The Pearl of Germantown

This place is such an excellent gem of a bar. Great cocktails, good environment, locally owned and clearly very much loved. Was so happy to stumble upon it during our travels in Louisville. We will definitely be back.

My husband enjoys this bar, and I don’t hate it. Upon first entering, the bar is on your right and tables make an L shape around the room. The decor is kitschy, hodgepodge of various pop culture things. Personally, I found some of the graphic decor distasteful/misogynistic. There’s no real theme. It almost looks like they went to an estate sale and just put it all up on the walls. Past the bar a lady sets up and makes food, and there is a patio outback with ample seating. They have a beautiful tulip bed on Texas. The staff seem to help people in the order they arrive, are efficient, and make good drinks. My DH loves their house made sweet and sour mix. It elevates their cocktails and makes it worth the extra drive. The atmosphere is typical of a Germantown bar, lots of small friend groups, a good mix of music including indie/rap/new wave/etc, People seem to keep to their own groups. I’ve seen both single women and men at the bar not being bothered. The lighting reminds me of the Smokey yellow-orange of the 80’s, but dim.

I go there once a month for a lesbian night and it’s the best night of the month. The staff is friendly and always takes care of you, even when they’re slammed. I do wish the space was more accessible, because my friend who uses a wheelchair can never come. The bathrooms are too small for her device and the back patio has no ramp. Otherwise, the atmosphere is generally very good.

My first time at the Pearl and I felt like a great fit. Not overly busy but more people than I expected on a Wednesday night. Limited in food options this is a great place after eating at any one of the restaurants like the Post in the area. I liked the retro appearance. We had a small group of us sitting at a table probably used for some kindergartners and the surrounding 50s and 60s pictures really had me enjoying the bar before I got my drink. They pretty much had the normal types of beers. Would not call this a craft place but they had something for everyone and was definitely not a pretentious establishment. I would love to go and see how lively it could get but for a mid week gathering it was perfect. Music was at good volumes and the service was prompt and curtious what more can you ask for eh?! Stop in for a quick drink if you want to start or end your night in the Germantown area for sure.

After several positive recommendations, I came here for the first time with a friend and couldn’t have left faster. The vibes were not welcoming whatsoever. It wasn’t busy at all, which was nice for a weekend night! The atmosphere was quaint and the decor is interesting; almost like a little treasure hunt when you look at everything individually. However, we were greeted with a really sub par bartender who rolled her eyes at us for the drinks we asked for like it was an inconvenience to make a 3 ingredient shot. Neither of us were satisfied with service and the weird tension of feeling like we weren’t supposed to be there was pretty off putting. Disappointing and underwhelming; we won’t be back.

Love this place. Eclectically decorated. Good selection of drinks, and they have some options for people that like to take chances such as a mystery beer or spinning a wheel to choose your drink.

What a great experience! We absolutely loved it here!! Went on a Monday worried it'd be slow but it was so lively, and the karaoke was a blast!!!

Step back in time to experience beatnik/ 70s bar decor, cold beers, handcrafted artisan cocktails, and vinyl spinning your favorite old school tunes from yesteryear. Yes, it's a whole lot of kitschy, but you'll be glad you stopped in to spin the beverage wheel or toss a ring to get great bar deals! Hopefully you'll have Leah as your mix master making your drinks and visit a memorable one!! Cheers!!! Parking is on street.

I love a good dive bar, and this is a great one! It's cozy and warm. Prices are great, and they have some great local specials. I especially love their wheel- spin it to see what you get- nothing is over $5 and it's a wide variety of options. I also love the $3 mystery beer!

Not impressed... I had gone with some friends after we got drinks at another bar and we thought this place was cute. As we walked in, the bartender gave us dirty looks. It wasn't long before she began flirting with my friend and he became the only person who was able to order from her (we quite literally had to ask him to order our drinks for us because she kept ignoring us). In the meantime she enjoyed dancing with the other bartender and slamming our drinks down in front of us. Anyways, cute bar but probably won't come back.

