10 Best Restaurants In Bradenton, Florida | My Favorite Spots for Delicious Meals

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I love seafood! For several days in and around Bradenton on Florida’s west coast, south of the Tampa Bay area and north of Sarasota, I indulged in the best restaurants in Bradenton featuring the freshest gulf shrimp, crab cakes, gumbo, calamari, scallops, oysters Rockefeller, and fresh fish. And I found that I liked mussels.

I just had never had excellent fresh mussels until my adventure in Bradenton. Here are 10 coastal Bradenton area restaurants that specialize in the freshest seafood available, in no particular order, but with a very particilar culinary grace.

Note: Visit Bradenton and several restaurants hosted me; however, all opinions are my own.

Red snapper wings at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant — A plate of red snapper wings at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant
Photo credit: Janie Pace

10 Best Restaurants In Bradenton, Florida | Foodies’ Heaven

1. Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant

Chef Aaron Kulzer prepared a locally sourced four-course dinner with wine pairings for our group at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub. Initially built in 1912, this old Florida-style waterfront eatery — part of the Ed Chiles Hospitality Group — is one of the oldest structures on Longboat Key, spared when a 1921 hurricane wiped out large areas of the Island.

We started with Red Snapper Wings: snapper fins cut with a bit of belly meat which was panko battered and fried then topped with a spicy buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and carrot. Our wine pairing was Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, dry and fresh with crisp, fruity flavors.

Our second course featured Burrata cheese, arugula pesto, and flavorful marinated heirloom tomatoes with a balsamic reduction and crispy croutons that paired nicely with a Lola Rose.

For an entree, a Lola Russian River Pinot Noir beautifully complemented the locally sourced Shogun Farms pulled pork topped with a whiskey barbecue sauce and served with a fried grits cake and pickled oyster mushrooms.

Dessert was a Lola Pinot Noir poached pear topped with delectable chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and fried mint leaf. I practically licked the bowl to get all the incredible chocolate sauce. The Kung Fu Girl Riesling finished the night.

What To Order: Shrimp and grits or the fresh seafood paella from the dinner menu.

2. Star Fish Company

Star Fish Company Dockside Restaurant is a seafood restaurant and market serving the freshest Florida seafood: fried, grilled, blackened, or sauteed. Add sides of cole slaw, cheese grits, French fries, or the best hush puppies.

Starting in the early 1920s as a wholesale fish company, Star Fish Company in Cortez Village became a retail market in the ’60s. When Karen Bell purchased it in 1996, she opened the eatery with a small kitchen and eight picnic tables on the back dock.

Order small bites like peel-and-eat shrimp, calamari, or conch fritters. For main dishes, try the grouper, gulf shrimp, swordfish, or oysters. Enjoy domestic, imported, and draft beer or wine.

And for dessert, don’t pass up Karen Bell’s Key Lime Pie or baklava cheesecake.

Check out the seafood market for grouper, snapper, sea scallops, shrimp, or stone crab by the pound.

This company only takes cash.

What To Order: Anything that is Gulf shrimp or oysters.

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3. Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille Downtown Bradenton

Award-winning and celebrated local Chef Paul Mattison offers a comfortable dining atmosphere under the covered patio at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille in downtown Bradenton. Indulge in all-natural, fresh, sustainably-sourced ingredients, fresh seafood, and locally-grown produce for brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour.

Choose from calamari, shrimp Rangoon, fish tacos, or the tuna poke tower with fresh tuna, mango chayote slaw, avocado, and rice noodles, a new and tasty combination of flavors.

Chef Paul has an Italian heritage and grew up cooking with his Italian grandmother, so you’ll find a variety of Italian and Mediterranean cuisines, including a Mediterranean frittata, Tuscan marinated chicken, or grilled Norwegian salmon salad. The menu offers a wide selection of wine, beer, and specialty cocktails.

Pro Tip: Save room for the Key lime pie with raspberry coulis or the flourless chocolate espresso torte topped with raspberry sauce for chocolate lovers.

In Sarasota, three other locations include Mattison’s City Grille, Mattison’s Forty-One, and Mattison’s Catering, famous for wedding catering.

What To Order: The Tuna Poke Tower and the Key lime pie.

