The Most Scrumptious Cafes in Lexington

Weathered Oak Farms

★★★★★ 4.5 (31) • $

"Sourdough is the one bread I can eat due to a gluten intolerance. I am so excited about finding Weathered Oak Farm!A family-run business, Weathered Oaks Sourdough starts with a 100 year old starter. Yep, you heard me right! It was the owner's father started and he passed it down to his children. The sourdough bread has a wonderful sweetness to it that reminds me of Hawaiian bread. They also make the best chocolate chip cookies, Lee ate 3 of them the first night !The Cinnamon Rolls are soooooo good. I cannot believe I found this bakery so close!! They make breakfast and lunch sandwiches and sale pans of cinnamon rolls ready to cook! A wonderful choice of teas & coffees. Butterfly Lemonade is my favorite!!They have the cutest gifts & pottery!! Pottery by Bybee! I fell in love with mushroom earrings! They were so cute. Second time in a week, and it is kinda of near work, close enough I can get a breakfast sandwich before work!!"

Plain Folk Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (78) • $

"Very pleased! The menu was just big enough to offer a variety and small enough for them to be good at what they do! The beer selection was good and the food was really good. Great service! My only complaint was the live music is just too much for the size of the restaurant. We will definitely be back!"

Liberty Road Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (26) • $

"This is a basic deli type lunch spot. The food was fresh and the bread from Sunrise Bakery was excellent, and the perfect compliment to ripe and delicious lettuce and tomato with high quality deli meats and cheeses. I ate a half of an egg salad sandwich and it was wonderful. It was just like my grandmother used to make and she was quite a gourmet cook. I also had a half of a ham and Swiss. I was impressed with how much cheese they put on it. I was also surprised that there were no condiments on the sandwich and they didn't ask me when I ordered if I wanted mayo or mustard?? They had some little packets of mustard on a side table but no mayonnaise. I thought that their homemade potato chips were very good. I usually don't like them at other places because they usually taste burnt. These didn't. When I go back I am going to buy some of their spicy corn dip. It looks good but I didn't get a chance to try it."

Lago Linda Hideaway

★★★★★ 4.8 (16) • $

"Love the scenery, peace, and serenity fromCamping at this place. I rolled into the campsite super late and had no issues finding the campsite and setting up. They have shower and a nice shared kitchen pavilion.The offer coffee at the placeYou wanna camp here if you want to stay away from loud crowds and enjoy comfort of nature rather than drumsAnd too much noise. Lots of nature noise Affordable camping!"

Weiss Baking Company

★★★★★ 4.8 (39)

"We visited here for the first time (at the recommendation of a neighbor) on Saturday, 8/10/24, for an awesome brunch. It was not at all crowded when we arrived around 9:30AM.The dining room and restrooms were very nice "wedding reception hall" decor, but it felt more like a large dining room than a reception hall. Our server was friendly and very attentive.I had the Hangover Harry ($14, buttermilk biscuit, two fresh eggs, five cheese blend, sausage gravy, topped with crumbled goetta & a side of our house hot sauce). I had eggs over easy rather than scrambled, and there were either two biscuits or two halves of one very large biscuit. I like hot sauce but did not pour it on my dish since it detracted from all the other great flavors. Overall this dish was great and extremely filling.My wife had Stuffed French Toast ($9, two pieces of our french bread stuffed with vanilla bean mascarpone, served with pure maple syrup & whipped cream) and Haus Potato Casserole ($4, shredded potatoes, creamy five cheese sauce, baked in a crispy cornflake crust). The French Toast was probably the best I ever tasted (she gave me a couple bites). It was two large slices of French Toast with mascarpone in the middle and then cut in half like two halves of a sandwich. She said the potato casserole was good, but too much to eat given the generous potions of French toast.We also ordered a Brioche Cinnamon Roll ($7) with mascarpone icing to go. It was served warm and was good heated up briefly at home, but a bit too light on cinnamon.Our total bill before tip with two soft drinks ($3 each) came to $40 plus $2.70 tax - and it was well worth it.We'll definitely be back for brunch or dinner."

Cave City Coffee & Creamery

★★★★★ 4.8 (67)

"The coffee is very good. An otherwise bright spot in what is basically a food desert."

