Loving Lexington

Wesley
Loving Lexington

Food scene

Apollo Pizza has been a Kentucky staple since 1981. My family have co-owned it since 2012. We've been featured on Alton Brown's Road Eats twice. The Lexington location is adorned by a mural of Kentucky favorite and our favorite John Prine that was blessed by his wife. We have 16 taps of draft beer including local craft and a huge patio.
Apollo Pizza
1451 Leestown Road
Apollo Pizza has been a Kentucky staple since 1981. My family have co-owned it since 2012. We've been featured on Alton Brown's Road Eats twice. The Lexington location is adorned by a mural of Kentucky favorite and our favorite John Prine that was blessed by his wife. We have 16 taps of draft beer including local craft and a huge patio.
One of James Beard Award-nominated chef Ouita Michel's amazing restaurants located within walking distance in the historic old courthouse.
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Zim's Cafe
215 W Main St
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One of James Beard Award-nominated chef Ouita Michel's amazing restaurants located within walking distance in the historic old courthouse.
West African cuisine AND housemade ice cream. A Lexington icon.
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Sav's Grill & West African Cuisine
630 East Main Street
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West African cuisine AND housemade ice cream. A Lexington icon.
Sushi, hibachi, and other Asian favorites in a stylish, modern atmosphere within easy walking distance.
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Buddha Lounge
109 N Mill St
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Sushi, hibachi, and other Asian favorites in a stylish, modern atmosphere within easy walking distance.
Hip Hawaiian BBQ, burgers, fish sandwiches and more. The Hawaiian-style fries are a must try.
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Big Kahuna Hawaiian BBQ
904 Liberty Road
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Hip Hawaiian BBQ, burgers, fish sandwiches and more. The Hawaiian-style fries are a must try.
Downtown Lexington's most loved BBQ stop. Get there before they sell out.
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Blue Door Smokehouse
226 Walton Ave
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Downtown Lexington's most loved BBQ stop. Get there before they sell out.
Get a reservation because it's hard to get in to this higher-end hot spot.
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Carson's Food & Drink
362 E Main St
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Get a reservation because it's hard to get in to this higher-end hot spot.
Jeff Ruby's Lexington outpost brings Cincinnati's famed upscale steakhouse within a walk of all of Downtown Lexington.
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Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Lexington
101 W Vine St
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Jeff Ruby's Lexington outpost brings Cincinnati's famed upscale steakhouse within a walk of all of Downtown Lexington.
Located inside West Sixth Brewing, this is another Ouita Michel venture. Unfussy, unfancy seafood that'll make you lick your lips. Goes great with a pint of West Sixth beer.
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Smithtown Seafood
501 W 6th St
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Located inside West Sixth Brewing, this is another Ouita Michel venture. Unfussy, unfancy seafood that'll make you lick your lips. Goes great with a pint of West Sixth beer.
As old school as it comes. Just down the block. A Lexington staple for over 70 years. This steakhouse is a taste of Lexington history.
Columbia Steak House
201 N Limestone
As old school as it comes. Just down the block. A Lexington staple for over 70 years. This steakhouse is a taste of Lexington history.
Celebrity chef Ed Lee calls Indi's Kentucky's best fried chicken. Get it through the drive-thru.
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Indi's Fast Food Restaurant
670 N Broadway
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Celebrity chef Ed Lee calls Indi's Kentucky's best fried chicken. Get it through the drive-thru.
Fantastic breakfast just a block away.
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doodles breakfast and lunch
262 N Limestone
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Fantastic breakfast just a block away.
Outstanding breakfast and lunch and baked goods from a restaurant that emphasizes career development for second chance employees.
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DV8 Kitchen - East End
594 E Third St
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Outstanding breakfast and lunch and baked goods from a restaurant that emphasizes career development for second chance employees.
Another breakfast and lunch gem not far away.
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Minton's
760 N Limestone
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Another breakfast and lunch gem not far away.
Lexington is blessed with great local donut shops and this one might be the best. Not fancy, just tasty.
Frank's Donuts
549 E Third St
Lexington is blessed with great local donut shops and this one might be the best. Not fancy, just tasty.
Famous for their delicious dense donuts, Spalding's is a Lexington institution.
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Spalding's Bakery
760 Winchester Rd
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Famous for their delicious dense donuts, Spalding's is a Lexington institution.
Trendy new-style donut shop in Greyline Station.
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North Lime Coffee & Donuts
101 W Loudon Ave
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Trendy new-style donut shop in Greyline Station.
A great neighborhood coffee shop with tons of character.
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Third Street Stuff
257 N Limestone
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A great neighborhood coffee shop with tons of character.
Lexington's local home for tasty Cajun cuisine.
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Bourbon n' Toulouse
829 Euclid Ave
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Lexington's local home for tasty Cajun cuisine.
Quintessential local bar food.
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Sidebar Grill
147 N Limestone
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Quintessential local bar food.
The food is good. The setting is great. Seasonal outdoor dining in a garden.
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Kentucky Native Café
417 E Maxwell St
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The food is good. The setting is great. Seasonal outdoor dining in a garden.
24 hour campus adjacent greasy spoon is a favorite for folks who've spent a long night out. Lively atmosphere and not at all fancy. A UK staple for decades.
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Tolly-Ho
606 S Broadway
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24 hour campus adjacent greasy spoon is a favorite for folks who've spent a long night out. Lively atmosphere and not at all fancy. A UK staple for decades.
Popular up-scale Mexican just down the way.
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Corto Lima
101 W Short St
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Popular up-scale Mexican just down the way.
Local bakery and lunch and breakfast restaurant.
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Martine's Pastries
400 E Third St
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Local bakery and lunch and breakfast restaurant.
Classic local Lexington Bakery.
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Magee's Bakery
726 E Main St
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Classic local Lexington Bakery.
Local sushi shop that adheres closely to Japanese tradition.
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School Sushi
163 W Short St
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Local sushi shop that adheres closely to Japanese tradition.