4. Beach House Restaurant

A climate-friendly outdoor deck featuring 650 feet of beautiful oceanfront, the Beach House Restaurant, one of three Ed Chiles Hospitality Group restaurants, boasts a unique toes-in-the-sand environment. Sea turtle-friendly lighting and beach-friendly native landscaping are the settings for magnificent Anna Maria Island sunsets and award-winning seafood.

The theme of sustainability and eco-consciousness surrounds the restaurant, including locally sourced farm-to-fork vegetables and locally sourced seafood.

The oysters Rockefeller — baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with creamed spinach, bacon, and Romano cheese — was my favorite. The Gamble Farmhouse Salad features veggies and lettuce grown locally at the farm and topped with Manchego cheese and tropical vinaigrette.

I don’t know which was better; the Gulf fried shrimp or the seafood gumbo, full of rich andouille sausage, a variety of seafood, and the trio of veggies topped with a mound of crawfish Beach House rice. The sharable fried green tomatoes with Sriracha mayo were like Mom used to make, only the spicy mayo made it better.

What To Order: Oysters Rockefeller.

5. Pier 22

The landmark waterfront restaurant, Pier 22, is dedicated to creating a memorable guest experience with lunch and dinner daily and breakfast and brunch on weekends. Dock your boat and enjoy dinner on the waterfront terrace or the happy hour sushi bar at 3 p.m. on the patio with seating at the full bar or around the fire pit.

Start with the chunky crab cake with creole remoulade or the mussels in white wine, garlic butter, spinach, bacon, and bleu cheese. The fish tacos feature tempura fried cod, and the ahi tuna nachos include seared yellowfin tuna and wakame salad.

Enjoy sake mirin glazed sea scallops, grouper piccata, or scampi Florentine for the main course. The Fresh Catch offers black grouper, tuna steak, stuffed salmon, or shrimp served with two sides. The “Landfood” menu features steakhouse tenderloin, chicken chevre, or Italian pork osso bucco.

Pro Tip: Save room for Key lime meringue pie or tiramisu.

What To Order: Grouper Piccata.

Floridays crab cakes — Floriday’s Crab Cakes
Photo credit: Janie Pace

6. Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar

What better place to watch a rainstorm in the distance, backlit with a golden sunset, than Floridays? This old Florida Fish House with an indoor-outdoor patio overlooking Anna Maria Sound is located right next door to our Compass by Margaritaville Hotel.

A manatee was hanging from the ceiling on one side of the tiki bar, and the other hosted a giant shark, adding to the casual fish house atmosphere.

I wasted no time selecting from the menu, zeroing in on the lump crab cake served with avocado, corn relish, and a bowl of traditional gumbo.

We shared tastes of the tender mussels in wine and garlic butter and the seasonal catch grouper served with two sides. I could have ordered “one each, please” of the barbecued shrimp skewers, calamari, peel-and-eat shrimp, or fried green tomatoes.

Pro Tip: Don’t pass up the Key lime pie or the peanut butter chocolate bar, a brownie topped with peanut butter mousse and chocolate peanut butter pieces.

What To Order: Lump crab cakes.

French toast at Anna Mara Island Beach Cafe — Delicious French toast at Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe
Photo credit: Janie Pace

7. Anna Maria Island Beach Café

Located right on the beach with gorgeous gulf views, Anna Maria Island Beach Café is popular with visitors and locals. We were there for the all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage. I ordered the veggie omelet with grits, and others requested the pancakes, French toast with strawberries, eggs Benedict, and a Belgian waffle.

Order American dishes for eat-in or takeout like fish, chicken, beef tacos, Island salads, or the shrimp platter or seafood platter served with fries and slaw. Sandwiches include burgers, turkey clubs, tuna wraps, or island fish wraps, either grilled, fried, or blackened.

They specialize in buying a drink, keeping the glass, and enjoying discounted refills all day. Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and live music starts at 4:30 p.m. daily.

What To Order: All-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage.

Key lime pie at Swordfish Grill — Key lime pie dessert at Swordfish Grill
Photo credit: Janie Pace

8. Swordfish Grill

Swordfish Grill is on the water’s edge in Cortez, one of the last fishing villages on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Enjoy waterfront fine dining and outdoor seating overlooking Sarasota Bay and eat fresh seafood that arrives daily. I ordered the Bahamian conch fritters served with remoulade, a secret recipe from the islands.

