Gerstles is probably Louisvilles best hidden secrets in Louisville. I've been enjoying this gem for 7 years now and this place is always an exceptional experience so I'm REALLY confused on this 3 star rating . When you visit Gerstle's, expect to see friendly local loyal patrons, great service, perfect lighting and delicious food! Don't expect anything too fancy, it was established in 1924 and was originally a Speakeasy...How cool is that? Periodically, you'll hear/feel the train passing through, literally less than 20' away, but nothing to worry about;-) Trust, You'll always find something delicious to eat, friendly conversation, good local music, a great ball game and a relaxing time after a hard days work! (I don't have photos of the amazing chicken wings, because I ate them before I remembered to take the photo)! read more

See all

Came to hear a band play at 8pm on a Saturday night with several others. The management refused to allow the band play music during the UK football game....so they were only able to play 5 songs during halftime .....are you kidding me?!? No way to run a business. Period. We can't have both!?! read more

Love The Food. The Ambiance Is Amazing. Cause The Feeling Of The Atmosphere Felt Cool. The Service Is Decent. But, When There Is ONLY 1 employee is staffed to open @ stays there til closing in the middle of the night when she or he is supposed to be sleeping thru. That's NOT good at all. Ya'll Need More Bartenders To Split Up The shifts. read more

I went to this bar with my boyfriend early this evening to check it out after the great review on it in the recent Food and Dining Magazine. I was most impressed with the bartender who was our server. She was pleasant and made me an excellent mocktail per my request. I also liked that this bar has its one hundred year old history on the menu. It is worth noting too that the chef and kitchen staff formerly worked at Captain's Quarters. read more

A place I haven't visited in years but, was a go to way back when. A friend and I decided to come here to watch a band we like. Didn't know they were charging a cover so, we run across the street to the banks ATM. Go back and pay the cover and go in. We get a drink or two along with an appetizer. Fried Pepper Jack cheese cubes w/ ranch. Very good and deep fried to perfection. Also tried a signature drink called Gerstle's punch, very tasty. We basically just basically kicked back and watched a band. We did check out the place some, couldn't quite see everything because it was dark in there but, it is an old building that much is true. We do plan on coming back to try some of the other food and maybe watch other bands here. This place is definitely worth a check out. read more

See all

As a working musician, I've never experienced a venue so willing to undercut the very people they hire. It's disappointing and honestly pretty disgusting to see a business treat musicians this way. We show up, perform, and hold up our end of the agreement. The least a venue can do is honor the payment they promised. If you're a musician thinking about playing here, be warned: they do not respect artists or their time!! read more

It was hot inside and the surrounding area of the pool table was less than ideal. I got a burger and was not impressed. The patties seem frozen and there wasn't a lot of flavor. read more

My friend group and I have been going to gerstles every Monday for karaoke and good vibes.. it's been great! We have 2 amazing bartenders that are so good at what they do ( Sydney and Emmy ) and a dope DJ ( dylan ) .. well we had this past Monday we entered gerstles expecting the same vibes but were "slapped in the face" by a turn around dj.. he didn't have all the good songs ( dylan would've and we know bc we've done said songs ) he didn't know us personally ( dylan could tell u all of our names and our fav songs to sing bc he took the time to realize we are regulars ) this other guy didn't even try we were just "girls" to him is how we were announced. New guy told us we had to be more hyped. If only he knew how we were when there's an actual good dj behind the booth bc babbyyyy we are hyped just not with u. The lyrics didn't align with the audio and the screen was on a little tc instead of big screen how it usually is. So if u plan to go call ahead and make sure the fab 3 is working and not some mediocre takeovers.. rating a 2 for this complaint but usually gerstles is a 5+ read more

The bartenders at this great music spot are the BEST!!! The bands are top notch and the folks who hang here are super friendly!

This is a fun bar that my friend visited over the weekend. I have always been wanting to go here. When we got to the main door, it was a five dollar cover charge which we didn't carry cash so I was like well can't go there, but he said around the back There's another entrance that is free to get into just can't come into the main club. So we went to the back had a couple drinks and watched a guy performing Tom Petty songs and different classic rock songs. It was an overall fun time that we really enjoyed. read more

See all

What a great "what you see is what you get" kind of place. Great deals on draft beer, nice selection of canned options. Generous portions of food. Outdoor seating is nice. Another server would be nice, but the one(s) working and working, so I can't ask for more than that. read more

Gerstle's has been part of the St Matthews neighborhood for years, offering live music, food and a patio for gorgeous weather. Some parking is available near the patio, but on busy nights you may need to find street parking nearby and walk over. Last night my friends and I spent a few hours enjoying the patio and cocktails. The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring we had whatever we needed and quickly. The music was also great and not overwhelming to the patio so we were able to talk without screaming. Mixed crowd of ages, big and small groups. The mini burgers looked amazing so I'll be back for those! read more

I'm going back today bc they, seemingly on purpose, double charged me. Nice place, but shady business.

