1888 Historic Rocking Horse Manor B & B

Great home super cool inside. Lots of original detailing. The owner was super nice and helpful in guiding us where to go. The breakfasts were good nothing fancy or special basic eggs and ham. The room we stayed in was tiny the Irish rose however it was cozy.

Stayed here with a guy I was seeing, for my Birthday.
Wonderful bed and breakfast. Very friendly informative staff, beautiful architecture, restored Victorian mansion, lovely romantic suite, pink hottub!!, beautiful city… A bit pricey –more than a hotel, but definitely worth it. Highly recommend if you’re staying in Louisville for a night.

If you have tried B&B’s after having practically lived on road and staying in a multitude of hotels you probably understand the allure of a good B&B. Rocking Horse Manor is a great one. A comfortable, conveniently located oasis in Louisville. John and Ricardo are gracious hosts and provide nice touches for an enjoyable stay. Historical elegance with a nod to modern conveniences, i.e., glass enclosed walk-​in shower with two shower heads, dual sink vanity, jacuzzi-​style tub, and even a bidet in Grand Victorian Suite bathroom! Stay here and you’ll want to come back when staying in Louisville.

We love this place and we’re locals! Spent Valentines, New Years Eve and other occasions when we don’t feel like traveling far. They make the best breakfast, and we have been able to try different rooms. We also like the upstairs reading room. Last time we were there I realized the next day that I left my cell phone charger. And sure enough they found it, and I didn’t have to wait at all when I went to retrieve it. They are gracious hosts who truly understand hospitality. It is a beautiful, memorable place in a charming part of Louisville. Look no further — this is where you want to be!

My girlfriend made me research B&B reviews and prices for 2 hours. Just save yourself the time and pick this one. It is the best B&B we have ever seen. The mansion is amazingly restored and decorated with attention to details. Our room was clean, quiet, and cozy. The breakfast was delicious and we are both people that enjoy fine foods. Their website needs work, but then again you’re not staying at a website. The location is close to down town Louisville. We walked the area and saw some great homes and architecture. Again… just save yourself the time and go with the Rocking Horse Manor. It’s the best.

What a wonderful place to stay. Beautiful, comfortable accommodations with a breakfast to die for. The hosts are friendly and very knowledgeable tour guides; of their own property and Old Louisville. This is a must-​stay place.

We have been to a LOT of B&B’s but NONE compare… We first stayed here 7 years ago and fell in love with Old Towne Louisville and the Rocking Horse Manor. John & Ricardo actually allowed us to get married in their parlor! We have returned every year since. The accommodations are beautiful, the hospitality incomparable. John and Ricardo treats their guest just like family!

This is without a doubt the BEST bed and breakfast EVER!
When we arrived, Ricardo, one of the owners, gave us the amazing grand tour of this beautiful house. He was extremely helpful and assisted us in how to begin our Louisville journey. The historic background and the restoration of this home will definitely piqué your interest.
The common area on the third floor has a refrigerator for guests to use. There are also complementary drinks in it for your enjoyment. The first floor had complementary chips, cookies, and fruit if you need a snack while you are here.
We stayed in Chelsea’s Garden room and it was clean and comfortable. The claw foot tub was very cool and the shower pressure was great.
The thing I loved the most about this place is the courtyard. There is so much to see in Louisville but you have to have some relaxation time. There is nothing better than this courtyard for relaxing with a glass of wine. John, the other owner, has worked very hard on creating this «garden of eden» so the guests can enjoy their visit. I brought plastic cups for my wine and he insisted on bringing me a wine glass. Everyone knows wine tastes better in glass, but some people frown upon glass as it breaks occasionally and causes a mess.
Breakfast choices were between egg dishes or pancakes. The first morning we chose soufflé. It was a two course breakfast. There was yogurt with fruit and granola and a banana muffin for the first course. The second course was an egg and cheese soufflé with ham and hash browns. The food was fantastic. Not only are they amazing host but they can cook.
Ricardo and John are incredible and will do everything to make sure your stay is incredible.

