, nothing is more fun than getting wasted on a Friday night. BEST PARTY EVER
(5)Ann E. F.
This is by far the best bar in Louisville...try the bloody Mary and veggie burger!
(5)Mari G.
This place has a lot of character. Perfect for a night with friends. A night where you planned to get hammered and walk home (thank God we live in the Highlands.) Consistent with the other reviews, the drinks are strong, and the crowd is diverse. The pool tables are fun too, if you're into that. I appreciate the drink specials and fried food that always seems like a good idea after 3 or 5 beers.
(3)Sarah R.
One important ratio: low prices/stiff drinks. The outcome? Best dive bar ever, and this is coming from a non-dive-bar-kinda-girl. When my husband suggested we meet friends at Back Door, I immediately put on my "ummm...I don't know how I feel about dive bars" face (if there is such an expression). Having visited some other similar places about Louisville, I know that scene isn't my prime place. But I went, on the promise of cheap drinks and a good crowd. I was so wrong. Man, was I really wrong. The place is actually pretty spacious, well ventilated, and with a diverse crowd. I was happy to see locals intermingling with students. Bikers with hipsters. Older folks and younger folks. The bar staff is nice and quick, and their pours are the heaviest in town. They usually have a few sports games on, and there's food (good food, too!) We loved sitting outside during the summer, and we love sitting inside. That particular night, we ended up staying three hours or so, and I'd go back in a heartbeat. This place is really a gem, so don't let the outside look or the location fool you into going somewhere else. It's the perfect place for a group of friends to go, get a cheap drink, and actually hear each other talk. A win in my book!
(5)Josh E.
They make the drinks extra sting extra strong with that sting. I make it a priority to tip accordingly. The best place to play pool with buddies too. Maybe one day I'll have my portrait retired up. Highly unlikely but I'm just calling a spade a spade here. It's well drinks but the prices are reasonable. I don't typically eat the food although I have. Circumstances prompted such but at any rate, no complaints.
(5)Leslie W.
I've been going to The Back Door for more years than I can to think about. It's an institution like the Outlook Inn just down the street. Having a long history with this establishment, I value it for what it is - a dive bar (or a local, if you prefer posher titles). The Back Door has been consistent for me over the years with strong & economical pours, good bar food, and nice folks. Does it get crowded? Yep. Does it sometimes seem like you may never get to the bar? Oh, yeah. Do the booming, food announcements sometimes scare the hell out of me by their intense, volume levels? Sure do. Having said that, this is the Highlands. Bars get loud. On most weekends and event/game nights, you should expect a crowd and a wait. What you should not expect, and rarely get for that matter, are food & drink prices this low in this neighborhood. No, The Back Door isn't the cleanest and the ambiance is nothing special - kind of dark, man cave meets basement wreck room. What you get is a bunch of people enjoying games of pool, sports on TV, or conversation with friends while enjoying stiff drinks and tasty food for a reasonable price. There are spots the the Highlands that I patronize for their lovely aesthetics and expert mixology. This isn't one of those places. Appreciate The Back Door for what it does well and you'll understand these four stars.
(4)Roger C.
Good food.cheap drinks. Somewhat dark inside. Service slow sometimes but overall a great little hangout.
(3)Samantha F.
I love this place! Within walking distance and great music and beer prices
(4)Nick P.
Best bar in Louisville. They have cheap, strong drinks. Seriously, the bar tenders pour heavy here, it's great. The food is also among the best bar food in town. The fajita-dilla is delicious, the wings are delicious, the nachos are delicious. It's all incredible. They also have a really big outdoor patio (they enclose it and heat it in the winter). They have ski-ball, darts and a good number of pool tables. This will always be my go to bar. Forever.
(5)Amanda W.
This was my third time being here. Staff is friendly, drinks are great, and the food is great. I love the atmosphere, nice area for outside smoking. The only thing I don't like is having to wait forever to get to play pool. We celebrated a friends birthday here last night, and we couldn't have picked a better place.
(4)Mihir K.
