Cahoots

Um, so yeah… everything everyone else says is pretty much accurate. My friends and I used to go to this bar all the time, especially for $ 1.75 wells on Sunday’s.
I have personally seen: people snorting lines of who knows what off of the back of the toilets, people fighting, drug deals, the bartender in Crime Times for possession of heroin, people puking at the tables, people puking outside, people puking in the bathroom.
I also was harassed by a fellow female patron once there. She got in my face because I asked her how much longer she was going to take in the bathroom. It eventually lead to her punching the bouncer (I still thank him every time I see him out), and her being hog-​tied in the middle of Bardstown road by the police. I shit you not. Yes she was arrested.
Don’t get me wrong, 7 – 10 years ago cahoots was pretty awesome. Perfect type of dive bar back then. But these last few years, they’ve totally taken a turn for the worse.
It kind of pains me to say it, but for real… There are tons of bars near the area that are way less shady. Plus I believe they have lost their liquor license and the police are heavily involved there. Steer clear, sailor.

Best dive bar in Louisville. I’ve been coming to 1047 Bardstown Road since the 70’s. I have never met anyone that I couldn’t get along with. I love the atmosphere. I don’t care for new and shiny bars. The food has always been awesome. Right now the menu is getting some awesome additions. People get along with each other other at Cahoots. The recent issues are not typical.

Patrons enter at your own risk. Residents in neighborhood all want this place shut down due to violence it has brought to area. Google how many fights have spilled out of this place. Cheap drinks are not worth it.

If you are looking for some drugs I hear this is the place to go. It’s a skeleton of what used to be several great bars. Tewligans, Snagilwet, Cherokee Blues Bar. It was cool when Tony from Outlook opened it but it’s just a depressing hole of drugs and grouchy people. Meet you there!

It’s ok. Me and friends ended up in here. The wings are Awesome, drinks are reasonable.

Best wings in Louisville if you ask me. Was upset one evening upon arrival was told they we were out of wings! So Bdubs had to suffice. Decent atmosphere, cheap drinks, crazy people. What more could you ask for?!

Maybe the worst bar in Louisville.
In the early 2000’s the bar was a punk rock and skinhead bar. Now it’s a bar of trendy people.
The bar is dirty. Expect a drug deal. Expect the restrooms to be dirty.
Sadly, I can’t rate it a zero.

I get dragged into this place from time to time. Unfortunately. I guess I just don’t get the appeal. Plus it’s just really shady. There’s a drug dealer that hangs out the bar only to sell drugs. The bar staff knows and permits it.

Absolutely love the atmosphere. Bar food is great and cheap… drinks are good and cheap. service is abysmal… Bartender would disappear for 20 minutes at a time. bartender was apparently stoned… but who cares? he was so stoned that he only charged me for half my drinks lmmfao

A buddy and I wanted to get some drinks last night and wanted a dive so we chose Cahoots because it was in between the two of our houses. We had fun, met some very interesting individuals and when I got my tab I was pleasantly surprised. It was a cheap night. I enjoyed the music too which was basically the customers choosing the songs on the jukebox. I liked the choices.

Captured my heart the very first night I ever ventured into this filthy, mating hole. Yes, the floors are sticky, the tables waddle, you do think twice before sliding yourself into the booths. But isn’t this all just a part of the charm? Come to Cahoots, don’t over analyze your environment. I particularly like the lighting, the blue tone makes anyone adorable. Enjoy the cheap, potent drinks that are served and people watch. Lover become enemies, spit is spat and cheeks are slapped. And enemies become lovers, hands tucked in each other’s butt pockets. Literally, I am a witness. Eat the delicious food, use the bathroom with caution, and just forget about the germs– ya pantywaists. Let your hair down, sow your wild oats. Come to Cahoots.

One of the worst bars in the city.
Sure, locals and regulars love the relaxed environment of some of the bars around the Highlands. I get that. I like chill bars where you can meet fun people and relax and just have a few drinks. I get that. This bar has ok people. I’ve met some fun ones. Still, not that inviting. It’s dark inside and outside. And the people standing outside are hidden in the dark. Not inviting to a first-​timer. Inside it’s no better.
Gross booths and tables, barely held together. DISGUSTING bathrooms. And spotty service. They pour strong drinks but that isn’t appealing when you have to drink it in a dank, germy booth. Nothing says professionalism or self-​respect about this place. Regulars love it bc the only people who tolerate these disgusting conditions are other regulars. I get dragged here every so often and I’ve hated every experience.
Can’t speak to the food, never tried it. But if I have to eat it in these deplorable settings, I doubt I’d be able to finish my meal.

