Fourth Street Live!

Came through here a couple times during my short visit, seemed a lot of fun. Not as packed as expected but the weather may have had something to do with that. Live music is always a plus. It seemed to attract a certain crowd…I am not sure I felt as comfortable as I’d like. There was police around for security.

A very cool place to be! My husband and I stopped on fourth Street during our 30 year anniversary trip to Louisville. We had heard a lot about this place and wanted to check it out. The street is blocked off to cars so you’re able to simply walk through. It has an amazing open air feel with a clear roof so it feels that you are indoors when you’re actually out. The middle has a stage for live music and there’s a lot of restaurants and other entertainment that surrounds it. We did see some nice colorful murals, a piano that had been painted with a bright design and gorgeous flowers. We came earlier in the daytime so there wasn’t much going on, but we are excited to stop at a different time next time we visit. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Credit and debit cards accepted. Upcoming events are posted on their website for planning ahead! Recommend stopping by and checking it all out! *Designed to be handicap accessible. It features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking, and an elevator. Parking is just $5 after 6PM Monday - Thursday, and after 5PM Friday through 4AM Sunday. Park for FREE after 4AM on Sunday. Street events have pre-collect rates.

Good place in town to visit, at night, if you like to drink in the street while listening a band is OK, weekends very crowded. Just Be careful it could be drugs and drunk people

Beautiful! There was a band, there are bars, and you can even ride a mechanic bull! Must be 21 to enter after a certain time and they card at entrances.

Fun during the day and night. We stopped by during the day to get something to eat and have a couple of drinks. Guys was very good. When I was younger this is the place to party. Always a great time

While I did have a blast, you're writer Elaine from four months back stands CORRECT. The staff at PDR had open seating roped off. Just last month. I noticed you replied to her saying seating was no issue. Perhaps you should slide in unannounced one weekend evening . Trust but fact check... They don't want to clean the areas so they rope them off and do not allow seating. That is a FACT , noted at both of my visits over the past month. I may try them one more time because the staff was nice, atmosphere was great and my friends live it.. when they're allowed to be seated. No biggie if we don't get to sit down. Whiskey Row is awesome too and may be better suited to a certain class of individuals that both enjoy and are willing to pay for a seated experience, even if VIP. Staff at PBR were professional and nice. Not enough to support your prices, nor the culture of the area PBR is located in. I think what I'm trying to relate to you is they didn't really seem to embrace the idea or goal of getting returning customers by providing a wonderful SEATED experience. There's nothing more frustrating than going into a restaurant bar or grill seeing many open tables. Much less seeing ropes in front of them. Forcing us to stand up and have our drinks. I am in my 40s, it's not like I have to sit down. I have a little bit of class and like to sit down to enjoy some of my $15 cocktails that I purchase at your establishment. No they do not let you sit at those tables consistently. As a matter of fact we were asked to get up from a table at 12:30 at night and was told that that section was closed it was not roped up. Several people had just exited the booth. Whiskey Row is pretty great, I would bear that in mind

This venue houses many restaurants and bars and has an open area for live music. I stopped by on a Saturday evening and DJ Hummingbird was spinning music and had the whole block moving.

Cool strip in downtown Louisville with bars, restaurants, and live music. Definitely seems tailored to college students/young adults but still a fun vibe. Right by several hotels and the convention center.

We came upon Fourth Street Live! by accident when heading out to dinner after a conference at the Galt House Hotel. The live music was phenomenal and while it was crowded, it wasn't too packed to dance or move around. I like that the top of the street is covered and the street looks so fun and festive all lit up at night. It appears you can walk up and down the street and find several places to grab a drink or a meal. If you are staying at the Galt House hotel, it is a short walk. I loved the many choices for tasting whiskey or grabbing some good food, but many places had a long wait if you didn't have a reservation. Fun place to visit, while in town, for sure. Especially if you are with a group of people who don't mind walking and exploring the area. But be sure to wear comfy shoes! I had boots with a heel and regretted it later that night.