Worst bartender I've ever encountered, I think her name was Leah? She only took orders from the men in the bar, and seemed to deliberately ignore our group (except for our male friend who we had to order drinks through). Not only rude, but incompetent. She slammed my drink on the counter after waiting 15 minutes for a chance to order it.

Came here with a small group of friends after being at another bar, and wanting to end the night having one more drink at a chill spot. So we thought.... The bartender lea had one the worst attitudes i have EVER encountered. She took 20 minutes to get my friend a beer as she was flirting with someone at the end of the bar and kept ignoring us and rolling her eyes when we were asking for another drink. She created a hostile environment which is so upsetting to see as the pearl is known for being a friendly establishment. I have never had an issue at the pearl before but after the service and hostility of the bartender, i will not be returning.

My friends and I were turned down at the door because we were all heterosexual. We wanted to enjoy our night with people that seemed to be having fun and, because of our sexual orientation, we were not permitted to join. Segregation.

One of our favorite neighborhood bar. The Pearl is a cozy little space with great cocktails. Cement was recently laid for the outside patio area. I was so happy to see the little pebble rocks gone out there! I typically enjoy a old fashioned or gold rush when we stop in for a drink. I recommend trying some the single barrel bourbons that they have picked. I have never been disappointed with anything that I have tried.

Great late night place with great cocktails and a cool, diverse vibe. Open until 4am and hopping until then on a Friday night! Quick service even at a crowded bar.

The PB & J is beyond needed late night. FIRE AF Bartender put their foot into that thing. You need to try! Cool vibe as well.

Limited (but delicious) cocktail menu. Great dive feel with vinyl and old board games. Cheap and a good time.

I love this place. I will fully intend to spend my night someplace else but then always end up here drinking the best daiquiri in Louisville because this bar is just that good. They have a fantastic vinyl collection behind the bar which serves as the soundtrack. I love to bring a book in the earlier hours and read at the bar, listen to great records, and sometimes enjoy their amazing house made pickled eggs. (Yes, you read that right.) The cocktails are classic and well made...lots of great rum choices that you can't find anywhere short of a tiki bar.

We were in the neighborhood for an even after work and had about 45 minutes to kill. We were happy for an excuse to try The Pearl! It was on the early end and the bar was pretty quiet, but the bartender was very welcoming and friendly. They have a full bar and several draft, and a very small cocktail menu behind the bar. The bartender was vey proud of his old fashioned and I gladly gave it a try. Made with Buffalo Trace it was only $6 and very tasty! My partner ordered a gold rush, one of her favorites, and was similarly pleased. As I indicated, we didn't stay long since we had plans, but we really enjoyed our drinks and the vibe. Lots of retro decor, nothing too pretentious, friendly service, and solid cheap drinks. Definitely a win in this part of town!

I mentioned to friends when I was here, that if I was in college I would live at this bar! It is warm and inviting. I love the cool ceiling, the christmas lights and the retro/weird/old art and decor. It is comfortable. There were people there obviously grabbing a drink after work in their office clothes, but I didn't get a side-eye or feel uncomfortable coming in after archery and walking all over the place in my workout clothes and a sweatshirt. It feels like an anyone, anyway kind of place. And I love that! They have a pretty good beer list. I wasn't feeling the beer thing that night, and old fashioneds and Manhattans are $6 each, which isn't bad! I prefer old fashioneds over all, but I think I would prefer it with less ice than it was served with here. It watered down the drink rather quickly. But the Manhattan was pretty great! The bathroom is grafitti'd up, but also still clean. That clean part....important ans appreciated! I will gladly return here, as it is in my price range, in my neighborhood, and a place I really like!

The Pearl might be one of my favorite places in Louisville to get a drink. - Decent prices - Decent drink selection - The ambiance is what I feel comfortable sitting in for extended periods of time. --- The ambiance being young professional but not tryna spend a lot of money types. - Great neighborhood. I live in Smoketown so it's walking distance from my house. It's a great place to meet up with friends and have drinks and you don't have to worry about how loud you are. For that sort of thing, the Pearl is a home run.

