40 editor picks in Lexington.
40 mid-range places in Lexington, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Lexington, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Lexington food.
Honeywood is Ouita Michel's Kentucky bistro at The Summit at Fritz Farm, feeding Lexington sweet potato beignets and farm-driven plates seven days a week.
OrderSweet potato beignets
TipOpen all day 11:00-21:00, so it covers the awkward late-lunch hour most Lexington kitchens skip.
County Club smokes Kentucky-raised beef, hog, sheep and goat over hardwood on Jefferson Street, Lexington barbecue rebuilt around a monthly-changing menu.
TipOpen Wednesday to Saturday evenings only; the smoked-meat board changes monthly, so ask what just came off.
Blue Door Smokehouse slices Texas-style brisket to order in Lexington's Warehouse Block, selling until the day's smoked meat runs out by mid-afternoon.
OrderBrisket, Pulled pork
TipGo before 13:00; when the brisket sells out they close, whatever the posted hours say.
Doodles Breakfast & Lunch fries beignets and dirty shrimp and grits in a converted North Limestone petrol station, Lexington's morning-queue daytime cafe.
OrderDirty Shrimp & Grits, Pigs & Puffs
TipClosed Mondays and the kitchen stops at 14:00 sharp; the Pigs & Puffs bacon beignets sell out on weekends.
Blue Door Smokehouse slices Texas-style brisket to order in Lexington's Warehouse Block, selling until the day's smoked meat runs out by mid-afternoon.
OrderBrisket, Pulled pork
TipGo before 13:00; when the brisket sells out they close, whatever the posted hours say.
The Bluegrass Tavern stacks Kentucky's largest bourbon collection on Cheapside, the downtown Lexington bar where flights run deep into allocated bottles.
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays; tell the bartender a flavour direction and a budget and they will build a flight from Kentucky's largest bourbon collection.
Doodles Breakfast & Lunch fries beignets and dirty shrimp and grits in a converted North Limestone petrol station, Lexington's morning-queue daytime cafe.
OrderDirty Shrimp & Grits, Pigs & Puffs
TipClosed Mondays and the kitchen stops at 14:00 sharp; the Pigs & Puffs bacon beignets sell out on weekends.
Corto Lima presses its own corn tortillas downtown at Short and Upper, Jonathan Lundy's Latin American kitchen and Lexington's standing margarita champion.
OrderHouse-made corn tortillas, Margaritas
TipNo reservations; seating is first come, first served. Closed Tuesdays, and Monday is dinner only from 17:00.
Ramsey's Diner has plated Lexington's meat-and-three since 1989, with an excellent Kentucky Hot Brown and pies from its Missy's Pies sister bakery.
OrderKentucky Hot Brown, Meat and three
TipThe Zandale Drive room is the classic location. Save room for a slice of Missy's chess pie.
Ramsey's Diner has plated Lexington's meat-and-three since 1989, with an excellent Kentucky Hot Brown and pies from its Missy's Pies sister bakery.
OrderKentucky Hot Brown, Meat and three
TipThe Zandale Drive room is the classic location. Save room for a slice of Missy's chess pie.
Corto Lima presses its own corn tortillas downtown at Short and Upper, Jonathan Lundy's Latin American kitchen and Lexington's standing margarita champion.
OrderHouse-made corn tortillas, Margaritas
TipNo reservations; seating is first come, first served. Closed Tuesdays, and Monday is dinner only from 17:00.
Ona mixes precise cocktails in an Art Deco room on Church Street, the low-lit downtown Lexington bar for a slow drink rather than a loud night.
TipOpen nightly from 17:00 to 01:00; the seasonal menu rotates, so ask the bartenders what they are testing this week.
The Bar Complex runs three bars, a dance floor and drag stages on East Main, the long-standing anchor of LGBTQ+ nightlife in downtown Lexington.
TipThursday to Saturday only, 20:00 to 02:30; check the drag show schedule and arrive before the second set.
Joe Bologna's has baked pizza and garlic-butter breadsticks inside a stained-glass former synagogue since 1973, a Lexington institution near the UK campus.
OrderGarlic breadsticks, Pan pizza
TipThe garlic breadsticks are non-negotiable; go before 18:00 on UK game days or expect a long wait.
Stella's Kentucky Deli ladles farm-sourced burgoo and builds sandwiches in a Jefferson Street cottage, the daytime stop on Lexington's restaurant row.
OrderKentucky burgoo
TipDaytime only, 09:00-15:00. The weekend brunch menu is small; arrive before 10:30 to dodge the queue.
Josie's plates omelettes, waffles and the Chevy Chase Special every day until 14:00, the breakfast room that draws Chevy Chase Lexington's longest queues.
OrderJosie's Dad Omelet, Chevy Chase Special
TipDaily 08:00-14:00 only. Weekend waits run long; put your name down and browse Chevy Chase Place shops.
Joe Bologna's has baked pizza and garlic-butter breadsticks inside a stained-glass former synagogue since 1973, a Lexington institution near the UK campus.
OrderGarlic breadsticks, Pan pizza
TipThe garlic breadsticks are non-negotiable; go before 18:00 on UK game days or expect a long wait.
Stella's Kentucky Deli ladles farm-sourced burgoo and builds sandwiches in a Jefferson Street cottage, the daytime stop on Lexington's restaurant row.
OrderKentucky burgoo
TipDaytime only, 09:00-15:00. The weekend brunch menu is small; arrive before 10:30 to dodge the queue.
Martine's Pastries builds French tarts, wedding cakes and lunch pastries on East Third Street, Lexington's long-established special-occasion bakery.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday; order occasion cakes well ahead and add a lunch quiche to the pastry box.
The Obstinate Sons runs a snug bourbon bar and kitchen on Chevy Chase Place, a neighbourhood Lexington room that takes its whiskey list seriously.