The oyster sampler was superb and included four of each preparation: the Rockefeller with spinach, cheese, and bacon; garlic parmesan oysters; and bacon jalapeno oysters. I wanted to design a taster platter to include coconut shrimp, Florida crab cake, calamari, bacon-wrapped scallops, and firecracker shrimp.

How can you resist lobster mac and cheese, shrimp scampi, or shrimp and grits for dinner? Order the seafood platter and indulge in grilled fish, large shrimp, sea scallops, and a Florida crab cake.

We had Key lime pie here also, and it was delicious.

What To Order: The Oyster Sampler Platter and shrimp scampi.

9. Compass Bar & Grill

Located inside the Compass by Margaritaville Hotel, Compass Bar & Grill offers a place to chill out and have a quick bite. Enjoy Compass Nachos, quesadillas, or a bacon cheeseburger. The Power Bowl features spinach, romaine, quinoa, chickpeas, feta cheese, and Roma tomatoes with lemon-tahini dressing.

Pro Tip: For dessert, order the Key lime pie, chocolate cake, or warm cookies and cold milk.

Try a specialty margarita like the Top-Shelf Uptown Margarita or the Finns To The Left with blue curacao. The 5 O’Clock Somewhere® features silver rum, passion fruit tequila, rum, orange and pineapple juices, sweet and sour mix, and a splash of grenadine.

What To Order: The Power Bowl and a cocktail.

Shrimp salad at Anna Maria Oyster Bar — Nutritious shrimp salad at Anna Maria Island Oyster Bar
Photo credit: Janie Pace

10. Anna Maria Oyster Bar On The Pier

After a wildlife Paradise Boat Tour, we gathered for lunch at the award-winning Anna Maria Oyster Bar On the Pier, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway on the historic Bridge Street Pier. We got the party started with appetizers of fresh mussels and baked oysters, fixed Rockefeller style, and garlic parmesan, the best we’d tasted.

I ordered a shrimp salad with large gulf shrimp and fresh veggies. Others requested the grouper, spicy kaboom shrimp, the pier poke bowl served with yellowfin tuna, and traditional North Atlantic Pollock fish and chips.

There were plenty of boat drinks, including the pink flamingo, Key lime margarita, and for fun, the Florida Viagra, vodka, bloody Mary mix, horseradish, and a raw oyster.

Besides the Bridge Street Pier, other locations include Landslide, Cortez, and Ellenton.

What To Order: Baked oysters and mussels in wine sauce.

While I didn’t get a chance to visit, some other popular Bradenton’s best restaurants to consider are the Sage Biscuit Cafe, known for a fabulous breakfast; Ortygia, boasting authentic Sicilian, French, and Mediterranean fare; and Chateau 13 Restaurant And Wine Bar, renowned for serving Western European-style dishes.

Final Word on the Best Restaurants In Bradenton, Florida

With so many amazing restaurants in Bradenton FL, it’s really hard to choose. From the picturesque Anna Maria Island to the historic Cortez Village, this town’s culinary scene is like a playlist of greatest hits.

Whether you’re visiting with the family or with a partner hunting for a romantic spot and distinctive flavors, this town’s got it. You can see this diversity in the restaurant landscape of the city by tasting freshly caught seafood with an unobstructed view of the Gulf, or gathering a group of friends and spending the afternoon listening to live music at a laid-back local restaurant. As a melting pot of cultures and people, the amalgamation of diverse communities makes Bradenton a unique place.

No matter what you choose, you won’t be disappointed in Bradenton. Each spot breathes in its own rhythm and groove. With Sarasota right around the corner, many people pass by this little piece of paradise, but they really do have some of the best restaurants around.

This town may be a bit of a hike from Tampa Bay, but it’s worth it. Right now, the Bradenton area has never had so many fantastic dining options.

FAQs

What Food Is Bradenton, Florida Known For?

Bradenton has a reputation for offering delicious fresh seafood, with a special emphasis on stone crab and grouper. Thanks to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, visitors will get some of the freshest catches around. Local restaurants and bars also serve Southern classics like fried chicken and barbecue.

Are There Any Budget-Friendly Restaurants In Bradenton, Florida?

Yes. Anna Maria Oyster Bar is renowned for its affordable seafood and relaxed atmosphere. Danny’s Pizzeria is a local favorite for mouth-watering pizzas on a budget, while Back Alley Treasures is for an icy cold refreshing drink and world-class cinnamon rolls and donuts.

