45 Best Cocktail Bars in Lexington

“First time trying Agave & Rye...wow! Everything we tried was fresh & exploding with flavor! So delicious! Cannot wait to go again!“

“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!!“

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

“Great place! I hope everyone visits!“

“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.“

“Best food, portions, price and service.“

“The folks working at Agave and Rye are super friendly and very helpful. The food was fantastic.“

“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.“

“Wonderful experience! We started with a perfectly crafted cosmopolitan. For an appetizer, we split the shrimp cocktail. It arrived with 4 extra large Shrimp, perfect amount to split. I had the steak frites. Only criticism, I wish they sliced the fillet. Otherwise, it was excellent. My friend ordered the meatball special which was outstanding. We finished off splitting the. Sundae. It was calorie worthy. Overall, You don’t want to miss this dining experience when you visit Lexington.“

“I had a group event and the space was very nice. Bartenders were very knowledgeable and we're able to make everything they had the supplies for. They did have signature drinks as well that were delicious! We had to reserve our space ahead of time of course but generally one wouldn't need to to get some drinks. 3 floors, main level, 2nd floor (where our event was), and rooftop! They are careful about their headcount inside though.“

“This place is absolutely beautiful and amazing vibes , I came today for my order of flowers for my mom’s birthday and I was so impressed 😍😍 the staff is very friendly and make you feel so welcome ! I can’t wait to come back and visit again (:“

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

“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....“

“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!!“

“The chicken and waffles were amazing.“

“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!“

“Excellent customer service
Excellent venue / atmosphere
Excellent cocktails
Excellent Crab Cakes

Paid $68 for a steak, for that price I expect a prime cut of beef. What I received was was less than select, the meat was very tough, this was a ribeye and should have tender and flavorful. There was no marbling in the steak. The first bite was nothing but grizzle.

Had the apple crisp for desert, that should never have been served.

Have always heard nothing but great things about this restaurant for a long time, this was my first visit, so I dont know what happened.“

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

“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!!“

“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!“

“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!!!!!“

“Food is always amazing with excellent service.“

“Open air establishment when the weather is nice and it was while visiting. The way the bar is decorated with plants and modern furniture creates a cool atmosphere. Drinks are well prepared and tasty. Service is great by Colin and Travis. Welcoming place and later on the evening a place for young people.“

“Great Place! Friendly people and terrific bartender!“

“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!!“

“Oh my goodness... where do I begin? Beautiful restaurant front, quiet atmosphere. It was amazing. Delicious food! Crisp and refreshing cidars and absolutely loved Greta! Co-founder and an absolute gem. Board games, good music, local eats, superb service, and you can taste the awards in the drinks! 15/10 WILL BE BACK!“

“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“

“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 🔥“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 service and great good. We had the seared Salmon and I had the Apple Blue Cheese salad with Poppyseed dressing…always delicious 😋“

“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.“

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

“I must leave a review for this establishment. I last minute decided to stop here while waiting to board my flight and the service I received from both Dan & Grant made me feel so much better than I did when I walked in. They were very attentive and never hesitated to be sure I was accommodated in the best way possible. I genuinely felt like this was a 5 star experience. They were personable and professional. They guided me through the menu as needed, offering great recommendations. I observed their interactions with the others guest and it was equally as excellent. For me service goes a LONG way. You never know what people are carrying when they take a second to dine in, or simply have a drink at a bar. A smile and great service makes all the difference. I will always come back here.“

“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“