Tasting menus, Michelin stars and the chefs redefining Lexington.
Tasting menus, Michelin stars, and the kitchens redefining what fine dining means in Lexington.
Dudley's on Short cooks seasonal contemporary American food on West Short Street, the downtown room Lexington books for anniversaries and Keeneland nights.
TipReserve by phone for parties over six; OpenTable covers smaller tables. The bar seats walk-ins.
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.
TipClosed Sundays. The bar and gazebo open at 16:00, an hour before the dining room seats.
ItalX rolls scratch-made pastas in Lexington's City Center, chef Jonathan Lundy's Italian room with reimagined small plates and a sommelier-built wine list.
TipLunch runs Wednesday to Sunday, a rarity downtown; dinner from 16:00 suits pre-show Rupp Arena tables.
Tony's of Lexington runs a Tony Ricci steakhouse on West Main Street, plating prime cuts and seafood a short walk from Rupp Arena's event-night crowds.
TipKitchen closes at 21:00 Sunday to Thursday; book the later Friday and Saturday seatings for a quieter room.
Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse brings the Cincinnati group's USDA Prime programme and live entertainment to West Vine Street, Lexington's flashiest big-night room.
TipThe macaroni and cheese Food Network singled out is worth the add-on; Friday service starts at 16:00.
Malone's cuts USDA Prime steaks at its original Lansdowne room, the Lexington-born steakhouse that grew into the Bluegrass Hospitality Group's flagship.
TipLexington Legend cut portions run big; the Hamburg and Palomar rooms take pressure off weekend waits.
The Merrick Inn serves Southern dinners and weekend brunch from a former horse-farm manor off Tates Creek Road, a Lexington occasion room of long standing.
TipBrunch runs Friday to Sunday 10:00-15:00; the walled patio is the seat to request from May to September.
Granddam is the dining hall of Lexington's Manchester Hotel, where Top Chef alum Paula Endara cooks Ecuadorian-inflected American food from breakfast to late.
TipFree parking sits directly across Manchester Street until 18:00; brunch runs Friday to Sunday 09:00-14:00.
The V at The Vine serves seafood-led fine dining from the 9th floor at 106 West Vine, a 2025 arrival with some of the best evening views in Lexington.
TipBook ahead for a window table at sunset; the coastal menu and wine pairings suit a slow two-hour dinner.
Distilled on Jefferson pairs farm-to-table Southern cooking with a deep bourbon bar on Lexington's Jefferson Street restaurant row, in business since 2014.
TipDinner only. The bourbon list rewards asking the bar for a Kentucky-only pour before you order food.
Azur Restaurant & Patio reworks American classics near Keeneland in Beaumont, a Lexington fixture since 2005 known for Tim Perkins' bourbon fried chicken.
SignatureBourbon fried chicken, Woven shrimp
TipSunday brunch runs 10:30-14:00. Ask for the patio in racing season; it books out on Keeneland weekends.
Millstone cooks contemporary American food with Kentucky leanings in an 1880s Dudley Square schoolhouse, one of Lexington's most-watched newer dining rooms.
SignatureShrimp and grits, Chicken and gnocchi
TipLunch runs Wednesday to Friday only. The shrimp and grits use Weisenberger white cheddar grits from Midway.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Embark on a journey through the heart of Downtown Lexington, where history and farm-to-table flavors intertwine for an afternoon of fun exploration.
Guided tour · 4 hours
Join us in the Distillery District for Kentucky farm-to-table cuisine, limestone-filtered bourbons, and an exploration into the history behind this revitalized piece o...
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Sink into your seat and sip unique craft cocktails and locally prepared plates while listening to captivating tales from Lexington's East End.
Editor picks in Lexington include Dudley's on Short, Coles 735 Main, ItalX, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.