Highest-rated cafes in the Lexington area by diners
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.
During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.
Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.
Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.
Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.
Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?
compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Lexington area based on diners' reviews on as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Lexington were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!
#29. Maple Street Biscuit - Lexington
- Rating: 4.0/5 (89 reviews)
- Address: 2270 Nicholasville Road Ste 120 Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
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#28. North Lime Coffee & Donuts - Clays Mill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3101 Clays Mill Road Ste 300A Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#27. Coffee Times Coffee House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2571 Regency Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#26. Manchester Coffee
- Rating: 4.3/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 576 East Third St. Ste 110 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#25. Kenwick Table
- Rating: 4.3/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 201 Owsley Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Bars
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#24. Third Street Stuff & Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 257 North Limestone Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Bagels
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#23. Common Grounds Coffee House
- Rating: 4.4/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4772 Hartland Pkwy Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch
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#22. Daylight Donuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1020 North Main St. 2 Ste 2 Nicholasville, Kentucky
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
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#21. The Human Bean
- Rating: 4.5/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1946 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#20. North Lime Coffee & Donuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (352 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 West Loudon Ave. Ste 160 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea
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#19. Tsaocha
- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 1080 South Broadway Ste 201 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Bubble Tea
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#18. Parlor Doughnuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 630 Euclid Ave. Ste 150 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#17. Lussi Brown Coffee Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 114 Church St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#16. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 685 South Limestone Ste 140 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#15. Brevede Coffee
- Rating: 4.6/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1170 Manchester St. Ste 110 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Venues & Event Spaces
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#14. A Cup Of Common Wealth
- Rating: 4.6/5 (185 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 105 Eastern Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#13. Java Jukebox Cafe & Eatery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 640 West Maxwell St. Ste 130 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
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#12. Beau's cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3191 Beaumont Centre Cir Ste 150 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Gluten-Free
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#11. Chocolate Holler
- Rating: 4.7/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 400 Old Vine St. Ste 104 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Chocolatiers & Shops, Coffee & Tea
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#10. Brevede Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 859 East High St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Desserts
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#9. Nate's Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 Cheapside Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries
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#8. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii
- Rating: 4.7/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 3070 Lakecrest Cir Ste 600 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#7. Genesis Coffee House & Eatery
- Rating: 4.8/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 1403 North Forbes Road Ste 130 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#6. McLeod's Coffee House
- Rating: 4.8/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 376 Southland Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#5. La Petite Delicat
- Rating: 4.8/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 722 National Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Macarons, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
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#4. Old School Coffee
- Rating: 4.8/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 380 South Mill St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#3. High on Art & Coffee
- Rating: 4.8/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 523 East High St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Arts & Crafts, Sandwiches
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#2. Luna's Coffee Wine and Butterfly Cafe
- Rating: 4.8/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 109 Springdale Drive Ste 4 Nicholasville, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Wine Bars, Sandwiches
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#1. Leestown Coffee House
- Rating: 4.9/5 (74 reviews)
- Address: 1416 Leestown Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.