Dive bar. Yes, as dIvey as a dive Bbar can get. Bad Smell - Check. Beer Selection - Very good. Check. Lots and lots of liquor - Check. Cheap - Double Check!! Food - Usual bar fare, but surprisingly tasty quesadilla. Check. Finding the place is a little tricky, because its literally a back door to a mall, next to all the dumpsters in an alley. You get the picture. It was fun watching OKC Thunder beat Miami.
(4)Candace B.
Apparently I was one of the only people on this site that had a bad experience here. The vibe was nice at first but I went on a weekday on my friends 21st birthday and one of the bartenders kicked us out for no good reason. I'm not sure maybe they thought we had fake IDs or that my friend had too much to drink but we were not acting inappropriate I will admit I was drunk and yelled a little as we left. But it dose not matter because I will never be going back there or suggesting this place to my friends.
(2)Jeff D.
I like cheap drinks and pretty girls. You get plenty of both here. I once paid for eight drinks for less than $25. That's a steal. Did I mention the pretty girls? I wish Indy's dive bars were this attractive. I'm not sure I'd even call this a dive bar. The only issue is that it's so popular you sometimes have to wait a while for a drink. Have not tried the bar food, but it smells pretty good and they serve late. Bring a $20 and a good set of eyes and you'll be set for hours.
(5)Kathy V.
We came here for a friend's laid-back birthday deal (to play skee ball and have some drinks). We all got some food too, and I have to say, while it isn't going to be super fancy-schamncy stuff, I was impressed by it, considering the place. The burgers were quite good, and I heard good things from the others in the group regarding the wings. My only complaint about this particular evening was, considering that it was a Monday evening, and not particularly busy, (seriously...*maybe* 20 people in the bar area besides us...and the pool players weren't hogging up the bar or anything) that the service at the bar was strangely sluggish. Kind of annoying. But I'll get over it. Drinks were well made, though. So props to that!
(4)Jessica L.
I love that this place is within stumbling distance from my apartment, but we still don't go there too often. It is a Highlands gem, though. In that sort of way that you describe a dive bar as a "gem." The lower your expectations, the more pleased you'll be. There's always an interesting crowd; half of them are painted on the wall. Not the fastest service in the world, but the drinks are cheap and STRONG. Not the most nutritious options on the menu, but boy are they delicious. Especially the bombers.. I have dreams about them. Basically, if you like cheap, no-frills drinks and delicious, likely-fried food, the Back Door is for you.
(4)Angel T.
Looking for an awesome place to hang out? This truly is the place to be... The atmosphere is great, the people are respectful, the drinks are great... The bar food is awesome... Love this place...
(5)Taryn M.
Great local dive bar with good bar food and strong drinks! Pool and games make this place a great stop along your bar hop or a good place to chill all night. Just don't put your drinks down on the pool table or face the wrath of the pool police!
(4)Nadia N.
So... after a birthday dinner across the street, my friend said we were going to the bar for some drinks. She had been telling me about this bar for days. Said they made stiff drinks and they were cheap. So... of course... I was all in!!!! After trekking across the mall parking lot, we walk behind some building and up a ramp to god knows what kind of place. But hey, I'm not opposed to a good dive bar if it's worth it. So, we went in, id's were checked and we headed to the bar. Think we spent about $12 on three drinks and boyyyy was it strong! They don't skimp on the liquor at all. They've got bar food, tables and chairs, pool tables, and I think some arcade games. But... ummm divey may be a nice term for it. At the bar, as I am waiting for the drinks I'm taking off my coat and go to lean on the bar. Oops, dont do it! There's someone's nasty chewed up gum on the bar. I guess the place is popular, because it was packed. No problem, I can fit into almost anywhere. Except when there is no seating and a collection of shifty looking people in close proximity. Lol Okay, my anxiety may have gotten the best of me. However, I don't mind going back. It's a vibrant place and the energy is charged. The drinks are strong and the people aren't rude - whether or not they look appealing. Lol. I think with the right preparation (maybe some sanitizer on my part) I could have an almost drunken blast here.
(3)Merritt G.
