META

If you’re in Louisville, you have to do two things: the Bourbon Trail and The Meta. After our friends’ wedding, everywhere else in town was closed — but The Meta was open, and it turned into the best night ever! Isaac was the only one behind the bar, yet he handled our group of 25–30 people like a total rockstar. Despite the rush, every drink was perfect, the service was incredible, and the vibe was unmatched. The bride and groom had the night of their life, and we all left raving about how much fun we had. Huge thank you to Isaac and The Meta for keeping the celebration going — an absolute must-visit when you’re in Louisville!

I’ve not had a bartender so clearly under the influence in many years AND I found out he might be one of the owners. I hope this bar can turn things around because it used to be a very lively and welcoming spot for me. For now, I think I’ll spend my time elsewhere.

My partner and I came here after a meeting downtown and wanted a quiet, chill place to talk. This place was absolutely perfect! It had an amazing feel to it, vintage but not old. The fun and punny drink names were perfectly juxtaposed against how good and classy they tasted and were made. Everyone that was here seemed interesting and that made the ambiance that much better. Don’t like the outside fool you, do yourself a favor and stop in, pick a drink based on whatever song pun makes you groan the loudest, and get ready to watch the bartender make one of the best drinks you’ll have in downtown Louisville!

We came to Meta on the recommendation of 2 people. Natalie was our bartender and she was very personable and knowledgeable. We had a great time and will be sure to return the next time we're in the city. The pink drink in my photo is the demi-gorgon.

My wife and I attended a tequila tasting event in August. We bought several bottles of tequila through Meta, but we have not received them. The owner kept assuring us he was getting everything, but now he isn't even responding. They simply stole our money, and it's absolutely unacceptable.

This place was such a vibe. The bartender was so kind & made the best drinks for us. The history behind Meta was very interesting. The decor from the bathrooms, wallpaper, and luxury chairs were so fun.

Great vibe; chill place; great aesthetics. Hint: Try the Vaccine: Great drink. The Jalapeño Thai Basil (w/Rum) is another good one. But so is the coffee liquor shooter that comes in a tiny chocolate bowl that you can eat!

It was the first time stopping in this establishment. The atmosphere was relaxing and the music they played was very unique. They had a vast array of hand crafted cocktails on their menu and the bourbon choices were staggering. The bar top is a thick slab of marble and was at the perfect height to lean on. Not too tall ,not too short. Neil, the bartender was in the "cocktail cockpit", from flying the outstanding Old Fashion to landing the perfect PaperPlane, he was the captain of his aircraft. They don't serve food but that would only get in the way anyways 😊. Whenever you're downtown in Louisville KY, stop by and treat yourself to a tasty libation. Don't forget to say hello to Daisy.

For my last night in Louisville, I just happened to accidentally stumble upon this place on the way back to my hotel. Hipster speakeasy vibe is written all over the spot. I appreciated the amount of space, and there were even a few tables outside. Bar seating, table seating, couch seating... I think I peeped a small room in the back too... all the options! When I was there, it was mostly empty, but people did come in and out. It was easy to tell who the visitors and regulars were haha. I enjoyed just hanging out, people watching, and chatting with the friendly bartenders. They have cocktails and mocktails in abundance... there's literally something for everyone. And they even had these chocolate shot glasses. So cool! All in all, the place just seems like a perfect neighborhood bar. They don't have food, but there's plenty of options around to bring in there. Music was great too!

This is a great spot! I went to grab drinks after dinner last week and it was a great joint. I had never even heard about it until then and I was so pleased. It felt like a classy speakeasy but a dive bar. I can tell that place has regulars. I had a cocktail with rum and it was incredible. The bartender knew what he was doing and was so kind, providing great service. I def want to return to try some other cocktails soon

Pulled up to this swanky spot around the corner from our Airbnb to get the night started. The ladies behind the bar had great energy and took our orders as soon as we were ready. The originally cocktail I ordered didn't satisfy me like I'd hope and the ladies were kind enough to make me something different, so I opted with my favorite - a spicy margarita with mezcal a few extra dashes of hot sauce! I was very satisfied with that one and would probably come back again next time we're in town!

Stopped in for a couple cocktails on our way out for the night. Very unique menu full of one of a kind flavors, that seem to be updated on a regular basis. We tried a couple of tequila and gin drinks and were not disappointed. If you're lucky the resident bar dog will come by for scratches and snuggles.

