Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Lexington

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Lexington? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

OBC Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (4558)

$31 to $50

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

OBC Kitchen is a local, chef-driven restaurant that houses an extremely rare bourbon collection, eclectic craft beer selection and extensive wine list. Centuries-old local barn wood surrounds guests as they enjoy high quality, distinctive dishes in a pub like atmosphere. Indulge in chef-driven dishes and seasonal favorites. Celebrate the weekend with $5 Happy Hour features each Friday. Enjoy brunch favorites, bloody marys and mimosas on Saturday and Sunday.

The passionate staff fosters a spirit of hospitality and Kentucky heritage. OBC Kitchen was named after the counties that eventually became Kentucky; “Old Bourbon County” was stamped on bourbon barrels that floated down the Mississippi from Kentucky and became synonymous with the best bourbon in the U.S.

Top review

MartinaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

OBC always has delicious food and high quality cocktails.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Lexington

4.9

4.9 (232)

$30 and under

Sushi

Lexington

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

Paul

Dined 5 days ago

Always great food, great service…… tables are very close together where we were seated and people literally were right next to us which wasn’t ideal, but they are trying to get as many seated in the space as possible so it is understood. This is a great place for sushi and the Tuna Tower is always a must!

Carson's on Main

4.8

4.8 (6454)

$30 and under

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

Carson's Food & Drink features new and exciting chef-driven recipes and cocktails that combine rustic refinement with classic Kentucky elegance in a casual, yet comfortable atmosphere.

One of Lexington Kentucky's finest restaurants; Multi Year Winner of OpenTable's "Diners' Choice" (2017,18,19,20,21,22) and included in RestaurantNews 'Top 100 Restaurants in America 2018'.

We can't wait to welcome you!

Top review

Cathy

Dined 1 day ago

Best restaurant, best combination of flavors, great service, reasonable prices!!! Highly recommend

Infinity: Rooftop Restaurant & Bar

4.7

4.7 (197)

$30 and under

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

Infinity: A Rooftop Restaurant and Bar is a upscale urban retreat perched 8 stories above the city, offering an 180 degree view of downtown Lexington and an upscale yet inviting ambiance. The venue seamlessly blends contemporary elegance with a vibrant social atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings.

The culinary experience features modern American cuisine, crafted seasonal ingredients and innovative techniques. Complementing dinner is a curated selection of handcrafted cocktails, each a fusion of premium spirits, house-made infusions, and fresh, unexpected flavors.

Whether basking in the golden hues of sunset or sipping under a canopy of stars, Infinity Rooftop promises an unforgettable dining and drinking experience, where skyline views meet culinary excellence.

Top review

DavidVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Wonderful lunch, wonderful atmosphere, wonderful service. Great food.

3Ten

4.7

4.7 (42)

$31 to $50

Global, International

Lexington

About the restaurant

Celebrated Chef Jonathan Lundy and Certified Sommelier TJ Cox bring you 3TEN. Serving curated cuisine, cocktails, and wine. Intercontinental flavors add to the vibrant dining scene in downtown Lexington's West Short Street corridor.
3TEN is a destination where global flavors meet local charm with a rotating menu of small plates and shareable dishes. Guests can expect to find influential ingredients of Mediterranean, pan-Asian, and Latin American origins drawing from the duo’s 55+ years of combined experience in Lexington restaurants.
Complementing Jonathan’s culinary whim, TJ’s extensive cocktail menu features interpretive concoctions of ingredients from botanicals to house-made cordials. A curated wine selection of varieties and regions worldwide plus luxury cocktail experiences will support the robust beverage program.

Top review

Stacey

Dined 6 days ago

Food was delicious and beautifully plated. Drinks were delicious. Went on a Thursday night. Perfect noise level.

Lost Palm

4.6

4.6 (148)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Lexington

About the restaurant

Seven stories up and an oasis above Lexington, a rooftop nod to sultry South Florida. Embrace an experience filled with small bites, big hats, and inspired tropical drinks. Lost Palm welcomes you!

Reservations are highly encouraged, however we accept walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis. Find us at The Manchester Hotel in the Distillery District, with valet services at your convenience. Street and paid parking options are available. All visitors must be 21 or older, with ID verification upon entry. For those with underage guests, please contact our restaurant Granddam.

Reservations are available indoors or outdoors. We'll try our best to accommodate, but we cannot guarantee swapping indoor/outdoor reservations. For groups over 6, please call (859)-785-3906. Our kitchen welcomes you from 4-10PM daily. For cabana rentals, email twetzel@themanchesterky.com.

Enjoy an unforgettable visit to Lost Palm, where leisure and luxury blend seamlessly.

Top review

Mattie

Dined on May 5, 2025

Had the best experience at Lost Palm for my birthday! The food, drinks, and service were all just phenomenal. Such a fun place!

BRU Burger Bar - Lexington

4.5

4.5 (462)

$30 and under

Burgers

Lexington

About the restaurant

The hamburger is over 100 years old. It’s a classic, purely American, and an icon. The hamburger is the people’s sandwich, everyman’s food. BRU is an ode to our love….the Burger. Paired with a beer, we can’t imagine what could be much better. Join us at BRU Burger Bar. We look forward to serving you! BRU Burger Bar is proudly operated by Cunningham Restaurant Group.

Welcome to BRU Burger Bar.

Top review

Stephanie Fairchild

Dined 3 days ago

We had a lovely Mother’s Day dinner! Food and service was perfect!

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Popular dish

Bru Burger

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Lexington

4.5

4.5 (221)

$30 and under

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Amanda

Dined 4 days ago

Our waitress was incredible. We had lunch here after my brother’s graduation and it was awesome

33 Staves

4.3

4.3 (233)

$30 and under

Contemporary Southern

Lexington

About the restaurant

33 Staves, located inside the beautiful Origin Hotel Lexington at The Summit. 33 Staves is a modern southern-inspired restaurant and bar. We take pride serving a seasonally crafted menu comprised of handpicked local ingredients. Our bar offers a wide range of craft cocktails and bourbons.

Top review

ChadVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Everything on the menu looked so good we had a hard time deciding what to order! We had a great experience and will return!

Nic & Norman's - Lexington

4.2

4.2 (807)

$30 and under

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

As artists, we are passionate about creating special moments. Beyond the screen, we recognize that this often happens while enjoying a great meal in the company of family and friends. We are thrilled to have Lexington, Kentucky as our third location for Nic & Norman's.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 3 days ago

My 10 year old son got the beef brisket mac n cheese and loved it. I had beef brisket bbq flatbread it was delicious.

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Popular dish

Fried Chicken Pot Pie

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