Is Bradenton, Florida A Good Place For Seafood Lovers?

Yes, Bradenton is amazing for seafood aficionados. PIER 22 is a local favorite, offering fresh catches right by the Manatee River. There’s everything, from sushi to grilled fish, making it a must-visit for those who don’t eat red meat or poultry.

Are There Any Chain Restaurants on Anna Maria Island In Bradenton, Florida?

No, You won’t find chain restaurants or anything resembling big cities on Anna Maria Island. The island boasts seven miles of uninterrupted beach and its Pine Avenue was named “The Greenest Little Mainstreet in America”.

What Is The Best Restaurant in Bradenton, Florida To Enjoy Sunset?

Beach House Waterfront is one of the best restaurants in Bradenton to enjoy fine dining at sunset. The outdoor patio opens right up onto the shore, so you can admire the sweeping views the location offers.

Lawsuit Alleges Flight Crew Tried to Cover Up Sexual Assault

A Minnesota woman alleges in a lawsuit filed last week that a Delta flight crew conspired with a colleague to cover up her “sexual assault” during a flight from Las Vegas to Minneapolis. In the lawsuit, passenger Alison Petri argues that two flight attendants contacted her attacker, Abigail Louise Trebnick-Emerson, so they could align their stories about the attack.

According to the complaint, Trebnick-Emerson sat next to Petri during the flight on Nov. 17, 2022, and the two made small talk. Based on her crew bag, passenger status, and familiarity with the crew, Petri deduced that Trebnick-Emerson was employed by Delta or a subsidiary. Then, Trebnick-Emerson went on to drink three cans of wine and kissed Petri on the mouth. Petri says that the kiss was unwanted and that she told Trebnick-Emerson to stop.

Petri went to the back of the plane to tell flight attendant Trent Daily what had happened and expressed her concern about Trebnick-Emerson’s level of intoxication. By the time she returned to her seat, Trebnick-Emerson had finished a fourth can of wine. Then, Daily brought Trebnick-Emerson a bottle of water and a fifth can of wine.

Petri says that as Trebnick-Emerson drank the fifth can, she kissed her cheek multiple times despite her protests. Then, after they landed in Minneapolis, Petri stood up to collect her luggage and Trebnick-Emerson “rubbed” her butt. After she deplaned, Petri reported the incident to a gate agent and filed a police report.

The lawsuit also says that Trebnick-Emerson was so intoxicated that she fell down an escalator twice. After she refused medical aid, police put her on a medical hold and had her transported to a nearby hospital.

Days later, Daily and John Ris, the other flight attendant onboard the plane, contacted Trebnick-Emerson via Facebook messenger saying they were asked to give statements for Delta’s internal investigation.

Copies of the messages filed alongside the complaint show Daily making multiple attempts to call Trebnick-Emerson, and Trebnick-Emerson writing to say that Petri had pressed charges against her. She requested that he submit a statement of support for her criminal defense.

Another series of messages show Ris writing to tell Trebnick-Emerson that he and other crew members “denied knowing anything” when they were asked by Delta investigators. However, he also revealed that Petri did tell Daily that she kissed her and added that Trebnick-Emerson was “pretty bombed.”

“I told them that I wasn’t aware of any physical contact and that I didn’t serve you alcohol. I was also unaware that there was any physical contact,” Ris wrote. He went on to suggest to Trebnick-Emerson that she “stick with your story.” He also asked if she was “on meds” because saying she had “mixed pills and alcohol, (sic) unknowingly” could help her case.

In response to Ris, Trebnick-Emerson explained that she was traveling for her grandmother’s funeral and that she felt bad for putting him and Petri in an uncomfortable position “if I did that. That seems so out of character for me.”

The lawsuit argues that the messages reflect an “indisputable conspiracy . . . to lie to all officials in an effort to protect Trebnick-Emerson and discredit (Petri).”

Later, Trebnick-Emerson was charged with criminal sexual conduct and disorderly conduct, but prosecutors dropped the former charge and Trebnick-Emerson pleaded guilty to the latter. As part of her plea agreement, she admitted that she “engaged in physical contact with another passenger” that was “offensive and tended to arouse alarm, anger, and resentment.”

In the lawsuit, Petri lists a total of five counts — four against Delta and two against Trebnick-Emerson — that include negligence and assault and battery. She is asking for more than $75,000 plus damages.

