Broadbent Arena – Bar Crawl

The Broadbent Arena is attached to the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. There are hundreds of events taking place on these grounds throughout the year. These venues host many events, from sports tournaments in the Broadbent Arena to car shows, horse shows, and conferences in the exposition center.

Events at the venue provide guests with amazing experiences. However, don’t limit yourself by staying at the Broadbent Arena. When you’re in a city like Louisville, you want to get out and explore. This city is nicknamed “Bourbon City” because of its spirit and creative energy. Of course, there’s also some pretty awesome micro-distilleries and craft cocktail bars out there. To help you get a taste of that fun-loving spirit, we’ve constructed this bar crawl that takes you toward the heart of Louisville.

Some of the bars in this bar crawl are within walking distance of one another, but others require you to use a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft or other forms of public transportation.

Hideaway Saloon

Our first stop is Hideaway Saloon, which is about five miles from the Broadbent Arena. This is an excellent bar for those who enjoy gaming. When this establishment first opened in 1996, it was designed to be perfect for the lifestyle of a traveling musician. While the bar still hosts some live music performances, it has mostly transformed into a bar dedicated to gaming.

As you enjoy a cold beer, you have plenty of gaming options available. You can decide to play a traditional bar game, such as pool, darts, or even table tennis, or you can go new school and hop on one of their gaming consoles. The Hideaway Saloon has the Original Nintendo Entertainment System, Gamecube, Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Unlike many arcade bars, all of their games are completely free to play.

Holy Grale

Holy Grale is up next on this bar crawl. You can either use a ridesharing service to take a four-minute drive over or take a 24-minute walk. If gaming isn’t an interest of yours and you decide to begin your night at Holy Grale instead, it is a 14-minute drive from the Broadbent Arena.

This building was once a Unitarian Church that has been converted into a craft beer bar. There are 27 beers on tap that rotate throughout the year. They also sell a small collection of ciders and wines.

If you did not eat before heading out on this bar crawl, we suggest ordering food at Holy Grale. They serve classic European dishes, such as mushroom risotto and pork schnitzel sandwiches. The kitchen uses seasonal, local ingredients, so the menu is subject to change daily in order to provide the freshest food for patrons.

Nachbar

Nachbar is up next. This bar dates back to the 1930s and much of its old character is still present. To reach this quaint watering hole, use a ridesharing service. It will be about a six-minute drive over to Germantown. Nachbar is actually closer to the Broadbent Arena than the previous two bars, but it is moving you closer toward dynamic Downtown Louisville.

This laid-back bar has a wide selection of beers on tap and in bottles for reasonable prices. Grab a table or a seat at the bar and listen to the tunes playing on the jukebox while you drink. On Wednesdays, live jazz bands come to perform. As the weather gets warmer, more bands frequent Nachbar, setting up on the outdoor stage. This is also a dog-friendly establishment, so you’ll likely see some furry friends hanging out in the fenced-in backyard.

Kaiju

Staying in Germantown, walk six minutes over to Kaiju. Upon entering, you’ll immediately notice the funky decor as paintings of monsters appear on the walls. Don’t be intimidated though! This bar is all about having a good time with live music and comedy shows throughout the month.

Kaiju serves craft beers, both draft and bottle; wines, and specialty cocktails, so guests have a great selection to choose from. Some favorites are the Colt 45 Brass Monkey, Monte Alban Margarita, Old Forester Kentucky Mule, and New Amsterdam Vodka Hard Yoohoo. As you enjoy one of their specialty drinks, you can play a game of pool.

Third Street Dive

Now you’re really moving away from the Broadbent Arena and into Downtown Louisville with your next destination, Third Street Dive. This bar is an eight-minute drive from Kaiju.

This is a true dive bar with pool, pinball, live music, and draft beers. Since this is a later stop on the bar crawl, you’ve probably loosened up enough to take a stab at karaoke. Jam out and party it up with the local crowd.

Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar

The final stop is Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar, which is a 15-minute walk from Third Street Dive. This destination is the farthest you will be from the Broadbent Arena all night. You can spot this bar by the glowing guitar shape sign that hangs above the door. When you enter, you are greeted with a warm welcome and are in good company, making you feel right at home!

Originally this bar was solely a venue for blues musicians, but with an ever-changing diverse customer base and music culture, you can find blues, jazz, rock, funk, and Motown performances six nights a week. The bar prides itself on being a place where music can thrive. Guests can dance on a large dancefloor or sit at the bar and listen to music. To cool off, you can head out to the Voodoo Garden.

Drink wise, there is a variety of beers and a range of liquors. Stevie Ray’s creates specialty cocktails, and they boast about their cocktails being the best in Louisville, so you should give them a try. Some of these cocktails include a gin and vodka martini, Stevie Ray’s Zesty Bloody Mary, Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned, and Stevie Ray’s Spanish Russian.

Once you’ve had your fill of drinking and dancing, it’s time to call it a night and head back to your hotel. After completing this bar crawl through various Louisville neighborhoods, you have a sense of that Bourbon City spirit and Southern hospitality. Now it’s time for some well-deserved sleep!