I've been here a few times over the years. I used to be a frequent flyer here back in my early 20s when all the good places were here. Sullys, Angel Rock Bar, Tengo, Hotel Night club. Yup I'm that old lol. What I miss the most is the live performances that they have outside. I recently came for the Wine Walk. I came here the previous year and it was ok. Although they had some good wines, I wish there were more wineries participating. VIP perks were awesome and there were some good food sampling as well. We were given some tokens for the event, and got quite a bit of swag as well. There was even live entertainment which made the event a good time, just wish more wineries were participating. I do like to come to 4th street live for events and entertainment. However, I rate it 3 stars because some areas around the place are shady, so just be aware of your surroundings. Also parking can be a challenge as well.

It's been a while since I've spent some time at 4th street. But this Sunday my bestie and I decided to take advantage of the brunch/mimosa event down at 4th street. We had a fantastic time with the different vendors, live music and great atmosphere. I usually go to GB when I am in fourth street but after today, I think I will try the other different restaurants for a change!

It's the typical bar scene been there done that. However, the band was really good. Mainly for the younger crowd 20ish or so...

I love a covered gathering space. During our visit it was hit or miss if businesses were open and there were some shuttered businesses. Fun and eye catching things abound in this area though. We got a kick out of the signs on the light posts just in case you felt too removed from bourbon they pointed you in the direction of a distillery.

Four stars for the live concert they have in the middle of all the bars (bottom floor). It's a typical nightclub scene, which I'd give 2 or 3 stars to. However, they had a concert that night and it was a lot of fun!

Looked like an attractive restaurant tourist spot with outdoor dining. A lot of sad people talking to themselves and security was busy keeping them moving. Music played it looks pretty and I think it could've had promise. We came for lunch and there weren't too many people dining here. There is the stage so maybe they're all concerts things in the evening

We were here on Friday weekend. This place call 4 street live. But we did not see anything live performance at this place. We saw many people wondering around. I was expecting at least the live music. It is Friday night. Should have some something. But nothing happened. The street do have a lot of place to drink. Including local Kentucky bourbon. They have Jim bean, S&SC, Hard Rock, TGI Friday. Many drinks place. I bet you ice cream place will be popular and there is one and is long line because they are the only one that under aged people can enjoy. The entire street was block for pedestrians only.

It is a high school dance for adults. The awkwardness, the music, the vibe. Just not with the time.

As far as Louisville culture goes, Fourth Street Live! jokes are some of the lowest-hanging fruit on the tree. This district has been a punchline among locals for years, and aside from saying "LEWIS-VILLE," nothing marks you as a newbie or a tourist quite like talking up Fourth Street Live! to those around you. Honestly, my intention here is not to add on to the dogpile. It seems like there are some nice folks involved in the whole affair and the 2020s in particular have surely been challenging for everyone involved. But if out-of-touch journalists are going to keep presenting Fourth Street Live! as the core of Louisville's nightlife... well, the rest of us are going to have to keep setting the record straight. There used to be a lot more to this district. Hard Rock Cafe operated out of here, Jim Beam had an "urban stillhouse" with tours and the like, there was a mall-style food court, etc. It was never great, but the appeal was understandable at one point. In recent years, the number of tenants has dwindled considerably and the complex is in sad shape, reminiscent of a dying mall that's just trying to hang on for one more year. Don't expect any bargains, though; despite being in this rundown environment and being drastically outclassed by competitors across the Louisville Metro, the tenants of Fourth Street Live! have a tendency to price their menus as if they're on the Universal Studios CityWalk. Seriously, if you're visiting and want an authentic taste of Louisville, this isn't it. You want Butchertown, Nulu or Frankfort Avenue. I am not a fan of the Highlands overall but even that neighborhood is a better option. Fourth Street Live! might seem flashier on the surface, but even at night, the neon can only cover up so much.

Love coming here! They've added many more restaurants now and there's a lot to eat! Lots of bars and such too. They host a ton of country concerts here for cheap! My friend and I walked around. On a Sunday just past 1, it wasn't all that busy. Just families walking around a bit. Usually, I see tourists around here. The design of the place is just super cool and something worth taking a picture of. I love the huge Hard Rock guitar. All the lights look fantastic at night as well! There were two guys performing live music there. Not sure if that type of stuff happens a lot but they were pretty talented! Can't wait to venture over here again!