The Back Door holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first bar I went to on my 21st birthday. The drinks are cheap, and they have hands down the best bar food in town. The pool tables are available if you go early on a weeknight. The place is often packed on the weekends and can feel like a meat market with all the frat guys around. Normally on the weekdays it is a pretty chill place. The BLT, chicken nachos, french fries, and pizza are all delicious. The servers are friendly, and will remember you if you come by often enough. The main bar up front has touch screen video games, and they are addictive. The outdoor patio (on the side of Mid CIty Mall) is fairly large, and partially heated in the winter. My only complaint is that as it is a dive bar, it is often not the cleanest place in the world, and I feel that detracts from the place a bit.
(4)Amanda D.
This place reminds me of 'Cheers' a place to go where everybody knows your name, not to mention all the faces on the wall start to look familiar after a while! Great food and I've never had a problem with getting it fast even on a Saturday. It's just a great anyone goes bar. There's a patio for smokers or people who like to be outside, pool tables and booths for the reserved folks and they have two sets of restrooms for each! I hate when I have to go and there's a line, never a problem here. Drinks are cheap and the staff are friendly. Bring the friends here if anywhere. Open til 4a.
(5)D h.
Big bar that is easy to get comfortable at. Fast bartenders that know how to do their job. Probably 20-25 stools. stone bar top with classic rail. Pipe foot rest. Cluttered bar back gives the back door tons of character. Opposite the bar are tons of lower eating tables and a large "liquor" mural. Back room contains pool tables & games. Not a ton of nice TVs, but enough to watch the game. Not easy to get to when walking, but plenty of parking. Compared to 4th street live, the back door is the greatest place on earth, but compared to the countless other options on bardstown, it's just average. Reasons for the 3-star rating.... - the outdoor patio. At first seems nice but smells like garbage. In fact, it is garbage since you are on the side of the bldg near the trash bins. - the other patrons. only been here a couple times and not late into the evening, but can imagine there are a few fights late into the evening (again, never seen one, but the white trash idiots doing shots at 9pm were looking for one). - the food. slightly below average bar food. but only ate here once, so maybe just a one-off mistake. will be back, too much character to avoid. may change rating in the future.
(3)Colleen W.
Delicious food and cheap drinks. It's the original neighborhood bar, with bartenders who've been there over 20 years. The back door is always a great time. It can get crowded on busy nights but you're guaranteed a great time!
(5)Andrew K.
Backdoor has some of the best bar food in town. If you've never been, then you should stop in, grab a beer, and order yourself a delicious plate of hot wings! Seriously they are some of the best. The prices range for food and drinks are reasonable. One of my favorite things about The Backdoor is the kitchen guys who literally YELL your name over the intercom system. It's priceless and they're super nice. This bar always seems to have a mixed crowd so the people watching is decent. Pool tables and and skee ball are a lot of fun after a few drinks. They have weekly specials so check it out!
(5)Andy C.
This place is hard to beat. Cheap drinks that are poured generously, pool tables, and a great slightly hidden location... However, their food gets a nod from me. Their sushi grade tuna sandwich is amazing!!!
(4)Sarah W.
All the reviewers have been dead on - the Back Door is a fun, easy going bar with super cheap drinks and a diverse crowd. Before Louisville's smoking ban, I probably would have ranked them a lot higher because they are exactly what I look for in a dive bar. Alas, they are the only bar left in Louisville where I still leave stinking of smoke. If you smoke, you'll love it, but if you don't, it's a big disappointment compared to the rest of the city.
(3)Ann K.
I LOVE this place! It is a HOOTY HOOTY HOOT!
(5)Ben S.
When I'm in a new town, I like to try to jump around to plenty of different, highly-touted spots to get a feel for the city, its people, its style, its quirks, and its general personality. The reliable Yelp patrol paints some very helpful recommendations, and I like to pick and choose the spots that seem most promising, then get in, check them out over a beer and maybe a meal, and ramble on to the next place to keep seeing more. The Back Door made me want to stay put all night, and I felt like that said a lot (and not just because we out-of-towners went all the way around the wrong side of the Mid-City Mall to find the entrance). My friends and I were drinking well (and cheaply), throwing darts, laughing and bending elbows with some locals, playing some pool, and just generally enjoying ourselves something mighty the entire time we were here. After a couple of hours, feeling like we should continue on to discover more places, we moseyed around Bardstown some more, but didn't match the earlier fun. We should have stuck around - one star deduction for me, but Back Door gets all five. I'll know better next time - The Back Door was easily my favorite bar in Louisville.
