46 Best Cocktail Bars in Lexington

“Stopped in after being stuck in the house. Man this experience was 5 star! The vibe was cool and inviting, the food was eclectic but the service… knock your socks off!! Ask for Sarah next time your in she’s the GOAT!“

“Everything was amazing the manager Brittany was amazing. We were in from Ohio and had a great time! Too notch service.“

“I had such a great time at Georgie's last time I went (and every time I've been before)! The drinks are delicious (highly recommend The Force) and the atmosphere is great for having a drink with friends. Very modern yet cozy. The vibes were 10/10. There is also a ton of seating which I very much enjoyed too and the staff was very nice.“

“12/10 experience at the bar! Sit on down grab a slice of pizza and a bread stick or two and let John the bar master craft you the best cocktails in town! Super fun vibe complete with great customer service. John made it so we stuck around!!“

“Great place! I hope everyone visits!“

“Fast service, quality drinks, nicest bar family you'll find.“

“Best food, portions, price and service.“

“During our visit to Kentucky’s Bourbon Country, we had the distinct pleasure of dining at what has quickly become our favorite restaurant in the area. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional. The food was nothing short of outstanding—flavorful, expertly prepared, and perfectly paired with a diverse and impressive collection of bourbons. What truly set this restaurant apart, however, was the warm and welcoming atmosphere, which made it feel like more than just a meal out, but rather an experience shared with friends. The staff’s hospitality and dedication to making every guest feel at home contributed to what was undoubtedly a memorable evening. We are already eagerly anticipating our next visit and look forward to enjoying another fantastic meal, discovering more exceptional bourbons, and sharing the experience with some great friends. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the Bourbon Country region—whether you're a bourbon enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates great food and service.“

“The taco flights (The Filthy Fajita, The Smokeshow and The Gangsta) were Amazing as was our appetizer (Shrimp Rangoon Bites)!! Strawberry Bombshell on the rocks was definitely the bomb! Speaking of being the bomb, gotta give it up to our server Tonni and the general manager Nick who were both so nice, helpful and accommodating!! We will definitely be repeat customers! Thank you for a wonderful experience!!“

“Had a couples date night with friends last night Pros: cool atmosphere -good cocktails-festive delish well garnished -pasta pasta pasta -unique ingredients in meals -pretty dinnerware -Candice (perfect service) -creative dessert concepts -lounge area Cons: I think they should stay with their roots even though they believe it’s a misconception they are an Italian restaurant-their pasta is perfection. Wasn’t so much impressed with the pork tenderloin as I was with the pasta.“

“Pure mouth explosion with the perfect bite! I am from a Lexington and never had visited Dudleys. My boyfriend took me for my 57th b day. We weren't super hungry but the little eggs (no trout) were so savory and delightful. We ordered the crab cake and it come atop the roumalade and some grits and it was fried to perfection and that is the best crab cake I've had lately. Hands down better than Sedonas I had at Christmas.
I'm so happy we went there I enjoyed th Brussel sprout salad although I consider that more of a side item. We also had the Caesar which felt the anchovy would have been best hidden, chopped in the dressing. But one thing bothered us both.
We had a two top and off in a corner to ourselves and got to enjoy most the meal alone. The restaurant was empty besides a large party at one table. They sat another couple almost in our laps. The hostess needs to discern how that may affect our experience. This couple come in visually and audibly at the wrong time and our moods and conversation didn't flow as we could hear every word they said and vise versa. I'd say m to do better but who knows if it will make a difference. I still had a great birthday and bucket list item checked. I may go back for drinks and lunch. Also if you go do the valet. We didn't know they had that.
Thanks for a lovely meal.“

“I had the ribeye with tallow fries, fabulous. Then I shared 2 desserts with friends. Burnt butter cheesecake, oh my heavens, who knew, and the flour less chocolate cake is what a flourless chocolate cake is supposed to be.. ..oh my heaven, a real treat. The lady that assisted with the wine was incredible. Beautiful decor. Well done....“

“There are very few bars in Lexington that have specialty cocktails that compare to Belle’s! The history behind the building is intriguing! I spent my most recent birthday on their rooftop in a vip section that was delivered with respect and accuracy. Security has always made me feel safe if/when there have been males/females that were overly disrespectful. The staff is as attentive as possible, considering the high volume of costumers they have to serve. If you can handle a high volume bar, with a high standard for cocktails, service, and security, I highly recommend!“