Went to Fourth Street Live to hear the local Band, Most Wanted on Friday evening. It was a very eclectic crowd with a fun atmosphere, great music, dancing, food and drink available and an all around good time. This venue has been a staple in Downtown Louisville for years and it has been a while since we have been there. Due to the location there are lots of folks (out of towners) who are just out strolling while they are staying in downtown Louisville. So there is that sect of the population, there are folks who follow the band at the venue, folks who have come to have dinner in one of the resturants or catch a drink with a friend and there are homeless as it is an outdoor venue without a charge to enter and in the middle of downtown. It is actully a section of 4th street that is blocked off to traffic with the stage set up in the middle of the street. Great thing about it is it is covered space so rain is not a concern but it can be really hot or cold depending on the time of year. You can get a drink or food from any of the surrounding resturants and bring it outside to the music area and as well as purchase a drink from one of the vendors in the outdoor area. There is a parking garage, entrance on 5th street with elevators that take you directly to the venue or there is street parking. It is a fun venue that offers so much, whether you are walking through or coming to hang for the night. There are multiple picnic tables set up in front of the stage, a dance area and a live camera showing the band, the dance area, etc., that can be fun to watch people dance so they can get on camera. We actully took our bag chairs and put them in an area where we could see all that was going on during the evening. It has changed over the years but really a unique spot to hear some music, have a drink, watch people and or have a bite to eat. Give it a try.

Great but very crowded Cinco de Mayo festival. Lots of excellent restaurants including TGIFriday's & a post office nearby

This is the absolute worst thing to happen to the Louisville Bar Scene. Back before this tourist trap was built in the mid 2000's we had many good night life places. Then this over priced crazy contraption was built that has over priced bars, clubs, drinks, and concerts. It is so crowded and you can't move. The drinks cost so much money and everything about it is terrible. I hope to not ever have to return ever.

If you are looking for a fun place to come and enjoy the downtown area, visit some restaurants or see some entertainment, this is the place. It is especially active in the evening. It does not matter if you are a visitor or a local there is something here for everyone. Fourth Street Live is Louisville's premier dining and entertainment destination and is located right in the heart of downtown Louisville. There are a number of good quality restaurants like Brazeiros Steakhouse and my favorite, Guy Fieri's Smokehouse. A really fun thing to do is the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse. It is a fun experience where you can see a small distillery in operation and even bottle you own. There are dozens of festivals throughout the year, fitness classes, concerts, and assorted premier events. A very nice experience.

This is awesome. Love 4th street. They have a Hard Rock Cafe, GB Brewery, Food Court, jim Beam where you can fill your own bottle of whiskey... Lots of outside entertainment.. Must see when in Louisville!!

When 4th Street Live opened it was very popular and I was much younger. It was fantastic to have one spot for dinner, cocktails and dancing - and not just any dancing, you got to pick which music and vibe you wanted. Some of my favorite memories of being at 4th Street Live are the outdoor concerts hosted in the middle of the street. Like every area it's experienced turn over of businesses and sometimes it's felt empty but it has always continued to have enough there for locals and tourists to enjoy it. It's especially convenient to several hotels in the area. Or, if you're attending a concert, play or basketball game downtown it's a natural spot to visit with a group to wind down (or up!). None of the restaurants stand out for me but I am excited Jim Beam moved in. While not a full distillery experience you can visit for a tasting or to pick up a souvenir. Another crowd favorite is Tavern for its variety of games - arcade, pool, darts, corn hole, bocce, etc. The Hard Rock Cafe continues to thrive here and Howl at the Moon offers a rowdy evening around the piano. Downtown Louisville needs 4th Street Live to draw visitors to the city and I hope they'll continue to focus and increase events (even for families) to keep the locals engaged.

It's okay for what it is, but still hasn't recovered from The pre Pandemic and pre riot high point. The whole downtown Louisville area while better than it was in the 1990's and early 2000's still leaves much to be desired. Fourth Street Live in particular needs new investment. Though I'm not sure who would be willing to do so in the current political environment. One wonders if it would be worth risking the money it's going to take to bring it back to it's former glory. Eddie Merlot's said the heck with it and just never reopened after their restaurant was looted and ransacked during the summer of 2020. I love the city of Louisville and gravely want the downtown area to succeed and thrive. The area had overcome such obstacles to become something for the city to be proud of once again, and to see it in the current state is so sad. If Louisville leaders can clean it up, help the homeless situation, and bring back faith in the police department I've no doubts that it can overcome the recent events that has brought it down. If not I'm afraid it will return to the unglamorous days of the 90's when everything closed at 5pm and nobody walked in The Ville.

