Lexington (Kentucky)

History

Founded in 1775, 17 years before Kentucky became a state, the fledgling campsite was named Lexington when settlers received news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord which had opened the Revolutionary War just a few months prior. (Many people today assume it to be the other way around, since Lexington, Kentucky, is much larger and more well-known than the eponymous Lexington, Massachusetts.)

Climate

Film and literature

Tourist information

• Lexington Visitors Center

  phone: +1 859 266-8581
  address: 401 W Main St, suite 104

By plane

• Blue Grass Airport

  phone: +1 859 425-3114
  address: 4000 Terminal Drive
  A medium sized regional airport which has service from Allegiant, American, Delta, and United, with daily non-stop service to more than a dozen cities. It deposits passengers directly adjacent to Keeneland Race Course and just a few miles from downtown. There is express bus service by Lextran, once per hour 6AM-6PM. All major brands of car rental agencies have service here, and taxis and hotel shuttles are plentiful. International facilities including customs are available, but no carriers operate scheduled international flights; most passengers will go through customs in a connecting airport.
• Louisville (Standiford Field SDF) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG) are larger airports, each about 1.5 hours drive from Lexington.

By train

The nearest passenger train service is Amtrak's Cardinal, with stations in Maysville, and in Cincinnati, Ohio (both about 1.5 hours drive); however, there is only service every other day and both trains arrive and depart at night.

By car

Travellers usually access Lexington via one of the two major interstates that arc around the northern and eastern borders of the city. I-64 runs from east to west, connecting Lexington with the largest city in Kentucky, Louisville, to the west. I-75 runs north-south, connecting Lexington with Cincinnati and Knoxville respectively. Neither interstate penetrates into the city. For access to the far side of the city, use New Circle Road (State Route 4), a loop road of which 3/4 is highway-grade, or during non-peak hours you can just take an arterial road through downtown.
The Lexington area is also served by the Martha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway, starting near Versailles and ending at I-65 in Elizabethtown, and the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway, which starts just east of Lexington and provides access to the Appalachian region.

By bus

The Greyhound station is on New Circle Road on the north side of town, ten minutes from downtown.

Lexington is a relatively spread out city, though not large. Unless you are mainly visiting the downtown and/or the University campus (which are within walking distance of each other), you will find that getting around by car is the most convenient method.
Downtown, Main Street divides cross-streets North and South, and Limestone marks East versus West. Addresses downtown usually specify a cardinal direction, which provides a clue to what area of the city it's in.

By bus

Bus service is provided by Lextran, which provides service from the downtown Transit Center to many parts of town and the airport. Most mainlines run every 35 minutes during business hours; others run every 35 minutes only during rush hours, every 60 minutes all other times. The newest overhaul of routes and schedules has increased on-time performance of most routes. Buses run M-F 5AM-midnight, Sa 7AM-midnight, Su 7AM-9PM. Fare costs $1. If you need to transfer between routes transfers are free and can be attained when paying fare, transfers are good for an hour and a half but cannot be used for round trips on the same route. Buses can be tracked in realtime on Lextran's MyStop website or from Google Maps.

Downtown

Downtown Lexington is compact and easily navigated by foot or bicycle, but the most typical way to get around is by car. Cars can be rented at the airport or at several locations in the city. Taxis should be called in advance as they are not easily hailed on the street. There is a taxi stand in front of the airport. From 6PM to 6AM a taxi stand operates at the corner of Main and Upper Streets, next to the old courthouse.

By car

Lexington's roads form a wheel-and-spokes pattern. Arterial roads radiate from downtown, and New Circle Road (KY-4, sometimes called "Circle 4") forms a circle around the inner city. New Circle Road, an early experiment in urban circumferential expressways, was first built before current zoning rules, so that about 1/4 of it is developed with commercial usage, while the rest is 55-mph freeway with on/off ramps. The radial roads are mostly named after the neighboring towns they lead to (e.g. Nicholasville, Richmond, Winchester, etc.), although as you approach downtown they take on a different name (e.g. Limestone, Main, etc.). Directions in Lexington will frequently start with "Take New Circle to ____ Road (one of the arterials), then turn north/south...."
Man o' War Boulevard forms a half-circle further outside from New Circle Road; however its lower speed limit and abundance of traffic lights make it less ideal for circling the city.
Like any city, Lexington's traffic can be challenging during rush hours. Nicholasville Road has reversible lanes to help the flow. Be careful and aware of the lights as they change throughout the day to accommodate traffic and rush hour. A green arrow indicates appropriate lanes for driving; white turn only arrows indicate a center turning lane; a red X indicates lanes in use by oncoming traffic. If possible, try to avoid traveling north on Nicholasville Road during the evening rush hour, as most lanes switch to southbound traffic to allow people to exit downtown. Be aware of driving near the University of Kentucky on basketball or football days. Downtown can be quite congested when UK plays at Rupp Arena, and Tates Creek Road and Nicholasville Road both move very slowly when UK plays at Kroger Field.
Most of the major arterial streets have multiple names, especially as you approach downtown (Nicholasville Road becomes Limestone; Harrodsburg Road becomes Broadway; etc.). This is also true of many smaller city streets (Winslow Avenue becomes Avenue of Champions, which becomes Euclid Avenue, which becomes Fontaine Road). When you ask for directions, many locals may not know exactly what the street is called where you're going, just remember that the same road may be called any of those at your destination.
Almost all of the arterials, and many smaller roads, are also numbered U.S. Highways or Kentucky State Roads, but no one refers to them by number. The sole exception is New Circle Road, which is KY-4 and sometimes called "Circle 4", but more often called "New Circle".