“Incredible views with handcrafted cocktails - what more could you want from your trip to Lexington!? This bar is the best seat in downtown Lex for a view!!“

“i was in absolute aw over poppy’s!! this place is absolutely beautiful and amazing. the staff is so kind and welcoming. the flowers are beautiful and fresh and such a wide variety to choose from. so beautifully decorated and such a friendly environment. the drinks absolutely amazing. i would live in poppy’s if i could“

“Great food with large portions and fast, friendly service. Best Mexican Restaurant we’ve found in Lexington, KY.“

“We loved it. The tortas are delicious and the margarita was top notch!! The service was great and they are so friendly. Hidden gem in Lexington!“

“Most of the food was excellent. However, I was disappointed with one of the lamb dishes this time. I have gotten the dish in the past and have been very pleased. But this time the 2 chops were very small and didnt have much if any of the porterhouse side. One of the chops had a lot of gristle and was cooked less than medium-rare. I asked for it to be cooked a bit more, but it was still raw near the bone after the second cook up. Because of the gristle and the raw part near the bone, most of that chop was not edible. Since the dish only comes with two lamb chops, I expected the server to offer a replacement, but he did not. Anyway It is still one of my fav places to eat, but I do think they should fix a dish if its quality isnt what it should be.“

“Hunter our waitress was awesome. Food was delicious.“

“My husband and I having family night with our sons at Blue Sushi Sake Grilled“

“The best selection of bourbon in the country right in downtown Lexington.

This iconic bar is where you need to be if your want to try some of the rarest bourbons around.

The sky's the limit here.

The bar tenders are so knowledgeable and are absolute experts so make sure you come ready to learn.

A must stop for everyone on the bourbon trail!“

“Solid experience and service“

“Chelsea our server was great and she made great recommendations. We tried the pretzel sticks with beer cheese, these are the best ever. Boone fries, the pimento cheese dog and the spicy chicken sandwich. The blackberry jalapeño sauce is soooo good!! Would definitely eat there again. Everything we had was really good. I don’t think their pricing is higher than anywhere else. Eating out in general is not cheap!!“

“First timing trying this place. Fill place, feels like a neighborhood spoke with some unique dishes on the menu.

I got the Lumberjack burger. It came out raw, ordered it medium. They took it back I expected a new burger, the simply further cooked the burger. This time it was well done. Not a big deal flavor was still there, juicy and well seasoned. However, I think much of the Beer cheese had cooked off.

We got the salad with orange vinaigrette and it was very good. The squash soup was also nice on a snowy day.

Service was excellent and enjoyed the experience. The only negative was the burger cook and the not getting a new burger. Just kind of pointless to ask for how I’d like it cooked.

Would eat here again though“

“Went to Desperados Cantina for the first time tonight in Distillery District. I was always skeptical about going there to eat because everytime I’m in distillery district this place is a ghost town. People walk right by and don’t even blink an eye at it. My birria tacos, PHENOMENAL. Chorizo queso, PHENOMENAL. The churro, warm, crispy, to die for. I don’t know how this place isn’t buzzing!!!!!“

“We booked the Secret Garden at Harvey's to celebrate our daughter's graduation. It was fantastic! We had seats for grandparents, great drinks, the charcuterie boards were so good, and our daughter and her friends loved the vibe! Would highly recommend!“

“Great salad and shrimp flatbread was yummy. Prices are great. I felt comfortable and safe dining alone (traveling through).“

“I had the pleasure of trying their Burger Week special today and was absolutely blown away! It may sound strange, but I'm now a firm believer that apple chutney *belongs* on burgers. The combination of beef, melty brie, apples, & dijonnaise created the perfect balance of sweet & savory. The sprinkle of parsley on the fries provided an excellent pop of colour & was a lovely lil touch. Their ranch is pure excellence & clearly made in house. I highly recommend grabbing a side of it to dip those aforementioned fries in! 💖“

“I highly recommend this place! Came here for my first time this evening and we got our food in literally 5 minutes! Friendly and fast service! Food is so good! Try it you won’t be disappointed!!“

“Great music great vibes. wouldn't mind going back at all.“

“Only been a few times now, but defo worth stopping in for the cozy vibes. Clearly is a place folks come to gather. Several groups were hanging out, and this place caters to those willing to try unique cocktails. Right now, they have a warm wine based drink to fight the chill.

