Often referred to as “The Strip” or “Restaurant Row,” the Highlands neighborhood in Louisville is best known for its eclectic local shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. In fact, the three mile stretch of Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue that intersects the Highlands has the highest density of bars and restaurants in Louisville.
Highlands Neighborhood Boundaries:
The Highlands’ boundaries extend from the intersection of Bardstown Road and Trevillian Way to the intersection of Baxter Avenue and Lexington Road, extending northeast to I-64 and southwest to Newburg Road, including the area located between Barret Avenue, Baxter Avenue, and Broadway.
Demographics:
The highest percentage of individuals in Louisville with higher-education degrees and above-average incomes call the Highlands home. The largest concentration of families live in the areas of the Highlands that are furthest from Downtown, and the largest concentration of young, single individuals and college students live in the areas closest to Downtown.
Highlands Apartments and Real Estate:
Houses furthest from Downtown are generally sold as single-family homes, and houses closer to Downtown are typically separated into apartments for rent. The average home sale price in the Highlands is $264,000. Average apartment rental costs in the Highlands are as follows: Studio/1-Bedroom, $300-$500; 2-Bedroom, $600-$800; Larger than 2-Bedroom, $800+.
Shopping:
The Highlands is home to the greatest concentration of locally-owned oddity shops in Louisville. The Highlands’ Carmichael’s Bookstore is one of Louisville’s few remaining independent bookstores. Ear X-Tacy is Louisville’s largest music store that focuses primarily on offering independent and non-mainstream music. Louisville’s largest Book and Music Exchange location is also in the Highlands, where shoppers can buy and sell used books, CDs, DVDs, and video games.
Nightlife:
If you’re heading out to a bar in Louisville on a weekend night, most likely you’re headed for the Highlands, whether you live close to the neighborhood or not. The Highlands has some of the best hole-in-the-wall bars in Louisville, including Outlook Inn, the Back Door Lounge, and Cahoots. Phoenix Hill Tavern is Louisville’s oldest bar and nightclub that is best known for showcasing live, local bands. Molly Malone’s, Flannigan’s Ale House, and O’Shea’s are three of Louisville’s best Irish pubs, all located on the same Bardstown Road block.
Highlands Neighborhood Attractions:
The Highlands is home to a number of Louisville’s best parks and attractions. Cherokee Park is a large park encircled in a paved trail that’s allotted partially for cars, and partially for walking, running, or biking. The Louisville Zoo is a popular year-round destination for families. The Baxter Avenue Theater is the only movie theater in Louisville that plays independent and non-mainstream films. Finally, the Comedy Caravan, located at the front of the Mid-City Mall, features live, local comedians as well as those from all over the world.
Highlands Neighborhood History:
Though the Highlands is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Louisville, it was the last area near Downtown to be urbanized. Bardstown Road was a haven for the wealthy until around 1960, when most of the neighborhood’s original residents left for the suburbs. Businesses along the street closed their doors, and homes were abandoned and destroyed. However, in the 1980s, the area began to thrive again as local oddity shops and restaurants began to move in. By the 1990s, the Highlands was well on its way to becoming what it is today -- the city’s main nightlife and upscale restaurant district.
Public Schools:
- Highland Middle School – Highland Middle School is a magnet, public middle school that offers an advanced program and a youth services center.
- Barrett Traditional Middle School – Barrett Traditional Middle School is a magnet, public middle school that is a Health Promotion School of Excellence.
Private Schools:
- Highlands Latin School – The Highlands Latin Schools is a private, Christian, K-12 school that places an emphasis on classical studies.
- St. Francis of Assisi – St. Francis of Assisi is a private, Catholic, K-8 school.
Colleges:
- The Hair Design School – A cosmetology school offering cosmetology programs, a nail technology program, and an esthetician program.
- The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary – The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a seminary school that offers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees.
- Bellarmine University – Bellarmine University is a Catholic, liberal arts college offering undergraduate degrees in more than 50 majors as well as nine different graduate degrees.
