Kentucky · best-of list
The 10 Best Bars & Cafés in Kentucky
All 10 bars & cafés our route editors picked in Kentucky, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. 4 come with an insider tip.
Our curated picks
10 bars & cafés in Kentucky, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Bardstown 4 picks
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience
Bardstown · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Visitor center for Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig, Evan Williams) with tours and tastings.
Tip: Book tours online ahead.
Photo: Bourbon Heritage Center · Google
Jim Beam American Stillhouse
Bardstown · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Jim Beam's Clermont distillery with tours and tastings.
Photo: James B. Beam Distilling Co. · Google
Maker's Mark Distillery
Bardstown · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Distillery campus with red-wax dipping and Chihuly glass ceiling.
Tip: Book tours ahead; about 20 minutes south in Loretto.
Photo: Brian Fox · Google
Willett Distillery
Bardstown · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Family distillery with a pot still shaped like its bottle and hilltop grounds.
Photo: Willett Distillery · Google
Lexington 3 picks
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Lexington · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Frankfort distillery with free tours and tastings.
Tip: Free tours fill fast; reserve online.
Photo: Joseph “Jaythree” · Google
James E. Pepper Distillery
Lexington · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Revived distillery in the Distillery District with tours and a bar.
Photo: James E. Pepper Distillery · Google
Woodford Reserve Distillery
Lexington · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Stone distillery among horse farms with copper pot stills.
Photo: Val Early · Google
Louisville 3 picks
Angel's Envy Distillery
Louisville · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Downtown distillery in a restored factory; tours end with a tasting.
Photo: William To · Google
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Louisville · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Whiskey Row artisanal distillery with tours and tastings.
Tip: Book tours online, especially weekends.
Photo: Gina Jackson · Google
Old Seelbach Bar
Louisville · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Classic bar in the Seelbach Hilton; order the house Seelbach cocktail.
Photo: David Wessin · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in Kentucky?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 10 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Kentucky has the most bars & cafés on this list?
Bardstown has the most (4 of 10), followed by Lexington (3) and Louisville (3).
Are any of these free?
1 pick on this list is marked free in our route notes: Buffalo Trace Distillery. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Kentucky
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- Bardstown 4 on this list
- Lexington 3 on this list
- Louisville 3 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.