Cool spot for a craft cocktail. The layout is a bit sparse and the signage is confusing. Could do without what is basically pornography serving as bathroom decor but the drinks were very good and Goonie the dog was a major plus.

I've never met a more surly bartender in a more pretentious establishment. I'll avoid them in the future.

love this little bar. simon is fantastic. me and my boyfriend have been coming in often since we started dating. simon immediately learned our names and remembered us the second time we came in. the venue is super cute with dark and magical vibes. tables available for seating and a couple of comfy couches as well. the bathrooms have the BEST decor. the tiger room is super neat. and the best place to take your ig pics :)

They have very decent cocktails -- with lots of house made, infused items for the cocktails. The place is nice when it's not crowded. META can range from chill to too "nightclub-y". It's hard to gauge their vibe. When busy, don't even get drinks, you won't get service and if you do it's subpar. When they're not busy, it's good. Very hit or miss. Give it a try on a weekday.

This place was such a vibe. The bartender was so kind & made the best drinks for us. The history behind Meta was very interesting. The decor from the bathrooms, wallpaper, and luxury chairs were so fun.

Meta is the coolest place you've never heard of (unless you're just that cool). The bartenders are hipster, leftists d-bags (their shirts say so, that's not me)... but if you can get past that, you will find craft cocktails that are the most amazing chilled experiences from a frosted silver shaker... and by shaker, I mean the sculpted forearms of the bartenders. On a serious note - as a blonde female who regularly orders daiquiris and gets frozen pink concoctions that should be relegated to Hades, I'm very happy to say that their daiquiri is top shelf. If you're looking for real drinks, a cool vibe and interesting people - visit Meta!

We popped into Meta after our hotel bar let us down on a Wednesday night. Meta was just the place we were looking for, even though it was quiet inside there was great bartender named Simon was very helpful and knowledgeable. Simon even created a few off menu cocktails to my wife delight. All the drinks on the menu that I tried hit the mark. Thank you to Meta to saving a Wednesday!

We randomly stopped into Meta for a drink before a cooking class a few weeks ago and were very impressed with the establishment and REALLY enjoyed the drinks! It was early and they had just opened, but Simon was very personable and engaging. He even had his dog Goonie, there who I was immediately smitten with! I mean who doesn't love a dog at the bar?!?! They have a lot of house-made, infused items for their cocktails so it's hard to say what I got because he made me a concoction based on my love of Vodka and grapefruit. We chatted for a while, and I learned he also teaches cocktail classes at the Liquor Lab in Nulu which I have also been wanting to try. We were so impressed that we went back after our cooking class for a night cap. It was still pretty slow but they were supposed to have Trivia that night and the person hosting was sick which impacted the crowd. I highly recommend giving Meta a try for an amazing craft cocktail.

This place is classy and a 5 out of 5 on a scale of artisan cocktail go. The drinks here and selection available are exactly what you're looking for after a long week. Furthermore, the service has alway been impeccable. I highly recommend this as a spot for someone that knows exactly what they're craving for.

We sat at the bar and read up on their wide selection of bourbon and were very happy we came here. You can rest assured, this bar, like many in Louisville, is serious about whiskey. I can't recall much about the food although is came out quickly and paired well with our whiskey drinks. Coincidence? I don't know. I do know we left that night smiling and came back one more time for a cocktail before we left.

Sat down at the bar and was instantly impressed by the cocktail list and friendly, genuine service. They have a dimly lit vibe but plenty of space and a cool small back room with couches that's cozy. Drinks come in nice glassware and taste great! Bonus points for the cool mural out back, excellent bathroom art, and flashy neon sign!

Meta without question is one of my favorite bars in the downtown area. Great vibe and always an interesting crowd. As of late Khris has been the bartender when I visit. Khris, makes great recommendations and always keeps the conversation interesting. The Tiger Room in the back is also a very comfortable place to sit and talk.

Fantastic service and interesting cocktails in a intimate bar. We loved the variety of unique drinks.

Awesome place. Great vibes and cool employees. Could use a beer or two for us meatheads but the drinks were excellent in its place

We had a good time here. We were walking around looking for something to do and found this bar. The Spring Break shot was amazing. Neil was our bartender, I feel terrible because I don't remember the name of the sweet girl that was working with him. They both were great and very friendly. We just had a couple of drinks. It is very dark inside, and I would say it has an eclectic hipster vibe. The funny thing is they charge $1 for Facebook jokes, and yes the menu says they are serious! Lol! Definitely check them out at least once if ever in Louisville!!

