When you think of trails in Kentucky, I am sure the first thing that comes to mind is the Bourbon Trail. Well I have news for you, that’s not the only trail in town! In the Lexington area, there is also a doughnut trail – yes, that’s right doughnut. Doughnuts would be nothing without coffee, so we are going to give you a guide to the best coffee and doughnut stops on your next trip to Lexington.
Ray and I are BIG coffee fans. My first job in high school was as an assistant, and the only employee, for a pair of coffee roasters in Toledo, Ohio. I learned so much about the industry and gained a lot of respect for the process. In our home, we grind our coffee beans fresh every day, and we still get those beans from the first place I ever worked. We also have an espresso machine that we love (and are slowly getting more creative with!), so coffee is a key part of our lives together. Inherently, that also means coffee is also a key part of our travels!
We are pairing coffee and doughnuts in this post for some obvious reasons. To be honest, though, Lexington has a doughnut scene way above par compared to many other cities. We recommend checking out at least one of these places every morning, but if you’re like us, one just won’t be enough!
Now, on to the best places to grab a coffee or doughnut (or both)…
A Cup of Common Wealth
Located right on the edge of downtown, A Cup of Common Wealth is a true gem in the Lexington coffee scene. If you are looking for an amazing cup of coffee from a small business with an awesome story and value statement, look no further. One of the really cool things about A Cup of Common Wealth is that they have teamed up with two coffee roasters for the coffee they serve: one local roaster, and one from Michigan! This is a little slice of home for us, and we love it. All their coffee is single-origin, which means the beans are grown within a single geographical region. Given the quality of the coffee beans you are going to find here, we highly recommend you get a pour over or something similar.
Common Grounds
I lived a short walk from Common Grounds during my senior year at UK. They have more than one location in Lexington, but I have only ever been to their East High St. location. They do roast their own coffee, so you can buy some to take home! At Common Grounds, I often ventured away from my usual black coffee. If you’re like me and you often work a bit while you travel in order to extend your trips, Common Grounds is a great place to get some work done. They had some really unique things on the menu, so I recommend checking out all the yummy flavors that can be added to your daily dose of caffeine. If you’re hungry, be sure to try some of their breakfast items too!
Lussi Brown
Ray and I just discovered this spot on our most recent trip to Lexington. We were staying at a new Marriott in downtown and had woken up early with plenty of time before our first plans of the day. We decided to walk around and hopefully stumble upon some good coffee – and oh did we get lucky when we found Lussi Brown! This is a newer place in town, and it wasn’t around while I lived in Lexington. We ordered double espressos and they were delicious! The reason they made the list isn’t just because of a great espresso, but because this coffee shop also serves alcohol. Starting every day at noon, you can get a boozy coffee or tea. Next time, I am definitely getting the Irish coffee!
North Lime Coffee & Donuts
We love this spot! Located just north of downtown on, you guessed it, N. Limestone, North Lime Coffee & Donuts is a great spot for some absolutely delicious coffee and doughnuts! We recommend a chocolate iced doughnut and a cold brew coffee. Make sure you also check out their weekly specials! You can’t go wrong here. One of the weekly specials when we were there last September was maple bacon. We honestly still think about that mouth-watering treat to this day.
Doughdaddy’s
Now this is going to be the most unassuming spot in this entire post, but trust us, it’s a good one! Why? It’s a gas station, and so much more. This gas station is conveniently located between Keeneland and Woodford Reserve and serves amazing doughnuts! Sometimes you can even get a free doughnut with a gas purchase. We highly recommend getting a dozen Doughdaddy doughnuts to take to your Keeneland tailgate! They have all the classic offerings and everything is delicious.
Spalding’s Bakery
If you are looking for a long-time, family owned, cash only bakery with great doughnuts, look no further than Spalding’s. You are going to have to go here in the morning, as they are never open past noon. We highly recommend giving Spalding’s original glazed a try. If you want to stray from strict doughnuts for a change, definitely try their gooey butter bars! This is a classic, no frills, family bakery. Expect a warm atmosphere, good prices, and delicious baked goods.
Magee’s
Last on our list is another family-owned bakery. Magee’s is located just at the edge of the downtown area, It is very popular with the local crowd, especially after church on Sundays. There is sometimes a bit of a line, but it is absolutely worth the wait. All of their doughnuts and pastries are delicious, but I especially like their cake doughnuts. Another thing to note is that you can get a breakfast sandwich here on some of their fresh, homemade bread. YUM! Magee’s is a great place for groups to gather for a treat or a light meal.
We’re really sorry if your pants no longer fit!
If you manage to check out all of these places in one trip, kudos to you. We think starting each day of vacation with a coffee and doughnut stop is the best thing you can do for yourself and and everyone around you.