We popped in the Galt House to view the Christmas decorations and ended up in the bar that connects the east and west sections of the hotel. It was lively and a fun atmosphere on Christmas Eve. I can't resist a good bourbon slushy and they had a peach flavored one that day. We ordered at the bar and took our drinks to one of the sitting areas to enjoy and watch the crowd. The service was professional, although bartender was not super friendly. Views of the Ohio River are an added bonus. The slushy was delicious and fairly strong. It was a nice outing and worth a visit if you're in the area read more

See all

The Conservatory is fun. It's a unique building connecting the two towers of the Galt Hotel, overlooking 4th street and the river. You can come here for breakfast, for lunch, or for drinks. You can hang out or just walk on through with your luggage to the other tower. During the conferences I attend, the Conservatory is always busy and lively in the mornings when everyone is grabbing food from Thelma's and in the evening when everyone is grabbing a drink from the bar (super-friendly bartenders and good drinks, by the way) and socializing or watching a game one of the three large televisions. Most recently, they've added more comfortable seating for patrons. One year, we all gathered at the windows to watch the exciting rescue of a truck driver when her semi went over the edge of the bridge. Would I come here just because? Probably not. But I enjoy spending time in here when I stay at the Galt. read more

Brittany and Maria went above and beyond to make our experience great, took extreme good care of us to ease a stressful day! (from the Dumbausses) read more

Very relaxing and great service. We did not eat but the food looked good. We will highly recommend to everyone!

Lucas was very professional, answered all my questions and gave great service! I will definitely recommend this hotel and this bar.

Wonderful service and delicious drinks. Several large screens playing the latest sports games with music in the background, great atmosphere for hanging out. Highly recommend the Blackberry Bourbon Smash! read more

Conservatory - Blackberry Bourbon Smash - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

delicious drink. I ordered the blackberry bourbon smas. service was great. very clean. great view read more

The Conservatory itself was very cool, with the river view and ambiance I can imagine how vibrant it is durring Derby week. We stayed at the Galt and found a convenient Starbucks at Thelmas in the conservatory. Typically, barristas are upbeat and greet you with a smile and a hello. Not so here. We were the only couple there, received no greeting of any kind, and felt like our presence was an imposition. The barrister was robotic and looked as if she'd rather be elsewhere, not something we expected from such a landmark establishment like the Galt. Our drinks we're fine, but a simple "hello" at 8:30.am on a Monday morning would have gone a long way. That aside, we enjoyed our visit (8-4-25) and will return again. read more

We were guests at the galt so obviously we went for a night cap at the conservatory. We went on a Saturday and I was served a lukewarm cocktail. Went back Sunday at 9p and no one was working at the bar. It said it was open until 11? Apparently not. read more

The Conservatory at the Galt House is located in the atrium, which is the bridge that connects the two towers. It is a full bar with a few featured cocktails and the atrium itself has plenty of seating. Some come to watch the large TV screens (especially sports games) while others relax in the wingback chairs nears the windows. At night the windows light up to create a vibe for those inside and outside looking in. Like most bars, the Conservatory has 2-3 bartenders taking care of the crowd so you'll need to be patient as you wait to order. Last call occurred around 11:30p on a Saturday evening, which took us by surprise. That's early for Louisville. We sat for another hour enjoying our drinks and watching the team wipe down the tables. No food is available here; however, private party events that are catered can be scheduled. The Conservatory offers a nice option for those not wanting to leave the hotel for a cocktail - or someone who needs a more exciting view than their room or the lobby. ** side note: the atrium also hosts guests throughout the day and there's a small grill available for snacks, drinks, coffee, etc. read more

See all

We want to give a shout out to Brittany. She is a great server, very warm and friendly, and good at her trade. We appreciate you.

An absolute AMAZING stay! Good Kind people good communication food is very expensive but SO GOOD very beautiful views 100000000/10 read more

See all

I brought my fiancé here to show him the cool bar with fish and the caged birds, but they have since removed them! How disappointing! The atmosphere is not the same and it now just has a modern feel to it. I think they made a BIG mistake with remodeling this place. We have no reason to ever come back now. read more

We went up to the Conservatory Bar after a Saturday afternoon tour at Evan Williams. We were able to find a high top table for our group of 6 and grabbed cocktails from the bar. I chose a blackberry concoction which the bar was out of, but they were able to substitute blueberries instead. Either way, it tasted great! The bar offers scenic views of the river as well as the street below. It sits in the atrium between the two towers of the Galt House hotel. I can't say anything super "special" about this bar but it seems to serve its purpose as a stop along the way to your next activity. It reminded me of an airport bar without the booming loudspeaker announcing gate changes! read more

Conservatory - a close up of a drink in a glass - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Ms. Betty is THE gem that keeps this place afloat. Never let her go! Get your old fashioned made with buffalo trace, it's worth it!

