The Brown Hotel

The Brown is a fine old hotel that keeps many of the fine old hotel traditions alive for a very good reason - it helps insure that their guests get an excellent stay. Every single time. Check-in started with the reception at the front door, and the doormen and bellhops had the luggage unloaded and us heading up to the second floor for check-in in just a few minutes. Check-in was equally trouble free, and we took a bit to admire the adjacent high-ceilinged Lobby Bar and Grill (main dining room). The elevators are very smooth and fast, but it can take a bit to get the hang of swiping your room keycard to allow passage to the upper floors. We had a Deluxe Room with king bed, and it didn't feel cramped. The large windows look out to various views of downtown Louisville. It appeared to have been recently refreshed and all the furniture, wall decorations, lamps. etc., looked new and worked well. The bed was very comfortable. You get four rather soft pillows so if that's an issue, pack your own. The closet contained two suitcase stands, iron and ironing board, and one white terrycloth robe. Housekeeping will bring another robe up on request. There were adequate amenities in the bathroom, including towels, and the water pressure in the shower was good. The showerhead was the rainfall type. Lighting in the bathroom was a little dim, but there was a swing-out makeup mirror available. The only real down side to the room was the lack of a mini-fridge. The phone system was also problematical - none of the pre-programmed buttons seemed to work, but the front desk could be reached by dialing 0 and get you routed to who you needed to talk to. You owe it to yourself to spend at least an hour exploring the hotel, learning about its rich history, the movie that was filmed there, the exceptional craftmanship of the public rooms, all the architectural details, and the many cozy areas to read a book or people watch. A visit to the rooftop patio and garden area will reward you with panoramic views of the city and surrounding area. Both the Lobby Bar and Grill on the second floor and J. Graham's Cafe on the first floor are exceptional. Every dinner we had in the Lobby Grill was very good, and the service was quite attentive. J. Graham's knows how to do breakfast, and will have coffee and that day's newspaper at your elbow almost before you sit down. The avocado toast is not to be missed. The small bar grill area was closed when we were there. Both restaurants ask for reservations. We found that the easiest way was to go to the hotel website on our smart phone and then reserve a time slot through Open Table on the link to each restaurant. It can take a bit to master, but there were no issues with table availability when we did it this way. Some reviewers have commented that The Brown is in a sketchy area of town. We walked all over the immediate area and surrounding streets and felt perfectly safe, so that was not a concern for us. PS - the squirrel the bellhops feed peanuts to needs his own Instagram account, it's that cute.

Beautiful old hotel. HUGE, comfortable room. There were only two minor issues with the room. There aren’t as many electrical outlets as more modern hotels, and the shower took forever (5 minutes) to heat up. There are four restaurants in the hotel: a lovely dining room, a lobby restaurant, a bar, and a breakfast/lunch restaurant. All the food we had was wonderful. Their famous hot brown in the lobby restaurant, shrimp and grits from room service, and their breakfast buffet. I wouldn’t say that it’s in a bad neighborhood, but I expected it to be in a more commercial, higher end area. I would definitely stay there again though.

I was quite taken by the reviews of the hotel before booking, and excited about the appearance of this historical and flawlessly maintained hotel when arriving, and therefore very displeased and disappointed with the most indifferent, bordering on hostile, welcome at the check in. The receptionist, unfortunately, do not know his name, offered little warmth, asking only curt questions with minimal effort—interactions that could easily be replaced by a machine. A disappointing first impression for an otherwise well-maintained and clearly loved establishment with such a rich history. The room is nice, lobby is beautiful and the history of the building is very impressive, but just a little smile, hospitality and effort from the receptionist would really make a difference. It is all about first impressions after all!

I recently stayed at this hotel and was truly impressed by the outstanding service, particularly in the bars and restaurants. The staff are what truly set this property apart—they are warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Their dedication and friendliness are the heartbeat of this hotel and made a lasting impression on me. The dining and bar experiences exceeded my expectations for a hotel. The food was consistently excellent, and the atmosphere vibrant, with both guests and locals clearly enjoying what the hotel has to offer. The rooms were comfortable and pleasant, though they could benefit from a light refresh—some updated paint and newer furnishings would go a long way. That said, the location more than made up for it. It strikes the perfect balance: close to the action but just far enough away to ensure a peaceful night’s rest. If I had one suggestion, it would be to improve the attention to cleaning details. The entry areas, glass, and floors between doors could use a deeper clean, and the elevators could benefit from a bit of care. Additionally, housekeeping in the room felt a bit rushed—trash wasn’t removed, and coffee supplies weren’t replenished as they should have been. Despite these minor issues, I would absolutely stay here again. The incredible staff and overall experience make this a property I’d gladly recommend.

The Brown is a beautiful old hotel that has been nicely updated. The room was large, the bed comfortable, the staff friendly and helpful. Actually more than helpful. The restaurant was excellent and very busy. The only problem was with the phone in the room. Apparently, the front desk and room service buttons are not functional. Didn’t find thin out until I wasted 1/2 an hour and finally went to the desk and asked about it.