Lexington eats where bourbon country meets horse country. Beer cheese, invented twenty minutes east at the Driftwood Inn in the 1930s, shows up on menus across the city, and the Kentucky Hot Brown long ago migrated from Louisville onto the menus of diners like Ramsey's. The old guard still holds: Columbia Steak House has broiled its garlic-butter Nighthawk Special since 1948, Spalding's has fried donuts since 1929, and Wheeler Pharmacy still runs a drugstore lunch counter. The new energy sits in the Distillery District, where the James E. Pepper campus now holds breweries, a cidery, a whiskey house and Crank & Boom's ice cream window. Ouita Michel's kitchens, Honeywood in town and Holly Hill Inn in Midway, anchor a farm-driven chef scene that stretches from Coles 735 Main to County Club's hardwood-smoked Kentucky meats. Come during a Keeneland meet and the whole city eats out at once.

Peak seasonApril and October, around Keeneland's spring and fall race meets
Dining hoursLunch 11:00-14:00, dinner 17:30-21:00
TippingStandard US tipping: 18 to 22 percent at table service, a dollar or two per drink at the...

Food festivals coming up in Lexington

All Lexington food festivals
The Night Market 6 Nov The Night Market Street food and local makers

Book food experiences in Lexington

See all 11 bookable experiences in Lexington

Signature dishes in Lexington

The plates that define eating in Lexington.

Beer cheese

Central Kentucky's sharp, beer-spiked cheddar spread, served cold with crackers, celery and pickles. Invented near Winchester in the 1930s, it opens meals across Lexington from taverns to steakhouse bread baskets.

Where Winchell's

Where to eat Beer cheese in Lexington →

Burgoo

Kentucky's slow-simmered hunter's stew: several meats, a garden of vegetables and a long afternoon in the pot. Racetrack kitchens and church fundraisers keep it alive, and Stella's ladles it year-round in Lexington.

Where Stella's Kentucky Deli

Where to eat Burgoo in Lexington →

Lamb fries

Breaded, deep-fried lamb testicles with cream gravy, a stockyard-era delicacy that central Kentucky never gave up. Columbia Steak House has kept them on its Lexington menu since the 1940s.

Where Columbia Steak House

Where to eat Lamb fries in Lexington →

Chess pie

The South's plainest miracle: butter, sugar, eggs and a spoon of cornmeal baked to a caramelised custard. Kentucky bakeries riff it into lemon and chocolate, and Lexington buys it by the boxful.

Where Missy's Pie Shop

Where to eat Chess pie in Lexington →

Skillet-fried chicken

Bone-in chicken brined, dredged and fried in a cast-iron skillet, the dish Kentucky exported to the world. Lexington kitchens fold it into everything from bourbon-glazed dinners to hot chicken sandwiches.

Where Azur Restaurant & Patio, Distilled on Jefferson, The Blue Heron Steakhouse

Where to eat Skillet-fried chicken in Lexington →

Ale-8-One

Winchester's gingery citrus soda, bottled since 1926 and still the Bluegrass region's default soft drink. Lexington drinks it cold from the bottle, in cocktails and even in barbecue glazes.

Where to eat Ale-8-One in Lexington →

All Lexington signature dishes →

Restaurants to know in Lexington

A handful of the places we send friends to when they are in Lexington.

Carson's Food & Drink

$$$AmericanDowntown

Carson's Food & Drink runs steaks, seafood and cocktails on East Main Street in Lexington, an old Kentucky supper-club room that stays loud into the evening.

OrderSeared ahi tuna salad, Banana bread pudding

More about Carson's Food & Drink →

Coles 735 Main

$$$New AmericanEast End

Coles 735 Main serves Cole Arimes' locally sourced New American cooking in a circa-1938 room on East Main, with meats cured in-house for Lexington regulars.

More about Coles 735 Main →

Epping's on Eastside

$$$AmericanWarehouse Block

Epping's on Eastside fills the old Epping Bottling Works in Lexington's Warehouse Block with house-cured meats, crab cakes and Cole Arimes' seasonal cooking.

OrderJumbo lump crab cake, Pork belly

More about Epping's on Eastside →

See every restaurant in Lexington →

Where to eat by neighborhood

Downtown

Courthouse-square Lexington: steakhouses, bourbon bars and pre-Rupp dinners, with Cheapside pouring until 02:30.

Best for: Steakhouses, Bourbon bars, Latin American

Distillery District

The revived James E. Pepper campus on Manchester Street: breweries, cider, whiskey, pizza and ice cream in old rickhouses.

Best for: Breweries, Bourbon, Ice cream

Jefferson Street

Lexington's restaurant row: chef-owned rooms, a steakhouse and daytime deli cottages strung along a walkable few blocks.

Best for: Southern, Barbecue, Steakhouse

North Limestone

NoLi's creative corridor: Greyline Station stalls, dive-bar stages, donuts and the first-Friday Night Market.