Breweries

Friendly favorite brewery that has grown and grown since its founding over 10 years ago due to the exceptional beer they produce. This is the original taproom where it all started. The Kitchen restaurant is located on site and serves great bar food.
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Country Boy Brewing
436 Chair Ave
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Friendly favorite brewery that has grown and grown since its founding over 10 years ago due to the exceptional beer they produce. This is the original taproom where it all started. The Kitchen restaurant is located on site and serves great bar food.
Located in the old Rainbow Bread bakery, West Sixth brews some of the best beer in Kentucky.
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West Sixth Brewing
501 W 6th St
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Located in the old Rainbow Bread bakery, West Sixth brews some of the best beer in Kentucky.
Brews traditional European recipes as well as modern American styles.
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Blue Stallion Brewing Co.
610 W 3rd St
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Brews traditional European recipes as well as modern American styles.
Great atmosphere. Eclectic beer.
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Mirror Twin Brewing
725 National Ave
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Great atmosphere. Eclectic beer.
Downtown taproom of Manchester Street's Ethereal Brewing.
Ethereal Brewing Public House
102 West Vine Street
Downtown taproom of Manchester Street's Ethereal Brewing.
Another staple in Lexington's downtown brewery scene.
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Rock House Brewing
119 Luigart Ct
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Another staple in Lexington's downtown brewery scene.
Local cidery and brewhouse.
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Pivot Brewing
1400 Delaware Ave
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Local cidery and brewhouse.
Cidery in the Manchester Street Distillery District.
Wise Bird Cider Co.
1170 Manchester St
Cidery in the Manchester Street Distillery District.
Kentucky's first sake brewery.
The Void Sake Company
819 National Avenue
Kentucky's first sake brewery.
Local brewery located in the Manchester Street Distillery District.
Fusion Brewing
1170 Manchester St
Local brewery located in the Manchester Street Distillery District.

Literary landmarks

Home to writing classes and readings. Lexington's literary heartbeat.
Carnegie Center For Literacy
251 W 2nd St
Home to writing classes and readings. Lexington's literary heartbeat.
Huge independent bookstore with an attached restaurant: Bronte Bistro.
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Joseph-Beth Booksellers
161 Lexington Green Cir
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Huge independent bookstore with an attached restaurant: Bronte Bistro.
Stalwart antiquarian bookseller.
Black Market
516 E High St
Stalwart antiquarian bookseller.