(5)Corey O.
Incredibly rude bartenders. Smoky. Overpriced bar food. Mean mugs and shoulder shrugs. Waited 22 min for a beer. And yes ....I timed it.
(2)Rakesh G.
This is a great late night spot with solid food and cheap beer. Nothing special, lots of pool tables and a good location put it up to a solid 4 stars.
(4)Megan F.
So, it's a typical Saturday night and a group of us are debating over a few different places to go. There may be four or five other options on the table but invariably someone hates this bar or that bar and then...it happens: someone suggests the Back Door. It's like pulling the Helen Keller card while playing Apples to Apples--the game is won. Everyone can get on board with the Back Door. No matter what your scene, age, race, orientation, etc., you're welcome at this dive. It's spacious, has awesome bar food and there are no worries about parking. But, let's be honest, the real reason no one turns away from this bar is because drinks are strong and cheap. $2.75 nightly specials!?! Unheard of except for Cahoots, but that's another story. Thanks to Jessica C. for mentioning the lemon drop! After reading that review and talking to the bartender, he made me a mixed drink version of the shooter that was fabulous and only $6.50. It had Three Olives Rangtang Vodka, lemon wedges, sugar and another kind of liquor whose name is escaping me at the moment...
(5)Meghan K.
Great neighborhood bar. The Back Door is delightfully unpretentious and attracts a diverse crowd. The kitchen is open late and prepares some of the best bar food in town. Nothing fancy, but cheap (strong) drinks, great wings, and a heated patio will continue to draw me back to The Back Door over and over again.
(5)Adam C.
Great bar that seems to be busy no matter when you go, which is a good sign. Drinks are reasonable, food is above average for bar food. Plenty of pool tables and tvs for big games. Wings are good, plenty of good sauces to choose from. Definitely a go to bar for any game if you just want to relax and watch the game.
(4)Jasmine A.
Gotta love the Back Door. Great food and stiff drinks for cheap prices. Plus its a great place to play pool, darts, or just sit around with a group of friends and people watch. It certainly has a diverse crowd. I highly recommend the Back Door Bloody Mary. It's $5.75, served in a pint glass and has quite the kick. Happy Hour is 4pm - 8pm daily and you can get: $2.75 wells, $6.75 domestic pitchers, and $2.75 domestic pints. They also have additional drink specials nightly. $3.50 Jim Beam on Wed and the same price for Absolut Vodka on Sundays. This is one of my favorite spots to being out of town guests. There's a crowd every night of the week and its usually packed on the weekends.
(5)Jessica C.
This is a FAV of hubs and I. . . . TWO WORDS- LEMON DROP. (Did you get that? Lemon drop. As in, the shot. They make them home-made. Chilled vodka with about 20 real lemon wedges squeezed in and a sugar packet. And about as cheap as a drink will come. They are my favorite shot period!) I am defintely NOT a 4th street live kinda girl, and I love the smaller places where you can talk, hear people, hang out, and have a good adult beverage. Back Door is the place to accomplish this. Plus it is fun to try and match the paintings on the wall of real people to the "regulars" who are always there. . .
(5)Rachel E.
Hard for us to find-we managed though lol. Cider on tap, homemade chips, and a surprisingly awesome grilled cheese. Plus they donated 100% of food sales one night to The Arrow Fund, which helps abused animals :).
(5)Kate V.
As an update to my first, sub-par review, I have now decided that the Back Door is A-OK by me. I went with a few friends last Friday night and it was busy, but not as horribly packed as I had encountered it before, and I had a really tasty cheeseburger. Still not my favorite place in town, but it's growing on me, and I know that inevitably, I will be back.
(3)Ryan C.