Travel and Health Product Spotlight: Therm-a-Rest Lumbar Travel Pillow

Sitting in one place for prolonged periods is often a necessary evil of having a travel adventure. Whether in the car, in the waiting area of a transit hub, or on a bus, train, or plane, getting to and from your destination may require hours spent sitting in a cramped and uncomfortable seat. And oftentimes, your back can take a real beating in these situations, leaving you feeling stiff and sore once you finally get to your destination.

What’s a traveler to do? In addition to taking frequent breaks to get out of your seat and walk around, consider trying a lumbar travel pillow.

Therm-a-Rest Lumbar Travel Pillow

Designed to fit the lumbar region of the spine (the five vertebrae in the lower back in the area that curves inward), a lumbar pillow provides support to the back, helping to relax muscles and ease tension. Some of these pillows can be big and bulky, but not the Therm-a-Rest Lumbar Travel Pillow. With 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 2,196 reviews on Amazon, this pillow is self-inflating and super light, weighing just 3.6 ounces. It packs down to 4 x 7 inches, making it easy to fit in nearly any piece of luggage, and the valve can easily be operated with one hand, making it simple to adjust the amount of support while the pillow is in use.

Created by a company specializing in making comfortable sleeping bags and pads, the pillow features die-cut foam down to the center to reduce pressure along the spine.

Embrace comfort on your travels with the Therm-a-Rest Lumbar Travel Pillow. Find it on Amazon and transform your travel experience from weary to wonderful. Make every seat the best seat on your journey and arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to explore!

Disclaimer of Medical Advice: This information does not constitute medical advice or recommendation of any kind, and you should not rely on any information contained in such posts or comments to replace consultations with your qualified healthcare professionals to meet your individual needs.

My 4 Favorite Stops Along Eclectic Whiskey Row Louisville Adventure

Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, Whiskey Row, — the famed countryside ramble connecting the region’s major distilleries — is a well-known caper for visitors to Louisville. But many people don’t realize you can tour and taste the wares of many of the same great bourbon makers without leaving the city.

Downtown Louisville’s Whiskey Row features over half a dozen iconic brands or bourbon whiskey production — including Old Forester, Evan Williams, Angel’s Envy, Michter’s, and relative newcomer Rabbit Hole — in facilities that offer tours, tasting rooms, and bars open to the public. The Urban Bourbon Trail can provide a few hours or a full rollicking day of local history, spirits education, and guided tastings.

Whiskey Row is anchored on one end by the Muhammad Ali Center, a spectacular museum dedicated to Louisville’s own “The Greatest.” Along the way, you’ll encounter the Frazier Kentucky History Museum and Louisville’s other popular tourist target, the Louisville Slugger Museum.

It’s impossible to get lost on the walk, with yellow navigation signs, interactive kiosks, and street-strolling docents to help. As you walk past historic Whiskey Row buildings extending on Whiskey Row, worth admiring in their own right, you can stop and puzzle over a massive golden replica of Michelangelo’s David right on West Main. I could research how and why it got there, but I prefer to leave it a mystery; just another point of curiosity along Whiskey Row.

Here are three stops on your bourbon whiskey production journey I can recommend, each representing a different kind of touring experience, plus one bonus destination. What’s common for all four? They each produce world-famous bourbon whiskey.

My 4 Favorite Stops Along Eclectic Whiskey Row Louisville

1. Evan Williams Whiskey Experience

A Big Production on Whiskey Row

Whiskey Row is full of claims about first this, oldest that. But Evan Williams claims two legit firsts: Evan himself was the first commercial distiller in Louisville, back in 1783, and the current facility, located across the street from the Colonial-era original, was the first to bring whiskey tourism downtown in 2013.

As soon as you enter the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, you know you’re in for high-production values. In the entryway, a giant whiskey glass fountain endlessly pours and spills — water, however, not whiskey. The hour-long basic tour we took had a Disney feel, and I don’t mean that in a disparaging way. It was a combination of multimedia story-telling, movie set recreations, and a demonstration of contemporary bourbon whiskey production.

In one room, we saw a kind of animated diorama depicting Evan Williams himself, including a scene where his simple still is being hauled ashore at Louisville’s original wharf in the 1780s. We were walked through recreations of Whiskey Row at various points in history, including Prohibition, when the doors of distillers, distributors, and bars were chained shut. Through a huge picture window, we observed the facility’s artisanal distillery, all shining pipes and cylinders surrounding a pot still that looked like a huge copper wood-burning stove. It turns out one barrel a day.

