LOUISE'S
DOWNTOWN
The #1 bar in Lawrence, KS — and the best dive bar in downtown Lawrence for over six decades. Cold drinks, good people, zero pretension.
THE BEST BAR IN
LAWRENCE, KS.
NOT OUR WORDS.
Louise's Downtown has been a Lawrence bar since before most of them existed. We opened in 1957 on Massachusetts Street, and we've been pouring ever since — through KU national championships, blizzards, and every graduation weekend in between.
Voted #1 Bar in Lawrence in Best of Lawrence 2022 and 2024. #1 Bar in Rock Chalk Talk 2023. We've been called the best dive bar in Lawrence KS by pretty much everyone who walks through the door. We didn't campaign for it. That's just what happens when you've been doing this for almost 70 years.
If you're looking for bars in downtown Lawrence KS, you start here. If you end here too, we won't judge.
WHY EVERYONE ENDS UP AT LOUISE'S
There's a reason Louise's keeps winning best bar in Lawrence. It's not the décor — though the tin ceilings and neon beer signs have their own charm. It's not the marketing. We barely have any.
It's because Louise's is the kind of bar where you walk in alone and leave with friends. Where a KU senior sits next to a townie who's been coming since the '80s, and neither one thinks twice about it. Where the bartender knows your drink before you say it.
That's what makes a great bar. Not cocktail menus printed on recycled cardstock. Not Edison bulbs. Just a room full of people who'd rather be here than anywhere else.
THE BEST COLLEGE BAR IN LAWRENCE
KU students have been making Louise's their bar since before their parents were born. We're two blocks from campus, right in the middle of downtown Lawrence, and we've been the first stop after the last final for generations of Jayhawks.
But calling Louise's just a college bar doesn't do it justice. Yeah, we get the Saturday night KU crowd — and we love it. But we also get the professors, the locals, the people who graduated twenty years ago and still come back every homecoming. Louise's is a Lawrence bar that happens to be near the best university in Kansas. It works for everyone.
If you're a student looking for the best college bar in Lawrence KS, this is it. Ask anyone. Ask your RA. Ask your parents — they probably came here too.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN HERE
Schooners, bloody marys, mimosas, pool tables, and the kind of atmosphere you can't manufacture. This is what a real Lawrence bar looks like.
THE BEST DIVE BAR IN LAWRENCE — AND WE MEAN THAT AS A COMPLIMENT
"Dive bar" gets thrown around a lot these days, usually by places that spent $200,000 trying to look like one. Louise's didn't try. Louise's just is. The wood paneling isn't ironic. The neon signs aren't curated. The tin ceiling has been here since before anyone can remember. This is what an actual dive bar in Lawrence KS looks like.
And that's exactly why people love it. In a world of overdesigned cocktail lounges and bars that feel like a tech startup's lobby, Louise's is the antidote. No dress code. No reservations. No $18 old fashioneds. Just a cold schooner, a pool table, and a jukebox that doesn't skip — most of the time.
If you search "best dive bars Lawrence KS," you'll find us. You'll also find us if you just ask literally anyone in town. We've been here since 1957, and we'll be here when the next trendy spot down the street closes and becomes a smoothie shop.
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE
Louise's sits at 1009 Massachusetts Street — the main drag of downtown Lawrence, Kansas. If you're bar-hopping on Mass Street, you're going to walk past us. And then you're going to walk in. That's how it works.
Downtown Lawrence has a lot of bars. Some are great. But none of them have been here since 1957. None of them have the ID wall. None of them have been voted #1 three times in the last three years. When people talk about bars in downtown Lawrence KS, Louise's is the first name that comes up, and it has been for decades.
We're a short walk from the University of Kansas campus, Allen Fieldhouse, and pretty much everything else worth doing in Lawrence. Whether you're coming from the game, heading out for the night, or just need somewhere to sit and drink a beer on a Tuesday — we're here. We're always here.
What's Near Louise's
- University of Kansas Campus0.5 mi
- Allen Fieldhouse0.8 mi
- South Park0.2 mi
- Lawrence Arts Center0.1 mi
- Free State Brewing Co0.3 mi
MERCH
Available in-store or email [email protected]
Branded Schooner
$30
Green Tee
$25
Pink Tee
$25
Blue Tee
$25
THINGS PEOPLE ASK US
What are Louise's Downtown hours?
We're open Monday through Friday from 2pm to 2am, and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 2am. We're open every day of the year except when legally required to close. If the lights are on, the doors are open.
Is Louise's the best bar in Lawrence KS?
We've been voted #1 Bar in Lawrence in Best of Lawrence (2022 and 2024) and #1 Bar in Rock Chalk Talk (2023). But don't take the awards' word for it — come in and see for yourself. We've been doing this since 1957.
Where is Louise's Downtown located?
We're at 1009 Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence, Kansas — right on Mass Street, the main strip of downtown Lawrence. Easy to find, hard to leave.
Is Louise's a good college bar?
Louise's has been the go-to bar for University of Kansas students since 1957. We're a short walk from campus, and we've served generations of Jayhawks. But we're also much more than a college bar — we get locals, alumni, professors, and visitors from all over.
What kind of drinks does Louise's serve?
We keep it simple. Domestic and craft beers on tap, bottled beer, well drinks, and a full bar. We're known for our schooners (oversized beer glasses), bloody marys on weekends, and mimosas. No $18 craft cocktails — just honest drinks at fair prices.
Does Louise's have pool tables?
Yes — pool is a big part of the Louise's experience. We've got tables and there's almost always a game going. It's one of the things that makes us one of the best dive bars in Lawrence KS.
Can I book a private party at Louise's?
Yes, we host private events and parties. Email us at [email protected] or call (785) 843-9032 to ask about availability and details.
What is the ID wall at Louise's?
The ID wall is one of our most famous features — hundreds of IDs from customers over the decades, stapled to the wall near the ceiling. It's become a rite of passage. The ID wall, along with the tin ceiling, is part of what makes Louise's unlike any other bar in Lawrence.
Does Louise's sell merchandise?
Yes — we sell t-shirts, hats, jackets, and our iconic branded schooners. Available in-store or by emailing [email protected]. Show your Louise's pride.
COME FIND US
Address
1009 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044
Hours
Mon–Fri: 2pm – 2am
Sat–Sun: 12pm – 2am
Phone
(785) 843-9032