The Brown Hotel

Louisville, Kentucky

English Grill Restaurant
Deluxe Double
Lobby bar
J. Graham's Cafe
Lobby
English Grill Restaurant
Deluxe Double
Lobby bar
J. Graham's Cafe
Lobby

The hotel

This self-coined ‘Louisville legend’ promises all the old-world Southern splendour you came for, with a beautifully restored Rooftop Garden offering some of the best skyline views of Louisville. The Brown Hotel has been attracting the ‘it crowd’ for almost a century now, many turning up just for its ‘Hot Brown’ sandwich. Created as a late-night treat for dinner dance guests in the 1920s, it’s been raved about everywhere from the New York Times to TV’s Man v Food. In fact, it’s so good, it’s available in all its eateries, featuring alongside The English Grill’s fine dining-meets-Kentucky dishes; J Graham’s Café’s casual fare; and the Lobby Bar’s treats like lobster ‘mac and cheese’. Before leaving (or better still the second you arrive), try its bourbon cocktails too; you are in Kentucky after all.

Amenities

  • Bar
  • Room Service
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Laundry Service
  • Internet Access
  • Close to City Centre
  • Restaurant

Where is it

In Louisville, just across the road from Brown Theatre and half a block from Palace Theatre. The hotel is 4 blocks from 4th Street Live! – an entertainment venue with a choice of restaurants, bars and nightlife. Transfer time to airport: 10 minutes.

Hotel information

293 rooms and suites on 16 floors. All with flat-screen TV, complimentary WiFi, fridge, tea/coffee maker, hairdryer, iron and board, weekday USA Today newspaper and handwoven Brown Hotel throw. Deluxe Rooms have 1 king-size or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.

Luxury Rooms are larger and have a sitting area with 1 king-size or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.

The English Grill (fine contemporary American menu, open mon-sat for dinner). J. Graham’s Café (casual à la carte and buffet dining, mon-sat for breakfast and lunch, sunday brunch buffet). The Lobby Bar (bar menu including cocktails, and bourbon flights, English Grill menu also available, open 3:00pm-1:30am with limited late-night menu). 24-hour room service*. Fitness centre. The Brown Gift Shop. The Gallery at The Brown. Concierge. Laundry/dry-cleaning service*. Safety deposit boxes (at front desk). Complimentary WiFi. Valet parking $24 and self parking $20 (plus tax per day, payable locally). Complimentary airport shuttle.

*Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1777)
  • Very good (518)
  • Average (174)
  • Poor (57)
  • Terrible (29)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating A TRUE GRANDE DAME!!!!!!

Apr 11, 2021 happygolucky4 Chicago

Firstly, Thank you for being open during a pandemic and providing a gorgeous, luxurious, place to rest our heads on the way from Florida to Chicago!! This hotel is a true jewel and reminiscent of how hotels used to be. They've stayed true to the original design and you really are stepping back in time, in a GOOD way. The bathrooms have been… Read more
Firstly, Thank you for being open during a pandemic and providing a gorgeous, luxurious, place to rest our heads on the way from Florida to Chicago!! This hotel is a true jewel and reminiscent of how hotels used to be. They've stayed true to the original design and you really are stepping back in time, in a GOOD way. The bathrooms have been updated to only showers. I have trouble standing in a shower and shaving my legs so I prefer a bath but for one night it was worth the sacrifice. I hope they don't go for a whole new re-design. It's really lovely the way it is, from the gorgeous paintings and etchings to the chandeliers and ornaments. Cameron the dining host, was wonderful and gave us a lovely table in the English room. (Overflow from the lobby) French Martini was perfect and hit the spot, as did the amazing burger!! Breakfast was excellent and plentiful. The best server, thank you Regina! Clean, comfortable and the friendliest and kindest staff, and all masked. Loved it and will come again! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Vintage hotel with plenty of charm!!

Apr 3, 2021 RogBeeMe Ann Arbor, Michigan

This hotel was one of the highlights of our COVID-delayed 5th anniversary trip! The staff were professional and most accommodating. We requested a view of the terrace, and were given a guided tour of the hotel, with a side dose of historical viewpoint! We will definitely stay here when we are in Louisville again! Kudos to Judd, David, Shalonda… Read more
This hotel was one of the highlights of our COVID-delayed 5th anniversary trip! The staff were professional and most accommodating. We requested a view of the terrace, and were given a guided tour of the hotel, with a side dose of historical viewpoint! We will definitely stay here when we are in Louisville again! Kudos to Judd, David, Shalonda and the rest of the staff, who made our first stay at this historic hotel a great one! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating The staff make all the difference!

Apr 1, 2021 txrus Phoenix, Arizona

5 of us just completed a week's stay while on business in the area. I chose this hotel for our group primarily because the airport shuttle was running & there were on-site food/beverage options available, especially for breakfast, that didn't involve a brown paper bag. Let me first say the staff did an incredible job taking care of us despite… Read more
5 of us just completed a week's stay while on business in the area. I chose this hotel for our group primarily because the airport shuttle was running & there were on-site food/beverage options available, especially for breakfast, that didn't involve a brown paper bag. Let me first say the staff did an incredible job taking care of us despite being woefully understaffed-I was told there were only 60 people working in the hotel, total, despite having the highest occupancy they'd had in nearly a year. Certainly a good problem for the hotel to have, but at the same time, management knew all of these guests were coming & should have staffed appropriately. Doug, the bellman, Troy, the lobby bar mgr, Shalonda @ the front desk, Marvilen in room service, & all of the young men @ the front desk during the week took great care of us & we greatly appreciated it. Though somewhat limited, the food was excellent-we tried the infamous 'Hot Brown', which was great but very large & very filling; 2 of us decided to split one order & we were very glad we did. The hotel itself is lovely & quirky in a way to be expected in such a historic property. Rooms were of good size, as were the bathrooms, but this is where we started to run into hiccups. One member of our group didn't have a refrigerator in her room while another member had 2. Mattress' either need to be turned or replaced-everyone reported lumps & bumps. Flat bottom sheet on the king bed was too small & couldn't be tucked in on one side. Sofas/chairs in the rooms are very worn & all sag significantly. Lots of scrapes & bruises on the furniture in general. Bedside clocks & charging ports literally glued to the table & ports in 2 of our rooms didn't work. Wifi for rooms in the corner or end of the halls very unstable & wouldn't stay connected. Lack of pens/paper in the desks just annoying. All in all, it was because of the wonderful staff that I gave the hotel a very good rating for this review. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Overnight stay to visit a friend

Mar 4, 2021 foxygm Aurora, Illinois

I love historic hotels. This is certainly one of those at almost 100 years. The service was very good. Staff friendly and courteous. We stayed during COVID so not everything was open. Main dining closed and no breakfast. We had dinner at the smaller restaurant and it was very good. The bed was comfortable. Hotel needs a little more updating.… Read more
I love historic hotels. This is certainly one of those at almost 100 years. The service was very good. Staff friendly and courteous. We stayed during COVID so not everything was open. Main dining closed and no breakfast. We had dinner at the smaller restaurant and it was very good. The bed was comfortable. Hotel needs a little more updating. Radiator in bathroom had a very dirty filter. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Outstanding Service, Drinks, and Food

Feb 22, 2021 karentN4332MG Clarkesville, Georgia

Excellent and awesome! Our two night stay was great. Service outstanding. Great bar with excellent drinks and food. Mr Ritchie, bar manager and bourbon steward, was first class and treated everyone in a professional and friendly manner.