Molly Malone's. Louisville, Kentucky

933 Baxter Ave

Guinness Tag: $6.00 | Overall Rating: 9.10

Today's Dedicated Pint: Eliza Cole

Molly Malone was known as the "tart with a cart," as she traveled around town with a wheelbarrow. She was a fish monger by day and a prostitute at night who died at an early age from a heavy fever. There's no way that woman could have smelled very well. This Pub was named after her (flippin' awesome) and it gives you an unexpected charm of properness and authenticity. A lot of the stones here at Molly's in the Highlands are from Ireland, as well as many of the things you see inside this beautiful Pub (such as the owners). I'm a big fan of fine craftsmanship, and Molly Malone's takes care of that in good fashion, providing comfy light fixtures, ceiling beams, fireplaces, and a beautiful bar. The place where you rest your elbows along the counter is comfortable, and I wish more bars would mimic the way these guys crafted their countertop.

The curb appeal here is welcoming, as it provides greenery and nice looking windows, some of which are stained glass! You'll find an open patio and a rooftop with heaters, cornhole, and a DJ which all concoct a significant atmosphere for dancing and smoking. It sits right across the street from a couple of other Pubs, one of them being Pat O'Shea's, and it's in a fun area called the Highlands.

The interior is awesome. Surrounding the horseshoe bar, you'll notice a large dining room on one side, and a bit a of a lounge area on the other. It's not a lounge, but the chairs, lights, and tables are incredibly cozy as they lay around a fireplace. There's a tiny dining room to the left of the bar with a really neat fireplace, one that feels, smells, and looks old as heck. A lot of the attributes here at Molly Malone's gives you a warm feeling inside, as it offers a good touch of patina throughout the building, rather than the typical modern/boring/craftless atmospheres that many new restaurants are promoting these days. Molly's does a good job making you feel like you're in a "one of a kind." The TVs aren't overbearing, the signage isn't the same crap you find everywhere else, and the people creating the magic behind the bar are worthy of a hefty tip.

They actually have two locations, with the other one resting along the Ohio River in Covington, KY, just across the water from downtown Cincinnati. I've been to that one a few times before, and it's just as charming as this one.

I wish I had spent more time here and tried the food, although, there's always next time. I learned that Louisville is the birthplace of the cheeseburger, and it's one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains. The time I did spend here was happily consumed with nice conversation amongst the bartender and a couple fellow bargoers. I hope I'll be back again, and perhaps add a little more to this story, as Molly Malone's deserves the love. What's up, Ryan? You better be moving back to Cincy soon!

I'm off to another barstool.

Slainte.