Let me preface this by saying my 5-​star review is in the category of dive bars… because as far as dive bars go this place is the crem de la crem. It’s got the sticky floors, the sketchy people (who, as it turns out, aren’t so sketchy), and the stiffest/​cheapest drinks in town.
People always look at me funny when I suggest Cahoots, but trust me when I say it is the best starting point you will find for a night out on Bardstown Rd/​Baxter Ave. Seriously. The drinks are really, really cheap. And all measurement techniques are out the window when it comes to the bartending.
There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said, but as long as you go in with no expectations (and no plans to use the bathroom), I’m sure you’ll grow just as fond of Cahoots as the rest of us.

this shit’s divey maaaan.
cheap super strong drinks.
quirky crowd, and hella sketchy inside.
perfect for pre-​gaming and heading out all wasted somewhere else.
cool bartenders.
I enjoyed it.

Good stiff drinks and sundays mondays and tuesdays you can get 1.50 wells and the bartenders know how to pour a drink to give a whole lot of bang for your money. On top of that they make one hell of a white Russian. Food wise they have a good variety and the food is awesome. 8-​Ball cheese balls Yumm!!!

What is there to say that hasn’t been said already? The drinks are cheap and strong and the crowd is generally pretty good. If I’m in the mood for a drink but not a massive party this is always my go to place.

Every time I walk into Cahoots, I feel like I’m walking into Fight Club. Only the guys don’t look like Brad Pitt and the punches come in the form of stout well drinks instead of fists. (Perhaps the vibe comes from the punching bag in the corner and the lingering scent of B.O.)
This is a dingy little place that has a lot of character… I just haven’t decided yet if I trust that character. It’s a decent starting point for a night out on Bardstown Road to get a good, cheap buzz goin’. Also, if you’re lucky enough to claim a booth, it’s an interesting place to sit and people watch for a while.

So, it’s Cahoots. It’s cheap, the drinks are strong and [for me] it was nearby. Sometimes the company is even tolerable. It’s also nice that they serve food so late, but the quality of said food is variable.
Some considerations:
If your drinks are watered down, you’re going to the wrong bartender. I’ll give no hints, but there are 2 bars and once you learn who makes the best drinks you have choices. Play smart.
If you drop anything in the bathroom, let it go. It’s dead to you now. Your health depends upon it.
The jukebox sucks and it totally killed the scene in the back. The bartenders used to have a pretty solid hand-​picked selection.
If they ever try to charge you cover and there is no actual band playing, it’s not worth it. For a while there they were doing this stupid Manic Monday thing where they were charging cover for a «D.J.» who was no better than the shitty jukebox. Move on to the Taproom or elsewhere if they try and pull that bullshit on you.
Personally, before I moved, it got to the point where I could only stand to be here relatively early in the evening. The crowd changed even during the 3 years I lived in Louisville, and my ability to tolerate the place diminished. Still, it has it’s moments and good conversation can still occasionally be found. The mixed drinks are strong and cheap and PBR is always cheap. If you want a better beer, they actually have a solid selection. The service can be slow, especially when they are busy, but I take it as a trade off for the strong drinks so I don’t really care.
Accept the bad with the good and you’ll probably enjoy it on occasion.

My last visit was a bit disappointing and warranted a star drop. Cheap drinks and good bar food is a total win, but late at night on a weekend was not nearly as much fun as 9 pm or during the week. The crowd was a bit too metal and unwelcoming for my taste. I’m good with hipsters, bikers, preppies (sort of), hippies, whatever. Most folks are pretty friendly and interesting. But last night felt standoffish and the super obnoxious metal music wasn’t exactly inviting. I say this, coming from someone who loves grunge and listened to hard rock growing up: Static X, Powerman 5000, etc. But metal is about as anti me as country.
Every table and booth were occupied or being stood by or as drink holders and reserved. No playing pool, no room left to go order a beer, even though it wasn’t so crowded that both of those things should have been an option. Eh. I’ll stick to mid week and avoid that nonsense.

Love this bar. This is where I went in college because I couldn’t afford anywhere else. It’s much cleaner now than I remember, which is a good thing, believe me.
It is never too busy that you can’t get served, although the bartenders do tend to be unbelievably slow. That’s probably a good thing because they pour heavier than anywhere I’ve ever been. When I first started hitting the bar up regularly I would ask for my $ 1.50 well and a side of mixer because I couldn’t handle it otherwise. Ah, what a wuss I was.
My favorite thing at Cahoots is the food. Love their voodoo pasta (if that’s still on the menu), they have the sauciest wings ever, and their bacon cheddar fries are good enough to kill for.
I had trouble getting some of my friends to come back; they were fans of Mag Bar and apparently didn’t like going somewhere decent. But I have always loved Cahoots and always will. Usually have pool tables available too (take that, line for pool tables at the Back Door).
In short, great little dive bar that’s more than it appears to be.