Back and brighter, The Silver Dollar in Clifton reopens with new menu and new owner

One of Louisville’s favorite places to get “whiskey by the drink” is back.

The Silver Dollar, the honky-tonk-inspired restaurant and watering hole recognized nationally as a top bourbon bar, reopened in late August, after a new owner led a quick revamp to the space and menu.

The Clifton spot, 1761 Frankfort Ave., was listed for sale in October 2023, when longtime owner Shawn Cantley said it was “time for fresh leadership.”

That’s around when Brian Downing came into ― or back into ― the picture.

Downing, a U.S. Army combat veteran who studied economics and political science in college, switched gears about a decade ago to seek out The Silver Dollar. He moved to Louisville specifically to learn about American whiskey, he said.

“This place has always been an institution,” Downing said of the bar that opened in 2011. “Really from the gate, it set a bar for what food and drinks should be in this city.”

He went from food runner to bartender at the Dollar, soaking up as much whiskey knowledge as he could, before moving on to work for brands such as Copper & Kings and Bulleit Bourbon.  

He recently moved back to Louisville after a stretch in the state of Washington, where he helped open two distilleries (and served as head distiller of one), according to his LinkedIn profile.

When he returned, he learned The Silver Dollar was for sale.

A question immediately came to mind: “How do I make this happen?”

“It’s a special place to me,” he said.

When patrons return to The Silver Dollar, they likely won’t notice a ton of changes to the interior, Downing said.

Inside the large dining room, the long bar and booths are all made from wood reclaimed from Stitzel-Weller distillery. Behind the bar, a vintage record player plays house music, a mix of classic and newer country tunes. The outdoor patio offers colorful artwork and lighting, plus plenty of places to sit.

New menu items include starters such as beef empanada and a pimento cheese plate with fried saltine crackers and pickled vegetables.

For entrees, birria tacos, a house-made black bean burger, heirloom tomato sandwich and chicken and waffles serve as early stand-outs.

The Silver Dollar, as suggested by that iconic “whiskey by the drink,” still has a huge whiskey and bourbon collection. Its Old Fashioned, made Elijah Craig, is described as the oldest old fashioned, and the “Old Rough and Ready” cocktail blends cold brew with Old Forester bourbon. A “40206” special, a nod to the bar’s location, gets you beer and bourbon for $5.

Newer and non-bourbon offerings include the “Cactus Blossom,” made with tequila reposado, pineapple and lime. It’s also purple, thanks to the hibiscus tea inside.

“We are eager to welcome Louisville back to The Silver Dollar to create more memories in our newly revamped space,” Downing said in a press release.

Before The Silver Dollar opened as a bourbon bar in 2011, the building stood as the oldest operating firehouse in the country. Details from the building’s original form remain, with a firepole and a hand-painted map of Louisville used by the firefighters.

“It did need a refresh,” Downing said.

But, as he said, some things will always stay the same at The Silver Dollar.

We featured The Silver Dollar in the latest installment of our video series, called the “Best Thing I Ate This Week.” You can follow along each week by visiting Instagram.com/courierjournal.

Reach food and dining reporter Amanda Hancock at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The revamped Silver Dollar in Clifton reopened: What to know