Within walking distance from my home, The Pearl is the best dive bar to be found in Germantown. The place is always crowded though I have never been there past 1am and they are open till 4am! The bartenders know how to pour a Guinness...so you get a nice pint with just enough of a head. The beers run between 4 and 6 dollars and come in real glasses. If you opt for the $2 cheap mass produced beer be prepared for a plastic cup. When you walk into the Pearl you immediately pick up on the vibes that there are lots of regulars here. People are happy and loud, there are picnic tables out back for die hard smokers, games available and for those with a strong stomach there are pickled eggs.

This is a good dive bar but it isn't really a true dive. I'm a fan because they always have Pilsner Urquell on draft, but don't sleep on their cocktails. Being owned by the same restaurant group as The Silver Dollar, the staff is trained appropriately. My only drawback is that it gets almost too crowded on a weekend night. Maybe you're into that. But if you want a quieter setting, maybe a Tuesday is more your thing.

I love The Pearl. It's like the little neighborhood bar where everyone knows your name. The Old Fashioned cocktails are $6 and the Mystery Beer is always a good choice. I love this divey bar! They allow dogs and are open very late!

Quaint little dive bar in the historic Germantown neighborhood. Expect good drinks, friendly staff, and a mixed bag of guests. They also have a package liquor license and are able to sell some of their delicious private barrels of bourbon, whiskey, and other spirits.

The bouncer, Nain is an ABSOLUTR SWEETHEART!!!! if he was the bartender we would be back every day. He is very charming and has an incredible personality. The bartender Leah on the other hand... is the rudest bartender i've ever encountered. Prob won't be back .

I'll start by saying that I wanted to love this place. I had heard great things about it, and a low-key Germantown bar with "super reasonably priced" drinks (according to anyone you talk to) sounded great. So, I've been wanting to check it out since it opened. Finally, this past weekend I got my chance to check out The Pearl of Germantown, and the most I can say is it's an alright spot. I'm not trying to write a bad review, I don't dislike the place, I think it was just a bit lost on me. In some aspects I see the appeal, but for me it just came off as trying too hard. The décor is definitely kitschy. I know that's exactly what they're going for, but it didn't seem to me that they had found these gems in their grandma's attic and decided to ironically use them in their bar, but rather most likely had spent hours combing flea markets in order to create a hipster dive full of cheap gaudy items. I have to say I rather enjoyed some of the pieces displayed around the bar (they have some cool signage and a neat vintage Playboy spread), but when it gets to the point that you're using glassware that's falling apart (my vintage glassware's glittery painted design was coming off the glass in my hand) to me it just seems like you're trying too hard. We didn't eat while we were there, as there isn't a very large menu (which we knew going in, so that wasn't a problem at all); however, I did notice the menu board and it didn't seem very cheap to me. One of the draws of this place, according to everyone I've heard talk about it, is how amazingly cheap it is. On the menu board a ham sandwich is $7. Now, I didn't see the ham sandwich, but I think the point of this place is that they're serving no frills, so that price seemed a bit steep to me. The top of the refrigerator behind the bar was covered with small bags of chips ($0.75/each), a bag of white bread, and a jar of peanut butter. I have no idea if they serve peanut butter sandwiches, because that wasn't posted on the menu, but I feel like if you asked they may make you one. I ordered a sangria, which was made from scratch (no pre-made stuff poured into a glass here), and was really tasty. I'm not sure of all of the ingredients, but when I asked the bartender did mention red wine, cinnamon syrup, and a few other things. Whatever was in there, it was great! And for $5 I think it was pretty reasonably priced, though it was served in a small glass. B ordered a Braxton Golden Cream Ale, and together our total was $11. In the age of often over-priced specialty cocktails, it is hard to beat that price in Louisville, so I've got to agree the drink prices at this spot are good. After our drinks we headed out, because there isn't much reason to stay unless you're with a group of friends or just feel like drinking for the night, since there's not much food and there's no entertainment besides a jukebox. I'm glad I finally got to check this place out, and that now I know what it's like, but I have to say I doubt I'll go back without reason. I have some friends who love this spot, and if they ever ask me to come join them there I definitely would, if nothing else for their lovely company and hopefully another glass of that delicious sangria.

