What do fresh pasta from Italy, yuca fries from Peru, and pho from Vietnam have in common? You can find all three in ShelbyKY! With a multitude of international dining options available throughout Shelbyville, Simpsonville, and Shelby County, Kentucky, there’s something for every adventurous foodie. While you’re exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® in Your Bourbon Destination, check out these three local favorites serving up fresh, made-to-order cuisine from around the world.
Milano Italian Restaurant
With three Kentucky locations — though the original is in Shelbyville, Kentucky — Milano Italian Restaurant serves homemade Italian food using traditional recipes passed down through the generations. Coupled with their fast and friendly service, it’s easy to see why locals and visitors alike rave over menu staples like truly massive calzones, handmade lasagna, and all the fresh pasta anyone could ever want. With its flagship Kentucky location in Shelbyville, Milano Italian Restaurant is central to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, making it an excellent place to dine before or after your tours at the two distilleries in Shelby County and the dozens more within a short drive.
Milano Italian Restaurant
1745 Midland Trail
Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 437-0459
Sunday–Thursday: 11 AM to 9:30 PM
Friday–Saturday: 11 AM to 10:30 PM
Pisco Sour Latin Family Restaurant
Find a taste of Peru at Pisco Sour Latin Family Restaurant! A hidden gem even to ShelbyKY locals, Pisco Sour is family-owned and operated and guests will feel the warmth and friendship the moment they walk through the door. With a menu full of authentic Peruvian delicacies, including yuca fries, made from the South American yuca plant and served with an aji verde sauce; tallarin verde, a pasta dish tossed in a green spinach-pesto sauce topped with steak; and arroz con pollo (pictured), a grilled chicken breast served with green, Peruvian rice and a side of Papa a la huancaína. Try the namesake cocktail, the Pisco Sour, made with pisco — a Peruvian grape-distilled spirit — and lime juice, egg white and Angostura bitters.
Pisco Sour Latin Family Restaurant
2093 Midland Trail
Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 437-5172
Monday–Saturday: 11 AM to 9 PM
Cafe 7021 Vietnamese Bar & Grill
One of Shelby County’s newest restaurants, Cafe 7021 opened recently in Simpsonville, Kentucky, just 25 minutes from Louisville and centrally located on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Cafe 7021 serves delicious Vietnamese food, and its limited menu ensures it only serves the highest quality dishes. Served on vintage china and with a full bar, your entire party will love Cafe 7021. Try fan-favorites and authentic Vietnamese pho or bún thịt nướng — a tantalizing combination of vermicelli noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, basil, pickled julienne carrots, radish, cucumber, roasted garlic, shallots and crushed peanuts, along with your choice of protein like chicken, beef, shrimp, steak, or even tofu. On the drinks menu, don't pass up the sữa đá, or Vietnamese iced coffee.
Cafe 7021 Vietnamese Bar & Grill
7021 Shelbyville Road
Simpsonville, KY
(502) 405-3212
Tuesday–Saturday: 5 to 9 PM
Where to stay
ShelbyKY is conveniently located between Louisville and Lexington, the two largest cities in Kentucky. In addition, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® has two stops in ShelbyKY, making it the perfect place to use as a home base for all of your bourbon-inspired travels. There are dozens upon dozens of unique lodging options in Shelby County, Shelbyville, and Simpsonville, from familiar brand-name hotels to luxurious vacation rentals seemingly plucked from the world's largest cities. Click here to see all the places to stay in ShelbyKY!