Was a great 2nd stop on my weekend bar crawl 🔥“

“This was our first time in Lexington. We picked The Tulip Bistro and Bar because it was close to our hotel. The service and food was simply awesome. The braised short ribs were incredibly tender and flavored to perfection. The salmon was a very large piece cooked just right. We then finished dinner off with the creme brulee. I can't recommend this restaurant enough. Dana, our server, was wonderful.“

“Good place to get a drink if you're into that kind of thing. You'll have to find it inside the enclosure attached to North Lime donuts and coffee!

There's a lot to do once you're inside the establishment and parking is around back.“

“Great Place! Friendly people and terrific bartender!“

“Stopped in The Jockey last night and had a great experience. Drinks prices weren't inflated because of the location. Right in the middle of downtown. Bartender was super friendly and attentive. Got a pizza from Rise Up Pizza kitchen (a separate entity apparently) and it was amazing! Will definitely return asap. I'm a Lexington native and will definitely be a new "regular" Highly recommend“

“Cozy bar inside the Sire Hotel, Lexington, with excellent concoctions by hospitable bartender Natalie, who crafted top-notch drinks for us like Race Thyme and Buck Bramble (check out their menu online). Natalie also mixed a mean sangria. She's a gem. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at this spot.“

“May try it out again but it was mediocre. The service and quickness was great. Husband got steak and chicken street tacos, BLAND. No flavor especially the shredded chicken. Bean soup was good. I got steak fajitas which steak was pretty good so my dish had flavor. Guac was great too. What was VERY disappointing was I got DENIED by my request of corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas with my meal. NEVER have I been to a Mexican restaurant and been (literally) told NO. Server was great but To make the experience REALLY AWKWARD was the fact that instead of getting your bill your server stands there waiting for you to pay them and if paying in cash they’ll stand there and NOT give you your change back. I was waiting for my change (so I could manage out her tip) and she just stood there so I got out more cash for her tip then decides to walk away. Very uncomfortable so you may want to change your checking out routine.“

“Great Food and Friendly Service“

“My mom and her fiancé drove in from Gulf Shores, AL to attend my son’s (her grandson’s) college graduation from UK. I was able to book them 2 night at the Clarion for the event. After Saturday’s commencement, we wanted to celebrate. My mom and her fiancé were so impressed with Sedona Taphouse from the previous evening, that they treated us to an early dinner along with some drinks there. It was amazing from the appetizers to the drinks to the entrees. Our server was a delight, but we also had the pleasure of meeting the GM, Ben as he came over to not only check on us, but to shake my son’s hand and personally congratulate him on his achievement. He really made a big deal about his accomplishment and even went as far to pay for his meal, drinks and dessert. So unexpected! Ben went above & beyond and that food and atmosphere was outstanding. We frequent Lexington often, I’ve found my new spot for lunch or dinner. Thank you Ben!! We can’t thank you enough for making Mason’s special day even more memorable.“

“All the staff are Great, Wonderful, Attentive, Professional. I am really impressed by their 'work ethics'. We love coming over there to watch the games.“

“visited your place on my way north. friendly people and a great atmosphere. live music at 7 was a treat.“

“The steak, potatoes and broccoli were AMAZING! Compliments to chef Rena!! The bartender/server Tyler was really great too. Overall an awesome experience! Very happy I decided to come here for dinner.“

“So I travel a lot I’m in airports everyday. Most of time it’s either over saturated expensive fast food served with a side of horrible attitude but today in Lex I discovered Sir Vera’s kitchen and their Tamales!!!!! Taking the recommendation from Dean and going with Chicken Verde Tamales was one of the best things I did today. Tamales were delicious, service was friendly energetic and spot on. All at a very reasonable price not overly inflated like all other airports. Thanks again Dean 5 stars“

“One of our team members says "Bronte Bistro is a great spot for bunch, lunch or dinner. Cozy and Quaint. We love everything we have had there!"“

“great service. friendly staff“