This is one of the few places where you will find a hodgepodge, yes a hodgepodge, of all walks of life coming in. You have your regulars and your new comers, young (21 and over of course) and old, slackers, yuppies, professional and non professional, all races, etc... It's nothing fancy, but it works well. The drinks are cheap and not watered down. No, it's not a place to take your date to! However, if you are seeking a comfortable place with a group of friends or to mingle and meet new new people it's great place to go. Several pool tables, small room with a games, a fireplace and outdoor seating for you smokers! Typical bar food.
(4)Melanie K.
Rinse and Repeat Review. After glancing over the other reviews, I can see that many Yelpers feel the same about this local water hole. So just like when you need that extra push to decide if you want to leave your partner or not...let's weigh the pro's and cons. PRO-Strong Drinks for Cheap CON-Good Luck finding someone to serve you. PRO- Outdoor Patio CON- Smoking on Patio, which leaks in, which saturates whatever outfit you are wearing PRO-Local spot, no 20 something clubbers here CON-A ton of other people looking for the same environment. Over crowded and hard to find a seat or a server. PRO-Located in the Highlands with an actual parking lot CON- Located in an alley with trashcan's decorating the sides. Now it's up to you if you really still love them or if it's time to move on to a better bar. I know this place will still be around, because they do appeal to a large no drama crowd. I think for me though, I need to find a bar of my own (see Meat Review), this one is already taken.
(3)Mike T.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ANGRY ORCHARD ON TAP!!!! :) needs to be a bit cooler...but cant complain too bad...drinks are lethal and cheap and Sean the door guy is awesome! The food is pretty dag on AWESOME! love this place and the atmosphere is always fantastic, other than the occasional East End D-BAG in a Oxford sweater rolls in and attempts to be the loudest obnoxious idiot in the bar....
(4)Rachel F.
Car ride over: Elizabeth: "This will be my first time to the back door." Alex "I've never been to the back door either." Me: "Really? How have you guys not gone yet?" Laughter. Funny funny guys. This time I'll start with why they lost the final star. Getting a drink on a Saturday night sucks. No table service, which is no biggie - it is a dive. But the lines all around the bar are constant and even if you can get right up to the bar, you are looking at a good 15-30 minutes. For a beer. That's obnoxious. Okay, so now that the negative is out of the way, let's focus on the positive. To be so packed at the bar, there was actually still usually a table or two open. This is not your average dive with one room and 5 tables. A large front room with the bar and a bunch of tables, second room with the foosball and skeeball and more tables and then a big back room that is the pool hall. Also found the setting great with our large group of people that kept changing up. The noise level and music level were perfect for chatting but still had a good energy to it. Pretty sweet little back entrance to the bar in the pool area too, but still going to take a while. Though I did love that one of my friends got a round for 8, because hell, while you're at it might as well, and they gave him a box of cold high lifes to carry over - like Santa and his elves with a box full of goodies. Classy and awesome. 2.75 rum specials reminded me how overly sweet rum is (though I gladly accepted the price!) and my 5.50 Maker's and Ginger was Maaaaaker's and Ging. So definitely stiff drinks for when you're in a tight spot at the back door. Get it?
(4)Kayla B.
More of a college bar. Went here to try and play a round of pool, but tables were taken up by young couples who preferred to cuddle rather than play. Would retry again, it had fair drink prices.
(3)John R.
Ok, I guess. I'm kinda indifferent about the Back Door. And that make me less likely to recommend it to friends. But it's ok, if you don't have high expectations for a bar. To it's credit, the backdoor is the best place in the city (in my opinion) to go play pool. You can get a pool table a lot easier than any other pool bar I've been to. There's also a lot of seating. Patio outside, lots of booths, seats near the pool tables, etc. It also has skeeball and arcade games. However, the bartenders tend to be AS SLOW AS MOLASSES. It's unbelievable. And it's harder than it should be to get a drink. When you go to other better bars that attract a larger crowd, bartenders are constantly moving, constantly getting multiple drinks ready at the same time. These bartenders are all older and slower. And that isn't a problem in and of itself. They just don't seem to be eager to serve the customer, and it shows. The drinks are reasonably priced, though. And you can spend a few hours in there playing pool and hanging out on the patio and time will fly by. The food is good enough to satisfy me. And I have no other major complaints. I just hate bars that don't put the customer experience first. And it seems the Back Door would prefer people just play pool and never bother them with drink orders.
