In a city the size of Lexington, there is no shortage of restaurants and bars – but how do you choose the best places to eat and drink when you’re only there for the weekend? Lucky for you, we have already done the heavy lifting and we are just going to give you the answers to this quiz. Everyone has different taste, but this post will highlight what we consider to be the best restaurants and bars for visitors of Lexington. We hope this helps you on your next trip to the bluegrass!
We’ve made the hard decisions for you, so check out our version of the best restaurants and bars in Lexington!
What we want you to remember is that things almost never go as planned when traveling. Maybe the place we were planning to go for dinner didn’t take reservations and had a long wait, or maybe the breakfast place we wanted to go to is closed on Mondays (we honestly may have to write a whole other post on this phenomenon because it is a thing all over the country). These are by no means the only great places to eat and drink in the city, but it is a really good place to start. If you are forced to change plans, or if you become frequent visitors of the city like we are, you will start to find your own favorite places.
We hope you share any tips you discover with us! We are also happy to give you more recommendations if you are going to be in town for a while or checked off everything on this list – message us!
A Price Guide to the Best Restaurants and Bars in Lexington
Let’s keep it simple for this post.
- $: Cheap – as in fast food prices and plenty of menu options at or below the $5 mark
- $$: Middle ground – most restaurants and bars fit into this category
- $$$: Expensive – think steakhouse
Simple enough? Let’s get to it.
Best Restaurants in Lexington
Breakfast
Josie’s – $$
When I was a student at UK, we used to go to Josie’s almost weekly for breakfast. The prices were reasonable and the food was always delicious. There is also a great, homey atmosphere about the place. I have had quite a few things on the menu, and I have never been disappointed. Josie’s is located not far from downtown/campus in the Chevy Chase area. It can get quite busy at times, but it’s worth any short wait you may have to endure. I would say this is a good place for groups, as that was often how I experienced it. It is worth noting that Josie’s also serves lunch and dinner – which we have not yet tried. If their breakfast is any indication, their lunch and dinner would be tasty too!
Recommended order: Chevy Chase Special (two eggs, choice of meat, breakfast potatoes or cheese grit casserole, sausage gravy and a biscuit)
Brunch
The Local Taco – $$
This is a Lexington brunch staple. The Local Taco is 100% owned by Lexingtonians and locally sources as many ingredients as they can, which is so neat! You order at the counter, and your food is brought to you. If the weather is nice and there is a seat open on the patio, that is where you need to sit! We can attest that everything on the menu is delicious, but we are recommending you stop by The Local Taco for brunch to try some of their breakfast tacos. All of the tacos and sides are a la cart, so depending on how hungry you are, order more or less. The best part of brunch at The Local Taco is $1 mimosas – yes, you read that right.
Recommended order: Chicken & Waffle Taco (with bacon and agave nectar), The Gringo Taco (egg whites, sautéed spinach, pico de gallo, black beans, cotija, and sliced avocado), The Steak and Egg Taco (steak, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, corn and herbed goat cheese), a side of chips and queso and all the $1 mimosas your heart desires!
Lunch
Winchell’s – $$
We bring to you another local favorite – Winchell’s Restaurant and Sports Bar. If you are looking to watch Kentucky football or basketball game with locals who know what good food tastes like, this is your place. They have an extensive menu with tons of good options. You can go here for lunch or dinner, but it will definitely be less busy during lunch. The menu for lunch is more limited, but it has lunch portions of the most popular dinner menu items! Here is where you will have the chance to try a regional favorite: the Hot Brown. If you have never heard of a Hot Brown, it is an open-faced sandwich on toast with shaved turkey/ham, mornay cheese sauce, and often times more cheese. It. Is. Amazing.
RECOMMENDED order: Obviously, the Kentucky hot brown
Dinner
Carson’s Food and Drink – $$$
If you are looking for a delicious dinner in a wonderful atmosphere, Carson’s Food & Drink is your place. We definitely recommend you try to make reservations here. The food and service here are both outstanding, but another notable feature is their drink menu. Carson’s has a huge bourbon selection, and extensive cocktail selection with something for everyone. If you are staying downtown, you should be able to walk to Carson’s, which is especially great given its proximity to other downtown attractions.
Recommended order: 12 oz. Center Cut New York Strip (12 oz. flame grilled center cut new york, served with garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli with smoked gouda cheese sauce, rosemary demi-glace, and our house truffle butter – comes with salad or soup), Banana Bourbon Bread Pudding for dessert
Late Night
Tolly Ho – $
Since Lexington is a college town at heart, there are a lot of good choices in this category, but in my opinion (and from too much experience), there is a clear winner. So, if you have spent a night on the town drinking, it is most certainly time for a stop at Tolly Ho. You will find a lot of University of Kentucky students here, but there is a reason for that.
RECOMMENDED order: Super Ho burger, Cheese fries, and a chocolate shake
Best Bars in Lexington
Brewery
Country Boy
There are a few fantastic breweries in Lexington, but the one I am going to call out is Country Boy. Their beer is great, but I have one distinct memory that earned my lifetime loyalty. I used to go here with a few friends for a beer on the occasional Thursday night. I usually ordered the same thing, and got to know the bartenders.
As graduation drew near, it was time to start saying my goodbyes to the city I had called my home for the last four years. So, I told the folks at Country Boy I would be moving to Michigan, and asked if I could buy a pint glass. Instead, they gave me a pint glass, coasters, stickers, and all other sorts of little things to help my new home remind me of my old one – not to mention a few free beers. Because of that experience, we stop by Country Boy every time we are in town.
Recommended order: Cliff Jumper (IPA), Cougar Bait (American Blonde Ale), Shotgun Wedding (Brown Ale Aged on Vanilla Beans), or all of the above
Game Day Bar
KSBar
Ironically, this bar didn’t exist when I was a student at UK, but Ray and I recently had a great experience here, so it is certainly worth mentioning. If you are in Lexington on a football or basketball game day and you want to watch the game in an exciting and authentic Kentucky atmosphere, check out KSBar. They have an extensive food and drink menu, and this is even a kid friendly place! On game days, they have a stadium seating policy, which means they do their best to fill tables. Yes, this means you could end up getting seated with total strangers, but our experience with this was surprisingly positive!
Recommended order: Bourbon and Ale-8 slushy (feat. Maker’s Mark)
Cocktail Bar
West Main Crafting Company
At West Main Crafting Co., you will find some mouth-watering, artistically crafted cocktails in a stylish yet rustic setting. The bartenders are highly trained, and this is a great chance to try something new or have a better version of something old and true. West Main is in downtown, it is close to many attractions and is a great stop before or after dinner (you can also eat dinner here if you so choose).
Recommended order: My Safe Word is “Sanctuary” (Kentucky bourbon, dubonnet rouge, picon, cointreau)
Casual Bar
McCarthy’s Irish Bar
If you are looking for somewhere to start your night on the town in Lexington, McCarthy’s Irish Bar is the perfect place. It’s a friendly bar with a fun atmosphere and even a few Irish beers on tap! McCarthy’s has fair drink prices, and is conveniently located near a bunch of other bars, Rupp Arena, and the downtown hotels.
Recommended order: a Guinness, of course
Don’t forget to pack your stretchy pants!
That concludes our brief food and drink tour of Lexington, KY! We love all these places, but there are so many great choices in this vibrant city. So, next time you are in Lexington, be sure to try at least a few places on this list. We can assure that you will not be disappointed by the best restaurants and bars in Lexington!