Favorite Bar in town?

I don't have favorites of many things, but this one is probably always going to the be The Back Door for me. If you asked me to list my top five, that would have been difficult. Because really, if the Back Door is off the table (as it is for many, that's fine - I won't argue that your ex might be there or you're looking for brighter lamps) and we're deciding on a bar to go to, I pretty much don't give a $#oot (or I could offer about 20 or 30 places I would like you to narrow it down from). It's so much easier to not over-think it and let my friends decide.

I don't have favorites of many things, but this one is probably always going to the be The Back Door for me. If you asked me to list my top five, that would have been difficult. Because really, if the Back Door is off the table (as it is for many, that's fine - I won't argue that your ex might be there or you're looking for brighter lamps) and we're deciding on a bar to go to, I pretty much don't give a $#oot (or I could offer about 20 or 30 places I would like you to narrow it down from). It's so much easier to not over-think it and let my friends decide.

The Back Door always makes the list, specially for people in the biz. Barret Bar too. I haven't been to BB since they reopened.

Ohhh - I have - a few times! And if I didn't already have a favorite, that would be it. Honestly, I started to post a list of top favorites, with reasons attached, and changed my mind because of the title of this thread. I spent the second half of my birthday at the BB, not to mention the thousand times in the past I played league pool there on my family team (my dad, brother, sister, brother in law, cousin, uncle - yes, totally family) with some of the most heartfelt memories. The Barret Bar atmosphere has largely improved with the fresh coat of paint and "real" kitchen that delivers on a "real" menu. The sliders are friggin' delicious. The new bar staff is pretty cool, too.

.The new bar staff is pretty cool, too.

Except for that Campbell dude, although his stock did go up when he quit selling that contract brew from Wisconsin

.The new bar staff is pretty cool, too.

Except for that Campbell dude, although his stock did go up when he quit selling that contract brew from Wisconsin

Shudddup! That Campbell shoots a fine game of pool and drew me a few nice pours of his former employer's brews. I tried to offer him some Juniper berries freshly plucked from a bin at Nuts-n-Stuff (it was election day and Lyall and I had time to burn before the bars opened ) but he wasn't looking to catch an herbal tipsy. He did, however, school me in some eight ball.

Just returned from the BB. I'm warming up to it again.

The New Direction 2630 Chamberlain Lane, Louisville, KY 40245, ...A little "Trailer Trashy" at times (OK, most of the time) but (a) they have some of the best "bar food" in town...In particular I'll put a plug in for their hand-made pizza and their burger...and would put either one of them up against the pizza and burgers from some of the more "popular" places in town. (b) They have ICE cold Rolling Rock on tap and (c) They are a "Browns" bar...What else does a feller need ?

Hell, I'm all worked up now...think I'll bust a move on down and do a late lunch and a couple of "Rocks" right freaking now.

3rd Street Dive should be mentioned...

The Back Door is the old hangout. Get together with college buddies there every year or so to relive old times. Outlook Inn was similar in that vein. I used to love the bar at KT's because of the great location and ease of getting in and out on the way home after work.

Diamond Pub and Billiards is my go-to bar at the moment. It has a pretty good beer selection, at fair prices, and from what I can remember some decent pub food. The crowd is diverse and is often separated by demos in the various areas of the bar.


It is sort of 4 bars under one roof, with areas to please a variety of tastes.

Traditional bar area with darts, Golden Tee, and jukebox
Two different billiards areas
An almost sound proof room for live music, ping pong, karaoke
An outdoor patio area that often has an acoustical act

If I'm looking for a cocktail bar, I head to Majids, Silver Dollar, Meat, or Proof.

[*]It really depends on the mood I'm in. But I'm with Jackie. I always feel right at home at the Back Door. I also like Jack's Lounge even though I'm well below the median age of most of the patrons there.

For my wife and me it is the Back Door.
Serious as a heart attack - a deciding factor in why we bought our house is the Back Door is about 200 yards out our front door.

Another one for The Back Door. Atmosphere, drink quality (and strength!), beer selection, staff, clientele, comfortable, unpretentious, decent bar grub, etc. They fire on all cylinders.

I did love The Well of Spirits. It is too bad they ceased to exist.

If you're strictly talking about beer, it's Sergio's hands down. No one has a better selection.

I agree that beer selection alone puts that place over the top for a lot of people. However, I think Sergio's leaves a lot to be desired in other areas.

The Silver Dollar is at the top of my list at the moment, and I'm pretty sure it will remain near the top for some time.
-Zanzabar... for the all-around coolness
-The Granville... within stumbling distance and EVERYONE there is super-friendly
-The Lobby Bar at the Brown Hotel... after good nights at work, great Old-Fashioneds, and meeting 3/4 of the Pixies
-Freddie's... for not-so-good nights at work, people-watching, and alternately playing Slayer and George Michael on the juke
-Cahoot's... simply because it used to be Tewligan's
-The Back Door... 'nuff said

R.I.P. 732 Social.... perhaps the best upscale bar to ever exist in Louisville
BIG, BIG R.I.P. Jake's Club Reno.... without a doubt, the best dive bar/hole-in-the-wall to ever exist in Louisville, imho