Our tasting was in Max & Harry’s, an unconvincing replica of a mid-century watering hole. We were led through the paces of a whiskey tasting: Smell the little tulip-shaped glass first (pass it from one nostril to the other), taste its flavors (caramel and vanilla… maybe licorice?), and feel the mild burn as it slides down (lovely!). Law limits the volume of each pour, and that’s a good thing. We had a long day ahead.

This did not — I should point out — stop us from retiring while awaiting our next tour, to ON3, the Williams Experience’s contemporary cocktail lounge. You can visit without taking a tour. We had our first cocktail and made our first friends here.

Pro Tip: Each distillery on Whiskey Row — in fact practically every bar in Louisville — offers variations of the mint julep. It’s the official drink of the city’s most joyous pride, the Kentucky Derby. It’s a mix of bourbon, simple syrup, and mint delivered any number of ways, most authentically muddled and served in a copper cup packed with pebbled ice. ON3’s, like nearly each one I sampled along the row, was quite sweet. But our new touring buddies drained them enthusiastically.

Copper still at Old Forester Distilling Co. in Louisville, Kentucky — At Old Forester, you get a thorough factory tour at a full bourbon production facility, including this enormous copper still.
Photo credit: Old Forester Distilling Co.

2. Old Forester, a Gem on Whiskey Row

Drinking In The Factory

In contrast to Evan Williams, Old Forester is a sprawling facility, housing a higher-volume-production distillery on Whiskey Row. A visit to Old Forester is a straight-on factory tour. If you want a grounding in how corn is transformed into a bottle of brown, it’s the place to go.

Following a brief bit of history of Whiskey Row bourbon whiskey production (like how Forester held one of the rare distilling licenses during Prohibition, purportedly for medicinal purposes), we saw huge vats of mash quietly bubbling as the yeast did its thing. We saw how the result, known as “beer,” is turned into “low wine” and then “high wine” (clear whiskey, aka white lightning). This all happens in the 44-foot-high column still — 2 feet in circumference — that rises through the facility like a copper rocket.

Finally, the liquid is put in barrels, and that’s the highlight of the tour. The barrels impart 50 percent of the flavor and 100 percent of the color, the guide told us. You’ll witness a handmade oak vessel first get toasted (to draw sugars to the surface), then charred (to caramelize the sugars). The flames shoot up through the barrel like a blast from a drag racer’s engine. End result – world-famous bourbon whiskey!

Pro Tip: The long stand-up bar downstairs may be packed, but some tastings are quite distinctive. My flight let me sip through Old Forester’s history, with products said to be made with the actual recipes dating from 1870, 1897, 1910, and the 1920 Prohibition-style.

3. Michter’s

Sampling From The Top Shelf

Michter’s is marketed as a connoisseur’s brand of booze, with its bottles priced around $50 and up. Its tour is persistently dedicated to demonstrating why its distillations are a cut above the rest on Whiskey Row. Our guide at Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery talked about Michter’s cost-be-damned approach: its finicky, expensive, and often proprietary methods of sourcing, milling, distilling, and aging. (Fun fact: The historic brand went bankrupt under previous owners in 1989, was revived by investors in 1996, and was only then positioned as a luxury brand.) A Michter’s visit is a good choice if you want to understand — and taste — bottles that occupy the top shelves of the liquor store.

Unlike the others, Michter’s is a one-room tour (making it the best choice if anyone in your party has issues with mobility). The distilling operation is very small, essentially for demonstration only. The highlight was the two vintage squat pot stills, the old-world-style appliances that create the small batches Michter’s is known for. The tasting of their world-famous bourbon whiskey was extremely well-annotated by our guide and was preceded by “sensory training,” which consisted of nosing glass jars full of spices and other foodstuffs to prime us for the smells and tastes of various Michter’s products. This greatly reminded me of what we did in those distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Pro Tip: The Fort Nelson facility has a gorgeous bar, which reviews suggest offers spectacular cocktails. Alas, I’ve got to take their word for it. It was packed elbow-to-elbow and we didn’t stay.