(3)April F.
Great dive bar.. I was in town for the night and found this place to have a drink at. Great service, bartenders were great. Great drink prices. Will for sure stop in again if I come back through.
(5)Jenna B.
We came here Friday night with some friends. It was slammin busy. But the bartenders were kicking ass and slingin strong drinks to all us thirsty sinners! Bar food, simple menu, everything I have tried is good- wings, poppers, nachos. All tasty and not overpriced. They have a patio for all the naughty smokers too lol.
(5)Kyle M.
This bar has always been referred to as a staging ground by myself and friends. Why? Because when you're wanting to tear Bardstown road up on a Friday or Saturday night, you can ALWAYS count on The Backdoor to serve great, strong drinks for a very decent price. What do I mean by great? Imagine getting a 7 and 7 and literally two thirds of the sucker is nothing but pure booze. Yeah, perhaps it's a little excessive, but you definitely don't see the people there complaining. And of course this goes on without mentioning the great pool and darts they have there as well. Whether you're looking for a casual drink, or ramping up a night of debauchery, The Backdoor hits the spot. Fake Edit: This place is also great for late night food. Great proportions for very decent prices. If you haven't been here, don't let the name phase you, its awesome.
(4)Victor B.
I love this place. It's typical, casual, and most of all American! Had a couple drinks when I was there last time. But seriously, nothing is more fun than getting wasted on a Friday night. BEST PARTY EVER
(5)Ann E. F.
This is by far the best bar in Louisville...try the bloody Mary and veggie burger!
(5)Josh K.
Really great place for fairly cheap drinks, playing pool and hanging out with your friends. I don't know if this is what I consider a dive but it certainly isn't a snotty ritzy place either. The atmosphere is warm, people seem to have fun, not too many restrictions. There is a decent menu for drinks. In terms of food, as far as I know it's mostly typical bar food but still tasty. Would def recommend.
(4)Layne M.
Amazing place, I wouldn't change one thing about it. Drinks are cheap and magical. Service is awesome. Fellow barmates are diverse and interesting. The food is absolutely amazing also. We've actually gone here just to eat many times now, without even ordering a drink. The food is worth it. Burger is amazing, and so is the black bean burger. Sides are really good too, all of them I've tried.
(5)Doug H.
cheap, strong drinks. nuff said. a genuine louisville bar. a welcome break from many bardstown bars in the area.
(5)Cinimod S.
Have I reviewed this place already? Nope, thats just the three day stupor fogging the memories (or lack thereof) of my nights and following days. I can't remembering leaving this bar unimpaired. Strong drinks at cheap prices.
(4)Eve V.
This is a bar's bar. Not stuffy, or pretentious, nor seething with hipster doofus scenesters whining about the juke selection. Your uncle or your kid brother would both feel welcome here. Cheap cheap booze, pretty decent bar food ( excellent wings) and AWESOME service. This place is great for a group, but the sort if bar you can slither into alone and someone will yammer with you so you don't feel stupid being alone.
(4)Mari G.
This place has a lot of character. Perfect for a night with friends. A night where you planned to get hammered and walk home (thank God we live in the Highlands.) Consistent with the other reviews, the drinks are strong, and the crowd is diverse. The pool tables are fun too, if you're into that. I appreciate the drink specials and fried food that always seems like a good idea after 3 or 5 beers.
(3)Michael P.
These reviews are all pretty right on. Lest we forget the awesome barkeeps, though. Every time I go, the bar is staffed with very friendly, very southern middle-aged ladies who pour the drinks strong, call you "sugar," but will beat an ass or two if circumstances should yield such a response. Expect to get buttered for under $20.
(4)Andrew K.
A comfortable dive bar loved by many with REALLY affordable boozing, i.e. Absolut flavored martinis for less than $3 and whisky drinks for $2.25. There are friendly, slightly creepy, old men with long grey beards (reminiscent of Santa Claus after Jenny Craig), lots of space for pool, darts, and foosball. And, the waffle fries were delish. The place stays open late. The bartendresses were mid-fifties, frosted-haired Southern women who looked more like dental hygentists than bar people. Overall, a taste of Louisville.