I've been to Fourth Street Live twice! It's such a fun vibe where you can bounce from restaurant to bar in just a few steps. I do love that there is a big variety in Fourth Street live. For example you grab some bar bites and drinks or you can drink some upscale whiskey at Whiskey Dry. The first time I attended was Kentucky Derby weekend and they had live music right in the center street! You can reserve a table at a bar and enjoy the concert for free. The entertainment piece and accessibility is awesome. You can grab an Uber or Lyft and get dropped off right at Fourth Street. I will say if there's live music be prepared for large crowds and it does make it slightly difficult to move around if you haven't picked a location to hang out. Regardless it's such a fun location to be dropped off where you could spent a few hours whether your bowling at one location or dancing at the PBR bar! I didn't see much parking so if your visiting I wouldn't encourage driving to Fourth Street live!

So cool...places to eat, drink, live music! Even a Urban Stillhouse where you can have a bourbon tasting and/or learn how to make craft cocktails. All kinds of great restaurants...even a Guy Fiera barbeque joint! And it's closed to traffic so you can wonder around safely. What's not to love? Every town should have a Fourth Street Live!

This is usually a place for tourists to visit. It has been years since I have visited here. When we visited they had the Pig & Swig going on. It was not super crowded and we were easily able to walk around, watch the bluegrass band, who was awesome! We visited on a Saturday afternoon, so the night life had not yet started. There were plenty of restaurants to get into easily, which impressed me. This is a great place for concerts and for out of town visitors. There are a lot of options for play too! The Social club and Tavern on 4th. They have lots of options inside for grown up fun!

Fourth Street Live has changed drastically since its inception. My favorite part of this transformation is that is it more frequently used as a public space for various events now. Anytime a venue can truly bring people of different backgrounds together, it is a great asset. From farmers markets on Wednesday afternoons to Vault in the Ville, and from Louisville Live (for UofL basketball) to NerdLouvia (upcoming tabletop game con), this will attract the full spectrum of people from across the city, state, and country. Throw in countless band performances and charitable events and you can reach everyone. In many ways, Louisville and other cities are (perhaps unintentionally nowadays) segregated based on interests, income and other factors. Fourth Street Live is the exception, with something for everyone. The location is ideal, only a short walk from a bevy of hotels, museums, restaurants, and multiple other entertainment venues. Of course you could enjoy the staples right here at Fourth St Live, like Gordon Biersch restaurant and brewpub, Sports and Social Club, and the Jim Beam Stillhouse, just to name a few. The only thing missing for me is a bookstore (like the Borders that was originally here) I work at a building on the same block, and I love this area. If I can be here all the time and still love it, anybody can!

I don't get it. There are several places in Louisville better than 4th Street Live. It has places to drink and hang out and play games... but it's expensive and I'd rather go to St Matthews, the Highlands, or the Pope St/Frankfort Ave corner. I guess it's getting better. But if you're an out of towner, just know - locals don't really come here. That might give you an indication of how we feel about it.

I've been to fourth Street live for the Jodi Watley show, improv comedy shows (which is now permanently closed) MMA and crossfit events. Now, I'm here for the Vault in the Ville event. Fourth Street has so much to offer. You don't have to worry about going hungry or being thirsty because you are surrounded by restaurants, sport and social bars. They also have a Tavern where you can eat, socialize and play games.

We came here to have dinner at Guy Fieri's Smokehouse and walk around a bit. Seemed like it could be a cool place to come and do a little bar hopping; however, it was surprisingly under-populated for what I would expect. We were there on a Thursday night though, so perhaps it picks up a lot on the weekends. One pleasant surprise was that we were allowed to get our adult beverages to go when we finished our meal. We were told that we could have open containers throughout the blocked off street, but not outside of that.

We stayed near 4th Street Live at the Hyatt, so we came here often to eat or grab a drink at many of the restaurants and bars. For a shopping mall, it's mostly chain restaurants, a food court and some upscale restaurants like Maker's Mark and Eddie Merlot's. There is also a CVS here, which came in handy for buying new gloves for me and beverages for our hotel room.