Offbeat and awesome

THE local resale store specializing in vinyl records, record players, vintage clothing, retro gaming supplies, and much much more.
POPS Resale
1423 Leestown Rd
THE local resale store specializing in vinyl records, record players, vintage clothing, retro gaming supplies, and much much more.
Books, gifts, oddities. A local treasure.
sQecial Media
371 S Limestone
Books, gifts, oddities. A local treasure.
Still selling a wide selection of CDs as well as a large selection of vinyl.
CD Central
377 S Limestone
Still selling a wide selection of CDs as well as a large selection of vinyl.

See a show

Local arthouse theatre featuring movies and occasional concerts and events.
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Kentucky Theatre
214 E Main St
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Local arthouse theatre featuring movies and occasional concerts and events.
Historic venue for plays and concerts.
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Lexington Opera House
401 W Short St
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Historic venue for plays and concerts.
Concert venue with an Americana lean.
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The Burl
375 Thompson Rd
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Concert venue with an Americana lean.
Concert venue that runs the gamut.
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Manchester Music Hall
899 Manchester St
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Concert venue that runs the gamut.
UK Campus theater hosts concerts, plays, and events.
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Otis A. Singletary Center for the Arts
405 Rose St
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UK Campus theater hosts concerts, plays, and events.
Concerts, shows, and events in Downtown Lexington.
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Lyric Theatre
300 E Third St
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Concerts, shows, and events in Downtown Lexington.
Local roots music venue in Downtown.
Red Barn Radio
161 North Mill Street
Local roots music venue in Downtown.
Small and funky concert venue.
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The Green Lantern
497 W 3rd St
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Small and funky concert venue.

Distilleries

Artisanal Kentucky bourbon distillery in Downtown.
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Bluegrass Distillers
501 W 6th St
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Artisanal Kentucky bourbon distillery in Downtown.
Manchester street distillery.
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Barrel House Distilling Co
1200 Manchester St
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Manchester street distillery.
Manchester Street distillery.
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James E. Pepper Distillery
1228 Manchester St
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Manchester Street distillery.

The Horses

America's most picturesque thoroughbred track races in April and October of each year. Horses that run at Keeneland have run or go on to run in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, The Belmont, and Breeders' Cup--which Keeneland also hosts on occasion. Keeneland is roughly seven miles from our home and is a 10-15 minute drive depending on traffic.
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Keeneland Race Track station
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America's most picturesque thoroughbred track races in April and October of each year. Horses that run at Keeneland have run or go on to run in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, The Belmont, and Breeders' Cup--which Keeneland also hosts on occasion. Keeneland is roughly seven miles from our home and is a 10-15 minute drive depending on traffic.
The only park of its kind in the world, The Kentucky Horse Park is visited by over 1/2 million people each year. A working 1,200 acres horse farm, it's home to championship thoroughbreds, world-renowned competitions, horse shows, exhibits, horse and pony riding opportunities for young and old, four museums, concerts, rodeos, and more. It's located eight miles from our home and takes roughly 15 minutes by car.
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Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Pkwy
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The only park of its kind in the world, The Kentucky Horse Park is visited by over 1/2 million people each year. A working 1,200 acres horse farm, it's home to championship thoroughbreds, world-renowned competitions, horse shows, exhibits, horse and pony riding opportunities for young and old, four museums, concerts, rodeos, and more. It's located eight miles from our home and takes roughly 15 minutes by car.
Old Friends Farm is a retirement home for thoroughbred horses including some of the most well known racehorses in the world. Tours are available by reservation Thursday-Sunday. Located in Georgetown it 14 miles from our home and takes 15-20 minutes by car.
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Old Friends Farm
1841 Paynes Depot Rd
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Old Friends Farm is a retirement home for thoroughbred horses including some of the most well known racehorses in the world. Tours are available by reservation Thursday-Sunday. Located in Georgetown it 14 miles from our home and takes 15-20 minutes by car.
Red Mile Racetrack is the second oldest harness racing track in the world. It's home to the Kentucky Futurity, one of the three jewels in Trotting's Triple Crown. Red Mile also features simulcasting and Pari-mutuel Gaming terminals which are available even when the horses aren't running. It's located two miles from our home and takes 5-8 minutes by car.
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The Red Mile
1200 Red Mile Rd
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Red Mile Racetrack is the second oldest harness racing track in the world. It's home to the Kentucky Futurity, one of the three jewels in Trotting's Triple Crown. Red Mile also features simulcasting and Pari-mutuel Gaming terminals which are available even when the horses aren't running. It's located two miles from our home and takes 5-8 minutes by car.