Finding a fun, swanky over 30+ adult beverage establishment with live music and is open until 4am is quite a treat! We wandered in after seeing reviews on Yelp and realizing it was super close to The Limbo as well. Super cute and a great spot for date night or friends catching up. Unfortunately, there was one bartender working on the night we visited. He (naw starts with a D) was great at making drinks but flat out avoided certain patrons--- seemingly tourists. He'd avoid eye contact. But at 2am, if you're still sipping, it is certainly less of an issue or concern because you're at a place that is still serving. We met some really nice people while there, including the doorman who checked our id to confirm we were of age (the ultimate compliment for a woman). I tried the champagne cocktail and a swagger (specialty margarita) which were both pretty memorable and worth the 10-15 minute guessing game of will he look at me this time when he finishes making this cocktail.

Came after a show close by for a drink. Initially was having a great time and getting a drink or two with friends. The staff was originally friendly but a little slow. While waiting at the bar to order a drink an entire wedding party of 30 plus people came in. NO ORDER at all! I was being blatantly ignored. I tried several times to order and close my tabs and would get "I will be right with you" and then watch the bartenders walk over to people who just walked up. After 30 MINUTES of waiting I was finally able to just close my tab and get out and go somewhere else. Was very disappointed to see how many obvious underage guests they allowed to be given drinks or even order drinks themselves at the bar. Overall a very bad experience.

Meta is such a hidden gem in downtown Louisville, and I could guarantee that if I asked a bunch of people if they've heard of this place, a lot of them would probably say no. Not gonna lie, I was always turned off to come here with it being right next to a strip club, but don't let that keep you from coming. This place is classy, relaxing, and a nice bar to come try a few cocktails. It's hard to find nice bars in the heart of downtown that aren't tourist traps or dirty. Meta is neither of these things. This place gives off very old fashioned and local vibes. I love their cocktail menu as well - a wee bit pricey, but some very creative choices on the list. I tried out their Pinkies Out drink, which was very similar to a mimosa with a lemon twist. On Saturdays they have a DJ, and although it was a bit loud for such a small bar, I thought the music fit great with the vibe. If you need a new bar to try in the metro area, I definitely recommend Meta!

Wonderful staff with friendly advice and recommendations. Excellent menu with a wide variety of options for every palette.

Decent cocktails, nothing to write home about, and ambiance is generally lacking. Would go back for a cocktail to start the night but not somewhere I'd anticipate spending a while.

Such a fun bar a little of the beaten path, especially since we were here for a convention. Great drinks, loved the ambiance. Went here twice while in town. First night they had a live DJ spinning 45s of soul, funk, jazz which was right up our alley. Staff knows their bar game. Made tasty drinks and then after they got to know us some and the pallets they were able to make other tasty recommendations that should be on the menu but aren't. Second night it was a Monday night it was quite and a great place to have good drinks and catch up with friends. The staff even made great recommendations for late night food if we wanted snacks after. They were so great. Looking for a great place you should try Meta.

Recommended by multiple bartenders at multiple places, but I don't see the attraction. When we rolled in on a Saturday night the place was empty- maybe bc of the sad 80's music that made me want to gag? We asked about changing to something a bit livelier, but it wasn't happening. The drink menu had some good options including a unique tomato water/gin mix and an even better drink called the despacito. Sadly, they ran out of the syrup that went into it, and said that only the owner knew the recipe. Seems like a bad idea for a bar to not train their staff to make drinks on their standard menu. Had potential, but wasn't the winner.

I've been to Meta a handful of times and so glad I took a friend who LIVES RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. We had planned for a night of debauchery to meet new people. Had to go to one of my favorite bars around town first. I've been before after a show at the Palace; close walking distance! Friendly staff, warm speak easy ambiance. {former strip club} air of being hidden yet desired. See you again soon, Meta!!

