The Most Flavorful Dive Bars in Lexington

The County Line

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (7)

"Love this place I mean good cheap drinks and fifty cent pool what else could you ask for. Only downside is you can still smoke, don't bother me too much but it is just weird after 98 percent of all other bars you can't...lol"

Spring Street Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (83) • $

"Spring Street is a great neighborhood watering hole that has the right mix of good food, good beer selection, decent cocktails, and a lot of room to spread out. This is also one of the few places near the Highlands that has a lot of TVs and takes sports seriously...but I wouldn't consider it a traditional sports bar. It really is a neighborhood place, and quite an institution. I went there for the opening NFL Sunday. Every game was on, including my Saints. So I took a seat in the back corner near a small TV that the game was playing. It felt very cavernous from where I was sitting. But I also had three TV's right in my view, which was perfect. There were a number of Bills, Bengals, and Bears fan, so it was boisterous time.I started with jumbo wings, and I decided on Korean BBQ. The sauce was good, and while I don't need wings submerged in juices, I would've appreciated a little bit more flavor. That said --- these wings are jumbo, and they're pretty good. The fries, which are $6 and plentiful, were also delicious. The beers and Moscow Mule were exactly what I needed. You order everything, drinks and food, from the bar. Service was very efficient and the bartender working the bar, seemingly by himself, was awesome. He even picked up an empty for me and took my drink order. He also looked at my Saints jersey and knew where I needed to go before I asked. That's the type of experience you can only really get in touristy areas or neighborhood bars. If we lived in Irish Hill, this would be a regular haunt for me. The moderately high prices and far walk from my house are the only things preventing me from coming more. I think food, drink options, and experience are worth the journey to Spring Street."

Rosebud Bar & Silks Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (32) • $

"What a wonderful little spot. I used to frequent this bar for years when I lived in Lexington. Now it's different than most bars. They don't serve food but it is connected to the bar next door which a little more upscale. So I'm guessing the owner owns both bars. It's a nice dive bar to hang out at and listen to music. They did update it and add a tunes box which you can pick and choose your music to play. Now they do ask for two forms of so be prepared for that. Yes the bar is a little worn down but the scenery of what it has looked like for years has not changed much. They did use to to have pictures of people that have been at the bar on the walk as soon as you walked in. They have since taken them down.It does get full fast. You will be shoulder to shoulder with people while you are there. You make friends with strangers like I did. Now if you have bubble issues this is not the place for you. Outside of that. Have fun and enjoy this dive bar. You should stop in."

Madonna's Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (108) • $

"I have been working in Downtown Cincinnati for 10 years, and had never been here. This week I was told that they served a great burger. So on that recommendation 3 of us made the walk up to try it out. The inside is cozy, inviting, and clean. I felt comfortable as soon as I walked in. The service was great, never waiting on anything. Then the burger. I ordered the "Big Daddy" which is a double cheeseburger made with two 1/3 size patties, bacon and the works. It really blew me away. The burger was hot, toppings were fresh, and the patties had a great grilled flavor to them. The recommendation was a good one, I will definitely be back!"

Ona

★★★★★ 4.6 (42) • $$

"If I'm here it's usually a weeknight meeting with a friend for a chat and a drink or two. The outdoor seating is very cute but not the most comfortable. Very tiny wooden chairs on a wooden slat "porch" situation that the chairs sometimes fall into. But the plants outside and inside are gorgeous. It's a vibe-y joint. The interior has plenty of hidey holes and good places to tuck into for intimate or group affairs. The menu is more extensive than you'd think it'd be. As far as service, it really just depends on who's tending bar. Sometimes it's awesome and quick and super easy. Other times it takes much longer than it should because the bartender is holding a chat with a friend or just ignoring that you're there. I've had both experiences in the same week, even when it's slow, so *shrug*. Just a heads up to anyone who might flit a temper over that sort of thing. They're pretty doggone casual there."

Magnolia Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (84) • $

"I'm a fan of dive bars, and Magnolia offers much of what you may want from a dive bar, including an old, lived-in feel with lots of things to see on the walls (and lots of interesting people to watch.) It also may have some things you don't like, such as a bartender who'd rather stare at his phone or watch TV than give you the time of day. (It was clear he knew and liked the regulars--some of whom sat down and got a drink without having to order--more than we tourists.) We visited shortly after it opened at 3 pm, and instead of music, we were treated the audio from a movie the bartender and a handful of regulars were watching. I'm a fan of The Fifth Element more than most, but that doesn't mean I want to talk over it while enjoying a beer with friends. On the whole, this is an interesting spot for a drink, but I hoped for a better dive bar experience than Mag Bar delivered."