Five Word Summary: Drink Wheel, Well priced, Fun! This is a place where you can have a good time. not pretentious, good cocktails, and the drink wheel is the definition of "jesus take the Wheel" the juke box is a nice touch. This place is great to start end or continue a bar crawl. have some fun and write on the bathroom walls. make your marK! Grading Scale: out of 5, 1 is not very much, 5 is to a great extent Foodie Adventure rating: 3 Picky Eater rating: 2 Americanized: 5 Food Authenticity: NA Food Quality: NA Service Quality: 4 Value per bite: 5 Healthy Choices: bourbon is low in calories! Would I bring my mom?: if you want her to disclose her secrets Would I bring my Drunk Friends?: YES!!!!! Would I bring a Tinder Date?: YEs!!!! Spicy Food Hub?: NA

I have been to the The Pearl several times now for a casual happy hour beverage after work. Excellent bar staff. Always friendly. Solid pours for a patched throat. Excellent cocktails offered at fair bar prices. They have a vast selection of private picked single barrel bourbons worth trying. Bourbons such as Weller (Full Proof) (Antique 107), Russell's Reserve, Old Forester, Eagle Rare, Knob Creek and more. Looking Forward to their next famed Tiki Drink Night.

Great dive bar with the most laidback vibe, ever. You can't go wrong with the ring toss, wheel spin or $5 beer & shot combo. There are tiki nights with free food one Sunday of the month. The bartenders are experienced. Worth a shot, literally.

Lots of cool, hip new bars and restaurants have been moving into Germantown. But sometimes you just need a good dive bar. And that's what The Pearl is, in a nearly perfect way. To be sure, the owners of this place have meticulously crafted an old-school vibe through their choices of decor, so it's a little faux-authentic. But they sure got all the details right. This kind of reminds me about what I used to love about the Outlook Inn back in the day ... just an unpretentious bar to hang out in and get a good, decently priced drink and talk to your friends, without any other fancy trappings. I had both their old fashioned and the Manhattan, and both were expertly made -- two of the better ones I've had in town. To top it off, both were only $6, an incredible deal. The beer list was also strong, and they have interesting frozen drinks -- the wife got a rumchata that looked like a milk shake. There's a big old jukebox in the front, but on the night we came in, they were spinning records on the record player behind the bar (they were jamming Tame Impala, which earned at least another half-star from me). There's no food here, but it looks like you can bring in your own if you want. This place, more so than some other recent additions, feels more in line with the Germantown spirit, even if it was basically created in a lab. I'll be back for sure.

I really think this is a cool ass place that I will be coming back to. This the definition of "hole in the wall bar," it would be super easy to drive or walk past this place if you didn't know what you're looking for. It's in a rather residential area and we almost walked right past it only realizing it was that because of the light overhanging the door. We walked in and I immediately noticed the juke box, it looked like something straight out of a time machine, reading the reviews now I know it was free and we could have kept spinning that all night, so good to know for the next time. There is also a wheel on the wall by bar when you first walk in that have some drinks & specials on it so if you're unsure what you want then giving that wheel a spin is a good bet. They have your typical beer list with some most of the domestics, some local and craft beers. I ended up getting a beer and then taking my chances at the wheel, ended up getting a shot of Fireball for $2 and a second beer while we played some board games in the back corner. The really unusual and cool part about this place is that they encourage you to write/draw/doodle on the walls by the bathrooms. They have buckets with sharpies, that may or may not work (so if you wanna doodle, BYOS), I ended up writing BAD WOLF in a couple places because who doesn't love Doctor Who? We ended up leaving because the default music was some rap music that sounded like it was the same song on a loop and it didn't fit into the feel of the bar. Overall I really love this place and I plan on coming back through here for a drink with some other friends sooner rather than later. Come on in, spin the wheel, play some board games and write on some walls while you sip something delicious if you haven't already.

Me and my Yelp wife had a blast sitting at the bar drinking here. I loved the bartender's hat so much he found me another hat in the back that I could have because I just wouldn't leave him alone about his damn hat. Friendly bartender, fun music and a great time. And I didn't feel like I spent very much money either.

