I’m excited to share all the fun things to do in Lexington, Kentucky, recommended by Reagan from Food is my Thang. As you might guess, Reagan is a foodie and did a great job of mentioning several restaurants to try! I asked her several other things about Lexington, too, so let’s dig in!
Tell us a little about yourself and your blog.
My name is Reagan, and I run the blog Food is my Thang! I blog about the local food scene in Kentucky, ranging from city restaurants to small country dives. I also share recipes I’ve made and food lifestyles that I have tried out.
How long have you lived in Lexington?
I lived in Lexington in 2018, and I still visit the city every couple of weeks to see my friends and family. I can offer you the perspective of both a visitor and a local!
What do you like best about living there?
I love that it is a medium sized city! It’s not an intimidating place to drive, and it’s set up in a way that if you get lost, you’ll easily find your way if you know a few specific roads. Even though it isn’t huge, Lexington has a lot of great restaurants and things to do! I also like that at any place in the city, it would only take at most a 30-minute drive away to find rural areas full of rolling hills of horse farms and hiking trails.
What part of town would you recommend people stay in? Any certain hotels?
I’ve never had to stay at a hotel in Lexington, but this article does a good job of separating the best hotels by location and budget.
What are your favorite restaurants in Lexington?
There are so many to choose from! Here are some categories with my personal favorites:
Barbecue: Blue Door Smokehouse
Thai: Thai Street Food Kitchen, Archa Nine Thai Kitchen
Pizza: Brooklyn Style Pizza, Goodfella’s Pizzeria, Pies & Pints
Ice Cream: Crank and Boom, Sorella Gelato, Sav’s Chill
Mexican: El Charro Authentic Mexican Cuisine, Chuy’s
Donuts: North Lime Coffee and Donuts
Brunch: Josie’s, Doodles Breakfast & Lunch
Lunch: Dad’s Favorites Deli, The Mouse Trap, Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen
Indian: Masala Indian Cuisine, Taste of India
Greek: Athenian Grill
Mediterranean: Sahara Mediterranean Cuisine
Diners: Lexington Diner, Ramsey’s Diner
Cajun: Bourbon n’ Toulouse
Cuban: Old San Juan Cuban Cuisine, IP&J Cuban Food
Italian: Bella Notte, Pasta Garage, Joe Bologna’s
Baked Goods: Martine’s Pastries, Missy’s Pie Shop, Bluegrass Baking Co.
Sushi: Buddha Lounge, Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Candy: Old Kentucky Chocolates (not a restaurant, but oh so good)
Where are your favorite outdoor spots in Lexington?
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, University of Kentucky Arboretum, Shillito Park, and Jacobson Park.
How about if the weather is bad – what indoor places do you enjoy?
Malibu Jacks Indoor Theme Park, Cinemark Fayette Mall, Southland Bowling, Marrikas Bier Stube (indoor volleyball, pool, air hockey, along with beer and food), any local coffee shop, Fayette Mall, and Champs Entertainment Complex.
If you had visitors coming to town, what’s the first place you would take them?
The Kentucky Horse Park or Keeneland Race Course. Lexington is known as the Horse Capital of the world, so visiting these places would be the logical first stops while in town. At Keeneland Race Course, you can grab a few bourbon drinks and bet on horse races, which are some of the most Kentuckian pastimes. There’s spring meet in April and Fall meet in October, and races are usually Thursday – Sunday.
What are your favorite spots to hangout or meet up with friends?
The local craft beer breweries are great places to hang out in a casual setting. Fusion Brewing, Pivot Brewing, and West Sixth are my personal favorites, but all of them are great!
What are your favorite shopping areas?
Hamburg Pavilion, Fayette Mall, The Summit at Fritz Farm, and Lexington Green.
Let’s say you want to take a day trip. Where do you go that’s nearby?
There are so many options! Here are a few examples:
Frankfort – You can tour the state capital and surrounding historical buildings; walk around downtown; see the Singing Bridge (it makes a unique humming sound when you drive over it); visit Buffalo Trace Distillery (they give free tours and a bourbon tasting); visit Castle and Key Distillery; buy chocolate at Rebecca Ruth Candy; grab a “Sig” at Sig Luscher and learn about the historical brewery.
Winchester – Take a tour of the famous Ale-8-One Bottling Company; visit the new craft brewery, Dreaming Creek; walk around historical downtown; check out the Beer Cheese Trail and learn about the history of this central Kentucky snack; hike Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve; have dinner at Hall’s on the River.
Versailles – Tour a horse farm; visit and eat at The Kentucky Castle; take a tour of Woodford Reserve Distillery; try a tasting at Castle Hill Winery; have coffee at the The Amsden; check out seasonal crops at Eckert’s Orchard; eat at Spotz Gelato.
Reagan shared so many great places and things to do both in and around Lexington! I’ve never been to Kentucky, but have always wanted to go, and it sounds like this may be the perfect area to explore!
