Yes, my dog Fred was regularly welcome at Meta <3 That’s Jeremy (the owner) and his little guy Taco!
While traveling I’ve developed a bit of a theory about food & drink:
Part 1) A great part of traveling is getting to try out new food. From restaurants to cafes to pub food, you can always find something incredible where you least expect it. So picking one restaurant and only going there when you’re in a place for a limited time is well… limiting. You have to go out and try ALL the tastes and flavors, not just one (no matter how good it is), in order to truly feel like you’ve experienced a place.
Part 2) Unlike food, you only really need one or two great places to get a drink when you’re someplace for a limited time. You can walk into almost any bar and they can pour you a pint of beer or a glass of wine, they can also mix vodka into anything to make it taste like fruit juice. But finding a spot that takes the art of crafting cocktails seriously can be hard. There is a great level of skill required to combine the subtle flavors of a bourbon, a rum, a gin, and pair them with the right liqueur, the right bitters, the right custom shrub mix, and even the right garnish. That kind of skill takes experience and time to learn. And once you find a place that has folks with that kind of experience, they can make you anything. Once you find that, you can get a new flavor every time you visit.
“The Vaccine”, which comes with a shot of bourbon
In true alignment with part 2 of my theory, I find something so special about going into a local haunt, sitting down at the bar, and automatically being recognized as a regular. In one of my first weeks in Louisville, I was lucky enough to find Meta (the bar, not the new Facebook), and it quickly became my default place to hang out. From a fantastic cocktail list to amazing bar staff, not to mention being allowed to have my dog with me… let’s just say whenever I make it back to Louisville in the future, Meta will probably be my first stop so I can give a big hug to everyone there.
On a more logistical note, I’m also a traveling single lady. As in I go out alone a lot. I don’t mind this, I can usually strike up a conversation with most folks wherever I am and I love meeting new people. Going into a restaurant alone and getting dinner usually comes with a pretty low level of risk… but having a cocktail or two out at a bar alone can be different.
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I’m not here to scare anyone out of a nomadic lifestyle or solo travel in general, in fact I think both are a great thing to do to really learn more about yourself. But with the travel comes a need to think about safety. And while hopping around restaurants can be great, having a home base to have a drink isn’t just fun, it’s also smart. If you know the bartenders, you’re more likely to have your drink watched / protected if you go to the bathroom. You’re also more likely to feel comfortable getting help if someone is being a bit too familiar… or downright obnoxious. If you know the area around the bar, you’re more likely to make it home safely if you have walked / driven / rode the same route before.
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I’m all for spontaneity, but sometimes having safeguards in place can be one of the smartest things you can do for yourself as you travel.
I’ve never been a service industry worker myself (shout out to my fellow pool people lifeguarding their way through childhood), but I’ve always had such a respect for the sometimes grueling conditions that come with a life in the service industry. Long hours on your feet, not always the best pay, and a mixed bag of customer experiences ranging from polite to downright awful. The people who make it, especially in the cocktail bar realm, are a unique blend of personable, knowledgeable, and passionate about their craft.
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The crew at Meta are no exception. I had such a great time grabbing drinks, watching movies on the projector, spoiling my dog with way too much attention, and making friends. Meta became my “local” bar in Louisville, and after having found such a great spot in one nomadic location, I’m definitely on a mission to find a new local bar in every city I live in. It’s a great way to meet new people and learn about my temporary homes from locals with the inside scoop.
A special dessert cocktail to pair with Halloween candy
Sometimes you just need a spot where you can sit, sip a cocktail, and decompress with some needlepoint. Yes I am a 90 year old grandma and I love it.
Community is important. Especially one with folks willing to do each other’s nails at the end of the bar every Sunday night
A lot of the glasses at Meta are sourced from local antique shops to give them all a unique flair.
With a huge shout out to the folks at Meta, thanks for coming along to my favorite Louisville bar with me. I hope my theory gives you something to think about next time you’re out traveling!
~V
All photos taken on a first-gen iPhone SE