The owners Jon and Ricardo could not have made the stay any better. They gave us a free room upgrade, breakfast was delicious. When we asked for a dinner recommendation, they sent us to a neighborhood in louisville that was exactly what we were looking for. To top it off, the actual house is a wonder by itself. Next time I find myself in Louisville, I know where I will be staying. The service, atmosphere, and price beat out all the hotels we looked into.

I wish I could have stayed here all week. My husband and I arrived exhausted, coming from Pittsburgh. The owners made us feel at home immediately and gave us a tour of the house, pointing out historical facts, and the location of complimentary cookies. The house is full of interesting decorations and beautiful stained glass, with little touches like a bottle of port and dozens of rocking horses. There is a lovely library that was once a gentlemen’s smoking room, and a charming formal dining room. There is a courtyard in the back with a porch and plenty of greenery where I could have imagined sitting with a typewriter all afternoon a hundred years ago. On the top floor, there is a more informal, laid back sitting room with free waters and soda, as well as board games and movies. I spent about a half hour wandering around with my camera with plenty of interesting things to shoot.
We stayed in the Irish Rose room, a small but comfortable room with a full-​size bed. It had stained glass and a private balcony over the front of the house. The shower was high pressure, and everything was very clean.
Where the Rocking Horse most excelled was in the details. Good-​quality liquid soap in the shower, a corkscrew on the chest of drawers, a scale in the wardrobe. All the little things that you have at home but not on the road that, when present while traveling, make life a lot easier.
We had breakfast in the morning in the dining room, and it was to-​die-​for. There was a choice of quiche or french toast, and we both ordered the quiche. The first course was yogurt with granola and what I believe was a sweet cheese strudel type bread. The second course was the quiche, which was crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. It was served with sauteed potatoes, finely diced, which were equally flavorful. The owners went out of their way to make sure I had decaf coffee, and everything was served with coffee and/​or tea, orange juice and water.
Owners Jon and Ricardo gave us advice on where to eat and what to do and see. Jon recommended Shakespeare in the Park and a visit to St. James Square to see the gas lamps and fountain among dozens of beautiful Victorian houses – just a 10 – 15 minute walk from the Rocking Horse.
Definitely one of the most luxurious places I have stayed, and for a wonderful price.

LOVED staying here!!!
Came in to town not knowing too much about Louisville, other than the fact it’s the derby capital of the world. Jon and Ricardo gave us a gorgeous room to stay in. Very private. We pretty much had the place to ourselves while vacationing there, and the owners were always around to help us out if need be. Except once, but they warned us they were going away for a few hours…
A very scary tornado came through Louisville during our stay at the Rocking Horse, and Jon and Ricardo happened to be out then. Being dumb Californians (inexperienced in tornado happenings), we battered down in fear and excitement (with bed comforters and wine) under the centuries old staircase in the «lobby». Those sirens outside were terrifying! The electricity went out. Guests were saying it was passing right through us. Ahhhhhh!!!
Well, the storm passed, without any harm. We felt like idiots, making a reeeeeeally big deal of the situation, but Jon and Ricardo made us feel ok about it.
Fantastic breakfasts, comfy night’s rest, and in a great location to see all the fun Louisville sights!

I had a wonderful weekend stay here over Valentine’s Day. The owners Jon and Ricardo were extremely friendly and offered lots of suggestions for things to see in the area, as well as map and directions. We had two choices for breakfast each morning: one sweet (pancakes or waffles) and one savory (quiche). All the choices were delicious. They served breakfast in an adorable dining room with formal china and glasses.
The rooms were really cute and extremely spacious. They were also very well-​priced. Because of its name, the inn is decorated with rocking horses scattered around (I counted at least 9 in the public rooms). For some reason, they also decorated with old-​fashioned shoes, which was pretty funny. If I were ever in Louisville again, I would definitely stay here.