TipClosed Mondays; the kitchen holds its own, so arrive hungry rather than treating it as a drinks-only stop, and expect a wait for seats on weekends.
Wiseguy Lounge hides a Prohibition-styled bourbon bar above Goodfellas Pizzeria on Manchester Street, Lexington's speakeasy with hundreds of bottles.
TipEnter through the pizzeria and head upstairs; Thursday to Saturday it pours until 02:30 with slices below.
Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. ages Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and distils Town Branch on Cross Street, a twin brewery-distillery tour stop.
TipBook the tour online; the four tasting tokens work across both the brewery and the Town Branch distillery.
Goodfellas Pizzeria slings New York slices in Lexington's Distillery District until 02:30 on weekends, with the Wiseguy Lounge bourbon speakeasy upstairs.
TipHead upstairs to the Wiseguy Lounge while you wait for a slice; Thursday to Saturday it runs to 02:30.
Wiseguy Lounge hides a Prohibition-styled bourbon bar above Goodfellas Pizzeria on Manchester Street, Lexington's speakeasy with hundreds of bottles.
TipEnter through the pizzeria and head upstairs; Thursday to Saturday it pours until 02:30 with slices below.
Josie's plates omelettes, waffles and the Chevy Chase Special every day until 14:00, the breakfast room that draws Chevy Chase Lexington's longest queues.
OrderJosie's Dad Omelet, Chevy Chase Special
TipDaily 08:00-14:00 only. Weekend waits run long; put your name down and browse Chevy Chase Place shops.
Stella's Kentucky Deli builds farm-sourced sandwiches in a Jefferson Street cottage, a daytime Lexington habit for fried green tomato BLTs and weekend brunch.
TipDaytime only, 09:00-15:00. The weekend brunch menu is small; arrive before 10:30 to dodge the queue.
Columbia Steak House has fed Lexington since 1948, still broiling the garlic-butter Nighthawk Special with a Diego salad and frying its famous lamb fries.
OrderNighthawk Special, Lamb fries, Diego salad
TipOrder the Nighthawk Special with fried banana peppers; the Richmond Road room keeps the old-school feel.
Athenian Grill plates gyros, spanakopita and baklava on South Ashland Avenue in Chevy Chase, the sit-down home of Lexington's favourite Greek kitchen.
OrderGyro, Spanakopita
TipOpen 10:30-21:00 daily; the gyro bowls travel well if the small dining room is full at lunch.
Han Woo Ri simmers soon doo boo and grills bulgogi on South Limestone by the UK campus, the Korean kitchen that keeps Lexington students and expats fed.
OrderSoon doo boo, Bulgogi
TipThe kitchen breaks between lunch and dinner; arrive before 14:00 or after 17:00 and start with kimchi dumplings.
Goodfellas Pizzeria slings New York slices in Lexington's Distillery District until 02:30 on weekends, with the Wiseguy Lounge bourbon speakeasy upstairs.
TipHead upstairs to the Wiseguy Lounge while you wait for a slice; Thursday to Saturday it runs to 02:30.
Athenian Grill plates gyros, spanakopita and baklava on South Ashland Avenue in Chevy Chase, the sit-down home of Lexington's favourite Greek kitchen.
OrderGyro, Spanakopita
TipOpen 10:30-21:00 daily; the gyro bowls travel well if the small dining room is full at lunch.
Columbia Steak House has fed Lexington since 1948, still broiling the garlic-butter Nighthawk Special with a Diego salad and frying its famous lamb fries.
OrderNighthawk Special, Lamb fries, Diego salad
TipOrder the Nighthawk Special with fried banana peppers; the Richmond Road room keeps the old-school feel.
La Petite Delicat pipes French macarons on National Avenue in the Warehouse Block, pairing Lexington's prettiest pastry case with espresso and tea.
TipClosed Sundays. Macaron flavours rotate weekly; boxes travel well if you call ahead for larger orders.
Belle's Cocktail House pours bourbon cocktails across three levels on Market Street, with the rooftop bar downtown Lexington heads to on warm weekends.
TipOpen Thursday to Saturday only, 16:30 to 02:00; head straight up to the rooftop level before the queue forms.
Bourbon on Rye keeps Prohibition-era cocktails and 12 taps going until 02:30 on West Main Street, a late-shift bourbon room in downtown Lexington.
TipWednesday to Saturday only; kitchen plates pub classics late, which is rare downtown after midnight.
The Beer Trappe runs taps and a bottle wall on Euclid Avenue, the Chevy Chase beer bar where Lexington's beer nerds drink in or carry out rare releases.
TipAnything on the shelves can be opened at the bar for a small corkage; ask what rare Kentucky releases landed.
The Bar Complex runs three bars, a dance floor and drag stages on East Main, the long-standing anchor of LGBTQ+ nightlife in downtown Lexington.
TipThursday to Saturday only, 20:00 to 02:30; check the drag show schedule and arrive before the second set.
Darling Wine Bar pours natural and low-intervention wines inside Greyline Station, a small Lexington bar and bottle shop with a rotating by-the-glass list.
TipClosed Mondays; buy a retail bottle from the shelf and drink it in for less than list price.
Bourbon on Rye keeps Prohibition-era cocktails and 12 taps going until 02:30 on West Main Street, a late-shift bourbon room in downtown Lexington.
TipWednesday to Saturday only; kitchen plates pub classics late, which is rare downtown after midnight.
Han Woo Ri simmers soon doo boo and grills bulgogi on South Limestone by the UK campus, the Korean kitchen that keeps Lexington students and expats fed.
OrderSoon doo boo, Bulgogi
TipThe kitchen breaks between lunch and dinner; arrive before 14:00 or after 17:00 and start with kimchi dumplings.
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.