The Old Seelbach Bar

What an incredible and beautiful hotel and restaurant! Our bartender Josue had an amazing personality and we had a wonderful lunch enjoying the delish food, dessert, drinks and conversation! The history in the building is incredible and if you can, tour the basement.

Stopped in for drinks. Gorgeous venue. My mint julip was pretty but I could not mix my drink. All of the simple syrup was on the bottom.

Had a couple flights here in the historical downtown hotel bar which were very good. They have a huge selection of bourbons along with different cocktails. We had the fried pretzal with beer cheese which was very delicious too.

The Seelbach Hilton, a grand dame of Louisville, certainly lives up to its reputation in terms of architectural splendor. Navigating to the eponymous bar within its opulent interior was effortless, the hotel's bright, rich decor leading us to a starkly contrasting space: the dimly lit Seelbach Bar. The dark, low lighting and imposing, wooden-shelved bar created an atmosphere of old-world charm, and the plush, wingback chairs and large, round tables offered comfortable seating for our party. However, the charm quickly faded. The menu, while presented with an air of sophistication, proved surprisingly minimal. Our charcuterie board, though adequate, lacked the variety and artistry one might expect from such an establishment. The craft beer selection was equally underwhelming, a mere handful of local breweries represented. My choice, unfortunately, tasted stale, suggesting a neglect in stock rotation – a significant oversight for a bar within a hotel of this caliber. The much-touted bourbon selection, the primary reason for our visit, also fell flat. Instead of the rare and impressive pours we anticipated, we were met with a lineup of mostly basic offerings. The service mirrored the lackluster experience. Our server appeared only once during our entire stay, leaving us to contemplate a lengthy wait should we have desired a second drink. While the ambiance initially held promise, the Seelbach Bar ultimately failed to deliver. The underwhelming menu, stale beer, uninspired bourbon selection, and inattentive service were deeply disappointing, particularly in contrast to the hotel's overall grandeur. We left feeling that we had experienced a shadow of what the bar could be, and it's unlikely we'll return. While the hotel is a must see, the bar is a must miss.

Such a great vibe in the bar and hotel. The waitstaff was attentive, the drinks were delicious (and we ordered some off menu), and the food was really good. We stopped because I am a Great Gatsby fan but it’s a cool place either way.

Beautiful bar and super knowledgeable bartender. Great old-fashioned! The atmosphere is awesome!

This place blew me away. I loved the bourbon cocktails (and don’t even drink bourbon). The bartender knew exactly what he was going! And the special stew with cornbread was some of the best stew I’ve ever had. I will definitely be back multiple times next time I am in town!

The hotel is very very cool! They had a paper talking about the history that I got from the front desk which was a very interesting read. The bartender was very nice and helpful. I would recommend this place to anyone who visits Louisville. (Jacob’s Super Special Tips: This place is a must-visit for any visitor, especially those who like learning about local history.)

The Seelbach Hotel, now known as The Seelbach Hilton Louisville, is an iconic hotel that has been a landmark since its opening on May 1, 1905, boasting a stunning Beaux-Arts architectural style. The Seelbach Hotel is said to have inspired parts of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The Old Seelbach Bar is a no less historic. The bar has hosted presidents, and gangsters. It is now a must see when you are visiting the Bourbon Trail. The cocktails are excellent, and the staff are attentive. As you might expect, catering to business travel and to tourists the prices are almost in the Vegas range. But you should stop in and pay homage anyway. My only gripe about the bar was the lack of peanuts/cashews/ etcétera while sitting at the bar. Even Vegas bars provide some salty things to nibble on while drinking.

Such a cool place to get a drink. Definitely get a bourbon flight while you're here. Wasn't a fan of the pretzel but there look to be plenty of other bites to soak up that bourbon so you can continue on with your night. :-)

We stayed at the Seelbach this weekend and Saturday evening we stopped in for a quick bite and a drink. This is a very cozy bar and still has the old time feel to it. They have a huge bourbon selection. I had their Old Fashioned and my wife had a glass of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. She ordered the Burgoo and I had the Smoked Wings. Her Burgoo came out piping hot. It was thicker than what we usually see, but she said the flavor was good. My Smoked Wings were enormous, full wings. Even though they came out as 4 wings, there are technically 8, if you ordered anywhere else. I got a side of ranch for dipping, along with celery and carrots. Everything was delicious.