• Ashland

  phone: +1 859 266-8581
  address: 120 Sycamore Rd
  Home of the famous Kentucky Senator Henry Clay, set near downtown Lexington. Beautiful park surrounding the home accessible even if you do not wish to take a tour.

• Boone Station

  phone: +1 859 263-1073
  address: 240 Gentry Rd
  Boone Station State Historic Site is on 46 beautiful acres in Fayette County. Daniel Boone (1734-1820), known for his role in the exploring and settling of the Kentucky frontier, decided that the settlement of Boonesborough had become far too crowded. In December 1779, Boone and his family established Boone's Station. The park features a 1-mile trail and a grave site where several members of the Boone family are buried.

• Hunt-Morgan House

  phone: +1 859 233-0362
  address: 201 N Mill St
  Built by the first millionaire west of the Alleghenies, John Hunt-Morgan, the house showcases early Kentucky furniture, 19th century paintings, and antique porcelain. The Alexander T. Hunt museum featuring Civil War memorabilia is located on the second floor. The house was built in 1814 when Lexington was known as the "Athens of the West."

• The Kentucky Theatre

  phone: +1 859 231-7924
  address: 214 E Main St
  A historic two-screen cinema with restored architecture and beautiful interior murals located downtown on Main Street. Its schedule tends to emphasize foreign, independent, and art films, plus occasional concerts and panel discussions at the premiers of controversial films. During the Summer Classics Series every Wednesday night a classic film is shown. The theatre has an offbeat side as well, and raucous midnight showings of movies like The Rocky Horror Picture Show draw crowds of nearby University students, adults, and teens every weekend.

• Lexington Public Library

  phone: +1 859 233-0362
  address: 140 E Main St
  The Central Library is worth a quick look for its art installations. Rose-colored granite covers the facade, and the airy atrium houses a 5-story-tall Foucault pendulum, which tells time using the rotation of the Earth. In front, Phoenix Park offers some nice greenery and fountains, and a small statue of a Bedouin on a camel marks the "zero milestone", the point from which all distances to Lexington are measured. However, the view is hampered somewhat by construction across the street, which has recently restarted after almost a decade in limbo.

• Mary Todd Lincoln House

  phone: +1 859 233-9999
  address: 578 W Main St
  The two-story girlhood home of Abraham Lincoln's wife, and the nation's first shrine to a First Lady. The 14-room house contains period furniture, furnishings from the Todds and Lincolns, and family portraits.

• Triangle Park

  address: 400 W Main St
  Enjoy slipping off your shoes or sandals in the summertime and wandering in the step-like fountains that ring the backbone of this park. Get plenty of pictures of the illuminated fountains against the Lexington Convention Center. Events throughout the year include summer movies on alternate Friday nights, a winter ice skating rink, and occasional concerts. Cross the street and talk to the concierge at the Hilton Hotel to book a horse-drawn carriage tour of downtown.

• Waveland State Historic Site

  phone: +1 859 272-3611
  address: 225 Waveland Museum Ln
  Built in 1848 by Joseph Bryan, a grand-nephew of Daniel Boone, the Greek revival home preserves 19th century plantation life in Kentucky with acres of hemp and grain. The smokehouse, icehouse and slave quarters still stand as outbuildings.

Despite the relatively small size of this South-North straddling city, Lexington offers a surprisingly delightful palette of interesting activities. Whether you choose to explore some of the world-class and stunning horse farms ringing the city, hit up some of the surprisingly upscale shopping venues, take in a play at the Downtown Arts Center or the Lexington Opera House, tour the oldest university west of the Allegheny Mountains (Transylvania University), catch an insanely popular UK basketball game (Rupp Arena) or sample one of the myriad great restaurants that have sprung up all over town, you can be sure your experience here will not be a bland one.
For more things to do in the "Horse Capital of the World," see visitlex.com.
Local indie magazine ACE Weekly (published weekly) is full of write-ups and advertisements for local events; it is free and available throughout the city.

• Big Ass Fans

  phone: +1 859 233-1271
  address: 2348 Innovation Dr
  Manufacturer of large industrial ceiling fans (up to in diameter) and a range of residential fans and lighting products. Founded as HVLS Fan Co., many customers called asking for the company that makes "those big-ass fans". The owner decided to change the name to Big Ass Fans, which stirred up a bit of controversy when he painted the company's name along with a giant donkey's rear end (named "Fanny") on the side of the building. Local residents protested at first, and the airport refused to accept advertising from the company. But eventually people warmed to the new name, and the airport now has a Big Ass Fan installed near the security checkpoint. You can tour their headquarters, R&D facility, and production facility.