Strausenfest is here Crazy way to spend the day German food, great beers and of coarse the band anddancing

A section of 4th Street, blocked off to car traffic, and stocked full of bars and eateries. From what I've read, it's a live music hot spot, and I imagine it's a pretty happening place come tourist season. We went in late winter and there didn't seem to be much going on. Had dinner on our way through to the Theatre District beyond... got carded while walking back through, later in the night... I guess they keep it 21 and over at certain hours... so, make sure you have your ID! Seems like it would a fun place to take out of town guests on a night out... especially if you're going to see a show or just want to go drinking...

What's the appeal of a place in the middle of dozens of hotels, blasting music and loud bass late into the night? Maybe a novel idea at first, but when you're stuck at a nearby hotel for work and are subjected to your room shaking all night, it makes this place look like an inconvenient joke of a venue, which it already is.

I've got to be honest, I'm pretty surprised about all of the backlash that Fourth Street Live gets. I love the atmosphere and there's so many great restaurants and bars! Yes, it's touristy-but it's always nice to have those areas, especially in a not-so-touristy city like Louisville. There's some great lunch spots, like the Hard Rock Cafe and TGI Friday's, as well as Guy Fieri's new restaurant that will be opening soon. The bar scene can get a little crazy, but it can be fun; with PBR, Sports and Social, Howl at the Moon, etc.. Summers are great when they have their annual country concert lineup, with previous artists like Cole Swindell, Eli Young Band, Montgomery Gentry, and so many more! I can understand why some may not enjoy the scene, because it can get PACKED on weekends, and tends to reel in a younger crowd. It's a fun district to celebrate birthdays, bachelorette parties, or if you're just looking to get a little crazy. I would definitely recommend Fourth Street for out-of-towners!

If I'm in the right mood, it can be fun. But for nightlife, it is over-priced, draws a really frat-y crowd, a lot of bachelorette parties. I don't mind eating lunch down here during the work day. And I am a fan of the free concert series hosted here in the summers. But 4th Street is not on my usual rundown of places I might go on a normal friday or saturday night.

Fourth Street Live in downtown Louisville is an outdoor plaza with shops and restaurants. It has a canopy that reminds me a bit of the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas minus the electronic light show. This is a great place to walk around, people watch, eat, and especially drink, which is what we do when we visit the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse. It's also where the Ironman Louisville race has its finish line every year so that's cool, too.

Found this area from wandering around near my hotel and I absolutely loved it! Great venue for live shows and so much to do from the game room place to all the great food options here! And it's covered in the event of bad weather, who could ask for more!

TL:DR If you CAN'T afford round-trip airfare to Las Vegas on Spirit, Frontier, or Allegiant, then Fourth Street Live is where you want to be. No surprise, I am in Louisville for a security conference, staying at a hotel west of West Muhammad Ali Blvd and this isn't my first rodeo here either. I know that various businesses and individuals have spent great deals of money rehabbing and building business west of Fourth Street Live as they realize that $2 Coronas and all the restaurants you can find at a decent sized outlet mall food court is not a sustainable business model for continued success. However, one of the safest ways to halfway decent restaurants and establishments serving libations that aren't served from a plastic cup east of W. Muhammad Ali Blvd and avoiding the overly aggressive homeless that populate this downtown district is walking through Fourth Street Live. Now I am not fond of disclosing any more information about me than I really need to, so I'm really not happy about being carded to walk (not drink) down an open street either. (Find people who grew up in pre-Gorbachev Soviet Bloc countries what this is like.) So if an overly aggressive security guard can't tell by looking at someone that they are obviously over 21, then they should keep their day job working at the under-21 kiddie juice and smoothie bars. Seriously, this city block is more damaging to downtown Louisville than anything else I've seen in the last week. So to recap, if you truly want to enjoy Louisville's food and beverages while properly contributing to the economic well-being of the city and enjoying more than five bourbon's you can't find at home (wherever that is) avoid Fourth-Street Live at all costs. BUT, if you like your security guards aggressive, obnoxious bachelorette parties, while listening to poorly tuned speakers from the establishments that make up that block, the overwhelming stench of vomit, urine and something else I can't mention here, then Fourth Street Live is your kind of place. You also probably consider Olive Garden as Haute Cuisine.