Lots of bourbon to choose from here. I had the Widow Jane Lucky Thirteen. It was smooth. Also had Against the Grain beer, which was light and also good. My husband ordered a Guinness which was in a bottle. Unfortunately it was old and flat. As the call is the Guinness Couple, we feel authorized to say, this beer was in poor taste. Not sure what happened to it, but it was horrible tasting. He also got The Seelbach mixed drink. We differed here. He liked it, and I didn't. So try it, and you might like it. Everyone's tastes are different. Service was hit or miss. Sit at the left end of the bar when you walk in because that's where the bartenders make drinks and you get better service. We sat in front of the register and struggled to get service. In their favor though, it was busy and they only had one bartender making drinks for the whole place. Bar back was constantly moving keeping up. An ok bar, but I've been in much nicer. Just get a drink and give it a try for yourself.

Stopped in here while staying in Louisville. I heard good things about it so added it to a place to go. It is located inside the Seelbach hotel right near Fourth Street Live. When you walk in it gives you a cocktail bar type feel not a bar bar. While they did have numerous tv's (playing basketball), it was still pretty quiet and gave a quaint feel. The service was just okay, but the drinks were pretty amazing. We had several old fashions and they made them well. Of course a wide selection of bourbons to choose from. Prices were reasonable considering we were at a hotel bar. All in all, pretty good if you are in the area to stop in and have a cocktail.

Came in on a quiet rainy night so it was easy to grab a spot at a high top. We were quickly greeted and both drinks and food were severed quickly. The caesar salad was delicious and more than enough to share alongside an app. Also recommend the pretzel and hummus.

We visited this bar all 3 nights while staying at the Seelbach hotel. We always had good service; and the selection of bourbons on hand is very impressive! The bartenders all seemed to be knowledgeable about the varieties as well. On our first evening a had to try the Seelbach Cocktail, (bourbon, champagne, bitters, Grand Marnier, orange and cherry.). I wasn't a huge fan; but I'm not much of a bourbon drinker. On other nights I stuck to a beer and a Malibu Rum & coke. My husband had a flight of Four Roses Bourbons one evening, and a variety of other bourbon drinks the other 2 nights. He liked everything he had; although he requested one of the big ice bourbon balls; but they didn't have them when we were there. On our last night we tried some of the food options. On our bartender's recommendation we went with the big pretzel and beer cheese dipping sauce. The pretzel is deep-fried but also doughy on the inside. It was delicious and the portion of beer cheese sauce was larger than most. We also had the carnitas soft tacos and they were packed with flavor as well. We were happy with our choices, the prices were reasonable, and the food was delivered quickly. This bar is full of history so if you're a bourbon lover or staying at the Seelbach you need to stop in. You'll be glad you did!

Asking for humus for a quick bite at 9:30 when the kitchen closes at 9:30 and being told "NO" is not a good customer service look. When my good friend was the head chef here he would not have treated people that way for a "scoop" of blended chickpeas. Won't be back.

We had the large pretzel and beer cheese and a few drinks. The service was good and the old hotel was very inviting. The ambiance was warm and cozy.

We stayed in the hotel and went there on Saturday night for a nightcap after a party and UK basketball game viewing. We sat at the bar and both bartenders were super friendly and could make any drink you wanted. Their bourbon list was huge. If you want to taste high end bourbons, this is your place. They also had a large, more normal bourbon menu which we ordered from. My wife had an Old Fashion, two actually. She said they were the best she had ever had. We had two appetizers. The bourbon, beer pretzel (huge!) and the hummus plate. The beer cheese was really good. The hummus plate was great with pita bread and lots of veggies. All of them had honey lightly drizzled on them. Unique twist and really good. If we get to stay at the hotel again, we would definitely go back there. It's on the Urban Bourbon Trail, we learned.