The Greene Beanery

★★★★☆ 4.2 (13) • $

"This place is right off of State Rt 41 and hard to miss. The atmosphere is quaint and unique. Staff is very warm and welcoming. It makes all the difference. This is deep, rural Ohio. As Indian Americans it was important to us to find a good, safe place (especially with current spate of violence against AAPI). This place made us feel very welcome. I docked one star because literally no one was wearing masks. They do have a sign on the front that says "maaks required" but none of the employees or other patrons were following the rule. Good place to grab a quick bite and some coffee. They have smoothies too. I found out that they are a popular afterschool hangout for local highschool kids. Highschool lets out at 2PM and Elementary at 3:30. So the older siblings hang back for younger ones. Thats so cool that they help keep kids safe. The lady who works there will sometimes stick littke notes under chairs with prizes on them. The kid who sits on the chair wins. They also have bible study there every Thursday..The house itself was built in 1800s. It originally sat in the middle of where SR 41 passes through today. It used to be owned by a doctor when the highway work started in 1900s. He paid to have it moved to the current spot, maintaing its charm and character."

Please & Thank You - Frank

★★★★☆ 4.2 (147) • $$

"What a cute coffee shop/cookie haven in Clifton. I was in town on business and this was the coworking spot my coworker picked out and I'm so happy with that decision. I found free parking out front really easily and when I walked in the aesthetic was totally up my alley. From the long strings of pothos and other beautiful indoor plants to the twinkle lights behind the olive green booth and the old jukebox, the vibe here is real. I ordered the Harvest Moon latte with oat milk and one of their famous chocolate chip cookies for a snack later on in the day. The espresso in my latte was strong and I definitely got the pick-me-up that I needed to carry me through until lunch. The wifi was strong and I was able to get a lot done. When I dove into the cookie later it was heavenly. It had actually sat in my car for a few hours which made the chocolate chips melt just slightly.. It was like it just came out of the oven. I hear they have four locations around Louisville and one in Indianapolis and I'm not surprised because they clearly know what they're doing. If you're craving coffee and cookies, look no further."

Kentucky Artisan Center At Berea

★★★★☆ 4.3 (41) • $$

"Adorable stop for a bite to eat and a restroom break. We did not expect the wide variety of artisan goods for sale at this stop! If you have time, come by and support them. There are also have a place to walk your dog and to grab maps and brochures for those looking for something like a welcome center."

Kentucky Artisan Center Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (25) • $

"We really enjoyed our lunch at the KAC. They offer a wide variety of items from traditional meat and sides, a grill or salad bar (our choice).The desserts looked great, too.The Artisans Center has a large craft shop with the best artists from KY and usually a demonstration artist.Well worth the short drive off of the interstate!"

Borsalino Cafe & Deli

★★★★☆ 4.3 (38) • $

"Ok, I'll admit I have a banitsa/burek problem that's been ongoing for at least a decade after I discovered it in a now defunct hole-in-the wall shop in the Highlands where it was simply called "cheese pie." I am completely helpless around it. If it's on a menu, there is 0% chance I'm not ordering it. It is the ultimate comfort food.That long preface now contended with, I stopped in this place to maybe grab a coffee and baklava with my 15 year old son who is too cool to generally offer words or expressions of interest, much less glee over damn near anything I introduce him to. Kid will eat everything and anything, but he's also happy spending $19 on five bags of Doritos and a 2 liter of Mountain Dew. BUT, he adored this place. He ordered an iced coffee and slurped it down like a frat boy playing beer pong. From my point of view, I was most impressed by the nugget ice, for I am a nugget ice connoisseur. So crunchy and satisfying. So obviously the iced coffee is a hit. I went to the bar (shocker) and asked the lovely lady working about a bitter liquor and tried this ridiculously weird but delicious amaro from Croatia that tasted like adult bubblegum. They had a bunch of weird booze and I'm excited to try many more.The burek though, once it was served, piping hot....oh myyyy. Huge portion. Buttery and crispy and delicate and just generally perfect. And the sauce, like a sour cream/tartar sauce/tzatiki? Well, I'd buy it by the pound and slather it on damn near everything - burgers, grilled veggies, who cares...it would just be a vehicle for that sauce that slays. We both liked it so much we ordered extra, scooping it generously on the burek, creating a fine hot/cold/sour/sweet/crunchy/soft combo that, well, now just writing this I feel like Pavlov's dogs drooling at the thought. We also also tried two sodas, one elderflower and one like a flat Coke with orange. Both interesting and hitting the spot vis-a-vis the salty fatty burek. (See pics)We got baklava to go. Son reported to have enjoyed it.The bill was $26. Seemed a little high, but in retrospect, maybe nah. A shot, an iced coffee, a very filling snack for two, two sodas and a baklava...made sense. And was well worth it for the experience. As a side note, you walk in and feel immediately transported into another world. You are no longer in Buechel. That is a huge part of the experience. Go here now. Don't be afraid to ask dumb questions, they will answer all of them with a little perplexion but with a gentle ease that mitigates your shyness and/or ignorance."