(3)Cynthia D.
This is a place where you go to get sloshed. Tanked. Wasted. Toasty. Whatever you want to call it, cheap drinks poured very strongly. Cozy area near a fireplace can feel like home if you are so inclined. Pool tables for those who partake in such a thing. Not a secular crowd in any way. You'll find the young, old, beautiful, ugly, poor, rich, unemployed, and every other walk of life panning up to the bar to get their drink on. This is a great departure from some other nightlife which you practically need a secret membership card just to show up. Go here, and take a designated driver and $20. You'll like it, and you'll have a hangover the next day to prove it.
(5)Victoria T.
The kind of bar that only happens over time and by accident. Well drinks are cheap enough to allow the hardcore drinkers to stay all day (and night). Call drinks are available (but expect to be called "princess"). Food is of the standard deep fried variety.
(4)Rebecca S.
Not my favorite bar. First the positives...strong drinks at a cheap price. Great location with lots of parking in an often over-crowded Bardstown area. The drawbacks...overcrowded, loud, STINKY. Somehow I left absolutley reaking of smoke, having sat inside the smoke-free bar the entire time. Lastly, there is no table service so it's a big "free-for-all" mess. We left after one drink and the thought of fighting for a second round didn't even cross my mind. If you are hoping to enjoy an evening with good friends and great conversation, this is probably not the place to go.
(2)Brandon B.
Drink liquor here. Heavy pours and cheap. The crowd was a good mix of people. It was a great place to watch a game, they have a projector and large screen in the back. They have Golden Tee too.
(4)Mary R.
Over time, The Back Door (aka the Crack Whore) has become my favorite place to get shit-faced. It has a diverse clientele, with crusty old regulars perched at the bar, prematurely cirrhotic thirty-somethings huddled in booths, and even a handful of newly minted 21-year-olds occasionally breaching the crowd. Translation: there is both the opportunity for fascinating people-watching and random, entertaining interaction. Drinks are cheap and strong and there's a new special every day--if you don't mind swill, you can often catch a well drink for $2.50. Personally, I don't mind paying the $3.25 or $3.50 for something less asstastic. Another reason I am so fond of the Back Door is that I frequently travel in a pack, and it is one of the most accommodating bars for large groups. In addition to a lengthy bar, there are two large open rooms (one with pool tables), a smaller back room, and additional seating out on the deck. There's also a kitchen that serves up a variety of fried goodness that you should only touch after massive alcohol consumption. In case of emergency, I recommend the sampler platter, which is a big brown pile of fried mushrooms, cheesesticks, jalapenos, jalapeno poppers, wontons, and just about anything else they turn up in the kitchen. I do have one complaint: a while back, they performed some renovations and installed some TVs, at least one of which seems to be totally devoted to advertising and some sort of music system that plays crap rock (i.e., music that makes you want to take a dump) including waaay too many '90s ballads. The TVs are incredibly annoying and distracting, and come on, do I really want to chug whiskey to the Counting Crows?
(5)Vicky A.
Great food, great atmosphere and a great place to enjoy yourself (smile!) The Back Door is one of the favorite hangouts of my A.B.E Girls and I. Check the place out---it's worth every penny you'll spend (smile!)
(4)Kelly B.
Always a good, casual stand-by. Each time I come (which averages about once a year), the place seems to have a few more patrons and *new* renovations. But the drink prices never seem to increase and the vibe remains low-key. Definitely a keeper.
(4)Johnny L.
Best wings on bardstown road.
(5)Sarah W.
Loved the drink specials. The large number of pool tables, tvs and other things to do was great. The music was not too loud. Everything in a bar that I like. Great service. The people were friendly and widely assorted.
(5)Shannon D.
This place is pretty amazing. I'm here more than I like to admit only because it is close to my home. They have CHEAP STRONG DRINKS and what I consider one of the best people watching spots in Louisville. What I love most about this place is there really isn't a "scene". You will find anyone and everyone from the freshly new 21 year olds to the old regulars with their guts pressed up against the bar and every kind in-between. I always have a good time when I go there. I'm always laughing up a storm and having fun when it's busy and always meeting decent nice folks to talk to when its slow. The bartenders are friendly and it really is "like a box of chocolates". Thank you Back Door for keeping me on my toes.