This review is only based on a single visit and two drinks (not the service, as I understand why they were slow). The cocktails I got were either overly bitter or over sweet. I was shocked as I have always wanted to visit the Seelbach bar and held them under high regards. Their cocktails are pretty terrible; go to Meta for cocktails (nearby). Service was extremely slow (not the server's fault, they only had two bartenders and the bar was quite full).

The bar has the largest selection of bourbon. That is the reason to go. The staff are friendly and helpful. They let you linger. The place is an old-fashioned bar, with a full bar. The food was okay. It is bar food, fries, tacos and other items. It is good for a late-night snack.

More atmosphere than anything else. The service was friendly but not familiar - a little different that other bars we visited. Funky old wood menu for the high price poors was fun to read in the dark. A window seat gives you a view of a parade of interesting characters and an interior seat gives you a better view of the bar. The food was average and allowed us to get a few bits of the Brown before we just turned back to testing bourbons. We stayed in the hotel so this was convenient for us. We loved the rich history. The tight measure pours.....well.

Fancy hotel with old school vibes bar. We got multiple drinks which were great. The beer geese pretzel - which came out really hard (overcooked and really salty). The bison burger was good though and fries were well seasoned. Not sure if we would come back.

We love the bourbon selection at the Old Seelbach Bar. Our bartender was very helpful. We walked over to enjoy dessert and a night cap. Highly recommended.

A great old treasure in this dark wood paneled bar just off off the beautiful historic lobby of the hotel of the same name. Add to that, great food & service. Danielle, our server, was upbeat, attentive and knowledgeable. We started with the hummus platter - an array of fresh vegetables and soft honeyed pita wafers to scoop the tantalizing hummus in a circle of green olives and grape tomatoes. A clump of sliced banana peppers added a nice counterpoint to the traditional plate. I decided to try the hotel's version of the 'Hot Brown'. It was a huge and decadently rich concoction of roast turkey, ham and mornay sauce. I ate half and wanted to eat more but was 'fuller than a brush man'. Tami selected the Pappardelle noodles in a white wine & lemon sauce with chopped scallions. Loved it so much she wanted it for lunch the next day.

I travel almost every week for business. I like the Hilton Curio properties. Checked in to the Seelbach in Louisville, very historic hotel, exactly what I expected. Very cool Place. The Bar/ Restaurant is a huge disappointment. Service is horrible, sat for 10 minutes was never acknowledged,the bartender refreshed two guys drinks, waited on a customer who arrived after me, left the bar to wait on a table. I walked out. Will stay again but will not patronize the Old Seelbach bar. Way too many other places on 4th street.

I like to consider myself a bit of a pretzel connoisseur. I've tried hundreds and this is my #1. The pretzel comes out piping hot and is HUGE! It has the perfect crunch on the outside and soft chewiness on the inside. DELICIOUS! The cheese is perfect too. Rich creamy flavor that cuts the pretzel perfectly. Chefs kiss! I can't wait to go back and try another one!

The Old Seelbach Bar is part of the historic Seelbach Hotel. The ambiance isn't what I expected. I expected an old mostly wooden bar and historic. Instead, it is more modern decor inside. Once I ditched my expectations, I was impressed by the massive selection of bourbons that they have. My friend and I popped in for a cocktail and snack. I ordered a mint julep with Elijah Craig and the hummus platter. The mint julep was fantastic! The hummus platter was yummy! Perfect afternoon pit stop!

We stopped in last Thursday evening for a nightcap on the way to our airbnb next door. An architectural beauty. Make sure you pop downstairs to check out the Rathskeller. There wasn't anything going on down there so we were able to just have a look at all of the painted pottery work as well as the leather ceiling. There are many photos and historical artifacts in the hallway behind the front desk. We enjoyed a famous Seelbach cocktail in the old Seelbach bar.

Came in on a snowy January evening. Great service, great bar staff! The rotisserie chicken was really nice. Had a couple of Old Fashioned drinks, very good. Was tempted into to the Darby Pie - thought it would be super sweet but it was actually not that sweet. Would recommend this place. Great sense of history and ambience. Not the usual hotel bar!

