This Unique KY Restaurant & Honky Tonk is in a Historic Firehouse

The next time you find yourself in Louisville and you're looking for somewhere to eat or grab a cocktail, there is a really unique spot in the Clifton Preservation District worth checking out.

The Silver Dollar

I think it's so cool when restaurants or pubs pop up in historic locations. I've been to a few places that have re-purposed old service stations into bars like Shop Bar on Barret Ave. The Silver Dollar serves up delicious southern cuisine and "whiskey by the drink" in one of the oldest fire stations in Kentucky.

Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3 Firehouse

Located in the Clifton District, the firehouse was named for a former school board president, Albert A. Stol. The building itself was constructed in 1890 and served as Louisville’s Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3 until 2009. It's now on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been updated, but original details remain like call boxes above the booths. You can see the original hand-painted map that was used at the station as it is still displayed there.

Firehouse Turned Honky Tonk

Once the firehouse was no longer in use, it was transformed into The Silver Dollar. A restaurant/bar/honky tonk inspired by the 1930s and the folks who adventured West during the Dust Bowl. With Southern dishes that look as good as they taste, like fried okra, friend Brussel sprouts, fried pickles, and chicken livers, is your mouth watering yet?

It's not all fried though! Brisket, Chicken and Waffles, and Shrimp and Grits are some highlights that stand out on the menu. While you enjoy your meal, the soundtrack is true old-school country and rock & roll like Jimmy Rodgers, Duane Eddy, Waylon Jennings, and more. They have a whole vinyl collection of goodness.

The Silver Dollar Facebook

Bourbon and Sunshine

Now that the weather is starting to get nice, the folks at The Silver Dollar are taking advantage of the fact that the old firehouse still has a working garage door that can be opened to make the whole front of the restaurant a patio. A cocktail and some yummy food on a beautiful day? What more can ya ask for?