Bourbon

Kentucky is the proud home of bourbon whiskey, and Lexington is an ideal home base for exploring the Kentucky bourbon trail. Four of the distilleries on the bourbon trails are in town:

• Barrel House Distilling

  phone: +1 859 259-0159
  address: 1200 Manchester St, Building 9
  A micro distillery, part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. Their history ties back to the James E. Pepper Distillery, the former owner of their building 50 years prior. Current products include a vodka, moonshine, rum, and bourbons.

• Bluegrass Distillers

  phone: +1 859 253-4490
  address: 510 W Sixth St #165

• James E. Pepper

  address: 1228 Manchester St, #100

• Town Branch Distillery

  phone: +1 859 255-2337
  address: 401 Cross St
  Touring Town Branch, you'll get a double-header of beer and whiskey. From its roots as an agricultural company started by yeast expert Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech began brewing beer with the intention of making slightly more than its employees could drink. Ten years later, they now produce 5 beers and 3 spirits and are Kentucky's largest brewery, working 24 hours a day to keep up with demand, 80% of which is for their signature Bourbon Barrel Ale.

Five others distilleries on the bourbon trail are with 20–25 miles, or about 30–45 minutes' drive, listed below under § Go next.

Festivals

• Woodland Art FairSee 200 juried artists offering every type of folk art and craft you can think of, including painting, woodworking, and stuffed animals. Enjoy live music and entertainment. Your children can work on their own crafts in the Kid Zone.

• Festival of the BluegrassAnyone wishing to experience all that Kentucky has to offer should make their way to this great outdoor music festival held every year at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park. Great live music from bluegrass legends to newgrass pickers, fun shopping, and great activities highlight this family friendly event

Horses

Lexington isn't called the "Horse Capital of the World" for nothing. The horse industry is Lexington's traditional and most famous trade, and many beautiful old farms are worth a look.

• Kentucky Horse Park

  address: 4089 Iron Works Pkwy
  The Park is basically a tourist-oriented horse farm and offers a museum, nice walks, views of famous racehorses, and lots of bluegrass (the plant, not the music). There are various horse shows throughout the day, as well as extra activities including horseback and pony rides. The Park is also the host of some very large horse events. Probably the most high profile annual event is the Rolex Kentucky Three Day, a major eventing competition which takes place every spring. The park also hosted the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. These horse trials are also used as Olympic selection trials so you can expect to see some world class horses and riders.
• There are many horse farms clustered north and west of Lexington. Several companies do daily van tours of private farms, either on guided or customized tours (get referrals from the Lexington Visitor's Bureau). Tour itineraries vary daily and seasonally, but a typical tour might include a stop at one or more farms where you can get close enough to touch some horses (if the conditions are right: no petting young horses that aren't calm enough, or ones that are being taken for training or other duties), a stop at Keeneland race track and/or the Kentucky Horse park, and a scenic drive past many other famous and ritzy farms like Calumet. You can also book your own visits directly. However, these are all working farms, so if you're visiting independently, call in advance to check availability and make arrangements.

• Blue Grass Tours

  phone: +1 859 252-5744

• Horse Farm Tours Inc.

  phone: +1 859 268-2906

• Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Farm Tours

  phone: +1 859 260-8687

• Unique Horse Farm Tours

Keeneland Race Course

phone: +1 859 254-3412

address: 4201 Versailles Rd

Enjoy horse racing in a "days-gone-by" setting. Recent movies Seabiscuit (2003), Dreamer (2005) and Secretariat (2010) have been filmed at Keeneland, which prides itself on maintaining racing traditions in a facility that has changed little over the decades: for example, it didn't install public address speakers until 1997. Keeneland hosts live thoroughbred races only twice a year, with the Spring meet in April and Fall meet in October, but they welcome visitors year round (you can use online or print maps to explore the grounds for free, or book a tour). During races you can choose your level of comfort near the track (general admission, grandstands, or nicer indoor rooms), or tailgate in the free parking lot while watching races on a jumbo TV and wagering. The feature race of the Spring meet is the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. When its live races are not in session, entry is free; you can explore the stadium and walk right up to the race track, watch other races broadcast from around the world, or attend events like the yearling horse sales, where many young stallions command price tags in the millions. Buyers include local horse farms and bidders from Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.

• The Keeneland Library

  phone: +1 859 254-3412
  A reference library full of books, photo negatives, and newspaper articles about the Thoroughbred horse and horse racing. There's a small museum area at the front as well as various art inside the library.

The Red Mile

phone: +1 859 255-0752

address: 1200 Red Mile Rd

The Red Mile hosts harness racing, where horses pull a two-wheeled cart. The one-mile track is made of red clay, whence the name.

Outdoors

• Legacy Trail

  phone: +1 859 425-2255
  When ultimately completed, this walking and biking trail will extend 12 miles from the east end of downtown to the Kentucky Horse Park. The majority of the trail is complete and begins at the North Lexington YMCA (381 West Loudon Ave). Other trail heads are located at Coldstream Park off of McGrathiana Ave, and the North trail head on Old Ironworks Pike across from the campground at the Kentucky Horse Park.

• Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

  phone: +1 859 272-6105
  address: 3990 Raven Run Way
  A 734-acre park along the Kentucky River Palisades in Fayette County. Great wildflower viewing in the spring.

• The Arboretum

  phone: +1 859 257-6955
  address: 500 Alumni Dr
  A 100-acre botanical garden located next to the University of Kentucky. This park is jointly owned by the city and university. Two miles of walking paths meander through representations of different areas of the state.

University of Kentucky sports

The UK Wildcats are immensely popular throughout the state (with the partial exception of the immediate Louisville area, where loyalties are divided between UK and its rival University of Louisville) and even more so in Lexington itself. Even if you're not a sports fan, you'll know when it's gameday as the entire town will be dressed to support Big Blue.

• UK basketball

  address: Rupp Arena, 430 W Vine St
  The Kentucky men's basketball team, one of the most storied programs in all of college sports, boasts eight NCAA championships (most recently in 2012), an undefeated regular season in 2014-15, and leads the NCAA with more than 2,000 all time wins. The team coach (John Calipari since 2009) inevitably enjoys celebrity status around town.

• UK football

  address: Kroger Field, 1540 University Dr
  The football program has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years, although it continues to struggle to establish itself in arguably the country's most competitive football conference. Nonetheless, the team frequently sells out the on-campus Kroger Field (recently renamed from Commonwealth Stadium), at least for SEC home games and the major rivalry game with University of Louisville (hosted by UK in odd-numbered years).

Keep an eye out for merchandise marked "Kentucky Proud", which marks it as a participant in Kentucky's buy-local initiative.

• Liquor BarnThe supermarket-sized stores of this local chain make it a good stop for travellers, with gourmet bakery, cheese, and deli items, and a large case of Kentucky Proud foods. Of course, the many aisles of liquor, wine, and beer are also great if you want to take home a special bottle of bourbon or some hard-to-find beers.

There are several major shopping areas in Lexington.

• Nicholasville Road, particularly between Man o' War Boulevard and New Circle Road, is a major center for shopping, with several malls and many smaller stores.

• Fayette MallThe largest mall in the state, anchored by Macy's, JCPenney, Dillard's, H&M, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

• Adjacent Lexington Green strip mall features

  Joseph-Beth Booksellers

  phone: +1 859 273-2911
  address: 161 Lexington Green Cir #B
  An independent bookstore with an impressive selection of books in their cavernous, sunlit interior. Authors on book-signing tours are practically guaranteed to stop at Jo-Beth, and they often have extra copies of recently signed books available.

• Artique

  phone: +1 859 272-8802
  address: 161 Lexington Green Cir #B24
  Award-winning craft art pieces from artists across America. Whether fashionable or functional, thousands of unique creations of wood, glass, metal, jewelry, and more are waiting for you to discover them.

Hamburg PavilionHamburg is a "power center", an open-air, auto-oriented shopping district with several "big box" anchor stores and many smaller shops like Victoria's Secret and the Black Market. An accompanying residential area sprang up with the shopping complex just at the turn of the millennium. The area continues growing daily; expect plenty of traffic.

The SquareA block of renovated Victorian buildings that was re-purposed as an entertainment area. Located in the heart of downtown, it is connected to the adjacent hotels and business complexes by raised pedways. Containing primarily upscale clothing, jewelry, and art boutiques, it is worth a visit as much for the interior design as the shopping opportunities. It also houses the Lexington Visitors Center.

• The Square also connects via pedway to the Lexington Shops in the belly of the Lexington Convention Center, with the Kentucky Proud Market, a UK Memorabilia store, and more.

Maxwell/High is streets bordered on the west and north by Maxwell and High streets respectively, containing a myriad of small, primarily youth-oriented independent boutiques as well as several restaurants. Small boutiques includes the Black Market Boutique, Helen's Boutique, Lucia's, Calypso, Mod Boutique, John's Walk Run Shop, and ILO.

South Lime/Campus Area The bordering downtown campus area features many locally owned restaurants and small locally owned stores. Stop by CD Central for used CDs, new albums, DVDs, wall sized posters, T-shirts from major and local artists, and more. Sqecial Media features many unique gifts from magazines, eclectic books, jewelry, candles, incense, trinkets, and journals. ReBelle is a one of a kind shop featuring all kinds of yarn, locally made clothes, and jewelry.

Lexington is home to an astonishing number of independently owned restaurants at all price levels. The city's college town atmosphere and affluent lifestyle contribute to this relatively small metropolitan area's great culinary offerings. Chain restaurants, typical in most American cities and towns, can be found here, as well as a great number of privately owned and operated establishments.
Kentucky cuisine to look for includes the Hot Brown, an open-faced sandwich of turkey, bacon, and cheese sauce; burgoo, a traditional game stew with as many variations as there are people who make it; beer cheese, a spicy spread of cheddar cheese and beer; and bourbon balls, a sort of chocolate and bourbon truffle with pecans.
Note that smoking is banned in restaurants, bars, and many public buildings in Lexington.

Budget

Downtown

• Third Street Stuff & Coffee

  phone: +1 859 255-5301
  address: 257 N Limestone
  This coffee shop also serves up unique sandwiches. It's a hip cool hang out with an artistic vibe and store inside.