Really enjoyed the service, drink and food. The Sealback Hotbrown was great on a cold rainy stopover heading south.

Alright, I'm going to say what no one else will: This place is a bit over-rated and a little tired. However, the history of this regal hotel bar is not without its charm. And it's a nice oasis from the cravenly awful 4th Street entertainment area. GOOD: It's a charming room, no doubt about that. The bartenders wear suspenders and bow ties, and that might be appealing to older folks in your party. The cocktails are classic; a nice baseline for further drinking in the area. MEH: This bar clearly survives by separating tourists from their money, and it shows in the obscenely high prices for basic bourbon pours. Unless you just won big at the horse track, save your pocket change for someplace else. (Better yet, leave the area. 4th Street is not for grown ups.)

Came in while I was staying here to grab the signature drink, The Seelback Cocktail. It called for Old Forrester, which they were out of, do they tell me? No. Kind of shady making your signature drink with something other than what's described and not telling the customer. The bar itself is okay, a bit too much light for a hotel bar in a historic property, it should have had a more cozy ambiance.

We were staying in the hotel and heard rave reviews about the bar, so it seemed fitting to stop through for a drink. I felt like I stepped back in time. Nice vibe created by dim lighting and dark wood. There were a nice variety of seating options with the bar, high tops, square and round tables. We decided on a high top. The chairs were super comfortable, which could tempt one to stay longer than necessary. Not long after we found our seat, a friendly guy visited to welcome us and deliver menus. I decided on the Minted Gold and was pleased with the tasty and refreshing nature of the drink. I appreciated the substantial mint garnish because the arroma of the mint was simply divine. I was also impressed that it was served in a beautiful crystal glass. I expected the drinks to be pricey, and they were, so I was not surprised. This is the type of place that is about the experience, not getting a deal.

Fantastic bourbon bar. Unbelievable selection. All organized by producer which is nerdy I guess but I like it. Went in here two nights and had some great pours that I can't get near home. Food was pretty good too.

As a hotel guest I tried to call in a food order at approx 9:15/9:20. The phone kept ringing to the front desk or endlessly ringing at the bar. The kitchen closes at 9:30 - as soon as the clock went past 9:30 the bar answered, and declined my order as the time had passed. It's disappointing they let the phone ring until after food orders were closed and would not accommodate. The Brown Hotel down the street has better rooms and a more accommodating food/bar.

Wherever you read "Oldest hotel in town" go, there's a good reason for being in business longer than anyone else.

Ask for Bob!!!! The man knows his brown liquors and didn't steer me wrong all night. Also, has great recommendations for dinner. He is one cool cat! Did I also mention the place had 150+ bourbons, haunted and Al Capone hung here in the 1920's. Must visit!

I travel all over the country throughout the year and I typically get a burger or something that won't make me sick. The burger tonight was honestly one of the best I've had. Nothing crazy to it - just an old fashioned hamburger that made me say Wow! Hats off to the cook!

Nice bar but not nearly as old or clubby looking as I'd hoped. The bourbon selection is wonderful of course but I think I had too high of expectations after reading up on the history and walking into the gorgeous hotel lobby. I honestly think they should renovate to give the space an older more luxurious feel. Right now it feels like a 1990s bar with really good drink selection. Be prepared for high prices.

Literally decided not to stay here just because of how outrageous their bourbon pricing is lol you're in Kentucky smh ‍ it's cheaper in Jndiana yikes. $32 for a pour of eagle rare lol

My friend's theory that hotel bars are always good seemed to have fallen a bit short on the Old Seelbach Bar. If you're here for historical purposes, that's probably more accurate, but we came here with our trusty Urban Bourbon passport to check out this place. Funny enough, we crashed a post wedding party grabbing drinks. Our server made sure to get to us quickly before the party came and took over. Service was great, their namesake drink made roughly of bourbon/orange liquor/champagne actually was smooth. The architecture of the remnant 1900s aka Great Gatsby can be felt as you walk in, but a bit worn down and could use some fixing up. Anyway, I write to speak of the bar drinks, but come for the art history.

