Louisville Legends: Downtown Derby City Food and History Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Eat your way through Louisville’s foodie "bucket list" with locally-owned Louisville Food Tours! Stroll down Whiskey Row and Museum Row tasting the dishes that define Derby City, including the famous Hot Brown sandwich, the original Derby Pie, chocolate bourbon truffles and modjeskas - paired with iconic Bourbon City drinks.
Along the way, your guide will bring Louisville’s history to life with stories of the legends who shaped the city. As you walk past cast-iron facades and historic buildings, you’ll trace the city’s evolution from a small river town to a bourbon powerhouse.
Stop for a photo with the world’s largest baseball bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum, stand beneath the gleaming gold statue of David in front of a quirky hotel/art museum, and discover Louisville's thriving culinary scene.
Whether you're sipping a Mint Julep or savoring a sweet Modjeska, this tour is the ultimate way to discover the flavors and history of Derby City—just come hungry and ready to explore!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Louisville Food Tours is proudly locally owned and operated!
This tour is all-ages and family friendly. Children 2 and under are welcome to join without a ticket.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Meet your tour guide at the foot of the Pepsi Plaza tower, and head to your first stop for a Kentucky-created dish paired with a barrel-aged craft brew.
Frazier History Museum
Next, we'll stop for Kentucky-style fried chicken with a bourbon twist and an authentic Mint Julep along Museum Row, where the distilleries along Main Street give way to the many incredible museums in Louisville.
What‘s Included
Learn the stories behind Louisville’s fascinating history and the legends who shaped it
Taste iconic Louisville dishes and desserts including the Hot Brown, Derby Pie, and Modjeskas
Explore historic Whiskey Row and Museum Row with an expert guide.
Photos taken by your personal photographer/tour guide throughout your experience
Transportation
Guide Gratuity
Horse racing (but feel free to wear your Derby Hat anyway)
Options
Food & Drink Pairings
Food & Drinks Included: Your menu includes food plus three half-size iconic Louisville drinks: barrel-aged beer, a Mint Julep, and an Old Fashioned.
Food Included (No Drinks)
Food Included, No Drinks: Your tour includes filling tastings of delicious Louisville bucket-list foods, served with water to drink.
Reviews
35 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Hannah was full of great...
Judith H,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Hannah was full of great facts, food was plentiful and yummy, drinks were perfect. I would do this tour again.
Fun, friendly, educational and tasty!
165addiew,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Hannah was fantastic!!! Took pictures for us and sent them, was a friendly, warm welcome to learning all things Louisville!
It was a lot food
lilirishstar,,Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Cathy met us at the KFC Yum! Center on a cold and rainy weekday. She was charming, well organized, full of information and on this day a sense of adventure. We went to 3 restaurants and a Candy Shop on Main Street. Everything had a bourbon component to it. It really was a lot of food and also a lot of alcohol. We upgraded to the premium bourbon. We didn’t realize that we each received a cocktail at every stop plus the 4 bourbons. First stop (and I’m sure these are subject to change) was O'SHEA'S Irish Pub where we were served an amazing Pretzel Bread with Beer Cheese with a beer (and a bourbon). We also got to hear the origin of the pub and the cheese by a very good story teller, Cathy. Here is where our running German joke started, you had to be there, Cathy has a great sense of humor. Next we went to the very cool downstairs bar at the Grady Hotel. We had an amazing Chicken Sandwich Slider with Bourbon Honey sauce, along with our Honey Julep. Another fascinating story was told here too. The Candy Bourbon store was a special treat. A lot of care goes into making this candy and carrying on the amazing legacy. After a quick photo opp in front of Louisville Slugger we were off to our main course, I told you it was a lot of food. At the Bristol Bar a Grill we were served an Old Fashioned, a Hot Brown and topped off with delicious Derby Pie! It was a great trip, thanks to a good guide, on a lousy weather day.
Great Food, Knowledgeable Guides
hollykp1,,Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We brought in a small (17) tour group for the food tour. We had to split into two groups which was no problem and due to road closures and not knowing our way around our first group was a bit late. The guide, Allison, accommodated us and they were on their way. Our second group met on time with Hannah. Both guides were very knowledgeable about the city and shared many facts. The food we were able to enjoy was very good. I would recommend this tour in Louisville.
Hannah is great!
K8711BSstaceyk,,Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time with Hannah. Very relatable and friendly. Very knowledgeable. It was a comfortable walk around/neae Main Street with stops for amazing food & drinks.
First time in Louisville
gret2019,,Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Allison was a great tour guide. She is high energy and full of historical knowledge. We never would have found these cool places to eat with their savory and sweet foods without a tour guide. Worth every penny! We will come back and do some of their other tours. She gave us great suggestions for things to do in the city.
Tasty Food, lots of History
brittany0526,,Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Took a Louisville Legends: Downtown Derby City Food & History Tour with a bachelorette group. It was a really fun, easy experience. We got to try lots of tasty food and learn a lot about the history of Louisville. Our tour guide Cathy was amazing. Would definitely recommend when visiting.
A great glimpse of Louisville
K2259JBchrisr,,Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My Partner Riley and I went on the Food tour and had an absolute blast. Even though the temps were high (high 80's), we had a great time walking throughout downtown hearing the history and gettin some tasty!!! Cathy was our guide and she was fantastic, I can't express enough how much value we got from this food tour. The pairings of the foods were on point, and each food stop had a special feel, which we plan to visit again while we are here. Don't miss this. Thank you again Cathy, we really appreciated your knowledge and flexibility to answering all our questions!
Great tour!
MBTravel89,,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour was great, Allison was energetic and full of info on Louisville, Kentucky, and everything in between. Food was amazing everywhere, as were the drinks! Stayed full the remainder of the day!
Taste of Louisville
philippartn,,Sep 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour. Our guide, Allison was energetic, knowledgeable and a gifted story teller that shared the history of Louisville through its food. From the pretzel bread and beer cheese at O'Sheas, the fried chicken with bourbon honey sandwich and mint juleps at Gradys, the modjeskas at Art Enterprise and the Hot Brown, derby pie and old fashioneds at Bristol we tasted the uniqueness of Louisville. Highly recoomend this tour.
From US$139.00
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Operated by Louisville Food Tours