Drinks, decor, fireplaces: Central KY restaurants, bars get in holiday spirit
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington restaurants and bars deployed elaborate holiday decor and seasonal drinks.
- Venues offer unique items: Christmas ales, bourbon hot chocolate, themed cocktails.
- Readers crowdsourced a list of Lexington-area spots for holiday menus.
Lexington restaurants and bars are getting into the holiday spirit with over-the-top decor and nods to the season with special drinks menus.
Whether you’re looking for a boozy hot chocolate or an egg nog to put you in the mood for a little caroling, here are several places to check out.
And while you’re there, toast the readers in the LexGo Eat Facebook group for food and drink who helped to come up with this great list! There were plenty of “honorable mentions,” including The Void Sake Company, Gattitown, Charlie Brown’s and Papi’s on Citation.
Bear & The Butcher
Bear & The Butcher, 815 Euclid Ave., went all in after Thanksgiving, putting up lights, trees and more over several days to achieve a festive ambiance, said Glenn Cox, general manager.
They also have a seasonal drinks menu, with specials such as the Kentucky Hot Chocolate made with Bear’s Select Single Barrel Bulleit Bourbon.
The Beer Trappe
The Beer Trappe, 811 E. Euclid Ave., is next door to Bear and The Butcher, and so might seem underwhelming in its decor of holiday beer posters, but manager Kevin Patterson pointed out they have something hard to find anywhere else: Christmas ales.
The Beer Trappe specializes in European beers, and that means they also lean into the season with dark, spicy, full-bodies brews with a higher ABV. Definitely worth a stop on your holiday pub crawl if you’re into cozy. As Christmas nears, they’ll have as many as six on tap plus more in cans and bottles.
Boonedogs
Boonedogs, 5902 Old Richmond Rd., has turned the hot dog restaurant into a full-on Christmas pop-up with nutcrackers, tons of tinsel, lights, trees and plenty of sparkle. They also are offering hot chocolate and much more. Well worth a bit of a drive on a cold winter’s night.
The Glitz
The Glitz at Irish Acres, 4205 Fords Mill Rd., Versailles, is always a fairy tale setting for lunch, and especially in December. Make sure you call for reservations. It sells out fast for the seasonal menu.
Olive’s Apron
Olive’s Apron, 223 Rosemont Garden, is the place to go for tea and cookies in the pinkest, sugariest setting imaginable. Perfect for a little rest while you’re racing around shopping. (But you can also do gift shopping there: They have ornaments, tea and more.)
Malone’s, Harry’s, Drake’s
Malones in Palomar, 3735 Palomar Centre Dr., and in Hamburg, at 1920 Pleasant Ridge Drive, as well as Drake’s in Hamburg at 1880 Pleasant Ridge Drive and Drake’s in Brannon Crossing in Nicholasville are “over the top,” according to one reader.
Another mentioned full-sized trees hanging from the ceiling at Harry’s at 3735 Palomar Centre Drive. The Bluegrass Hospitality Group restaurants also have special holiday-themed cocktail menus: Espresso Peppermint Martini or Smoked Chestnut Old Fashioned, anyone?
Shamrock Bar & Grille
Shamrock, 154 Patchen Drive and 285 Lancer Drive in Nicholasville, (as well as sister restaurant The Cellar Bar and Grille on Lansdowne) have a strong holiday decor game with fun, themed photo booths (different in each location) and specialty cocktails such as Mistletoe Margarita and Santa’s Old Fashioned made with Angel’s Envy Triple Oak.
Carson’s on Main, Carson’s at Andover
Both locations of Carson’s — 362 E. Main St. downtown and 3450 Todds Rd. — have special decor and menus such as the Apple Pie Old Fashioned. Great spots for holiday brunch, lunch or dinner.
East End Tap & Table
East End Tap & Table, 333 East Main St Suite 180, has gone full-on Grinch, one reader said. Sounds like a fun spot to grab lunch.
Pearl’s
Pearl’s, the bagel and pizza restaurant at 133 N. Limestone, is all decked out, a reader said.
Mirror Twin
The bar at Mirror Twin, 723 National Ave., has a keg tree all lit up outside, and holiday cocktails that are lit inside There’s the NutElla Fitzgerald made with Buffalo Trace, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream, Creme de Cacao and Frangelico and even some tasty mocktails.