I haven't been here for years but walked through today while on a Louisville Scavenger Hunt. Wow-a lot has changed! There was a pole vaulting event going on right in the center. Yes, a pole vaulting event. I know, random but it was really cool to watch! A lot of new restaurants have been added and most of the patios were full of patrons. This is a great area to hang out on a nice afternoon!

Conveniently located in downtown Louisville, we came out to Fourth Street Live to check out some of the nightlife on a Saturday evening. We decided to check out Howl at the Moon, as we have one in Chicago and it's always a great time. Unfortunately, this one was a smaller venue and clearly over capacity. After paying a $10 cover, there was no way to even get to the bar area to grab a drink. Disappointing experience, but won't ding Fourth Street Live for the faults of that one venue. I'm sure it's more fun during the day, as there's plenty of shopping outlets and restaurants located here as well. Check it ouf if you're in the area - Best, Charlie

I got dragged down here to see the party side of Louisville. They had shut down the street and created a giant beer garden, with a band playing in the center of the street. To be honest, it kind of reminded me of the older portion of Vegas, where the lights bounce off the artificial ceiling structure between the builidings. Lots of pretty people, not wearing a lot of clothes, drinking lots of beer walking through the streets. Lots of chain places and it's a pretty commercialized part of town. We ended up tryijng to eat dinner at a place called Sully's. Horrible. There were quite a few of us and we landed a table without too much trouble. Most people were out drinking in the street. But it took over half an hour to just order food and another hour for the food to arrive. Dinner was simple for most of us and less than ordinary. So, although the event could be a fun atmosphere, this rating reflects the poor service and food. It's not like the restaurant was overwhelmed with people eating, but a couple of the group actually got up and left.

Somebody thought that it would be a great idea to convene every corporate party punch peddler and house them all in the Galleria. We (my sexy, sexy man and I) went to see the Violent Femmes give a FREE show here. We hated this venue so much that we left halfway through the show. We LOVE the Femmes, dude. One of the restaurants was charging $75 just to sit at a table. Now, I would likely spend $75 on dinner and cocktails for two during a show like that. But I will NOT spend that money in an establishment with the unmitigated gall to think that I'll pay that just to sit at one of their wobbly aluminum tables. I'm all about revitalizing my home town. This ain't how to do it.

This place is nothing special. Came here for a bachelorette party on a Saturday and expected it to be more fun/busy. If you're looking at nearby cities to go to for a special occasion, look elsewhere.

This place just seems kind of sad. You can see the potential or maybe what it once was, but dang. It just feels deserted. So much is permanently closed now. I came here maybe 15 years ago or so and had a blast on 4th street. Today it just doesn't seem the same anymore. There are a few places still open- but definitely don't visit on a Sunday.

Looking for a change of pace for my wife's birthday, we ventured south of the Indiana border. After a stop and the hotel for a wardrobe change, we found ourselves at 4th street. Conveniently, Lyft and Uber launched the day we arrived so Lyft was giving free rides. We were able to take 6 rides for free before having to get a taxi late in the night due to availability. Anyway, as we approached 4th street, we discovered a surprise Montgomery gentry concert. Admission? $5. That's my kind of concert. And additional $5 got us up to the top level bars for the best clubs and viewing experience. We enjoyed the concert and then danced the night away. The drinks are a bit pricy, but it's a good time. And you can buy drinks in the street and walk around openly drinking them. It's not the best area in Louisville for a foodie, but it is a great time.

"This feels like we just walked on to City Walk" my daughter told me. She was SO RIGHT! It looked and felt just like Universal Studios Orlando's City Walk right down to the Hard Rock Cafe. Who knew City Walk had been transported here? Where is Margaritaville and the airplane? Why were we here even? We get enough tourist trap party places in our hometown of Miami, and when we really want to feel it well, we head out to City Walk (OK we walk through City Walk on our way to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure to the awesome roller coasters). Either way, we did end up here because I am kind of a dork and collect guitar pins with the city name from the Hard Rock Cafes. So if you want that party nightlife ambiance sure this is a fine place to venture to. Really though.. do you wan that ambiance? Meh.

