A Louisville NuLu Hotel, Hotel Genevieve, A Unique & Trendy Hotel

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Check out one of the few real boutique hotels in Louisville! It has a unique vibe, comfy and stylish rooms, plus a hidden bar that adds to the charm. You’ll find it right on Market Street in the NuLu district, a short walk from all the bourbon-tasting spots. This is a Louisville NuLu hotel you don’t want to miss!

  • The exterior of Hotel Genevieve, the name painted in white on the brown brick building, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    Hotel Genevieve
  • The bed, with a curved headboard dipping in the middle and blue walls in a guest room at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    A guest room
  • The lobby of Hotel Genevieve, with Terrazzo floors, restaurant to the left, a Lousiville NuLu hotel.
    The lobby and Byrdie’s

THE TALE

I’m heading to Louisville for a business meeting, something I’ve done a bunch of times before. I usually love staying at the 21C Museum Hotel, but I remembered that my Instagram friend, Jennifer @bourbontrailtraveler, had messaged me a while back about some hotels she thought I’d like. She’s really into bourbon, and if I remember right, those hotels were along the bourbon trail. YES! One of those hotels, Hotel Genevieve, is in Louisville. It is a Louisville NuLu hotel, perfect! My meeting is just down the street.

The Hotel

  • The exterior brick uilding with the sunrise, at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    Hotel Genevieve at sunrise
  • A do not disturb door sign in French on a guest room at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    A door hanger on a guest room in French
  • Pink creamer caddy with coffee setup and a cup of coffee on a table with a block primary color piece of artwork in the background, in the lobby of Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    Coffee station in the lobby

After driving from St. Louis to Louisville, which took just under four hours, I finally arrived in the evening and scored a parking meter right in front of the hotel that was free until the next day. The hotel had a brick exterior with “Hotel Genevieve” painted on the front, and it felt like an old building turned into a hotel.

When I checked in, I was curious and asked the clerk, “What did this building used to be?” His answer really surprised me: “Oh, this is a new building, about two years old, built just for this hotel. This was an empty lot.” I couldn’t believe it! It looked so much like it had been part of the neighborhood for years!

Walking into this Louisville NuLu hotel (NuLu short for New Louisville), I instantly felt good vibes. The velvet-covered walls display incredible artwork everywhere. The greenery, shiny brass accents, quirky furniture, and bold colors really made it fun. And let’s talk about the curves—the design was full of them. There were curved couches, arch doorways, scalloped curtains, and rounded edges on the furniture, like the room’s vanity and entertainment center. Sure, there were a few hard corners, but not many. The friendly desk attendant also gave some great local tips, I felt like I was home.

  • A curved white couch, deep dark red velvet curtained walls with artwork hanging in front of the velvet curtains in the lobby of Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    A curved couch and artwork in the lobby
  • A dark wood chair with rounded arm rests and greeny in the background in the lobby of Hotel Genevieve.
    A chair in the lobby
  • Scallopped detail in the wood of a cushioned floral bench in the lobby of Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    Scalloped details on a bench in the lobby

Hotel Genevieve is part of the Bunkhouse Hotels vision based in Austin, Texas, which also includes locations in San Antonio, San Francisco, Mexico, and now Louisville. Opened in 2023, this relatively new hotel offers a unique, upscale Parisian flair, making it a distinctive alternative to standard, cookie-cutter hotels. It’s definitely worth considering for your next stay.

Hotel Genevieve features 122 rooms, making it the largest property in the Bunkhouse collection. Esquire Magazine has recognized it as one of the Best New Hotels in 2024. Even more reason to go check out this Louisville NuLu hotel!

The Room

  • Looking through the archway from the door to the guest room at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville Nulu hotel.
    A guest room
  • The curved 60s or 70s style white entertainment center in the guest room at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    The curved entertainment center in a guest room
  • The guest bedroom, blue walls, curved headboard at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    A guest room in blue

The headboard in my hotel room was unique; I’ve never seen anything like it, and you probably won’t find it in any other hotel. The bedding was also quite good—take a picture of the tag to look it up and buy it for your home type of good.