Friendly Stop Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (138) • $

"Been driving by Friendly Stop twice a day for 4 years. Literally on my way to and from work. Finally the boss took me there a couple of months ago. Wow, what is wrong with me? It's pure comfort food. Sandwiches, meat loaf, fries, etc. My ruben was delish and onion rings perfectly crunchy. Needless to say I've been back and won't drive by every time from now on."

City View Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (163) • $

"The menu was not expansive, but everything our party of 5 ordered was good. I wasn't sure what to expect as I couldn't find a website to browse prior to stopping in. The lone employee worked the bar and the grill and was super personable. A nice fellow. After we placed our order, it seemed a couple dozen more patrons rolled in and the worker really jumped into action! The environment felt like Cheers LOL. The historical pictures and paper clippings and beer artwork just felt comfortable. The view of the city--hence, the name--was gorgeous, despite the gray weather."

Chevy Chase Inn

★★★★★ 4.6 (38) • $

"Chevy Chase Inn is a simple little bar in Lexington with a friendly and approachable staff which make for a very comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable experience. Plus, with live music, you can't go wrong. Although, I am Deaf, hearing people always assume that there is only one way to enjoy music, and that is by listening to it. However, we can feel the vibrations produced by the music being played and consume those vibrations through our body. It is a rocking experience."

Al's Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (52) • $

"Al's does burger week right! I've been here during burger week for two years in a row and both times they knocked it out of the park. Way to show off! Not only was their featured burger one of my favorites both years, but they were fully staffed and everyone was friendly. Yes, it's a dive. Parking in the area can be sketchy. If you have a hard time warding off pan handlers and the like, I don't recommend that you go at it alone. Perfect opportunity to take advantage of an Uber or Lyft. With drink specials and strong concoctions like these, you're not suppose to drive anyways! It's super close to other Limestone area dives, so make an evening and do an area tour... with a friend.They have a couple of pool tables in the back, so if that's your thing, you're in luck."

Third Street Dive

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (128) • $

"Exactly what is claims to be - a dive bar. You order at the counter and go sit where you want. Just like any karaoke bar, there was really good and really bad. That is part of the fun though so... We didn't really interact with the bartenders other than ordering, but they made drinks which is all we asked for. There was no food, but that wasn't an issue as we had already eaten. I would definitely go back if I was looking for a late-night spot."

Nachbar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (115) • $

"Stopped on a Saturday night. They have a great beer selection. I opted for Atrium Kolsh. He got a great burbon from the wide selection. It was a great night to sit on the back deck under the heaters. Spacious seating inside and outside. The staff is friendly and helpful, even on this busy night."

The Deuce

★★★★★ 4.6 (5)

"Went for a late night beer after Louder Than Life 23 and really enjoyed the place. This place had friendly staff, great beer prices and the karaoke was kickin. I would highly recommend The Deuce."

Barret Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (72) • $

"Great neighborhood bar with pretty good food and a nice patio when the weather cooperates.The bartenders are nice and served us promptly. We grabbed a couple beers - they have a decent local selection on tab and they're all $6.50. We took a look at the menu and decided to try the brusell sprout special, fries, and the spicy chicken wrap. The brusell sprouts were our favorite; they were paired with a sweet Thai chili sauce.Would recommend if you're looking for a place to grab a drink and hang out."

Milton's Prospect Hill Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (54) • $

"Cheap drinks. Fun crowd. Shuffleboard. Milton's makes for a fun dive bar! Milton's was our last stop of a fun night out in Cincy. We were quickly able to get our drinks from the bar.And extra points go to Milton's for having Rhinegeist's Bubbles on tap. I had been looking for it ever since having a sip a couple months prior. I even took a pic of the tap handle because I was so excited.Then upstairs we played shuffleboard. I hate to admit -- I was a shuffleboard virgin before my trip to Milton's. And after playing ... I don't think I'll be leaving my day job to go on any shuffleboard circuits. But it was so much fun!We came across a birthday party of friendly folks to play shuffleboard with -- another plus.And while Milton's is a dive, it's a clean dive -- my favorite kind. If I lived in Cincy, this place would be my go-to."