God it's so heartbreaking to say that gerstles USED to be my favorite bar. I used to love the live music and then would stay for DJ after, but genuinely the DJs are so god awful at this bar it's not worth it. This is the second chance I've given to this place after realizing, and I will not be retuning. The drinks are also more expensive than other places. I would tell people that Gerstle's was my favorite bar and was always met with "the DJs suck" which I completely get now. Tonight, 11/17, it was ONLY 90s music and TRASH trending TikTok songs that people would dance to for thirty seconds and return to their seats. I included pictures but there was a solid 35 people tonight and not a single person stayed on the floor for longer than a minute the entire hour plus I was there. At midnight how the hell can you not have people on your dance floor! A complete disappointment and waste of my Friday night. How hard is it to throw some variety into your set when it's clearly not good for the crowd? Read the room! I genuinely think a random Apple Music playlist would've been better than the DJs for both nights I've gone. The DJ tonight did have good transitions tho! It was a smooth transition of trash into more trash read more

See all

I went to Gerstle's tonight on a whim and had the BEST experience. The food and drinks were on point . Alec was so sweet, the best service I've ever had!!! read more

Let start this with, I loved this bar, the food was awesome, and the drinks were cheap BUT management and staff failed miserably. I was sitting at the bar with a friend eating, and I overheard the bartender ask someone if there tab was under my name, l proceeded to stop her and say "no that's me". About 10 minutes later she did the exact same thing to another person. I didn't think much more of it and about 15-20 minutes later someone was standing next to us and we got talking to find out they lived in the same city and from where I am. I proceeded to buy them a shot and walk away. Later that night I go to close my tab and notice it was $190. Mind you, I drank a fair amount but all my other friends tabs were in the $40-$50 range. I look down and notice all these items I did not order. I call over the bartender with each item circled that is not mine... she brings over the manager, and the manager proceeded to take off half the items and tell me that it is "too many items" to remove and "cannot prove" I did not order those items. She said to call back the next day and they will review the CCTV footage and compare. I've now called 3 straight days to get this cleared up. This is my experience just know the staff and management is horrible. read more

Gerstle's was so fun! It tends to be a bit crowded but the environment makes it worth it. Drinks are cheap yet delicious, and the whole night cost me way less than I anticipated while being the most fun I'd had in a while. read more

Best bar in St. Matthews. Hands down. Thru always have specials on drinks and the food is amazing. Smoked wings are amazing and you need to get them while available. . . And the sliders are perfect Kate night snack...err..meal! Wish I had photos but gone too quick. Just do it. Order some grub. You won't be disappointed! Oh.. they have amazing drink specials too!!! read more

DO NOT GO HERE!!!! I went to this place for the first time a little over a week ago. Had some drinks and one of the bartenders tried to be slick and give me a cheaper drink than what i was having. I was drinking Bourbon she served me some cheap whiskey when i confronted her she said nothing my original bar tender Becca said nothing either. I didn't tip bc of it.. when i went to look at my account i noticed they went ahead and charged me almost $50 for something i did not approve.. never signed for a almost $50 charge ..i guess they were upset bc i didn't tip so they went and tipped themselves almost $50!!! Insane so for everyone please please check your bank accounts daily... this is fraud and will be reported. read more

Fat guy at the door takes cover charges, doesn't let people in, doesn't return the money. That is flat out stealing read more

The food here is very good but the service is lacking. I ordered a margarita. I'm not a big drinker but would at least like to get what I Paid for. The waitress, who wasn't friendly at all, brought me a drink that was 90% Ice. So the next time I ordered I asked for no ice. I was just going to pour it on the cup of ice I already had. She brought me a half of a cup of drink. At $7 each you would think we could get at least 1 that was a full glass. Not sure I would go back. read more

What an awesome place this is. I love the atmosphere with all the different rooms and the pool tables and the people they have Manning the doors are incredibly wonderful. The servers are awesome. The music was right on. Would definitely come back. read more