I stayed in a blue room, which was very soothing. However, you might be fortunate enough to get a room in marigold or pink! The overall atmosphere was lush, inviting, and relaxing. (I even had a velvet couch!)

The Bathroom

  • The bathroom in the blue guest room with orange robe hanging to the left, the marbled blue vanity, and scalloped mirror, at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel,
    A guest bathroom
  • The toilet in a guest room with a blue toilet seat cover, an orange robe hanging to the right, in a guest room at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    The blue toilet seat
  • The beautiful marbled blue and ivory vanity with brass hardware in a guest room at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    The blue and ivory marbled vanity

I’m in love with the vanity. It has a marbled design with swirling shades of blue and rounded corners. The same marbled slab is in the shower threshold, and you can see it throughout the hotel in the public bathrooms, although in different colors. I even spotted one in pink, which is just beautiful.

I can’t forget the blue toilet seat, which brings back that nostalgic 1970s vibe from my childhood. The hotel bathroom even had my favorite type of shower hardware—where the knob is on the open end, and the shower head is on the enclosed end. This design allows me to turn on the water without getting drenched in the process.

Food and Drink

  • Mini Marche, the mini market, bright yellow floor, counter, shelving. A place to grab a coffee, small breakfast or any essentials at Hotel Genevieve.
    Mini Marché
  • A table and chairs to the left, an umbrella on the right, a night view of the city of Louisville in te background at Bar Genevieve, the rooftop bar at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville Nulu hotel.
    Bar Genevieve, the rooftop bar
  • Lucky Penny, the hidden bar with moody jewel tones, deep red and blue couches and chairs at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    Lucky Penny, the hidden bar

Lucky Penny

Check out what I found! This place is so cool. A hidden bar inside a hotel in Louisville? You can’t beat that, especially since we’re in Bourbon City! It’s tucked behind a door that looks like it goes to some storage room, but trust me, it leads to Lucky Penny. You’ve got to know about it, but I’m keeping it secret! It’s the perfect spot to chill and enjoy a fantastic Old Fashioned, surrounded by those moody velvet walls and comfy couches in rich jewel tones.

Bar Genevieve

Looking for a cool spot with excellent views? Check out Bar Genevieve on the rooftop! You’ll get great views of Louisville and the river, plus some tasty cocktails and an uncomplicated menu. I’m all about hotels with rooftops, so this was a win.

Mini Marché

Mini Marché is a convenient place to grab a quick coffee and a pastry. You can’t miss it due to its bright, canary yellow interior. If you’re an early riser like me, you can find coffee in the lobby before they open.

Byrdie’s

Byrdie’s is in the lobby, though it’s not part of the hotel. They serve tasty French food with a Southern twist and have some awesome bourbon cocktails on the menu.

  • The blue and ivory marbled slab on the shower threshold that matches the vanity in a guest room at Hotel Genevieve, a Louisville NuLu hotel.
    The same marbled slab as the vanity is on the shower threshold
  • The shower with the shower know on the far wall to the right, away from the shower head, at Hotel Genevieve.
    A guest room shower
  • Guest room view of a painting on the building next door, looking past the velvet couch, through the scallopped curtains at Hotel Genevieve, a Lousville NuLu hotel.
    Room view of a painting on the building next door

What Else?

I parked in front of a parking meter. I arrived late and left early enough that I didn’t need to pay for parking. Additionally, the hotel offers valet parking on the side of the building.

Rabbit Hole Distillery is conveniently located just behind the hotel, making it a great spot for bourbon enthusiasts. Further down the street, you’ll find many other options as well. The NuLu District is the place to be, featuring a walkable neighborhood filled with numerous restaurants. This Louisville NuLu Hotel is definitely worth considering. It’s unique, different, and much more fun than most other hotels in the area.

My Bucket list for louisville

On my bucket list of stays in Louisville is The Brown Hotel, a historic hotel listed in the National Historic Hotels of America. It’s a luxurious, opulent hotel that has been in operation since 1923. And if you haven’t checked out the 21C Museum Hotel, it is also a favorite worth visiting.

You may also like these hotels, A Boutique Hotel in Indianapolis, IN, The Oldest Hotel in Denver, and Five Cool Hotels in Milwaukee with a Historic Building Vibe.

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