Stopped here on two occasions on our trip. The first stop, the food was ok but not bad and our waitress was just ok. We stopped there again because it's a really cute, sophisticated downtown hotel bar. Full list of every kind of bourbon and a good variety of food from apps to entrees. Had the huge pretzel for an app and it was pretty good. For dinner, had the chicken Alfredo which was delicious. Our waitress this time was amazing! Would definitely recommend and would definitely go back again.

Excellent service, great drinks, awesome bourbon collection, great history, highly recommend

I was expecting something a little more grand, or classic or... something. Don't get me wrong, the Old Seelbach Bar looks nice, is laid out well but lacks a certain something. Maybe I was taken out of it by the flat screen TVs (are you a sports bar?), but more likely the $50/shot price of Weller 12 which costs $30/bottle. I expect a markup, but that seems a little excessive. Good for a visit, but I doubt that anyone without an expense account would make this a regular haunt.

Very unique atmosphere both in the heart of a historic hotel in the heart of Bourbon Country. Selection of Bourbon was great and bartenders were both friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend when your in Louisville you take the time to stop in for a drink.

I used to love coming the the Old Seelbach Bar to listen to live jazz. It was seriously a Friday night favorite of mine. I visited again recently on a whim and was a little disappointed. There was no live music and the menu had taken an upward turn in prices. The food was ok, but not for the price point. The beer and wine menus were a little underwhelming especially considering we have some tasty local beer choices that could be on there for out of town guests to try. Our server was nice and efficient. The atmosphere was less than ideal...though I might just be bitter about not having the live music. I think the Seelbach is a gorgeous hotel that must be taken in if you're visiting Louisville...but skip the bar food menu and try another local spot nearby.

We stopped in for a nightcap here while visiting Louisville and checking out spots on the Urban Bourbon Trail. Nice place, not too loud, plenty of seating and quick service. The hotel itself is beautiful. Definitely try the Seelbach Cocktail, it's Old Forester Bourbon, Cointreau, sparking wine, Angostura, and Peychaud's bitters. I could drink so many of these!

This is a great spot to grab a drink in a pretty location. My party of 4 was all dressed up for a night out and this was our first stop to grab a drink. On a Wednesday night there was plenty of seating at the bar. The hotel lobby is gorgeous and the bar is what you would expect from a 100+ year old establishment- lots of leather, brass and pretty lighting with high ceilings. There was a good selection of draft beers, bourbon and wine. They had food available but we did not partake. I would gladly go back.

Walked into the lobby at 10:28pm, told by the front desk the bar was open (and sign confirmed) till 11pm. 10 plus people in the bar still drinking but was met by a team member at the door stating they were closed and to go elsewhere. Great hospitality. I'm sure your owner/operator would love to know you willingly decided to forego sales, especially in this post-Covid environment where guest counts and volume of business are crucial to a restaurant's success.

I stopped by after dinner at Eddie Merlots. They have a few tv's for sports fanatics and a great selection of bourbon, scotch, beer, and cocktails. The service was great, nothing to complain about. The inside is really laid back but has some old decor. They have lots of tables and ample bar seating. If you're staying at this hotel, definitely stop in. If you're not, stop by anyway.

For real, I just had the BEST cocktail EVER! The Minted Gold (Signature Cocktail $13): Basil Hayden, Ginger Beer, Fresh OJ, Fresh Lemon Juice, Woodford Reserve Cherry Bitters, Cucumber, Thyme. We stopped in for drinks on the Urban Bourbon Trail at this gorgeous hotel. If you haven't been here, especially if you're out in Lou traveling/sight-seeing, it's not to be missed. I love that it's conveniently located near 4th Street Live = awesome! Otherwise, I'm not sure I can add anything else that hasn't already been said, so enjoy!

We were staying at the Seelbach and saw an advertisement for it. They tout that they were named in the "Top 50" bars in America, so we assumed it had to be good. First, it's WAY overpriced. $13 for a run of the mill bourbon drink? Second, this is nothing more than a typical hotel bar you'd see in a Hilton Garden Inn. It's loaded down with TVs showing sports and the decor is a cross between typical hotel lobby furniture and a few bourbon souvenirs from distilleries. Third, they had several servers but it still took forever to get any service. I was hoping for more of a 1920s era feel to go with the rest of the hotel. If the atmosphere had been different I could have possibly overlooked the expensive drink. Definitely will go back to the hotel, definitely will not go back to their bar.

