Traveling to the eighth floor of the new Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Lou feels almost as if you’re stepping into the likes of a Kentuckified Las Vegas or NYC. 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen boasts panoramic, unparalleled views of Louisville and the Ohio River, and whether seated in the dazzling dining room or on the rooftop patio with an outdoor bar, bountiful fire pits and lounge furniture, you’re sure to embrace their motto and “hang up.” Careful not to depart too far from our Kentucky roots, 8UP’s delicious signature cocktail, the “Downtown Derby,” is a modest $8 (we get it) and blends Old Forester bourbon, grapefruit juice and house-made syrup, served with a quirky popcorn shoot (yes, that’s shoot, not shot, as in an immature sprouting popcorn plant). If you’re doing dinner, though, be sure to bring the extra bucks to indulge (and get the Brussel sprouts, trust me), or stop in later on a weekend night and enjoy the musical stylings of various local DJs and a full-blown dance party.
This article appears in April 30, 2015.