Hotel Genevieve, a new boutique hotel from Austin hospitality group Bunkhouse, has opened its doors in the heart of Louisville’s East Market District, following collaboration with real estate development firm Mountain Shore Properties. The opening is Bunkhouse’s first hotel project in Kentucky, and the first boutique hotel to open its doors in the growing East Market district.
The 122-room hotel – Bunkhouse’s largest to date – is named after a regional type of limestone, Saint Genevieve, which is a key ingredient in bourbon production. Designed in collaboration by Bunkhouse and Rohe Creative, with architecture by Memphis-based LLW Architects, Hotel Genevieve’s design represents the nuances that the city holds.
The hotel’s design is inspired by the patron saint of Paris, in celebration of the French origins of the city. With French modernism meeting Old World charm, the spaces are feminine and playful, intended to juxtapose the masculinity often associated with bourbon and downtown. Guestrooms reflect a modern take on a historial colour palette of cool and neutral-toned combinations, with shades of blue, terracotta and warm yellow. Custom, curvaceous consoles from Rohe in an ivory high-gloss lacquer add layers of luminescence to the rooms, while modern quilting patterns are a nod to Kentucky’s quilt culture.
Hotel Genevieve boasts four F&B spaces created by James Beard-nominated Chef Ashleigh Shanti, as well as a lobby art gallery and shops. The hotel’s F&B offering includes an all-day ground-floor restaurant, rooftop bar and lounge with expansive city views, and an intimate secret bar, with a mini market set to open in late May.
“Louisville is such a great town. Beyond the Derby and the bourbon trail, both of which we love, the city has a lot to offer culturally in terms of the art scene and food scene as well. We were particularly taken by the NuLu neighbourhood which has this incredible vibe and community which we are excited to be part of,” said Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman of Standard Hotels and Bunkhouse Group. “Like all our hotels, we hope and believe that Hotel Genevieve will become an anchor of the neighbourhood where locals and visitors mix seamlessly.”
The hotel’s all-day restaurant, named Rosettes, is inspired by al fresco Parisian cafés, with brasserie details like cafe curtains, Royer-inspired lighting and outdoor seating bringing it to life. The first rooftop for the Bunkhouse brand, meanwhile, Hotel Genevieve Bar offers cocktails and light fare with Mediterranean influences, set against sweeping views of the city.