Purdy's Coffee Co.

★★★★★ 4.7 (136) • $

"Overall: 3 stars for service and seasonal alone. Food/Drinks: Each time I've visited Purdy's the iced coffee has been terrible. It tastes like canned green beans. Their raspberry white chocolate mocha and lavender lemonade are both great.Service: The service is wonderful. Considering the price and dissatisfaction of the iced coffee, I asked for a refund. They refunded me my money and remade the drink however, it was no better. Stick to Starbucks and Dunkin for coffee, speciality and non coffee drinks are great at Purdy's."

Sam's Uptown Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (105) • $$

"Cozy Cheers type of bar. My Haddock Hoagie and steak fries was delicious! Allison handled the bar without a hitch with a full house! Jennifer was professional and friendly when checking if I was pleased! Great place to be for MNF!"

The Bike Rack Bistro

★★★★★ 4.8 (57) • $

"Thank you Yelpers for directing me to this place. I was looking for a "soup and sandwich" place and not a commercial chain restaurant. This place fit the bill.It's a small place and have a variety of food from salads, to quiche to the soup and sandwich I was looking for.The soup they had was a Hoppin John. I had to look it up as I've never heard of it. Apparently I've been living under a rock. It's a soup with sausage, rice and beans in a delicious broth. Add it with a grilled cheese sandwich and it was a delicious meal. There's parking in the back and street."

Blue Dog Bakery & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (376) • $$

"This spot is legendary for a reason. On one side, you have an amazing selection of breads and pastries, and on the other, a cozy café perfect for brunch or lunch, complete with a small but thoughtfully curated alcohol selection featuring cocktails, wine, and beer. Heads-up: the café closes two hours earlier than the bakery, so plan your visit accordingly!Chocolate lovers, don't miss the pain au chocolat. It's buttery, rich, and pairs perfectly with a cappuccino. (I asked for a sprinkle of edible gold sugar glitter on my foam, because I am in the know--and now you are too!) If savory is more your style, go for the Jambon. Available first come, first serve with the other counter items, it's a quick fix. Featuring Broadbent ham on a mini baguette with farm-fresh butter, it's simple and decadent. For a seasonal treat, I tried the orange snowflake cookie. It was nice, but honestly, I'd recommend sticking with the gingerbread tiles. Sweet, spicy, and addictive. If you're in the mood for table service, check in with the host to sit inside or outside. On sunny days, the patio has a relaxed, European cafe vibe. On rainy days, grab a spot at the window counter for a moody cup of joe.The vibe is relaxed, yet buzzing. The staff is cool. The bread? Main character energy. It gets super busy on Fridays and Saturdays, so swing by when you have the leisure of time. You'll leave full, happy, and feeling a little dreamy."

Shine Designs at The Board Room

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"Wonderful ambience and food. We found this online and was in the area so decided to give it a try. It was myself, husband, and our 7 year old who couldn't wait to order a "charcuterie board". We ordered in. You place your order at the front counter and pay at that time, then they bring your food out to you. We didn't order any alcoholic drinks so we got our drinks at that time and brought them to our table ourselves. I don't know how alcoholic drinks such as wine are handled when ordered and if a tab is run or if every drink is paid for as they are ordered. The dining area consists of various sitting arrangements such as sofas and swinging chairs which were tastefully arranged throughout. The charcuterie board was beautifully designed, although I would have liked to have seen a bit more choices in meat. My son's only disappointment was that all the boards that were shown online had honey and a little bee and ours didn't. It seemed like that was a trademark that they used on their boards but was sadly missing from ours. The ones online seemed to be done a bit more elaborately than what we had. Other than that, it was a nice experience and I believe we will definitely go back when we are in the area."

Blue Holler Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (49)

"Enjoyed a delicious meal at the Blue Holler Cafe after checking in and setup at Nolin Lake State Campground. They have German dishes on the menu that are a definite must try on your visit. They do not serve adult beverages, but you can bring your own beer or wine to enjoy with your meal. Shoutout to our server Cricket, she was fantastic, friendly, helpful and pleasant."

First Watch

★★★★☆ 4.1 (62) • $$

"The Food and Service was wonderful. I come here often. Among many items, I love the steel cut oats."