This is a really cool place. We came here for the derby weekend. The entire area is fenced off and there is a cover to get in. I don't recall the price. I happened to be wearing a shirt that said, "Swag These Nuts", that night and the security people gave me a hard time. They said that I couldn't come in with a shirt like that. First of all the area is really just a street that they fenced off to charge admission. Second, I don't see what is so horrible about the shirt considering it was well after children should be in bed and we were attending an event that required you to be 21 to get in. Anyway, I didn't fight it and I asked them if I could flip my shirt inside out. They paused and said that would be ok. I did it and I got in haha. Fourth Street is comparable only to one other place that I've been and that is Bourbon Street. Now it is not nearly as long or as rowdy but the open air atmosphere with bars on both sides and a stage with music was pretty sweet. The had a couple bars set up in the middle of the street as well. Prices were a little steep but what do you expect. It was cool to drink and dance in the street and even partake in a limbo line if you so choose.

I have friends who complain about how touristy 4th St Live is and while I do agree, what is wrong with being a tourist in your own town every once in a while? It's a great place to take out of towners. They like it. It's bright and there's a lot of energy, restaurants, picture opportunities, etc. I take my son there sometimes in the day and older people at night. Most people besides Yelpers don't really care if a restaurant is a chain or not. That doesn't even enter their thought process. So take them to Gordon Biersch, Hard Rock or Guy's. They're just excited to be exploring. Howl at the Moon is always exciting too. But when there are events going on, that's the best time to go. I've seen several great concerts right there. Participated in dance classes, a Zumba flash mob, UofL pep rally event, finished the Urban Bourbon half marathon there with a crazy fun party afterwards, etc. What's not to like there? A one stop shop for food/drink/dance/fun. If there's inclement weather, you can park in the attached garage and there's a roof over your head the entire time.

Similar to Cincinnati's "Newport On The Levee," http://www.yelp.com/biz/newport-on-the-levee-newport 4th Street Live features a stretch of chain establishments and some bars surrounded by brightly colored neon signs. At the direction of our hotel concierge, we were pointed this way for some late night drinks after arriving in Louisville after 11:00pm. Unfortunately, everything we encountered was closed. Our goal destination was the Seelbach Bar, but we were turned away. Typical late night places like Hard Rock had shut their doors as well. And here I thought Louisville was notorious for having venues open until 4:00am? My friends and I didn't bother venturing back here during our stay, as all of the chain restaurants we have at home (and we rarely eat at those anyways.) You know the few: Friday's, J Gumbo, The Pub, etc. Fortunately, we used Yelp to find a cool punk bar just a few blocks away. If you're looking for late night drinks without the tourist hype, check out Third Street Dive: http://www.yelp.com/biz/third-street-dive-louisville

The cream of the crop spot in Louisville! This place doesn't really need a review! If you're looking for live music, bars, dance floors, great food, and an awesome good time this is the place to be! I love that it's 2 floors, if you haven't been this is a must to stop by if visiting from out of town.

Listen. 4th isn't great for any given day. But when events happen at 4th st, it's awesome. I've come here for for a free Dashboard Confessional concert as well as Pig and Swig event. Love it for events, not really for anything else. So really, ratings here will vary depending on what you're here for and what you're expecting. I highly recommend keeping tabs on the events happening during the summer at 4th st live - usually has some great things going on.

I like the changes and improvements in the last year in the 4th Street live area. Being relatively new to Louisville - just under 2 years - my perspective on the area is I see a shift toward more dining, music and art related offerings and less just go and get trashed downtown. Some locals give it a thumbs down but we like to visit many different areas of Louisville as each has its own lure and ambiance. I think management in the future will be more focused on the overall appearance and experience. We have attended several events held at 4th Street and see more concerts and cultural events being offered. I do think it will get progressively better.

I feel this catch-22 because the only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because there are so few people who go. And if I rate it bad, less people will go. Oh, the pressure!! Cheezy 80s and 90s music, cover overhead to protect you from the elements, and the occasional outdoor heater to keep you from freezing in the winter. Can bring drinks outside. Fun people watching. I wish they had this in Indy. Can't seem to figure out why so few people go. I saw other reviews that the drinks are pricey. We bought a frozen concoction from the comedy club bar upstairs and it was $9. However, it was so big it took us an hour to drink it -- splitting it!