What It Is

A famous open-faced sandwich consisting of turkey, tomatoes, bacon, and a Mornay (cheese) sauce.  The Hot Brown was invented at the Brown Hotel in the 1920s as a late-night dish for hotel guests and has since become a Louisville tradition with worldwide recognition.  You can make one yourself with the hotel’s own recipe: https://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown.

Where It Is

The Brown Hotel, 335 West Broadway, Louisville, Kentucky

When We Went

July 2019

What We Did

We ate a ridiculously expensive but absolutely delicious sandwich.

How Much We Spent

$25 per sandwich (we bought three: the kids split one).

How Much Time We Spent There

Maybe an hour.

What We Liked

 Whenever we go on a road trip, I like to research popular or iconic food for that area.  Getting a Hot Brown in Louisville was a no-brainer for me, even though my husband had never heard of it.  We all thought the sandwich was delicious and filling.

What We Didn't Like

We did feel a little underdressed and out of place at the hotel.  The hotel offers its sandwich in its J. Graham’s Cafe, which is open until 2:00 p.m.; its Lobby Bar and Grill; and through room service.  Because we went to the Brown Hotel for dinner, we ate in the Lobby Bar and Grill, which was decidedly fancier than we expected.  Fortunately, the lobby wasn’t packed (we arrived after traditional dinner hours), and our waiter made us feel very welcomed.  He even encouraged us to visit City Museum when he heard we were traveling to St. Louis, MO, which we happily did (and he wasn’t wrong).

Also, we entered the hotel through a parking garage, which had us a little uneasy at first.  After all, we were in a strange city after dark.  Our fears were unfounded, however: we arrived and left without incident.


Was it worth it? 

Yes.  I realize that paying $75 for one meal, especially on a road trip full of expenses, is a little lavish, but we’re glad we did it.


For more information, visit https://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown.

Was It Worth It?
The Hot Brown at the Brown Hotel

​Posted November 2, 2025, by Janet Wolfe