The hours listed said they opened at 10. We arrived around 10:30 and even though we could see someone inside, the doors were locked and they ignored us. Might be a good place if they opened the doors. ‍ read more

Word on the Street is this is Louisville's oldest bar. I believe I was told it was built in 1934, wow!!! It's located right next to Bowman Field as well. It was not very crowded for a Saturday night. I only ordered bottled beer because I wasn't sure how the staff was with mixing drinks. I'm sure they are good I'm just skeptical. Phil the bartender was very friendly and talkative and told me a little bit about the place. I think the building is very cool and I love anything vintage. I will say some things need to be updated and such. And there is a stale smoke smell in the place and I have heard it does smell like that. Overall I like how vintage it looked. I will return here but, not on a regular basis. They do sell merch here if you ever wanted anything from Louisville's oldest bar. Drinks are reasonably priced especially bottled beer. read more

See all

It is your standard hole in the wall bar. Ceiling is low. The soda guns don't work so they use cans. They use ice from a bag out of a cooler. Floor is sticky and the decor is random. For the ones that go there often it is their "cheers" bar. Parking is ok, and there is a ramp for everyone to access this place. When they charge a cover I giggle only because the floor is so sticky. read more

JD was one of the best bartenders I've ever had. This is a local bar with tons of history. Only bad reviews are from people who were looking for a "cocktail" bar. read more

An iconic Louisville dive bar that has been serving since 1934! The bar is located across the street from historic Bowman airfield and was a hangout for military pilots back in the day. I was told that Amelia Earhart was a patron during a Louisville visit! The walls and ceiling are filled with aviation-themed memorabilia and history about the bar. I was also informed that the neon sign in front of the bar is the oldest working neon sign in Louisville. The staff were very friendly and I am certain that we were obviously not 'regulars' due to our fascination with the bar's history! The drinks were mixed just right, were very cold, and very cheap!! There is a small stage where local musicians play. The band we heard played an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, folk and more (and folks, they were great!) There are pool tables and also a deck for those who wish to smoke or sit outside. The interior of the building is definitely showing its age and is in need of many repairs: the men's room is totally non-functional, there are many areas of the tiled floor that are worn, chipped, and a walking hazard, electrical cords with a questionable number of things plugged into them are hanging everywhere, and a section of ceiling above the table we occupied was rotted, hanging down and reeked of mildew. It would be a shame to see a building with such rich history deteriorate further! All-in-all we had a wonderful evening; the 'regulars' were very welcoming and friendly and the musicians were great!! If dive bars are your thing, or you are an aviation buff, this little place should be on your list! Stop in and check it out! read more

See all

No food there. But the old WW2 watering hole is brimming with history, that is reflected in it's awesome clientele. Walking in there is a blast from the past. You'll never find a more authentic dive bar. read more

This bar is great. JD is the best and told us stories of how Amelia Earnhardt danced on the bar back in the day. Old school bar. Highly recommend. read more

Wow! I've loved, lived and lived again. California, Georgia, Colorado, Alabama and this is the bar of bars. No matter where I go, no matter which Townes, this is a spot for love. Rest easy Pancho and that's ADI! See you in the next pass through. read more

Friday night was my first visit ever to Air Devil's Inn. Daniel and I had some time to kill after dinner next door at Oishii so we stopped in for a drink. The atmosphere was just as I expected- dark with the slight smell of stale smoke, some old school music playing, pool tables and a little stage. You could tell everyone there was a regular. The bartender was friendly and the Yeungling was super cold. Daniel got a White Russian and enjoyed it. Drinks are strong and cheap. :) I wouldn't mind coming back for live music one night. The customers are mostly older but I don't mind that at all. read more

I was in town visiting my brother for the Holidays and I asked him to take me to a dive bar. I used to manage a beer joint in Texas so I prefer a good dive to anything. First he takes me to some hipster abomination that is trying real hard to pass itself off as a dive bar. Trucker hats, velvet paintings and the thick smog of pretentiousness. I was not happy and said "No man, I want a real dive!". He said he had just the place and took me here. The holy grail of dive bars. Amelia Earhart, Ray Wylie Hubbard on the juke box, friendly sweet heart of a bar tender, historians, two steppers....I mean to tell you it was FANTASTIC! I only bought one beer and shot because the regulars were so generous. Best bar ever Till next time you beautiful people. read more

This iconic Louisville bar is located directly across from Bowman's Field. It is a piece of aviation history and lore dating back to the 1930's. The atmosphere really speaks to that time in aviation history with the decor consisting of old aviation adds, bumper and a regular pool tables, small stage for live music and probably hasn't been renovated or upgraded since that time either! I really thought I'd see the ghost of Charles Lingbergh or Amelia Earhart at the bar (BTW she did visit in the 1930's). We went there this past Saturday evening with friends from Middletown. The place is rather seedy and has a malingering odor of tobacco, mildew, and stale beer (typical of your average dive bar). Our friends raved about the band which consisted of 5 men probably all on medicaid. They may be in their 'twilight years' but can they play! They featured all original honky-tonk blues/rock songs. The one guitarist is as good as any I have ever heard in person including the late Doug Florio of Louisville. One man came out of the audience to play tenor sax, another was featured on the harmonica and a third played bass and added vocals. I would go see this group again and bring a bevy of people. Don't EVER judge a person by the lack and color of their hair. On a side note: My wife and I had 6 drinks total (3 craft drafts and 3 mixed drinks) for 13$. Try to beat that bar tab in Louisville and enjoy FREE entertainment. The only thing lacking is a thorough cleaning, maintenance and bringing everything up to today's code. But then you would sacrifice the ambience. read more