• Bourbon n' Toulouse

  phone: +1 859 335-0300
  address: 829 E Euclid Ave
  This popular eatery brings a bit of New Orleans to the Bluegrass. The way Bn'T works is quick and painless: pick what you want from the day's selections listed on the chalkboard menu, then order and pay at the register. Not sure what you want? Just ask them for some samples. Standards include Cajun and Creole classics like étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya, as well as barbecue sandwiches and a few unique creations. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.

• Charlie Brown's

  phone: +1 859 269-5701
  address: 816 E Euclid Ave
  Hip sandwich restaurant where patrons lounge in sofas and armchairs while chatting in the permanently low lighting. Bookshelves line all four walls and are crammed with old hardbacks; patrons may take any book they please as long as they replace it with another.

• Gumbo Ya Ya

  phone: +1 859 252-9292
  address: 1080 S Broadway
  Cajun like no other. Menu changes every week, but standards like White Chile, Gumbo, Jambalaya are usually on, as well as a couple of their good vegetarian or vegan options. If you are lucky, you can end up there on a day they are dishing up Pazole Stew or Jambalaya Ya Ya. And their famous Yatwich is something to surprise you: sort of a turkey-based sloppy joe with a lemony kick.

• Le Matin French Bakery

  phone: +1 859 269-1511
  address: 890 E High St
  A quaint little bakery that serves up fresh bread, and other items such as lunches, desserts, and more.

• Tolly-Ho

  phone: +1 859 253-2007
  address: 606 S Broadway
  A typical college town "greasy spoon" restaurant, "The Ho," as it is called by students, serves classic items like hamburgers (from smallest to largest, the Tolly-Ho, Super Ho, and Mega Ho); shakes; Epic Fries with chili, bacon, jalapeños, and cheese; and the ever-popular cheddar tots. It gets extremely crowded when the bars close around 2:30AM and the line stretches out into the front parking lot.

Around town

• Brontë, A Novel Bistro

  phone: +1 859 273-2911
  address: 161 Lexington Green Cir #B
  This café is an excellent spot for breakfast or lunch, with a monthly menu of salads, sandwiches, and other entrées inspired by novels or cookbooks available in the bookstore.

• Mousetrap

  phone: +1 859 269-2958
  address: 3323 Tates Creek Rd
  Serves up sandwiches, soups, and other delectable items available behind a huge glass display case. Always made right in front of you. When you're finished dining you can revel in the shopping part of the store that includes cookware, chocolates, homemade bread, and more.

• Parkette Drive In

  phone: +1 859 254-8723
  address: 1230 E New Circle Rd
  Built in the 1950s and recently restored to its original condition, this Lexington establishment offers delicious burgers, hot dogs, and fried chicken.

Mid-range

Downtown

• Alfalfa

  phone: +1 859 253-0014
  address: 141 E Main St
  The best meat/vegetarian combination to eat in downtown Lexington. The menu will satisfy both vegetarians and carnivores alike with innovative and eclectic homemade foods. Try their delicious Red Beans & Rice or an Avocado Grill Sandwich.

• Columbia's Steak House

  phone: +1 859 253-3135
  address: 201 N Limestone
  A long time favorite in Lexington. With several locations, the original one downtown is the place to be. Back in the restaurant's heyday, professionals and students would line the block waiting for a table. Columbia's is famous for their "Nighthawk" special, which includes an 8-ounce tenderloin smothered in garlic butter, generous baked potato, a Diego salad, and homemade rolls with honey butter.

• Joe Bologna

  phone: +1 859 252-4933
  address: 120 W Maxwell St
  A moderately-priced Italian located inside an old building that has been home to a church and a synagogue, complete with stained-glass windows and raised pulpit (now a small bar). The square pizza at Joe B's is a tradition. Also, the bread stick is awesome—basically an over-sized breadstick accompanied by melted garlic butter.

• Oasis

  phone: +1 859 269-6440
  address: 837 Chevy Chase Pl
  One of the best Middle Eastern places in town! Their Chicken Shwarma is served in a generous portion (that is great for leftovers) that is accompanied by your choice of salad. The hummus and pita is excellent as well. The lunch buffet is expansive with many dishes to choose from sure to satisfy anyone. Worth the trip!

• Shakespeare & Co

  phone: +1 859 367-0411
  address: 367 West Short St
  A unique, Victorian themed restaurant known for its enormous menu and delicious cocktails. Serves a variety of continental, Mediterranean, and Italian dishes.

Around town

• Bella Notte

  phone: +1 859 245-1789
  address: 3715 Nicholasville Rd
  This local Italian restaurant is inspired by trattoria, gathering places for family and friends. The dimly-lit interior features stone floors and greenery throughout the rooms.

• Columbia's Steak House

  phone: +1 859 268-1666
  address: 2750 Richmond Rd

• El Toro

  phone: +1 859 277-2255
  address: 1917 Nicholasville Rd
  A classic Mexicana restaurant with all your favorite dishes that serves up delicious food in which seems like mere minutes after you order. A friendly staff and quick service make this a enjoyable trip.