Tippy’s

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"New place in the greater Eubank Area, a absoulty fanticis atmosphere combine with soom good home cooking, makes this place to be it you are traveling thru US 27 to or from Somerset, KY. They offer a wide selection of breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Their dessert case is wonderful. We recemmend a combintion of Pancakes with Biscuit & Gravy.for Breakfast. The lunch menu featuers the Tippy's House Salad and a wide rane ot Lunch options from tradiaitonl hamburgers, Chilidogs to Cold Cuts. There is something for everyone. Give this place a try on your way thru. They have daily specials that are always worth checking out, from tacos, pinto beans, meatloaf, chicken Alfredo, lasagna, chicken and dumplings, chicken enchiladas, bbq pork, etc. The staff is very amicable and accomadating. They seem to take pride in their service. The place was amazingly clean. Will be stopping there frequently."

Brandi's Bakery and Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.7 (7)

"I stopped in here for some cupcakes and was so impressed with the look of the place. It's cute and well done. The cupcakes were delicious. I especially appreciate that the icing was not overly sweet. They have a good variety of flavors which made it hard to choose. I'll be back to try the food."

K-Lair

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (8) • $

"A tradition of greasy spoon, low-end dining aimed at a captive audience of college students.I ate at K-Lair (also sometimes called K-Hair) pretty often when I was at UK, because it was conveniently located right next to my dorm, or along the walk to class. I didn't eat there because it was good, it was always low-end institutional-grade food in a fairly utilitarian atmosphere. Okay, I'll admit I had a fondness for the chili dogs, and liked their French bread pizzas.Then, three years ago they tore down K-Lair (and Haggin Hall next to it) and built new expensive replacements for them. I had to be near campus for some business last month so I thought I'd go visit old K-Lair for nostalgia sake.The new K-Lair is larger, shiner and crammed with TV's and wi-fi antennae, and certainly looks more expensive. The food indeed was more expensive too from my time there (even accounting for inflation). Signs boasted of using local ingredients when possible. With the expensive contract that UK signed to outsource its food services, I thought maybe they'd nailed the K-Lair name onto some more upscale eatery.Also, the original K-Lair served breakfast, it was a popular place to stop on the way to morning classes to get a breakfast sandwich. This new place doesn't open until 11 AM and doesn't serve breakfast. Also gone were many of the old menu options. No more chili dogs, or French bread pizzas. A minimalist menu compared to the original K-Kair. Then I sat down with my burger and fries, my first one at K-Lair in well over a decade and took one bite. . .that same gummy, lukewarm meat, that same half-stale bun, the same boring crinkle-cut fries that I remember from the 1990's.It may be a shiny, expensive, glamorous new building, but it's the same old mediocre food being served there, just with more restrictive hours, a more limited menu, and no breakfast options."

Solomon's Porch Cafe & Catering

★★★★☆ 4.2 (44) • $

"This a super neat little coffee house nestled in the quiet town of Wilmore KY. I love it I was pleased with my coffee selection, ( Fall in a Cup)! It was delicious! My breakfast sandwich was perfect! I also bought a piece of art that was on display and to my surprise the artist walked in! I had an opportunity to discuss the piece with her and to hear her process! Amazing time and I will return when I visit the area again!"

Great Harvest Bread

★★★★☆ 4.4 (19)

"For the past few months we have started every Friday morning with Great Harvest. Eventually they added my regular order to their menu (dirty chai). Sometimes I get a pastry as well. Their blueberry scones are the bees knees.My daughter doesn't get the same beverage every week, but she does always get a BLT. Sometimes it is more greasy than necessary, but she is always happy with her choice of breakfast. They're tends to be periods of high turnover which leads to workers being low or mistakes being made. But they're always friendly and accommodating and so we give the same in return when necessary."

Honeysuckle Cafe

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Great little cafe. Food was delicious and staff was friendly. They serve coffees, breakfast, sandwiches, salads and some pasta dishes. We had the French dip sandwich and the curry chicken salad sandwich. Both were delicious and we would definitely recommend this place. We will be back!"

Gaslight Café

★★★★☆ 4 (159) • $

"One of the best and longest running bars in Cincinnati! Very similar to Cheers where everyone knows your name. This local pub has some of the best burgers I have ever had. Gary and his family own it and the crew is sweet. Not to mention they support local community events. Great place to come have a beer and maybe some food and catch up with friends and neighbors. So blessed to have this gem in my neighborhood! Parking out back and located in the heart of Pleasant Ridge."

Back Street Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (43) • $

"The food is very goodIt is always busy during lunch so plan on staying a while!My hey make deserts in house and they are very good"

Clean Eatz-Louisville

★★★★★ 4.6 (36)

"I tried this spot. So glad I did! I ordered a bowl. I chose brown rice, salmon, broccoli, asparagus and corn and black bean. It was all made fresh. It was delish!! The staff and owner were super accommodating and full of knowledge. You order at the counter. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. The kitchen is in open view and clean. I highly recommend this as you're go to quick stop pickup."