See all

I'm biased, maybe, but this is THE place to have a beer in Louisville if you like aviation, history, live music and/or beer. Norman Reedus visited and Air Devils will be featured on an upcoming episode of The Ride, and Amelia Earhart drank here in the 30's Great murals too! Across the street from Bowman Field read more

I stopped in for a few drinks a few weeks ago and it provided exactly what I was searching for - a laid back environment and cold beers at a decent price. I'll be back again when in the area and recommend others check it out as well. read more

What an eclectic Louisville Legend! Air Devil's Inn has been making folks happy for many moons! Musicians gather to create art! Artists gather to hear tunes! Parents gather for a night out. Singles gather to discuss hot topics. The drinks are strong and cheap. The service is personable and spot on. There is a nice deck to chat and smoke if you must. Don't forget the pool tables!! This is one of my neighborhood haunts!! read more

Air Devil's Inn - a woman behind the bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This wonderful establishment has all the things I require in a bar. First off, quit saying dive bar. Just bar works fine, if it ain't old and well used then who cares. An aviation themed bar across the street from an old airport. Really cheep libations, great options for those who require them. Day drinking.... thank you Live music.... perfect Friendly enough for a neighborhood bar, I don't trust anyone that's to welcoming. They must have nothing to protect. Pool table Terribly gross fucked men's room, I live this. It keeps the heavy drug users going to their car or where ever they go, you would not want to consume anything near this John. read more

Do you enjoy dive bars? Do you enjoy places where everybody knows everybody? ADI night be your go to. I went for the first time on 9/7 and do not understand how ADI is not in every list of Louisville staples. There were numerous time people asked if it was my first time because these people know each other. It creates for an amazing atmosphere. That being said, this is truly a bar. Not a restaurant. You can bring your own food possibly after obtaining permission? I'm not sure about that. One of the regulars threw a birthday party and brought lots of snacks and cake. Although I'm not a big dive bar fan, ADI probably gets added to my list of places to have a guys night or something more relaxing than dancing. read more

This wasn't really my kind of bar. Now, don't get the wrong idea, I love a good dive bar. It's just that...I don't really think this is a good dive bar. I still have some expectations for any business that's serving food/drinks and the Air Devil's Inn didn't meet some of those. I stopped in on a fairly busy Friday evening. There was a live band playing and they had brought quite a crowd. The one bartender was way over her head and I waited a while to get a beer. When I finally got her attention (she was busting it pretty hard) I asked if she could put in a pizza for me. She kind of smiled and told me that she was too busy and it wasn't likely that she could get to my pizza for a while. In one corner of the place, the floor tile is falling apart and there were way too many things plugged into a power strip that was kind of dangling in the air. Sketchy As Hell. There were also 4 boxes of wine just kind of stacked on each other on top of the bar. I suppose that was the "cellar". They only had 4 or 5 beers on tap and the most interesting thing was Sierra Nevada. The rest were Coors, etc. I don't want to be a bar snob, but service & a floor in good repair are kind of necessity. read more

Love this old bar. And it IS old. Great place to come for a beer. It never changes. Stopped in for a beer on hike night. Beer was cold and my friend said her mixed drink was good. Nice little patio. read more

How can you not love the local dive???! Friendly patrons and staff. Make you feel welcome. The walls are filled with nostalgic photos. Bar food available, good drink prices. You gotta stop in-you will go back read more

See all

A gnarly dive bar with cool history! Supposedly Amelia Earhart had a few drinks here back in 1935, when she was in town to speak at a conference -- it's right across the street from the historic airfield (now the private airfield). The place is decorated with all kinds of old time air memorabilia, in keeping with the theme. But it's also a bad ass dive bar on its own merits -- I came here around noon on a Monday, and there were a couple others drinking in the dim gloom. Stickers everywhere, a stage in the corner with a funky mural, books on the shelf to browse...can't speak for the men's room, as mentioned by another reviewer...but the ladies' was fine, very clean and private. It reminded me a lot of the Double Down Saloon in Vegas. I bet this place is a BLAST at night, when there's live music or karaoke. I would DEFINITELY come here again!! read more

I've lived down the road from this community landmark for almost 15 years. The service is spectacular, the pour just right, and always something going on at this classic dive bar. This bar has history that spans from the 1930s to today. Rough around the edges in all the right ways, and perfect for and occasion than calls for a quintessential dive bar. read more