Awesome atmosphere! Great service! The food and drinks are perfect for a night out! We love the live music too!

always fantastic. do wish they opened earlier in the day, but can't hold that against them. highly recommend.

We love the Conservatory! The bartenders and manager are really friendly and we love the views of the river. A great stop after a game at the Yum Center! read more

We always have a list of must visit list in Louisville, and this is perfect break in the middle to sit down and exhale while regrouping. The first time we wandered in it wasn't even open yet, but we knew it would be the perfect place for a bloody Mary while resting the "dogs" and taking in the river view. It didn't disappoint. We were told to sit at the aquarium bar, but we opted for a table with the river view. We are all about the river view. Make no mistake, this is a romantic place. Needed to soak up the alcohol, so went for a lite bite of pimento cheese. So odd yet good...chopped tomatoes, bread and butter pickles and pickled onions. I don't even like onions, but these caused me to come home and make some! . So..mif you need a break or even just a cocktail in Louisville, find your way here. You can thank me later. Cheers! read more

See all

Ordered nachos and some drink off their specialty list. Both were delicious. Very spacious. My bartender Cash was pleasant and on point! This was a pre stop to a night of adventures. However, we ended up back here. Drinking more... don't judge us. LOL. It was my first time but it will not be my last! read more

Really was looking forward to the birds and fish/aquarium bar. Sadly they have removed all of this and have remodeled it. The once unique bar has become the already out of style cheap "modern" apartment building room with the free printer in it. The guy who said abandoned Applebee's was being generous; that would at least maybe have character. The name "conservatory" is a definite misnomer. It's more of a early 2000s mall food court kinda style. If youre in the mood for an average time with a very average environment, then here is your place. Yes Save your time and money and go to one of the many other unique places Louisville has to offer. read more

britney & felix were the best!! always welcoming, always making sure im good. so friendly. love them.

Change it up a little with the Turkey avocado blt !!! Of course the sweet potato fries are a must !!! read more

Conservatory - My Turkey Avocado BLT, complete with sweet potato fries was a delicious and welcome treat to this amazing conference ! - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Waited an hour and 15 minutes to just get to the counter to order, then they shut the kitchen down for 20 minutes. It look another 10 minutes to get the food which was subpar. read more

One of my favorite parts of staying at the Galt House is this lounge that sits in the walkway between the two towers. The bar is not that large, but there is more than enough seating throughout the space to enjoy a cocktail and/or a small bite to eat. I will say though, you must sit at the bar at least once! Why? It is a FISH TANK!! I think it is so neat to just sit with your drink and see little fishies swimming around - fantastic idea! The service is also fantastic, and they have a wide variety of beverages to choose from, including some options from local distilleries such as Copper and Kings and Jeptha Creed! If you are either in the area on Whiskey Row, or staying in the hotel, this should be a must stop for a quick beverage! read more

Conservatory - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This is great as a drop in spot or a quick drink if your waiting for a ride at your hotel. Me and my wife stopped in here on our way to Hell or High Water after dinner on 4th Street. We love the fish tank bar and the live bird exhibits. Not very large, but great, chill vibe. read more

Conservatory - The fish bar is amazing! - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This place is really cool! It connects the two sections of the Galt House Hotel. I only stopped for a drink when I was there on business. I got the key lime pie martini. It was just ok and was a little pricey. I've had better before and I wish that it had some sort of garnish on the rim. (I prefer the Graham cracker rim) What makes up for this is the fact that the Atrium that it is in is absolutely beautiful and the bar itself is a giant fish tank. The fish swimming beneath your drinks is a little trippy at first but definitely a cool vibe! I can't wait to come back and this time order something with Bourbon. read more

See all

Seriously, how am I the first to review this place?! It has a 30 foot aquarium as a bar counter. This bar is located on the 3rd floor conservatory that spans and connects the 2 towers of Galt House Hotel. It's open till 1:00 AM, (last call at 12:45) and they pour a great dirty martini. Everything can be charged directly to your room. Fish snacks (cheddar or pretzel) in bowls for your munching pleasure! Next time I'm in town for business, I'm staying at the Galt House again ...because of Al J's. read more