• Ramsey'sThis "meat and three" is a favorite for Southern cuisine, and is frequently filled to capacity. All ingredients are obtained from local farmers. Breakfast is available all day every day.

• Ramsey's

  phone: +1 859 271-2638
  address: 4053 Tates Creek Center

• Ramsey's

  phone: +1 859 264-9396
  address: 3090 Helmsdale Dr

• Ramsey's

  phone: +1 859 219-1626
  address: 4391 Harrodsburg Rd

• phone: +1 859 259-2708
  address: 151 Zandale Dr

The Chop House

phone: +1 859 268-9555

address: 2640 Richmond Rd

Great steaks and chops in a warm, friendly environment.

Splurge

*

Downtown

• Dudley's on Short

  phone: +1 859 252-1010
  address: 259 W Short St, Suite 125
  An old mansion that has been converted into a posh commercial complex. Dudley's occupies several rooms and serves American fare.

• Le Deauville

  phone: +1 859 246-0999
  address: 199 N Limestone
  Lexington's downtown French bistro is a convivial place, given to conversation and good food. It shares a name with the city's stylish sister town in Normandy, and it's become quite a culinary destination for folks in the area.

• Portofino

  phone: +1 859 253-9300
  address: 249 E Main St
  Italian cuisine with a California accent. Try one of the fabulous pasta dishes in this renovated warehouse that also features local artwork and great atmosphere.

• Tomo

  address: 848 E High St
  A Traditional Japanese menu in a sleek modern atmosphere. Excellent dishes include tempura, hibachi chicken and steak. Of course best known for their sushi rolls. Voted a top sushi restaurant by several publications over the past several years.

Around town

• Asuka Japanese Grill & Sushi

  phone: +1 859 543-0010
  address: 360 E Brannon Rd, Nicholasville, KY 40356
  Chefs entertain at this sizable, modern Japanese steakhouse featuring hibachi fare & sushi rolls.

• Hall's on the River

  address: 1225 Athens-Boonesboro Rd, Winchester, KY 40391
  This classic southern seafood restaurant may be a bit far from town, but the scenic drive down KY-418 and location on the Kentucky River make it worthwhile. Try their famous beer cheese for an appetizer, and enjoy their excellent seafood selection, or play it safe with the very large "Kentucke River" Hot Brown.

• The Kentucky Castle

  phone: +1 859 256-0322
  address: 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383
  Everyone in Lexington knows about the extravagant (and most would say, eccentric) castle on Versailles Rd. Built by a newlywed couple in 1969, they soon divorced and the castle sat empty and unsold for decades. Finally, new owners and zoning changes allowed the castle to open in 2008 as an upscale bed-and-breakfast, and now as a farm-to-table restaurant, allowing the public their first real chance to see inside the castle walls. They also offer a guided tour of the ornately-decorated first floor and the grounds inside the castle wall, followed by a buffet.

• Malone'sA local steakhouse chain that "imports" its USDA Prime Beef straight from Chicago. One of the most favored restaurants by Lexingtonians, and now planning to open a Louisville location in 2020. All locations also have a sports bar and sushi restaurant.

• Malone's

  phone: +1 859 335-6500
  address: 3347 Tates Creek Rd

• Malone's

  phone: +1 859 977-2620
  address: 3735 Palomar Centre Dr

• Malone's

  phone: +1 859 264-8023
  address: 1920 Pleasant Ridge Dr

The Merrick Inn

phone: +1 859 269-5417

address: 1074 Merrick Dr

Boasts a classy restaurant nestled within the ritzy gated community "Merrick Place".

Coffeeshops

Downtown

• Common Grounds Coffee House

  phone: +1 859 233-9761
  address: 343 E High St #4
  Housed in an historic brick building, this neighborhood coffee house attracts a wide mix of folks, from college students to professionals. The laid-back ambience is ideal for lounging and chatting. Hot and cold coffee drinks are featured, along with teas, hot chocolates, and sodas.

Around town

• Coffee Times Coffee House

  phone: +1 859 277-9140
  address: 2571 Regency Rd
  Excellent selection of whole-bean coffee and loose-leaf tea for sale or drinking on site.

Bars

If you're at all interested in bourbon, consider making a daytime trip to explore some of the nearby bourbon distilleries, listed in the Do and Go next sections.

Downtown

• Country Boy Brewing

  address: 436 Chair Ave
  Tasting room for one of Lexington's up and coming breweries. Their "Shotgun Wedding" brown ale is their most popular brew, but they always keep it interesting with other options.

• Chase Brewing Company

  address: 266 Jefferson St
  Located in the newly revitalized Jefferson St. corridor, this bar occupies on old gas station. In the warm months the large bay doors can be opened creating a unique indoor/outdoor space. A large selection of premium beers can be found on tap.

• Lynaugh's Irish Pub

  phone: +1 859 255-1292
  address: 384 Woodland Ave.
  An Irish pub located near the University of Kentucky campus. This pub draws a mix of UK students and local patrons. Lynaugh's has been a local institution for almost 30 years.