Kentucky Fried Chicken. Tobacco. BOURBON. Guess which famous Kentucky export, J was most interested in? I made the intro. J meet Old Seelbach Bar, Old Seelbach Bar meet J. J was impressed by the over SIXTY BOURBONS listed on the formidable bourbon list. Old Seelbach Bar was impressed with J's downing of a Maker's Mark neat despite his cold. I knew they'd get along! However, the Old Seelbach Bar's eats were much less impressive. The Tomato Bisque was ok in flavor but was so chunky that I felt like I was eating a cup of pasta sauce with croutons. My Fried Green Tomatoes were bland and disappointing but I suppose that's what I get for ordering tomatoes in the dead of winter. The red pepper aioli that came with it couldn't help the cause. We liked J's Louisville Hot Brown though. It came with the standard bread, turkey, and bacon and the Mornay sauce on it was great. There were some mashed potatoes buried in there too. We'll definitely be back! The bourbon beckons...

It was a Saturday night, and I wanted to take my 94 year old grandmother to the casino- I mean hell, that is like our favorite bonding time. However, she was nowhere to be found (I later heard she was at a carnival at her church, I should have looked there!). With that being said, I headed back to the hotel, to go drink my sorrows away. I heard the Seelbach had a famous bar (I vaguely saw it when I checked in earlier...), and I decided to check it out. What was there to lose? Oh yea, there were 2 weddings going on that night, all of the rookie drinkers flooding the bar. Thankfully, I was able to get a table, facing the TVs (there were 2, one at each end of the bar). I was greeted after a few minutes, and I didn't really look at a menu, I just went straight for the ol Makers n Coke. It came out quickly, and I may or may not have ordered a handful more. One thing I will tell you about this place is that the chairs are pretty damn comfortable. I mean like really comfortable- as in I almost fell asleep in it. But there was too much eye candy keeping me awake. Let me rephrase that- there were too many girls stumbling up the ramp, and it was too entertaining for me to close my eyes. Speaking of stumbling, I almost did the same damn thing, but I power hour'd my drinks. Even though I didn't get to see a menu, I saw they do serve food there. Wish I got to try it, as room service was only ok. I would have to say this is one of the higher end bars in the city, as it usually gets on highly regarded lists. With that being said, I would like to see it busier on weekends- and not with just wedding parties...

We wanted to check out this historic place due to being the inspiration for the writer of The Great Gatsby--you'll enjoy your red carpet entrance as you head to the bar just inside the hotel. A bit more upscale with upscale prices (minus one star: $13 for The Seelbach Cocktail [Korbel & bourbon? ehh..]) compared to the many other bars we've tried in town. The bartenders were a bit burned out, as we had no personal interaction besides ordering a drink & paying our bill--but for some, that's ideal! Great for large parties as there was ample seating, but also great for a couple like us to steal a seat at the small bar. TVs to watch the game, and a glowing bourbon wall to stare into...we got what we came for--a drink, a toast, and another bar under our belts in this city of bourbon dreams. Got our passports stamped for the Urban Bourbon Trail and headed to our next stop! Cheers!

This is a great little bar. First off, the service is outstanding. Our bar server, Bob, was great. We also did a tour with Patrick the head of security and it was great. Patrick is a wealth of knowledge about the Seelbach. There is so much history and so many great stories to be heard. We only ordered drinks but they were so on point. The bar area is nice and so comfy. There is an area for lounging and tables and the bar that is long and full of top shelf liquors! I give the Old Seelbach 4 stars because it is nice but it's right off the street so people can peep in which is a bit creepy.

We had a great dinner thanks to Talia who was the ONLY person working the bar and restaurant the night we were there. She was unflappable and cheerful. We had Louisville's best: an old fashioned, a Seelbach, Burgoo, a Hot Brown and Derby Pie. Everything was delicious. The restaurant is beautiful and cozy.