TL;DR
- Stylish: Bold, bright French-inspired design with Southern flair.
- NuLu location: Trendy neighborhood full of shops and restaurants.
- Bunkhouse magic: Austin-based hoteliers bring their signature touch.
- Check prices here
Louisville’s fashionable neighborhood of NuLu is the home of the impeccably decorated Hotel Genevieve.
Austin, Texas’s Bunkhouse Hotels is the mastermind, and they’ve definitely worked their magic here.
The hotel is undeniably today, with all the little touches that scream 2020s hip. Yet, it fits well into the neighborhood, lined as it is with small, standalone buildings.
Inside is everything you expect from a contemporary boutique. The colors are bright and bold, almost primaries, but just off enough so it doesn’t feel childish.
It’s said to be of French inspiration, which works well for a town called Louisville.
In our opinion, anything from La République has passed through the filter of Southern boutique hoteliery before it hit this hotel.
It’s not in a bad way, however. Indeed, the elegant yet bright French style is well-suited to the unapologetic kind of American luxury.
What are the rooms like?
- Rooms: 122 total, with options from Petite King to Suites.
- Design: Arched doorways, scalloped curtains, and playful colors.
- Touches: Sferra linens, Kassatex towels, and Le Labo toiletries.
- See each room in detail here
Rooms have the same soft brightness, all colored walls and arched doorways and scalloped curtains.
Small touches like geometric prints, cute pillows and custom ROHE fixtures add personality.
Quality is ensured by the boutique-typical Sferra linens and Kassatex towels.
The smallest room is a Petite King, good for the solo traveler, with Queen Doubles, Grand Kings and Suites available for guests who want more room.
We like the King Louie option, cozy little spaces with comfy booths by the window.
All room options include some kind of seating, Smart TVs, custom robes, Bluetooth speakers and Le Labo toiletries.
What are prices like?
And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?
- Dining: Mini Marché for casual eats, Bar Genevieve for weekend brunch.
- Cuisine: French-inspired with a modern American twist.
- Drinks: Cocktails with a light, refreshing approach to bourbon.
For such a reasonably sized hotel, there are a lot of dining options.
The Mini Marché is the spot for a casual breakfast, offering sandwiches, coffees and a host of to-go provisions.
If you want a weekday sit-down breakfast, you’ll have to explore the neighborhood, but weekend brunch is available at the main restaurant, Bar Genevieve.
The cuisine is, unsurprisingly, French-inspired, but it’s got a New American flair and lots of variety.
Cocktails are, frankly, refreshing in their easygoing take on bourbon.
You can still get an Old Fashioned, it’s Louisville, but nobody feels like they have to recite an epic about it.
It’s very much an urban boutique, and therefore a bit light on the other facilities, but the staff can steer you in whatever outside direction you want to take.
How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?
- District: NuLu’s retro-chic charm with cafes, boutiques, and restaurants.
- Culture: Museums, performing arts, and the Muhammad Ali Center nearby.
- Explore: Riverwalk trails, Old Louisville, and Churchill Downs within reach.
NuLu is a nice little district set away from the downtown bustle, close enough for convenience.
The streets abound with smallish, older buildings that give a kind of sophisticated retro charm.
It doesn’t hurt that almost all of these buildings are either a plant nursery, boutique shop, cute café or hip restaurant.
Main Street even boasts the Thomas Edison House. Keep heading north, and you’ll find a great skate park on the south side of the river.
Or, head West towards Downtown. It is generally walkable, and a pleasant journey into the center.
Museum Row, home to Louisville’s most prominent museums and cultural centers, is a half-hour walk.
Here you’ll find KMAC, 21c Museum, the Science Center, Kentucky Center for Performing Arts and the Muhammad Ali Center.
The Riverwalk is a more adventurous way to get around the city, via trails running along the Ohio River.
You’ll probably want to drive to the Victorian architecture around Old Louisville, and easy 10-minute drive. It’s not far from the University of Louisville campus.
And the campus isn’t far from the grand lady herself, Churchill Downs. They’ve got the Derby museum, lots of gorgeous horses, and some of the best hats in the world.
And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?
Some things guests liked:
“Everything! Hospitality is top notch. Beautiful Boutique hotel. Everyone from the valet, front desk, coffee shop, to the rooftop bar is so friendly, kind, and welcoming. Amazing food & drinks on rooftop! We will always choose to stay here every time we’re in town. It’s immaculately clean and the toiletries are top of the line and smell so wonderful. You can get a beautiful view of the downtown on one side and of town on the other. We stayed here a couple days last week and had a blast so we decided to come here again this week to celebrate my birthday. They even accommodated our baby girl with a pack n play and blanket each time. I can go on and on… The best restaurants and bars up and down the whole block. Shopping and the best ice cream too! You must try La Bodeguite De Mima Cuban restaurant across the street! It’s so good and so fun there too!…”
“Great vibe, right in the center of Nulu. Very comfortable bed and great shower. Rooms are beautiful. Restaurant downstairs is first class but area has all kinds of restaurants, bars and cafes. Very walkable….”
Some things guests didn’t like:
”Dark rooms, no lotion and no ability to make coffee in the room….”
”Very hard to find a place to park in this area; meaning you’ll have to pay $40. It’s already a very expensive hotel. Check-in was a long wait. No coffee makers in room; unsecured internet without password….”
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