My visit here was brief, but I'd love to return as it was a pleasant one! This bar connects the two towers of the Galt House, with views down 4th street from the bridge that spans between the two. The best part of the whole place is the fish tank bar with real goldfish swimming around under your martini glass. I sat mesmerized for several minutes as I watched the fish and munched on the goldfish crackers provided at the bar. The bartenders were awesome, very personable, and poured drinks perfectly - not too strong, and never so little that you felt like you were getting gypped for the price. I'm going to include Al J's in my next trip to 4th street and recommend that you do so too! read more

This was the main hotel bar at the Galt House, where I spent the weekend recently meeting up with my mom. It's located on the third floor atrium bridge between hotel towers, along with a deli counter and a large bird cage. The bar has a great view of the river and is bright and sunny during the day due to all the glass. At night, the city view is impressive from all chairs or from the bar. The main bar feature is that it is an aquarium. You put your drinks down on top of fish swimming hither and thither. That was adorable at first. Very cool. Then you watch the fish for longer and you realize there's something quite off about many of them. Some have grown too large for the tank depth and swim at a slant so their fins don't hit the top. Some don't move really at all. Some move only half their body and one fin, like they've had fish strokes. Some just tweak non-stop, swimming back and forth, fast and twitchy. All of a sudden, the fish bar doesn't seem so cool. These fish are damaged and possibly deranged. You can't look away, but you start thinking about fishy liberation schemes. Perhaps you could let that go, but the drinks weren't super and the bartender seemed somewhat limited in her knowledge on our visit. So maybe skip it. Or paint your face half goldfish orange, run in screaming "Freedom!" and let those fishies go. read more

I went to Al J's recently for my 21st birthday and I was very pleased. Sadly, we were our bartenders last call due to us coming late after fighting the very disappointing Fourth Street Live and Down One. The bartender was very nice and did not seem unhappy even though we probably showed up minutes before close. I had my FIRST margarita here and I was extremely satisfied. I wish I could have spent more time here! read more

Conservatory - Strawberry margarita. Yummy! - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Great staff and great drinks. We spent time there watching the Astros game while waiting for dinner and we really enjoyed It. Carnell was our bartender and he was wonderful. They have food available for you as well as trail mix to snack on. They were very attentive even when It was busy. read more

I have been here many,many times over the years and I wish I could give this place a better review. I really want to love this place , even like it, but the service is so bad that it's impossible to like AL J's. The Galt House is really missing out by not staffing this bar appropriately and by not having a half way decent food menu. The idea behind this place is great. The views are stellar, the location is prime for events at the Yum Center and the Ky Center, and the have great holiday decor and a festive feel. AL J's grossly understaffed. 10 minutes to get the bartenders attention if you're lucky and there is no basketball game or concert going on at the Yum. Expect 20 min. On average to get your beverage. They offer a simple bar food menu which lacks imagination or a Ky feel. The food quality is average and rarely arrives hot. Expect aprox. A 45 min wait for sandwich to arrive . If you'd like a condiment, better bring it with you . It took 3 different people to get us some ketchup on this visit. There's really no excuse for a hotel of this caliber to have a bar/cafe that suffers so much. I want the Galt House to do better with this space! I want to come here for a beer and a bite before a UofL game, I want to hang out here after a concert, I want to enjoy this space with my children during the holiday season for lunch before a Nutcracker matinee or dinner before A Christmas Carol. I want to meet friends here for a drink anytime of year. The poor service, lame menu and subpar wine and cocktail selections make AL J's a poor choice for any of these. This review is based on many visits over the years, not just today's. I could go on with the negative comments. I won't even go into the experience I had here last March when the company I work for booked 300 rooms at the Galt House and AL J's , unsurprisingly, failed to meet our standards. Bottom line, until Galt House gets its act together, avoid AL J's. It makes me sad to give this review. read more