Visited meta last night, and was a a roller coaster of emotions if you will First, the pics on yelp are great and shows a pretty sizable bar (up). When we found the place, it is a little bit off the Main Street and surprisingly smaller than expected (down). This was fine, and was able to accommodate the crowd size that was there. Seating was available for both bench and booth (up) so we got a spot with some pretty comfy chairs. Went to the bar to order and the bartenders were friendly and knowledgeable (up). But as is expected, craft cocktails take a little longer to make. I suppose it didn't help that 10 people swarmed up around me right as I was about to order, but it took ~15-20 mins to get 2 drinks (down). When we got the drinks, classic old fashioned and a byrrh me, they were fantastic (up up up) Will definitely be back to meta again, and update

I've been to Meta twice in the past week, and I am obsessed with the environment! I'm past the days of going to overly-crowded bars, and this is the perfect relaxing environment. I like to go here after dinner to have a few drinks. I get my go-to: Moscow Mule, and it is one of the best I've had! The bartender has such a relaxed and genuine vibe, and he's attentive each time we go. This may not be the place for you if you're looking for a crazy night out, but it's great for after-dinner drinks or the first stop on a night out. I'll be frequenting this location!

Cool cocktails bar taking their craft seriously. No wrong answers here but the byrrh me is a great starting point

Meta was a great spot for some cocktails and meeting people away from the craziness on 4th. The staff was great, and the cocktails were amazing!!

Fantastic speak easy feel bar with amazing pre-prohibition drinks, drinkwear and even more fantastic bartenders!

Great little cocktail bar in downtown Louisville. Good atmosphere, solid playlist and even better drinks. I ordered their take on a frozen Irish coffee and it was delicious. If I lived in town, I'd be back here in s heartbeat.

Don't let the hipster atmosphere fool ya ... well, OK maybe Meta is hipster to the extreme. This small cocktail bar has a speakeasy vibe with some of the best DJs in town on rotation. The drinks include fresh takes on cocktail classics and are a bit on the pricey side. But there is also a comfort to Meta. You don't only have to be hipster-rific to feel welcome and at ease. And this is why I love Meta. I can go there and feel cool, but I can also walk in wearing a hoodie -- which I did last weekend because I was coming from an outdoor marketing event -- and still get a smile and drink. And the drinks. They're delicious. I love how the menu includes new riffs on old classics. For example, I had the Normandy Invasion on my last visit, which is based on a Sazerac and adds Calvados apple brandy to the cocktail. The Sayonara Muchachos -- Meta's take on a margarita but with vermouth and umami syrup -- was also delicious and hit the spot. You can order the original cocktails, but with these new, fun takes, why not branch out a bit? Now, like I said above, these can be costly for Louisville cocktails at $10 to $14 each, but you can tell artistry and care go into each drink. And I would be remiss not to mention some of the fun events that Meta puts together. Did you hear about the place that served $10 jello shots made with Pappy Van Winkle bourbon? Yeah, that was Meta. Its bourbon Sno Cones are also a hit. Meta can make a serious cocktail but doesn't take cocktails too seriously. Meta has also partnered with Locals Only Louisville to do some one-of-a-kind dinners and hosted great after-work "Serial" listening parties. Bonus points go to Meta for being innovative with getting folks through the door. Give Meta a go if you're downtown and looking for a posh spot and great cocktail.

Upon walking in, I was greeted by Stacy! What a badass! She gave us information into the events, philosophy, and drink menu. We went on Wu Tang Clan night! They were jamming and we were loving it. With a buzz already in tow, we were seriously ready for the most talked about craft cocktail bar! In the span of four days, five different people told my sexy sauce and I about it. I also saw reviews and bookmarks like crazy on here... I knew it was meant to be! The floor is covered in pennies and the bathroom has positive quotes that help your buzz float along the rainbow. Hipster as can be and I love it! The prices range between $10 and $15 for a drink but they will give you quite a buzz and pep to your step! With options to take a casual drink that was created many moons ago, or to go with Metas twist on it... This place has a funky edge to it! We cannot wait to go back :)

Is it the nicest bar? Nope. Is it the "freshest" bar? Nope. Is it the most popular bar? Nope. But. It is locally owned. Has been infused with tons of love. Has a good location right around the corner from 4th street and the Palace. I love the decor with the pennies on the floor. Nice people working the bar. I'm a fan. And I pop in if I'm in the area.

Rude service, draft beer was warm, bartender did not check back in ever despite the fact they were not busy, would not recommend

I was here for a New2Lou event. It was a great location for it! Drinks were delicious! The bartender sweetened up my gimlet for me as I prefer sweeter drinks. The bartenders did a great job, considering the massive amount of people that were there on what I assume is not normally a busy night (Wednesday evening 5:30-8pm).