• McCarthy's Irish Bar

  phone: +1 859 258-2181
  address: 117 S. Upper St
  Seems to be the default bar for a wide range of people. Sprawled across three storefronts, it has a back patio, no cover charge, and a charismatic old doorman named Miami Steve who usually sports interesting headwear.

• Molly Brooke's Irish Bar

  phone: +1 859 420-5792
  address: 109 N Limestone
  An original Irish bar in downtown Lexington. Owned by some Irish people and the staff there are Irish too. The drink prices are good and the crowd is fun. They have a nice old patio outback and sidewalk tables too.

• Redmon's

  phone: +1 859 252-5802
  address: 269 W Main St Ste 900
  A snug country bar with live music every night of the week. Popular with the college crowd on Thursday nights.

• The Beer Trappe

  phone: +1 859 309-0911
  address: 811 Euclid Ave
  For beer hobbyists/enthusiasts. Offer hundreds of different beers from different microbreweries. The people who run it also give tasting classes there during some days of the week to teach about different kinds of beer (What's the difference between an IPA and an APA, for example? What does it mean if an IPA says "90-minutes" on it?). You won't find Budweiser here.

• Tin Roof

  address: 303 S Limestone
  A cross between a restaurant and bar with an emphasis on live music. Markets itself on a laid back atmosphere.

• Two Keys Tavern

  phone: +1 859 254-5000
  address: 333 S. Limestone
  Quintessential college bar, located straight across the street from UK's north campus and packed with fraternity/sorority students during the school year. The drink selection is limited, but the atmosphere is pleasant. Popular on "Thirsty Thursdays," when the $10 cover gets you all you can drink.

Around town

• Marikka's Restaurant und Bier Stube

  phone: +1 859 275-1925
  address: 411 Southland Dr
  With 30 beers on draught and hundreds more in bottles, this is a place to go for beer lovers. If beer is not your thing, they have an equally-hearty selection of hard liquor, including a dozen bourbons you probably haven't heard of.

• Saddle Ridge

  address: 1030 S Broadway # 1
  Opened in 2006. Not near the traditional downtown cluster of bars, it features a spacious design, mechanical bull, and crowd-pleasing country/hip-hop music mix. Clientele is mostly twenty-somethings.

• Survivor's Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 859 272-8294
  address: 161 E. Reynolds Rd
  A well known local karaoke bar. This bar is small but attracts a diverse cross section of people looking to show off their skills on the large music selection.

Nightclubs

If you want to hit the dance floor, there are a few bars that are also nightclubs.

• The Bar Complex

  phone: +1 859 255-1551
  address: 224 E Main St
  The Bar is Lexington's largest and oldest gay club. Their dance floor and show room have an ongoing schedule of DJs and drag shows.

• Soundbar

  phone: +1 859 523-6338
  address: 208 S Limestone
  Live DJ and a dance floor. Focuses on an upscale and comfortable lounge atmosphere and caters to a mixed gay/straight crowd. Open all week but Friday and Saturday nights are when the dance floor gets bumping ($5 cover on the weekends). Try their Vegas Bomb, and grab a late night snack from the taco cart in the parking lot.

In Lexington, accommodation rooms are taxed at 13.4%. A complete list of hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts can be found at www.visitlex.com

• Kentucky Horse Park Campground

  address: 4089 Iron Works Pkwy
  Offers spacious sites with 50/30/20 amp electric and water. All sites are 55' paved back-ins with fire rings and picnic tables. Has many extras including a grocery, gift shop and two bathhouses with modern conveniences. Take advantage of our planned recreational activities or catch a game of tennis or basketball on lighted courts, cool off in the junior olympic–size swimming pool, try your hand at pitching horse shoes, croquet, or maybe square dancing in the recreation pavilion. Also has electric primitive and primitive available for those wishing for a more rustic stay. Planned activities are available on most weekends beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Camp has wireless Internet available; first 15 minutes free, various paid time blocks availalble with 24/7 support.

Budget

• Baymont Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 859 293-6113
  address: 2400 Buena Vista Rd

• Bluegrass Extended Stay

  phone: +1 859 269-4999
  address: 2753 Richmond Rd

• Days Inn Lexington

  phone: +1 859 299-1202
  address: 1987 N. Broadway

• Howard Johnson Inn

  phone: +1 859 293-2202
  address: 2241 Elkhorn Rd

• Microtel Inn Lexington

  phone: +1 859 299-9600
  address: 2240 Buena Vista Rd

• Motel 6 Lexington East

  phone: +1 859 293-1431
  address: 2260 Elkhorn Rd

• Ramada Limited

  phone: +1 859 294-7375
  address: 2261 Elkhorn Rd

• Red Roof Inn Lexington South

  phone: +1 859 277-9400
  address: 2651 Wilhite Dr

• Quality Inn Northwest

  phone: +1 859 233-0561
  address: 750 Newtown Ct

Mid-range

• Clarion Hotel Conference Center - South

  phone: +1 859 263-5241
  address: 5532 Athens Boonesboro Rd

• Clarion Hotel

  phone: +1 859 233-0512
  address: 1950 Newtown Pike
  This hotel has a huge atrium with indoor pool and arcade. A restaurant and sports bar are attached. The hotel features a Hertz rental kiosk.