Gerstle's is a great local place in Louosville to catch a Vikings Game.. Fair warning It's dedicated to Viking fans during the NFL season. No worries if your not but expect to see a sea of purple. Great fun! Also very good bar food, above average in my opinion andf others. It's a must see sports and music bar if your visiting. read more

Gerstle's Place - Enjoying #MinnesotaVikings at #Gerstle's with new friends - Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Don't know how to rate one of my favorite places when they screw up. Went for dinner on a Saturday night at 7:18 only to be told it's a $5 per person cover. What's the special band I asked? Just a $5 cover for dinner? Starts at 7:00 apparently. BTW left for a place with no cover at 7:00 for dinner. I wondered why the parking lot was so empty for a Saturday night, guess I wasn't the only one... read more

Super cool neighborhood bar that's been around since the 1920's. This place apparently has over 100 regulars that come and hang out every week. I'm not a regular because I'm from Texas but this place came highly recommended by a local. We came for dinner and drinks. I had the Gerstle's Chicken Sandwich which was AMAZING! The chicken was out of this world good so I asked the bartender how it was seasoned. She claimed not to know- yeah....right! . I wouldn't give the secret recipe as well so I get it. Anyway, if you're reading this and thinking about coming to this bar, you MUST try this sandwich. It's ridiculous! Comes with slaw and a side salad- both complimented the sandwich. Staff was great. Music was fun. And vibe was chill. read more

See all

Came in from out of town and found out this is a Vikings bar. Great vibe! Really good food and the service was on point. We wish this place was in AZ where we live. Will definitely come back when we are in town. read more

Came on a Sunday afternoon, weather was very nice, unfortunately the staff was not. Stood at the bar thinking someone would take my order, my son and I just wanted a to go order. It looked like a place for locals. It's a shame nowadays that is what is expected. Oh well I'm glad Louisville has plenty of other restaurants to choose from. read more

Gerstle's Place - FOOD - Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I like to come on Mondays when Kevin plays. He is extremly talented, humble and personable while still remaining professional! Oh did I mention good-lookin, yeah that too! read more

Gerstle's Place - Monday nights with Kevin - Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Gerstle's has been a staple in St. Matthews for as long as I can remember so I am saddened to have to give it this kind of review, a review that is largely based on their COVID 19 protocols or lack thereof. Gerstle's before COVID was a fine enough bar - plenty of seating both indoors and out, and good place to see live music and young people behaving inappropriately (nearly a spectator sport once I hit my mid-thirties). But once COVID protocols were set into place Gerstle's seemed to do the absolute bare minimum to squeak by. Sure, they had a big jug of hand sanitizer by the outdoor entrance and wouldn't allow people to push tables together for large groups. But that's what you could see on the outside. They allowed people routinely to sit at the bar after it was mandated that people could not sit at a bar. And Derby...the indoor room was packed like sardines with people dancing all over to the band and absolutely no masks were worn and no social distancing enforced - at all. It was sickening (figuratively and probably literally). Again, I hate to be a downer, but it's places like this who didn't follow protocol which have now landed us in an outdoor service only scenario. As a person in the service industry, it absolutely breaks my heart to see. Once COVID is under control, I will happily go back to Gerstle's, but I am not sure I will be back before then. read more

Enjoyed a quick frozen drink on the patio. We were there on a slow Monday night so there wasn't much happening (although they did have karaoke). Friendly staff that made us out-of-towners feel welcome! Lots of character to this venue and I bet it's a happening place on other nights. read more

Very friendly place. Open floor plan, good food, indoor outdoor seating. Bar area is nice with quality libation choices. Staff was friendly from the beginning to the end of the visit. I highly recommend. read more

Came to Club G on a Sunday night for some live music and beer. I love that they have $3 sweetwater 420 all year round with their monthly beer special. Pro Tip: staring at 10 on Sunday on they have industry night with tons of specials on drinks and food. (My friend said the wings are amazing) Overall I love this place it just shouldn't have a cover. read more

I went to Gerstle's with a few friends on a Saturday afternoon. They have a nice patio seating options. I had the cheeseburger and fries--it was the best cheeseburger I've ever had. Perfectly cooked and the fries were well cooked and salty. The staff were friendly and the food came quick. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good cheeseburger! read more