Well, I've found my new go-to bar! Upon entering, you realize that the owners have done an excellent job at maintaining the Germantown vibe - it's a very simple bar pops of 70s and 80s touches. I really enjoyed spinning the drink wheel, whatever you land on you must take - but everything is a pretty good bang for your buck. Plus, it's just a lot of fun to give it a go! Their drinks were very reasonably priced, especially for how tasty and stiff they were. I recommend the frozen margarita, the tequila isn't over powered by the mixer and it's priced very fairly at $6. I had a great time, I'm sure you all will too - check it out!

Great place for drinks with friends. Now that they have expanded the patio and added a backdoor, it's a lot lighter inside and the patio is a great place to hang with lots of seating. Wonderful cocktails, at a fair price!

The smell....is awful. My friend and I went for a beer this afternoon and this place smelled so bad. Lots of beer options though and fun hipstery vibe. Will try again so I can spill the wheel for a drink special.

Awesome place. The decor is fun to look at and it looks like the place hasn't been touched in decades. The drinks are great and they'll even make you a fresh pb&j! Highly recommend.

Loved it. Loved it Loved it. Very retro bar. So many interesting old nostalgic retro things around and hanging on the wall. They have a jukebox and even a record player. Our bartender was a total pro on her cocktail making. Had a perfect Old Fashion. They even have a wheel to spin if you feel lucky. Looking forward to visiting each time I am in town.

This is a must see if you are in the Louisville area. Bartender was friendly and makes mean cocktails. Prices are on point. We will definitely be back!

Incredibly reasonable prices and high quality drinks. I felt like I was in somebody's basement. A fun wheel to "win" a drink. awesome old liquor and beer signs. This might be my new default bar just for drinks. No food but they do have snacks. Old school all the way. a $6 buffalo trace old fashioned in a vintage glass. Enough said, best new bar in louisville in a long time.

I loooove this place already! I came on one of the first nights they were open and they were already hoppin. The bartenders were so friendly, and also really efficient. The vibe was hipster but totally unpretentious. The music was great- 70s pop on vinyl at the time, with a free jukebox available as well. This place had a lot of stuff I loved- the wheel and the walls in particular. So to spin the drink wheel you just gotta ask. You can spin it as many times as you want, you just gotta take what you land on. It made for an interesting night, and the wheel alone would draw me back in. I'm a total sucker for stuff like that. And the walls- they provide markers to write and draw on them! (The walls in the back in and around the bathrooms.) After a few drinks I'm a regular artist so I spent way too much time in the back doodling anything that came to mind. This place is just so fun and I can't wait to go back. It's already evident how well this place is gonna do in the neighborhood. The concept of a neighborhood bar was executed perfectly, as there were so many different types of people here, from hipsters to 60-something Germantown OGs. I had my doubts about another bar opening in Germantown but this is *the* perfect bar!

Way too loud for an early evening. My friend and I met up at 7 pm and they had the music blasting to the point that I felt like I was shouting at her to be heard. No smile or any sort of greeting from the bartender. I was the only person waiting for a drink. Just a blank stare. Only food option appears to be a ham sandwich.

I had a Manhattan straight up and it was made with a bartender recommended bourbon that was really good!

This place is just lovely, atmosphere and ambiance is perfect for a chill night with friends or a significant other. They have great drink specials during week nights. Perfectly located in Germantown not far from I264 and the Eastern parkway.

Came here with 2 friends celebrating a Birthday, I only ordered water due I was DD.. But I did Love the board games and all the writing on the hallway wall to the restrooms which were also filled with scribbles from visitors. We even part took in the writing on the wall :) Bartender said usually there are sharpies there for people to write with but non were found, luckily for some strange reason I found one in my purse lol My 2 friends enjoyed the Beers they had ordered and I did get kick out of all the old time music on the Juke Box which I recomend to bring plenty of quarters otherwise you are stuck listen to music which is less then favorable.

This review is for 3.5 stars. Typical dive bar but with areas for lounging and games available. Beer list could have used some steroids as half the list was tapped out at only 9:30pm on a Saturday and the other half was lackluster. They did have a few drink specials like manhattans, old fashioneds, and lightbulb frozen daiquiris, but other than that not a must in the area.