(5)dave w.
love this place. in college, i used to get loaded on 2 dollar vodka + juice nights. great mix of people, always a good time!
(5)Amelia P.
Really good grilled cheese; really cheap drinks. I spotted "the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my whole life" here once. He was so good looking it made me nauseated. In a kinda good way. Alas he has never appeared again, nor has a man his equal ever been spotted........
(5)Samantha F.
The drinks are strong and decently priced. The crowd really isn't for me, but my husband loves it. Other people must too because it is often hard to find a place to sit! Bartenders are friendly and husband says the wings are really tasty!
(4)The N.
In 2002, cool little bar. Now just a trendy hangout. Takes for ever for a drink. Loud. Almost as many "bouncers" as bartenders. Slow. Slow. Slow!!!!
(2)Christopher S.
So....I'm apparently a regular at The Back Door, and I'm not completely sure how I feel about that! HAHA Actually, The Back Door is very low key, the drinks are cheap, and the food is good. It's the perfect place to just sit back and enjoy conversation with a friend. The crowd is diverse, and it is usually fun to listen to the conversations going on around me. If I don't want to spend a fortune to hang out with someone for the evening, The Back Door is the place to be.
(4)Bruce E.
i'm always surprised at how many people really like this place. It's disgusting it's old it's outdated the people are rude the food is horrible. If that's the kind atmosphere you like go for it.
(1)Brian B.
I never regret a trip to the Back Door. Well, sometimes the next morning. There's no place on earth that pours stiffer drinks for such an affordable price. A wide variety of folks stroll through the doors, making this a prime spot for people watching. The food is surprisingly good, there's a whole separate area for playing pool and there's even Skeeball. I mean, come on. Huge, cheap pours of bourbon and Skeeball. What else do you need?
(5)Ghia W.
6 pool tables 75 cents per game, 2 roller ball game machine for fifty cents. Pretty cool bar.. They play nice cool country or slow rock music. They have tv and definitely if you need to go watch the football game with your friends. They have tables in the front where the main bar is and they have table where the pool tables are. Its a pretty busy bar on weekends. People like this place because the drinks are pretty cheap.. People that are playing are cool. Lots of pretty girls playing hanging around, drinking lol. Food: Their tater tots is amazing!! The cheese inside in it is the bomb! Def try the original chicken wings.
(4)Emily E.
Meh. Atmosphere is nothing to write home about and kind of out of the way. Being from out of town, I'm not sure why this place was so highly touted. Would suggest a quick beer here.
(3)Alex H.
I have never had a bad experience at the back door. On the bustling weekends when everyone is out partying and looking to get drunk (not that you can' do that here as well) the Back Door seems immune. That is one of it's best features. It is a quiet place to escape with good prices on wings (they are good too) and beer and to play a little pool while bardstown road descends into madness just outside it's doors. Don't come here if you are looking for a party, Come here if you are looking for a nice night out with a few friends in a inviting atmosphere. The staff is absolutely awesome and professional. PS: I also recommend the loaded potato skins.
(5)Trinnis M.
First time being in a bar in Louisville, and it was interesting. Impressively they served pitchers of Sierra Nevada and a pack a cigarettes for a reasonable price. Many pool tables to choose from. The bathroom is quite small, but the friendly bartenders make up for it.
(3)Kristie T.
Last night was my third time being there. The crowd is always very large which tells you it's a great place. The prices are right and there is plenty of space for large groups. I've tried a few bites of several different meals and they were all pretty good. Found out last night you can get homemade chips for $1! This was a large enough serving to satisfy three of us. They were so good too. I forgot to take a photo. I love PBR and they have it on tap.
(4)Brooke P.
Dive bars are not always my scene, but The Back Door is exceptional. We got a pitcher of PBR for less than $10, in a comfy booth to watch some Monday Night Football. It pulled a relatively diverse crowd, and despite its nondescript location on an alley, it had a welcoming vibe inside. And the jerky man is there... will be back.
(4)