Java Jukebox Cafe & Eatery

★★★★★ 4.6 (25) • $

"In town for the weekend and randomly stumbled on this little gem. Great atmosphere, friendly service & the food was awesome. I had avocado toast with eggs and would definitely order again. Grandkids had the French Toast and in their own words it was Cinnamonny deliciousness. My Americano was bold and black just the way I like it. If you're in the area definitely give this spot a visit."

Wildcat Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (4) • $

"This was a great spot for a fast and delicious lunch while on campus. I was visiting for work, and sometimes that puts me in strange locations at lunch time. I was pleasantly surprised to find this little gem, though.I had a tuna sandwich on wheat. Nothing fancy, just some regular toppings, but they made it fresh in front of me, and it was ready and wrapped in a very expeditious manner! Not only that, the ingredients were quite fresh. The tuna salad itself was standard, but very delicious. I'm kind of picky about my tuna, but this was more than satisfying.Add a bag of baked Cheetos (R) and a Coke Zero (R)(C)(TM)(don't sue), and my meal was complete. My colleague went for the quesadilla bar (say what?), and let me tell you... I'm wishing I had, too. Couldn't believe how fresh everything looked inside. Here's the secret: freshly made right in front of you, which means you'll have to wait for it to grill, but do yourself a favor and try it out! Other secret: the peppers aren't cooked before they go in, so you don't have this sopping wet mass of cheese and tortilla with filling falling out everywhere. It stayed crispier and together as it should. Oh, and they give you a ton of dipping sauce, whichever you ask for (or more than one... they are very accommodating).I would definitely go back. Very fast meal that's made to order from scratch in front of your eyes, decent prices (for a college cafe), and plenty of seating. Well worth the time and taste buds!"

Bella Cafe and Grille 2

★★★★☆ 3.6 (8)

"To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. I've been to Bella Notte a few times and it has been so-so. But we had a gift card and wanted to try it this place.Boy was I wrong. Bella Cafe, from the service to the appetizer to the meal, was top top. The acorn quash was phenomenal and unique; the chicken, while slightly overdone for my taste, was crispy and flavorful; and the Brussels sprouts were some of the best I've ever had.The interior has the feeling of being a little cramped, but who cares? We ate outside on a beautiful day. To say I was pleasantly surprised by the place is an understatement. I strongly recommend."

The Cafe at Swope Toyota

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4)

"Picked up two "to die for" desserts at Swope's Café made by Kathy, the general manager. Not only is she a gem to deal with personally, she makes fabulous desserts! The coconut cream pie and banana pudding are wonderful. She sent the banana pudding in a Corning Ware dish and both desserts sitting on a rimmed baking sheet to make them easier to carry. So thoughtful and trusts that her customers will bring things back! Both desserts are fabulous. The meringue, which was on both, is the best I can remember having. It also has held up beautifully in the refrigerator. Can't say enough about the food, her service and her desserts. There were six of us sharing the two desserts and there was little left the next day. All agreed they were fabulous. Highly recommend her desserts."

Sweet Art by Stephanie

★★★★★ 4.8 (5)

"They did a wonderful job on my son's birthday cake and were within budget. Highly recommend!"

Railroad Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (78) • $

"So if you're trying to eat healthy I'd pass. However if you don't mind indulging in crazy portions and fried deliciousness this is the place for you. The place was packed, but service was great. You can tel it's a locals spot. We ordered fried pickles for the table and they were great, they actually tasted like pickles. I got the fried chicken liver special with green beans and potatoes. I think it was around 11.00 and I only ate half, so left overs will be had. My son got the fish sandwich, my mom got the train wreck salad and the two guys got the tenderloin sandwich which was massive and thick. We heard dessert is great here but we were too full."

Selma's Ginkgo Tree Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (11) • $

"Had a birthday gathering here with 12 people. While we had to wait a while understandably for our food, it was very good. The people working were extremely nice & helpful. I especially enjoyed the tomato soup. A perfect spot on a beautiful day!"

Trolley Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"This place is great. The staff is the star of this restaurant. They are the nicest people in Kentucky. They seem to remember everyone that comes in and make you feel like family every visit. On Thursdays that have taco salad/chicken nacho days and for around $5 you can get a MASSIVE meal. The food is good. It's not super amazing but with the staff and the pricing, this is definitely a great place to visit. If you get around Mount Vernon, stop in and say hi!"