The Dive

★★★★★ 4.8 (12)

"I was greeted by a young lady as I entered the building. She complimented my sandals and welcomed us to "the dive" this was a good first impression. I later found out this was one of the owners, which absolutely spoke volumes about the business. Leticia introduced herself as a owner- absolutely bubbling about her business and everything she wanted to bring to the community upon its grand opening. She was curious to hear feedback and observations from my perspective as a patron; wanting to optimize and improve any small detail that may affect my experience. Letcia was genuinely reinforcing her passion for the success of her business here at the dive. The atmosphere is uplifting. Decor and lighting really bring about a positive vibe and the tender was more than accommodating. I got a piece of culture, meeting "two finger Timmy" and having the opportunity to engage with locals was like none other I've ever experienced. I was shown the transformation of the building, and can only say "wow" in regards to the amount of gentrification needed to get this place where it's at now. Prices were more than fair, literally CAN NOT beat $1 beers when compared to my usual bar tab in Louisville or Bowling green.. That being said I'll absolutely put this spot in my destination list for a fun night out on the town with not so long of a drive."

Otter Creek Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (45) • $

"Hometown ambience and great spot for a beer and a great fish sandwich! Kind of like Cheers, the servers are like family!"

Boogie Knight’s

★★★★★ 4.7 (6)

"All around excellent, all the time. The drinks are top notch and we'll balanced, the food is downright delicious, even the small appetizers."

The Pearl of Germantown

★★★★★ 4.5 (53) • $

"I mentioned to friends when I was here, that if I was in college I would live at this bar!It is warm and inviting. I love the cool ceiling, the christmas lights and the retro/weird/old art and decor. It is comfortable.There were people there obviously grabbing a drink after work in their office clothes, but I didn't get a side-eye or feel uncomfortable coming in after archery and walking all over the place in my workout clothes and a sweatshirt. It feels like an anyone, anyway kind of place. And I love that! They have a pretty good beer list. I wasn't feeling the beer thing that night, and old fashioneds and Manhattans are $6 each, which isn't bad! I prefer old fashioneds over all, but I think I would prefer it with less ice than it was served with here. It watered down the drink rather quickly. But the Manhattan was pretty great!The bathroom is grafitti'd up, but also still clean. That clean part....important ans appreciated!I will gladly return here, as it is in my price range, in my neighborhood, and a place I really like!"

Old Hickory Inn

★★★★☆ 3.6 (13) • $

"I'm almost hesitant to review this place as it's a totally local old guys drinking on a Saturday afternoon place. Rolled in with the older daughter and spent a couple of hours catching up. I bought a round for the three gentlemen watching the olympics plus our drinks for a whopping total of $16. Great little place for a beer and conversation. The kind of place where you can hear one another and chill."

Camp Springs Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (9) • $

"Talk about your home town bar. Everyone really DOES know your name. Camp Springs bar has been there for 100+ years and my Husband's family is represented in the pictures you see on the wall. My father-in-law lives right down the street and frequents the place. On the night we were there, we caught some great acoustic music out on the lawn. Apparently the fact I could sing along with the artist seemed to amuse my Dad. *grin*Good selection of liquor, the food truck out front is great (The bbq one. and I got the last of the pulled pork. it was DELICIOUS!)Come on down and enjoy a cold one."

Uncle Leo's

★★★★★ 4.5 (15)

"Re-opened as Uncle Leo's and it's such a blast! Came for their opening last night and the place is so beautiful - warm pink light and vintage pieces covering the bar and walls. Beautiful bar with a limited selection for now but I'm sure it will grow. The bartenders currently offer 6 classic cocktails but can make anything you like. Think of it as an upscale dive bar. Extremely fun place to get a drink."

Crazy Fox Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.2 (60) • $

"I guess you could call this the local gay/mixed bar in Newport? I know the owners from camping. Really nice couple who have been together for a long time. They really know how to make a place cozy and welcoming. You walk in and there's the bar and a couple of tables. Go up the short stairs near the side of the bar and find an even bigger room. There's a pool table, multiple tables, fun decorations, TV, etc. Really great crowd too. Just laid back and fun. Drinks are well-priced and they keep on coming! You're allowed to bring food in as well as they don't serve their own. Great crowd and definitely a fun neighborhood place to meet up!"

Montgomery Towne Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (30) • $

"We stopped in here last minute after Silver Spring house was swamped. We had no idea what to expect. We walked in (6 of us) and the place was pretty busy. The waitress came up and greeted us quickly and hot our drink orders. She was very helpful on guiding our food selections. As a group we ordered burgers, chicken sandwich, wings, pretzels and cheese sticks. Everything was so good. Even better we were able to play pool and darts while waiting for our food. Great little place for a cold beer and really solid food in a chill atmosphere. This is our new go to when in the area."