• Comfort Suites

  phone: +1 859 296-4446
  address: 3060 Fieldstone Way

• Hilton Garden Inn

  phone: +1 859 543-8300
  address: 1973 Plaudit Pl

• Holiday Inn Express-Downtown/University

  phone: +1 859 389-6800
  address: 1000 Export St

• Holiday Inn Express-Lexington Northeast

  phone: +1 859 231-0656
  address: 1780 Sharkey Way
  Located just 2 miles from the center of Downtown and 2 miles from the Bluegrass Airport, this hotel built in June 2008 is perfect for both business and leisure travelers.

• Hyatt Place

  phone: +1 859 296-0091
  address: 2001 Bryant Rd

• Marriott SpringHill Suites

  phone: +1 859 225-1500
  address: 863 S. Broadway

• Ramada Conference Center

  phone: +1 859 299-1261
  address: 2143 N. Broadway

Splurge

• Gratz Park Inn

  phone: +1 859 559-4853
  address: 120 West Second St

• Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa

  phone: +1 859 231-5100
  address: 1800 Newtown Pike

• Hilton Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center

  phone: +1 859 231-9000
  address: 369 West Vine St

• Hyatt Regency Hotel

  phone: +1 859 253-1234
  address: 401 West High St
  Integrated into the Convention Center and Rupp Arena.

The area code for Lexington and most surrounding counties is 859 (which spells out "UKY", a testament to the popularity of UK basketball). Scott County (including the major suburb of Georgetown), immediately to the north, is in area code 502, but calls between Lexington and Georgetown are local. Outside the metro area, the area code is 606 to the east; 502 serves the state capital of Frankfort. The phone system may be able to correct you if you misuse the area code.

The Lexington Division of Police, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), was awarded "Flagship Status" in 2010 for the third consecutive assessment, becoming the first and only municipal police agency in the U.S. to be so honored. The Police department has several special patrol units, including bicycle, Segway, and a mounted patrol.
Lexington's crime rates rank favorably with other cities of its size.
The University of Kentucky campus is patrolled by the University of Kentucky Police Department and is generally quite safe. An initiative called "Cat's Path" is comprised of a series of recommended walking routes that span central campus. The routes were chosen due to their frequent use and accessibility to the main campus destinations. Marked with highly visible signage and paw print ground logos, the Cat's Path is patrolled frequently by University Police, both on foot and in special police golf carts.

Lexington's central location makes it the ideal base to explore the Bluegrass Region.

Activities

• An hour east of Lexington, the Red River Gorge, offers numerous opportunities for hiking and rock climbing. Natural Bridge State Park features some of the largest stone arches in the eastern United States. Both are located inside the Daniel Boone National Forest.
• Kings Island, in Mason north of Cincinnati, is an amusement park just under 2 hours from Lexington, famous for The Beast - the world's longest wooden roller coaster for 30+ years.

Bourbon

Bourbon distilleries are plentiful in the area, due to the particular geology of the region that make this distinctively Kentuckian liquor possible. Many distilleries operate tours where you can learn about the processes of mashing, distilling, and aging, and often sample the product. Five are within 30 miles of Lexington.

• Buffalo Trace

  address: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort

• Four Roses

  phone: +1 502 839-3436
  address: 1224 Bonds Mill Road, Lawrenceburg

• Hartfield & Co.

  phone: +1 859 559-3494
  address: 108 E 4th St, Paris, KY 40361
  The first distillery to operate in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 95 years, when Prohibition was enacted in Kentucky.

• Wild Turkey

  phone: +1 502 839-2182
  address: 1525 Tyrone Road, Lawrenceburg

• Woodford Reserve

  phone: +1 859 879-1812
  address: 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles

Small towns

• Bardstown, 60 miles from Lexington, is Kentucky's second oldest city.
• Berea, 37 miles south of the city, is a major center for folk arts & crafts. Old Town has many working artists studios, and the Kentucky Artisan Center, just off I-75, serves as a visitors' center and showcases the wares of many regional artisans.
• Danville, 35 miles southwest of Lexington, is the "City of Firsts", and the "Birthplace of the Bluegrass" since the first Constitutional Convention in the West was held at Constitution Square in 1792 and Kentucky's first Constitution was signed there.
• Frankfort, Kentucky's capital city, is 25 miles northwest of Lexington.
• Harrodsburg, 32 miles southwest of Lexington, is Kentucky's oldest city. Just outside it is Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, America's largest restored Shaker community, with 34 carefully restored buildings and 3,000 acres of preserved farmland.
• Midway is a quaint and colorful railroad town that's "midway" between Lexington and Frankfort; stop for a bite to eat and explore the antique and boutique shops downtown.

Big cities

• Louisville, 79 miles west, is Kentucky's largest city and is famous for—among other things—the Kentucky Derby and the Louisville Slugger Museum.
• Cincinnati, Ohio, is 82 miles to the north. As Kentucky was a slave state and Ohio was free, this route north was one of the more popular Underground Railroad lines leading to the freedom shores of southwestern Ontario just across Lake Erie.