Custom whiskey shot machine at Barrels & Billets in Louisville, Kentucky — At Louisville’s Barrels & Billets, you can order a custom shot based, more or less, on your taste preferences.
Photo credit: Craig Stoltz

4. Barrels & Billets

Last Call

Right next to the Louisville Slugger museum and across the street from Michter’s is Barrels & Billets, a one-trick pony worth a wacky ride. When you enter, you fill out a 13-item questionnaire on your smartphone, soliciting your tasting preferences. (Mellow? Oaky? Favorite cocktail?)

After a short wait, a machine that looks like a cross between a Keurig coffee maker and a milkshake mixer expels a blend of up to six whiskeys, in proportions intended to reflect the flavors you like.

Mine came out way sweeter and more spice-forward than I prefer. “User error,” maybe. It was not a bad shot, but it didn’t feel like “mine.” My buddy, on the other hand, got one that was nicely dry, reflecting his preference of rye over bourbon. In any event, if you really like “your” whiskey, you can buy a bottle with a personalized label.

The whole thing is a hoot and it makes a fitting way to end any bourbon experiences along Whiskey Row.

Pro Tip: Lacking reservations, we just stumbled in for the “custom” experience. More detailed and informative tours and events are available with reservations.

Getting Reservations

If you visit Whiskey Row over the weekend, you absolutely must make reservations beforehand, and frankly, you should anyway. All facilities take reservations through their websites. Days and hours vary, but most are closed Mondays and all of them close before dinner time. No reservations? Get on a waitlist, and in the meantime, you may be able to belly up to the public bars that each facility features to sample flights and cocktails.

‘‘Number 15’’ Opens on Whiskey Row

With the opening of an innovative social hall, known as Number 15, the Whiskey Row project in Louisville is now finished and its purpose is to blend the characteristic flavors of Whiskey Row with Bourbon Street charm. This multi-purpose establishment opened in the place of the seventh collapsed building, adjacent and connected to the six historic Whiskey Row buildings. The Number 15 has five floors with their own unique experience.

The ground floor with a sports bar and a late-night kitchen is for sports enthusiasts. A music-centric bar on the first floor that features a rotating selection of offerings from diverse distilleries and breweries is the “Main Stage”. The second floor houses the “Balcony Bar,” with both indoor and outdoor balcony spaces, while the third floor is reserved for events.

The penthouse on the top floor is Number 15’s crown jewel. The suite with three bedrooms and two bathrooms is available for rental.

Where To Stay On Whiskey Row?

You can also book your stay at the historic Whiskey Row Lofts in the heart of Louisville’s cultural, commercial, and entertainment district. You’ll be on top of Whiskey Row and just blocks from Museum Row and Louisville’s major event centers.

If you visit a few places on Whiskey Row, you’ll inevitably make some new friends. After tastings, the crowd gets quite sociable, and we ran into a few folks hitting the same establishments we did. While crossing the street, we bumped into more of our new drinking pals. One of them high-fived me out of nowhere. Cheers!

For details on the self-guided Whiskey Row walking tour, including maps and navigation tips, visit the Louisville Bourbon District online. Bourbon Country offers an app, trip planner, and “passport” to document your visits.

FAQs

How Many Downtown Distilleries Are There In Louisville?

Currently, there are seven Downtown Distillery experiences. In the past, Downtown Louisville was at the heart of the world-famous bourbon whiskey industry. Prior to Prohibition, Main Street thrived as a bustling center for the bourbon trade, thanks to its strategic location near the Ohio River.

What Is the Best Place to Start Your Whiskey Row Experience?

It’s the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. A renovated 130-year-old building full of character, southern charm, and modern amenities is a real working distillery where typical Whiskey Row processes start, from mashing and distilling to aging and bottling.

What Is the Biggest Distillery Location On the Whiskey Row?

With a fully working distillery and warehouse right in town, Angel’s Envy is the Biggest Distillery Location On Whiskey Row. Apart from being a whiskey factory, there’s also a great bar and plenty of space to savor its world-famous bourbon whiskey selection.

What is Rabbit Hole Distillery On Whiskey Row Best Known For?

The Rabbit Hole Distillery is very modern and expansive with one of the most interactive experiences on Whiskey Row. The distillery combines contemporary and street art with a fully operational distillery and aging facility, making it one of the trendiest spots in the city.

Where Is Best to Eat While in Louisville on Whiskey Row?

