If you follow me on Instagram, you know I was all about exploring the new Omni Louisville hotel last week. And you guys, it’s S W A N K Y.

Seriously, so so nice. I’m not saying this to be superfluous but it is honestly the nicest, most all-encompassing downtown hotel I’ve ever been in. First off, you can get lost wandering around in there, it’s that big. But beyond the scope, it’s so well thought-out and is as accommodating to locals as it is to out-of-town visitors.

They invited me and Tabitha in to check out the hotel, get a full-tour of all the common space and taste a little of the offerings in Falls City Market, their gourmet market, deli, wine and flower shop and fast-casual eatery.

We’re going to start off with the market because on one hand, we’d be here all day if I didn’t break this into two posts. And on the other, because it was built for locals as much as their guests.

To give you a quick run-down, here’s a list of everything you can find in Falls City Market.  Be prepared to be impressed.

• Heine Brothers Coffee & Gelato – grab a cup of coffee on your way into work, set up shop for meetings (they have free Wi-Fi) or break up the afternoon with a sweet treat.
• Grocery – In a pinch and need something for dinner. This is the downtown life-saver we’ve been waiting for. They have grocery staples (cereal, peanut butter, eggs) alongside a full deli counter with seafood and fresh cut meats in addition to fruits and veggies. Plus specialty pastas, a full sushi station and lots of pre-made to-go options. Want to grill out but no time to run all the way to Kroger – they’ve got you covered.
• Fleur Flower Shop and The Bottle Shop Wine & Fine Spirits – Pick up a fresh bouquet and a bold red without having to make two stops. Fresh flowers daily and someone to help you pick out the perfect bottle to accompany the to-go dinner you just picked up.
• Wendell’s Books and Magazines – A full selection of great Kentucky-centric coffee table books alongside the latests news and magazines.
• Iron Quarter – Stop in for a quick bite and grab a growler of local craft beer to go. Brick oven pizzas alongside pints of your favorite Kentucky beers.
• El Toro Taco Truck – Austin, TX-style tacos straight from the truck.
• Bridges BBQ – Bridges smokes its own meats by the pound or individual sandwich. I will say, this is my only knock on the market – if you spend time in there while they’re smoking meat, you end up leaving smelling a little smoky. 
• Beile Crepe and Batch – Fresh Crepes, breakfast sandwiches and a smorgasbord of sweet treats are available including a seriously delicious looking cinnamon roll that Tabitha picked up while we were there.

If you’re wondering how you’re going to just swing in, the first two hours of parking at Falls City Market are complimentary with a purchase of $5. So basically if you buy anything beyond a soda, you’re good. You can also enter the market at various doors including two on Liberty Street as well as accessing it through the main entrance on 2nd Street.

We started with lattes at Heine Brothers and a quick bite from Belle Crepe. I went for the avocado, bacon and egg open faced sandwich while Tabitha tried a cinnamon roll. I devoured mine with unladylike quickness. The Heine Brothers space has a few different seating areas so you can sneak away to a quiet corner for a meeting or just post up at the bar to knock out some emails while picking up your morning cup.

The mural is a fun touch and sure to be the background of many an instagram-pic (it’s next to a big window so lots of natural light) and I love the Edison lights throughout the space.

Endless Rose Lace Tee (comes in white too and only $55)
Old Navy Rockstar Jeans 
Sam Edelman Pink Hazel Pumps
Dagne Dover Medim Tote 

We wandered through and tucked into a corner is the cutest little kitchen shop. You’ll find Louisville-favorites like Louisville Stoneware alongside Rifle Paper Company note cards. The tile floor alone is enough to lure you in but you’ll end up wanting one of their picture-perfect goodies. Its like the entire space is just begging to be shared on Instagram. I can imagine many a shoe pick (#ihavethisthingwithfloors) on this tile and lots of people picking up the Louisville market totes to fill with fresh flowers.

Here’s a look at the grocery selection. This is just the dry goods section so lots of basics like chips, cereal, crackers, cleaning supplies. Nothing too exciting but super clutch if you’re able to pick up paper towels without having to brave Kroger parking lots.

If pizza and beer are calling your name, you can saddle up to the Iron Quarter for a pint and a slice. There are TVs in here, albeit without sound, so you can catch a few minutes of a game or check the scores. You can also take home a growler from their selection of beers and box up a pizza to-go.

Let’s talk about those floors though. Can they come and install those in my bathroom? We found out that every area has it’s own floor pattern, even in open spaces like the market, to set it apart. So make sure to look down for all the individual touches sprinkled throughout.

Last but not least, how freaking cute is the taco truck? Had to get a cheesy pic in front of it.

You’re still here!?! I know this post was a long one but I can’t say enough good things about this addition to the downtown Louisville food scene. I wish I worked within walking distance because if so, I’d be eating here 2-3 times a week. I’m definitely planning on adding it to my rotation of coffee meeting spots, especially since you can park for free. A huge plus that saves you from the headache of driving around hunting for meters.

If you have questions about any of this, feel free to drop them in the comments and I’ll answer them or find out the answer for you! In the meantime, make plans to swing by and let me know what you thought.

Big thanks to Omni Louisville for partnering on this post and even bigger thanks to Carly and Eamon on the sales team for showing us around! 

Photos by Tabitha Booth