Old Louisville Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (254) • $$

"Nice neighborhood spot for drinks and a meal. I had an excellent burger and the others enjoyed salads and a steak. Service was prompt. We liked sitting on the patio. The only negative was the lack of outdoor lighting making completion of our meal a little tricky."

Martin's 3L Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4) • $

"This is a cash only dive bar with a awesome dart board.You will smell like a walking cigarette when you leave, but I had a good time at this place. The people were friendly, the jukebox was digital with a good, new selection. There are plenty of TVs and usually at least one has on horse racing. A pool table that seemed nice, although I didn't play."

The Hideaway Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.3 (41) • $

"I really love this bar! We came here for a group meetup with some fellow nerds, and I felt like this place was very relaxing and chill when you compare it to some nearby bars, that tend to be loud and overcrowded. It's definitely for a certain demographic, they have a row of TV's to play video games, anime playing on the projector screen and pool tables/darts upstairs. So depending on your scene, you may or may not want to come here. The bartenders were friendly and happy to serve us, we never had to wait too long for anything, and they also had someone grilling out back for those who wanted to buy food. I'd love to come back for a chill night out here. It's a nice place!"

Canary Club

★★★★☆ 4.4 (30)

"Came here tonight for a drink before heading to dinner. The bartenders were attentive and made incredible drinks! We wish we could have stayed longer and will be back again. Also wandered around the adjoining shop and really enjoyed the entire experience. Bought some orange wine and can't wait to try it. Will definitely be back soon!"

B-List

★★★★☆ 4.4 (33) • $

"Great neighborhood bar. Nothing fancy. Hilarious writing on the bathroom walls. Friendly bartenders. Great prices. Yummy booze. Sports. Pool table. Catch a buzz with some friends here. Fun spot :)"

Patchen Pub

★★★★☆ 4.3 (25) • $

"I seriously considered giving it a 5 star rating but because when I called about happy hour details, the guy hung up without saying goodbye. Once we got there, it was obvious that the "nice guy" who waited on us, was the same one who answered the phone. Not a huge deal. We sat out on the back patio along with some frequenters. The pub atmosphere was similar to close by Shamrocks but the crowd seemed a bit older than the going crowd at Shamrocks. Happy hour was until 7pm and I wish that I could list further details about it but I didn't get the details, just that the appetizers were $2 off during the happy hour. I ordered the chicken tenders and the loaded pub fries. Both orders were huge and well worth $4.75 each. I would recommend Patchen Pub over Shamrocks when it comes to food quality and I would try it again."

Ole Hookers

★★★★☆ 4.2 (17) • $

"This is a hole in the wall dive bar. They will treat you like family here if you are a regular. Friendly staff that are able to make strong mixed drinks and carry on a conversation. Drinks are well priced and strong. That's the perfect combo. They have bar seating and tables on the sidewalk outside. If you are near downtown and thirsty, I suggest to stop in here and say hi. Take a good look around and enjoy a good drink and conversation.I mi g.d ht even be there"

Lisa’s Wayside Inn

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Home cooked country style lunch specials Monday- Friday. Open early for breakfast. Great food and atmosphere. Full bar. Awesome local dive bar."

Paint Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (11) • $

"Great food great service. Laid back fun environment. Games are on if not they will give you the remote to find your game movie anything. Great jukebox music selection. Awesome sound system. All around great place to have a drink or great meal"

Locals Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.2 (5)

"This place is terrific! It's located just outside of Buffalo Trace distillery. Make a right when you exit and drive less than a half mile. Outdoor covered picnic table seating in a beer garden style, with TV's, fans etc. We were there on a Sunday. They told us they have only been open 11 weeks. It was happy hour and the beer selection was terrific. We ordered a salad, the Carnivore Pizza, and a cheesy bread (half price for happy hour). Obvious in every bite: fresh, healthy and local ingredients. Everything was top-notch. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and eager to please. They were really into the idea of this restaurant. A place that can bring local ingredients, local beer, and friendly service. At one point my girlfriend said "this is the best pizza I have had in a very long time." The crust is amazing! Also - it says a lot about a place when the bathrooms are impeccable. Unisex, updated, and large enough for a family. Give this local place a try. You won't be sorry. I really hope it's a packed establishment soon."