Great view of the river, comfortable chairs outside the main bar area, decent service. Hotel/downtown pricing for drinks, a bottled domestic beer will set you back $4.50-5.50 but really, it's the location that counts. Right downtown, great if you are staying at the Galt House, and worked out just right as a place to run to when a storm came whipping down the waterfront last weekend. Nice of them to let us linger a bit after drinks to wait out the storm. Service was good to bring drinks and waters but very lacking at the time to pay once they were really busy. To the point that if we were not honest people, it would have been easy to just walk away. Basically, this is your average hotel bar with a good view. That isn't a bad thing per se, but it isn't really a destination spot either. read more

Connecting all good times! This bar/restaurant is located on the bridge intersection that connects the East and West Galt House Hotels. This is not the bar on the official Urban Bourbon Trail, but there are some signature Bourbon cocktails available. Jockey and Silks is located on the same floor but in the West Hotel with Rivue (hope I am getting my directions right). The bar area does offer some decent pub food, but the coolest part is that the bar top is an actually aquarium. My boyfriend and I snagged a Groupon to grab a couple cocktails before a Yum Center game. We both got very distracted by all the awesome fish swimming about under our drinks. I still feel there is some irony in the whole situation. Even though this is a pretty average watering hole you should visit Al J's at least once for the unique view. Sure you have your fishes, but this bar is surrounded by a fantastic view of the city since the windows are floor to ceiling. You can see down fourth street to our infamous Fourth Street Live or check out the view of the Ohio review. read more

This is a fun bar that's located in the most unique place. The bar has live fish in it, which is well worth the price of a drink there. They have a pretty decent setup of booze and are able to cater to most requests. They have a cage full of birds directly behind the bar seats that completes the ambience. It's very causal. We are their cheese plate, which had assorted cheese cubes, crackers and a medley of fruit. It was top notch! Would go back again! read more

Friendly staff, open early, bar menu for food, good beer selection. Always have sports on.

Worst food ever! We just ate at Al J's and would have told waitress this, BUT she didn't ask. The Nachos were straight out of a microwave - terrible!! The "mild" wings should be called "no flavor-including salt and pepper" wings- aweful!! PLUS, she dropped a wing and didn't offer to bring another!!! That combined with expensive drinks = do not waste your money!!! read more

Just such a cool bar. I mean there are fish under my drink here. I mean it's hard to explain. But the bar is under water. Not under water it's on water. This does not make sense. I really like Bulleit 10 now it may be better than Jack Single Barrel but if I order Jack Daniels around here they look at me like I have 3 eyeballs anyway so what's the point?I'm pretty sure there are still only two. Nice view. The river it's right there I mean. Across the street. Bit cold though. They say it's dirty and don't eat the fish. I had not planned on eating those fish. Or the ones under the bar. Yonder. Really. I heard that word. Yonder. Like Jethro. Nice hotel. Lotta geezers. Galt House. Geezer House. No actually it's a cool place lots of oddball little rooms and bars and gimmicks to discover. I'm coming here Christmas Day. I hope they don't expect me to wear a tie. I hope they don't try to feed us those river fish. I like this place but to be honest I find the Kaleidoscope thing kind of creepy. Sorry fish I bet it's cold in that river. Don't worry I won't come back to eat any of you. Or you guys under the bar. All you fish are safe around me. Ok. Go Cards. Go Cats. Go Gators! Go away buddy. Everybody here hates the Gators. Why? What did we do? Forgive me Galt House. Forgive me Louisville. I am not much of a basketball fan, I've never had a Hot Brown or a Derby Pie. Hell I've never been to the Derby. I'm a Gator for goodness sakes and everybody here hates me. Nah. They're OK just give me a hard time. But I sure like horses, God knows how much I love what they distill around here and I sure do dig this town, this state, even these people here. Even if they hate Gators! read more

I think that this could've a better lounge but the management is bad and the bar is understaffed. They don't anticipate how busy they'll be given location , and so seem stunned when they're busy. The 5$ wine special was going so I had that, standard cheap wine, and I had the hocks and tots. They were tater tots with a layer of cheese and some pulled pork sprinkled on top , it cost 12$. It was unremarkable bar food with a high price. The bar itself is full of potential, it's in a big, light filled room in the middle of the hotel and looks onto the river. Great location. I would have had bourbon being as it was Kentucky but whoever runs the bar didn't think to stock it with any local bourbons other than the ones we all know about...Makers, Bulleit, Knob Creek, you can get that anywhere. It's a good option if your in the hotel, it's late, and you don't have time to go somewhere else. Beggars can't be choosers. However if you have the time , I'd suggest finding what else Louisville has to offer , especially walking distance and down towards the water. read more