Repeal Restaurant is the best spot to eat on Whiskey Row. With superb steaks and the best dinner rolls in the country, Repeal is also the most popular place to eat while in Louisville. Repeal also has amazing seafood with fantastic baked and raw oysters.

Norse Atlantic Airways Sends The First Ever Dreamliner To This Icy Location

When it comes to the aviation industry, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the mother of all aircraft.

Over the weekend, a 787-9 Dreamliner — with a capacity of 296 passengers — flew a small group of scientists to Troll Airfield (QAT) in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. Marking a historic feat as the only plane of its kind to land in Antarctica, the flight has opened up numerous opportunities for the future of air travel.

Last Wednesday, the Norse Atlantic Airways flight landed at Troll Airfield at around 2 a.m. local time with clear blue skies — since it’s currently summer in Antarctica. According to CNN, the airport’s landing strip is an icy sheet of snow just 3,000 meters long (9,842.52 feet) and 60 meters wide (196.85 feet). The successful yet daring flight started in Oslo, Norway, and had a layover in Cape Town, South Africa, before landing on the Ice Continent.

What It Means For The Future Of Aviation

While its full 296-passenger capacity was not utilized, this test flight of just 45 scientists has proved the 787’s ability to reach new frontiers.

“The most crucial aspect is the environmental gain we can achieve by using large and modern aircraft… [which] can help reduce overall emissions and the environmental footprint in Antarctica,” said Camilla Brekke, director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, according to the Eurasian Times. “Landing such a large aircraft opens up entirely new possibilities for logistics at Troll, which will also contribute to strengthening Norwegian research in Antarctica.”

Serving as a new route between Antarctica and Europe, the Norwegian carrier’s flight is the next step to further research on the icy continent. But it’s important to note that the Troll Airfield is not suitable for these types of flights year round.

“As the ice begins to melt in the relatively warmer months of December and January, the runway becomes slippery, making it unsuitable for landings,” said Ashish Dangwal from the Eurasian Times. “This limitation creates a limited time frame each year for successful operations when conditions are relatively favorable.”

While this does not immediately open up doors for regular travelers to fly into Antarctica so easily, it proves the Boeing 787’s capabilities of carrying large amounts of cargo without sacrificing major fuel efficiencies. Although the large aircraft made two stops before landing in Antarctica, it did not need to refuel once.

Aviation Competition In Antarctica

The Boeing 787 is now the largest aircraft to land on Antarctica, but this isn’t the first aviation milestone on the continent.

“In November 2021, an Airbus A340 plane landed in Antarctica for the first time. Hi Fly, a boutique aviation company, was behind the flight,” continues the Eurasian Times. “It was for the first time in history that an Airbus A340 landed in Antarctica.”

Deemed as the “optimal aircraft for the journey to Antarctica,” according to Daniel Carey of Aircontact, the 787 Dreamliner may have just earned a leg up on its opponent. However, this recent feat opens up doors for all major aircraft manufacturers, showing the world that air travel to Antarctica might be easier than we once thought.

TSA Reminds Floridians Not to Bring Guns Through Security

Amid the surge in air travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Transportation Security Administration issued a reminder to travelers in Florida to either pack their gun in a checked bag or leave it at home.

In Tuesday’s statement, TSA Spokeswoman Sari Koshetz explained that there’s been a surge in people trying to bring guns through security at Florida’s seven major airports. She called the 730 attempts so far this year “a dangerous trend.”

“This troubling trend is dangerous and threatens the safety of passengers and of our officers who work tirelessly across every holiday to keep record numbers of passengers safe,” Koshetz said.

In 2023, TSA officers intercepted:

144 guns at Orlando International
130 guns at Tampa International
123 at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International
66 at Miami International
65 at Jacksonville International
36 at Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers
and 33 at Palm Beach International

In Florida, which has earned the nickname “The Gunshine State” for rapidly loosening its gun laws over the past decade or so, you don’t need a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

Last month, the TSA said it was on track to break its record for the most guns intercepted in a single year. The agency reported collecting 5,072 firearms in the year’s first three quarters.

On the TSA’s website, the agency said it requires passengers who travel with a firearm to pack it in a checked bag. It also requires the firearm to be unloaded and transported inside a hard-sided, locked case.

According to the TSA, bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint could result in a $15,000 fine and the loss of TSA PreCheck status for up to five years.