Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Lexington
Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Lexington
The word brunch first appeared in a 1895 issue of "Hunter's Weekly," according to the Smithsonian Magazine. In the article, which was titled "Brunch: A Plea," author Guy Beringer suggested swapping out heavy, post-church meals for lighter spreads served later in the morning.
"Brunch… is cheerful, sociable, and inciting," Beringer wrote. "It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper; it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings. It sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week." As a post-script to the piece, he writes that at brunch, "Beer and whiskey are admitted as substitutes for tea and coffee."
Fast forward 130 years, and brunch is now one of the most popular meals in the U.S. According to a 2025 industry report from Bar & Restaurant News, brunch is the #1 meal for both Gen Zers and parents: 39% of the former go out to eat during that time, and 47% of the latter.
Many brunch locations offer the same type of spread Beringer promoted in his article—pastries and marmalade, coffee and tea (or beer and whiskey), and main courses that include fish or other meats. However, a host of other trends like internationally inspired cuisines, pizza, and mimosa flights have come along to add a little variety.
Whether your preference is for a classic brunch or something with a little more spice, Stacker compiled a ranking of the highest-rated brunch restaurants in Lexington using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a restaurant with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Most chain restaurants were excluded from the ranking. Data is as of Sept. 16, 2025.
Read on to find out if your favorite local spot made our list!
#28. BD's Mongolian Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (126 reviews)
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#27. First Watch
- Rating: 3.9/5 (76 reviews)
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#26. First Watch
- Rating: 4.3/5 (60 reviews)
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#25. Bella Cafe & Grille Chevy Chase
- Rating: 4.9/5 (15 reviews)
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#24. Tack House Pub
- Rating: 4.4/5 (71 reviews)
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#23. Epping's On Eastside
- Rating: 4.3/5 (50 reviews)
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#22. Zim's Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (72 reviews)
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#21. J. Render's Southern Table & Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (113 reviews)
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#20. First Watch
- Rating: 4.4/5 (113 reviews)
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#19. Azur Restaurant and Patio
- Rating: 4.1/5 (275 reviews)
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#18. Lockbox
- Rating: 4.1/5 (216 reviews)
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#17. Wild Eggs
- Rating: 4.4/5 (263 reviews)
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#16. Stella Kentucky Deli
- Rating: 4.3/5 (265 reviews)
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#15. Ramsey's Andover Country Store
- Rating: 4.3/5 (315 reviews)
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#14. Winchell's Restaurant & Sports
- Rating: 4.3/5 (301 reviews)
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#13. Ramsey's Diner Harrodsburg Road
- Rating: 4.4/5 (243 reviews)
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#12. Doodle's
- Rating: 4.4/5 (236 reviews)
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#11. Sutton's Family Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (232 reviews)
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#10. Wild Eggs
- Rating: 4.4/5 (301 reviews)
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#9. The Triangle Grille
- Rating: 4.5/5 (190 reviews)
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#8. DV8 Kitchen
- Rating: 4.8/5 (103 reviews)
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#7. 33 Staves
- Rating: 4.7/5 (84 reviews)
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#6. Malone's Palomar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (439 reviews)
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#5. Dudley's on Short
- Rating: 4.3/5 (534 reviews)
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#4. Windy Corner Market
- Rating: 4.4/5 (519 reviews)
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#3. Josie's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (329 reviews)
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#2. Bella Notte
- Rating: 4.4/5 (646 reviews)
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#1. Ramsey's Diner Zandale
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1087 reviews)
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