I went for Burger Week, stayed for happy hour. The cheeseburger and fries is a great value (lots of food). Great selection of beer on tap or by the bucket; and their bourbon selection is also very good. The cheeseburger was really good, but the fries were below average. Seating outside is plentiful but the road noise is a little distracting. It appears to be a local beer and burger place. The two servers really hustled and did a great job. Only 3 stars because the burger wasn't great and the fries were average. Gerstle's would be a great place to hang out with friends, have a few drinks, and Uber/Luft/ride with a designated driver. I wouldn't go back for the food because there are so many others in the area that i enjoyed more. read more

Gerstle's Place - Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I went to getstles Sunday and had a bad experience because I'm not a Vikings fan. The manager had came out and asked me to stop cheering for my team ( I was the only saints fan in the restaurant) due to the fact that I'm not a Vikings fan even though the Vikings were winning the whole game and I spent quite a bit money in this restaurant. (The Vikings/customers were screaming loud f the saints) If you all are so unwelcoming of the opposing team being in a public restaurant then it should be closed to the public on Sunday. read more

I actually loves this bar, but an incident last night has me a bit weary of their security staff. I got shoved from behind by a man who turned out to be one of the bouncers. I assumed it was just another pushy bar patron. The place was packed and like three otther people around me got pushed by this guy, who proceeded to put his hands on me to forcibly move me. He was in my face (still did not know he was a bouncer as he was chest to chest with me, which hid the little patch on his shirt.) I assumed he was just an aggressive man and told him to get his hands off me, to which he said "no you're gonna move" when I told him to get off he grabbed my arm and stepped back enough for me to see he was indeed an employee. He tried to put my wrist behind my back and started pushing me through the crowd. I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of turning into a hysterical idiot and causing a scene, so I walked out, with him still grabbing my arm and acting as though I was out of control. All because I didn't get out of his way.call me a "Karen" if you will, but I didn't complain to the manager, or even try to get his name. Come to find out, bouncers are NOT allowed to put their hands on anyone unless they are being physically assulted. I guess at 5'1 and 100 lbs I am pretty intimidating read more

Live music inside live music outside. Gerstles aka the g spot (yes, I know my jokes aren't funny) pretty much always had live music before 12 or 1. I'm not sure when they switch to a DJ. By that time, I'm generally not tracking time lol. The band's are usually good and you have the opportunity to interact with them if you want which is pretty cool. What sets gerstles apart is the length of the venue that encompasses and indoor and outdoor area. I love essentially having 2 bars in one. I've never had a problem with the bartenders here. They know how to handle a crowd and dole out drinks with great speed and accuracy. This establishment has been around my entire life and will continue to succeed because they give the people what they want. If you're looking for a party, come check it out! read more

Gerstle's has been around for a long time. Therefore I expected this place to be calm and have an older crowd. Nope, not at all. I don't think that there was one person in the room over 25. Not that this is a bad thing, but when you attract a crowd of all snobby college kids, it's gonna be a sh*tshow. I'm even surprised that this was the case, since other reviews mention seeing an older crowd. To rephrase, Gerstle's isn't bad. But after my Friday night nightmare experience, I probably won't be back for a while. The bar is tiny, so it is SO HARD to even move around. For a hole in the wall-looking place, the drinks were expensive. My friend's beer was 8 bucks. After we squeezed our way to the dance floor, I had probably about 15 minutes of fun. The music is good, and it's a fun atmosphere, until you are pushed, stepped on, and slapped by every person around you. I've been to many bars where everyone is wasted. But this audience have had to be on drugs, not even joking. There were multiple people we ran into that looked like they were tripped out of their mind. Also, it was unpleasant to dance while all I could smell was vomit. To my surprise, I turn around and there is vomit all over the floor, table and chairs. People were stepping and sitting in it and it still makes me gag thinking about it. I may try this place out again one day, but as of now my thoughts are pretty negative about Gerstle's. read more

Everything from the bouncers outside to the employees inside is full of attitude and snob. The security outside is on a power trip especially to women and it's embarrassing because the inside of this place in not even fun. They need to re-hire a whole knew staff and somehow fix the boring atmosphere. I will not be trying out this place ever again. The friends I went with agree. read more

This was a small intimate bar that you can sit on the patio and relax with a cocktail and friends or walk instead to the music, dancing, and bar! The band was playing an array of lively music from all genres and eras. People were dancing and having fun. We danced till the cows came home! read more

Gerstle's Place - Not eating here but the beer are inexpensive - Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky