Lynn's Paradise Cafe Colorized Postcard

4x6 Postcard

Lynn’s Paradise Cafe opened in 1991, originally on Frankfort Avenue, but it wasn’t until their move to the Highlands location on Barret Avenue that Lynn’s became a true Louisville icon. The whimsical restaurant was recognizable for its vibrant, offbeat style made up of mismatched furniture, oversized outdoor sculptures sporting bright coats of paint, and walls packed with art and decor. The playfully kitschy interior almost made the restaurant feel like a roadside attraction that also served food, bringing in swaths of tourists and locals alike. Its menu mirrored the vibe with inventive spins on classic comfort food, like Bourbon-Ball French Toast, Kielbasa Scrambled Eggs, and of course, their take on Louisville’s famous Hot Brown.

Despite its popularity, the restaurant was closed abruptly in 2013. Many reports of unfair and unorthodox labor and tip practices surfaced following the closure. 12 years later, the building that held Lynn’s Paradise Cafe has been greatly modified for recent restaurant trials including Martin’s BBQ and now Big Bad Breakfast. Despite its controversial practices and closure, Lynn’s Paradise Cafe was an icon of Louisville, and helped shape the delightfully weird personality of the old Highlands that we know and love.