The Pearl has been one of my favorite bars, drinks are reasonably priced and made well. The bar is very relaxed, they have board games in the back, a ring toss and a drink wheel. The problem is the word is out on the Pearl and it is constantly overcrowded.

All I can say is this.... If you ever fantasized about going to a bar that could become the kind of place where 'everybody knows your name', this is it. It's familiar, comfortable, and yet simultaneously exciting. The soundtrack is always great, the bartenders are friendly and you can Sharpie your name into infamy in the hallway... So go do it now!

My favorite local bar! It's a great dive bar. Board games in the back and cheap beer, what more could you ask for? The staff definitely makes this bar, love the staff.

This place is located at the intersection of Dive Bar and Awesome! Between the amazing private barrel bourbon selections and the cool decor, this place will be on my itinerary any time I am within 50 miles!!!!

I don't dislike this bar by any means. I just don't get the hype. It was ok. The decor was kinda of neat so I will give them that. As much as people talk about how cheap the drinks are, there are pretty average. A gin gimlet was $6 and gin and tonic was $5. Not bad, but not super cheap really. Just average. The glasses used were also strange. The gimlet was served in a short glass and then the gin and tonic was served in a way taller glass. It looked like a glass my grandma had for water. They probably liked the aesthetic, but the difference in glasses was really weird. It may be more appealing if you like beer and random shots so you can spin the wheel which looked fun. I don't think beer or whiskey so I stayed away from the wheel. Not a lot of real food options. Mainly just pickled things in jars. Not really blown away by this place, but I'd be willing to give it another chance.

Came here with a group of friends and really enjoyed myself. Of course, I had to spin the wheel! It's a right of passage. I got a $3 shot of fireball. It was a fun experience. I also had an old fashioned and it was great! The atmosphere was on pointe and Germantown is such a cute little neighborhood.

There's time when you just need a beer or cheap cocktail after a long day and The Pearl is my place to go for that. The bar staff have always been nice and I never have to wait long to get served. The prices are the best thing about this place. Old Fashioned for $6? Yes please! They usually have a decent selection of beers too. My friends and I have also played the ring toss game which is a nice fun feature to add for people who haven't been before. A great bar that stays true to what it is...a bar.

Favorite neighborhood bar. The bartenders are super nice and attentive and just as happy to make a rum and coke as they are to make a manhattan. Bonus points for the wheel of drinks, jukebox, and the board games (connect4-yes!). I'm here 3x a week at least and don't see that changing EVER.

So glad I was able to check out one of the newest spots in Germantown. This neighborhood is full of so much character and has been growing like crazy lately, and it's nice to have another bar that keeps a low-key feel about it. The decor is like stepping back a few decades and the juke box has some great old drinking tunes on it. Let's talk about drink prices! Wowza! Super reasonable. I was pleasantly surprised! Most mixed drinks are around $6 and the beers start around $3. I was drawn into a frozen dreamsicle margarita for $6. I am sure I will be in for another sip soon. Don't forget to look around at the digs. Fun stuff lurks around on the walls and such. And...the water glasses are all different. Someone was lucky enough to get a Smurfs one. Fun concept. One thing I didn't get to do that I wish I had: spin the drink wheel. I am not sure if this only happens during certain times or how you get the chance at it but it's loaded with great deals on drinks. Do it, if you can.

I am in love with this bar. It feels divey but in the best way. We loved the drink wheel and the fact that they have ring toss ($5 to attempt to land a ring on a bottle of liquor behind the bar--you drink what you get, but even if you miss, they still give you a shot of something). Loved the free old timey jukebox and the beers on tap. They also had a Connect 4 game for us to play AND you're allowed to draw on the walls in the bathroom with sharpies they provide. Finally, the bartenders are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. I can see this becoming a regular spot for me!

This is what I think of when I think of a fun dive bar. The customers looked like they were regulars and the bartender was very laid-back. I would totally hang here if I lived here. Try the wheel of fortune to determine your drink