Stopped by last night for a cocktail and were served by Dre, great cocktails and very nice bartender. Went back again tonight and had the opposite experience, very unfriendly bartender....did not get her name, but won't be going back.

I checked in twice this week and suddenly I'm the duchess of this place! Haha! Goes to show how much I appreciate a good drink. Again, the place wasn't really crowded when we got there, but we got there around 9PM, which is still relatively early in the night. Plus they had a DJ setting up as we left. I almost felt like this would be a hopping spot in the Bay Area, but maybe the demand isn't so high out in Louisville. A shame, really. This time I ordered the Swagger (based off a margarita) and the Despacito (based off a gimlet). The presentation is still high up there, but now that I have had at least a few of their drinks, I can say that I'm not as much of a big fan of their renditions. That's the point of experimentation: trying something new. I will still be coming back for more, but I think I'll stick to the originals. Great place to catch up with friends!

Walked in at 7:30 on Wednesday. Bartender jumped up off of couch surprised to see anyone. We were gonna chill anyway. She was less than help. We asked for recommendations. She made us feel like leaving. All we wanted was to drink a few cool cocktails. Server at Brennan's told us this was a cool place. Headed back to tell her it isn't.

The most press Meta ever got was for selling $10 Pappy Van Winkle Jell-O shots. The more I think about that particular stunt, the more I think it appropriately relates the actual vibe of Meta -- specialty cocktails, dressed down, and no sacred cows. If you come here, it's for the somewhat pricey (for Louisville) cocktails, each of which takes several minutes to describe, let alone mix. It's super dark inside, but it's also very comfortable. Welcoming - even friendly - with a decided lack of pretension. Girls' night out clubbing? 8-Up might be tops on your list, but you wouldn't get turned away here either. These drink geeks will probably steer you right.

Nice small bar in downtown Louisville. It s next to a Strip club. They have s good selection of beers and mixed drinks. Only down side was on a Friday night it was very loud. And going outside not much room outside either. I suggest u try it and see what u think

I miss Meta. This was a popular hangout spot for my friends and me, before I moved. It's off the beaten path downtown, and it's pretty small inside. There are some tables and comfy chairs to sit in, but I always sat at the bar. It's always dark in there--they keep the lights pretty low for ambience. Despite the atmosphere and the drink prices, I've never felt the need to dress up to go here. It's a pretty chill and accepting spot, and seems to be popular for other people in the food industry looking for a drink after work. The cocktails are delicious. They aren't cheap, but you can tell by the time and effort that gets put into making them that the employees really care about their craft. If you don't know what you want, their bartenders make excellent suggestions based on what you usually go for. Meta used to offer some small apps to eat with your drinks (like the pimento cheese pictured below), but I don't know if they do anymore. Highly recommend for good craft cocktails!

Stopped here on our way back to the car after the concert. Neat bar, I was expecting it to look divey instead, it was very metro and a modern feels, beautiful bar top and minimal decor with a bit of flash. Not a lot craft beer selections and we weren't keen on any of the drink specials. So we didn't order anything, but the bartender was nice and informative.

I love bourbon. I love bars that have a good selection of bourbon. I also love bars that make good craft cocktails with or without bourbon in them. That is a good way to describe this place. It does have a speakeasy hipster feel to it, but the ambiance was perfect for my friends and I to talk about our first week back at school. We actually commented on how the music was the perfect volume. I also love the concept of the drink menu. They've taken classic cocktails and added their own spin onto them. The menu reflects those changes but still gives you the option to order the classic drink! If you are looking to try some good craft drinks, a bourbon you haven't tried before, or just want a place to talk with friends, check this place out!

The ambiance is perfect for a chill night with crafty cocktails. Unless its super packed when they have an event going on (they have DJs on the weekends sometimes for events, I think). I like how they list the classic cocktails under their own cocktails that are similar. Bartenders are always cool; in a way they dont try to suck up to you by being 'fake' nice. But they are friendly and very knowledgable in their field. Definitely, suggest it for people who are looking to have a chill night with friends catching up and such. PS. they offer discount for the restaurant industry customers.

Meta is on my short list of must-visit spots whenever I'm in Louisville. The staff are amazing, the service is phenomenal, and the bill of fare is outstanding. They're doing the best they can with the opportunities available and should be commended.