To be fair, I only popped in for a drink, looking for a spot to catch up on a NCAA basketball game as I happened to be meandering about town. I had always wanted to check out this dive bar across from Bowman Field, but never had the gumption to enter before.The exterior, painted with murals of planes and days gone by, the quaint antique neon sign, just draws a little history bug like me like a moth to a flame. And this just happened to be one of those nights where boredom and curiosity simply spurred me on. If it had happened to be just me and the bartender, I would likely have stuck around far longer than my drink required, listening to him regale me with drink and the bar's history. However, this night was limited to one drink only and whatever my eyes could happen to take in on their own. The decor was left somewhere a couple decades ago, no big screen TVs, a little portable sitting behind the bar. The crowd was decidedly local, I suspect the bunch here that night would be found here most nights, and the drinks are cheap. I appreciate that. I can imagine a bar like this sitting on the outskirts of some armed services base, where the servicemen came to blow their pay on a few drinks and the local girls, possibly getting a little rowdy before being carried home by their fellow friends-in-arms, laughing all the way back to the barracks. And I suspect, Air Devil's may have served a very similar crowd from when it began in 1934 and on. Alas, it only makes me wish for that Wayback Machine I keep thinking about and experiencing ADI in its heyday. P.S. Nice article here, check it out at the HIllVille: http://thehillville.com/2012/03/08/air-devils-inn-on-a-saturday-night-on-dive-bars-and-bar-bands/ read more

If you are familiar with my other reviews then you know that I love dive bars. Keep in mind then that when I rate this place I am only comparing it to other dive bars and not to regular restaurants. The drinks are cheap, the locals are friendly (one of them bought us our first beers right when we walked in) and the owner, Russel, is a wealth of information. He is really friendly and has a lot of good travel and sightseeing tips if you're passing through. The first time we went there he had brought in a homemade smoked turkey and all the fixings so people could make their own sandwich (no charge). He is a great guy. The building has a lot of history that you can ask Russel about. It started off as a one room school house and then it became a hang out for military pilots from the airport across the street and then it continued to evolve (or maybe devolve) from there. The inside is what you would expect from a true dive bar and the bathroom (at least the men's room) is barely fit for human use (but that's ok). We've been back a couple of times on our way to Nashville and always had fun. We have never been there when the owner isn't there so I can't tell you what it's like in those moments. If you consider yourself "tavern folk" this place should be right up your alley. read more

The bar staff I would give four stars to. They are excellent. They know the regulars well and treat non-regulars like myself like long lost brothers. Bathroom. Nasty. If you would need to do a number two, enjoy. A shower curtain is your privacy. Not joking. They allow smoking on weekends there. Stinks. You can smell it. I recall now why I hardly went to bars before the smoking ban. No food. Small selection of booze. read more

Cool history! I've always wanted to go in this bar, so one day I did. Very friendly staff. The bathroom is questionable. Cheap drinks. Local yocals. Jukebox. Idk...I loved this place. Hahahaha!!! Hole in the walls are my forte though. The bartender brought out some cool old pics for us to look at. The Air Devil Inn used to be an old school house at one time. Pretty neat! read more

See all

I did the same thing that TJ did, just popped in for a quick drink. I love dive bars and this definitely qualifies. It's full of locals who were very welcoming and look out for each other. A fight almost broke out while there, a guy sitting at the bar was wasted and being very rude to the woman sitting next to him who was one of the regulars girlfriend/wife. I think he quickly sobered up and got out of dodge. After the Air Devil's Inn we didn't know where to go so I asked one of the regulars and he proceeded to tell us of every bar within a 5 mile radius. Apparently we looked like Latin music lovers as he tried to get us to go to the bar down the street that was having a Latin night read more

I know this is a dive bar and everything, but this is place is disgusting. It literally smelled like a dirty bathroom the entire time. I had to keep my nose in my beer just so I didn't smell the sewer smell. It could be a really cool place if they did a major clean up. read more

When I lived in the area, I had the unfortunate experience of frequenting the Air Devil on numerous occasions. I suppose your experience all depends upon whether you are male or female and who is behind the bar. The place is a typical dive bar. Some of the locals are ok I suppose. I went because my friends liked it. If you are a female expect the female bartenders to ignore you, get your drink orders wrong (if you get a drink at all), and insult you (if they acknowledge your presence at all). If you're male, expect the female bartenders to flirt shamelessly with you and expect a larger tip if they share their anatomy with you. Oh, let's not forget they also talk like sailors. So, if that's your kind of thing, you'll love it. If you're looking for a place where the ladies behind the bar have a bit of class and know how to treat a female customer with class, I would look elsewhere. If you are lucky enough to visit when a male bartender is on duty, your experience will be very different. From my experience, they treat both male and female patrons with the same respect. Well, a couple of them do anyhow. I have noticed there are several different bartenders that come and go. It is also not uncommon for the bar staff to be a bit inebriated at times. All in all, let's just say I'm glad I moved so I don't have to find excuses not to got there with my friends anymore. Life is too short. read more