Best for: Coffee, Donuts, Wings

East End

East Main and Third Street's mix of old bakeries and new kitchens, from Spalding's donuts to Coles 735 Main.

Best for: Bakeries, New American, Pies

Warehouse Block

National Avenue's converted industrial strip: brisket, twin-batch beer, macarons and a women-founded wine collective.

Best for: Barbecue, Breweries, Wine bars

Eat your way through Lexington

Hotels

Browse by price

Cheap Eats Mid-Range Upscale Splurge

Where to eat in Lexington: editor-picked starting points

5 institutional venues to anchor a Lexington food trip

Signature Lexington dishes

  • Beer cheese Central Kentucky's sharp, beer-spiked cheddar spread, served cold with crackers, celery and pickles
  • Kentucky Hot Brown An open-faced turkey sandwich buried in Mornay sauce, broiled until bubbling and crossed with bacon and tomato
  • Burgoo Kentucky's slow-simmered hunter's stew: several meats, a garden of vegetables and a long afternoon in the pot
  • Lamb fries Breaded, deep-fried lamb testicles with cream gravy, a stockyard-era delicacy that central Kentucky never gave up
  • Bourbon balls Kentucky's boozy candy: bourbon-soaked sugar and pecan centres dipped in dark chocolate

Best Lexington neighborhoods for food

  • Downtown Courthouse-square Lexington: steakhouses, bourbon bars and pre-Rupp dinners, with Cheapside pouring until 02:30
  • Distillery District The revived James E
  • The Summit at Fritz Farm South Lexington's polished retail quarter, anchored by Ouita Michel's Honeywood and an all-day cafe import from Indianapolis
  • South Broadway The commuter stretch hiding some of the city's best stories, from DV8's second-chance bakery to Haitian family cooking

Where to stay in Lexington

A sample of Lexington hotels from our booking partner, who list 226 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.

Econo Lodge A stay at Econo Lodge places you in the heart of Lexington, a 3-minute drive from Jacobson Park and 6 minut... Check dates Lexington Inn Located in Lexington, Lexington Inn is within a 5-minute drive of Henderson County Community Hospital and B... Check dates Days Inn by Wyndham Lexington Southeast Located in Lexington, Days Inn by Wyndham Lexington Southeast is within a 5-minute drive of Boone Station S... Check dates Bluegrass Extended Stay Hotel Located in Lexington, Bluegrass Extended Stay Hotel is within a 5-minute drive of CHI Saint Joseph Health C... Check dates Days Inn by Wyndham Lexington NE With a stay at Days Inn by Wyndham Lexington NE in Lexington, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Heartlan... Check dates Red Roof Inn Lexington South When you stay at Red Roof Inn Lexington South in Lexington, you'll be in the business district, within a 5-... Check dates Super 8 by Wyndham Lexington Winchester Rd With a stay at Super 8 by Wyndham Lexington Winchester Rd in Lexington, you'll be within a 10-minute walk o... Check dates Super 8 by Wyndham Lexington VA Located in Lexington, Super 8 by Wyndham Lexington VA is within a 5-minute drive of Virginia Horse Center a... Check dates Microtel Inn by Wyndham Lexington Located in Lexington, Microtel Inn by Wyndham Lexington is near the airport, within a 5-minute walk of Hamb... Check dates Econo Lodge Lexington Downtown near I-81 With a stay at Econo Lodge Lexington Downtown near I-81 in Lexington, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of ... Check dates Howard Johnson by Wyndham Lexington With a stay at Howard Johnson by Wyndham Lexington in Lexington, you'll be within a 10-minute drive of Virg... Check dates GuestHouse Lexington With a stay at GuestHouse Lexington in Lexington, you'll be in a shopping district, just a 4-minute walk fr... Check dates

Also compare: Holidu in Lexington from USD 70/night · LateRooms in Lexington · Expedia in Lexington

Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

Map of Lexington

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Lexington, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

Trip planner

Plan your Lexington trip

Pick your dates: we line up the festivals on, what is in season, where to eat on the days you are in town, and experiences you can book for those dates.

When to come hungry in Lexington

Peak food season: April and October, around Keeneland's spring and fall race meets. July brings Burger Week, Restaurant Week and Crave back to back.

Local dining hours: Lunch 11:00-14:00, dinner 17:30-21:00. Many kitchens close Sunday night and Monday; bars run to 02:30 downtown.

Tipping: Standard US tipping: 18 to 22 percent at table service, a dollar or two per drink at the bar, 10 percent at counters is appreciated.

Lexington food, FAQ

What food is Lexington known for?

Lexington's signature dishes include Beer cheese, Kentucky Hot Brown, Burgoo, Lamb fries, Bourbon balls. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Lexington?

TableJourney editors map Lexington by district. Downtown, Distillery District, Jefferson Street, North Limestone are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Lexington?

Editor picks in Lexington include Dudley's on Short, Coles 735 Main, ItalX, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Lexington?

TableJourney covers 4 editor-picked food tours in Lexington, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Lexington have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Lexington dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free, halal venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.