Date night in Lexington: dinner hours at Jeff Ruby's, Coles 735 Main, Epping's, Granddam and the Merrick Inn, shows, tastings, a rooftop bar and late games.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Hours, addresses and phones come from each venue’s own website, linked below. Book ahead for weekends; most take reservations online.
A night out in Lexington can stay downtown or move to the Distillery District on Manchester Street, and Lextran’s LexRide shuttle links the two on weekend evenings in season. This is a list, not a ranking.
Dinner
| Restaurant | Address | Dinner hours (own site) | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse | 101 W. Vine St. | Monday to Thursday 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday 4:30 to 11 p.m.; Sunday 4:30 to 9 p.m. | 859-554-7000 |
| Coles 735 Main | 735 E. Main St. | Monday to Thursday 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 p.m.; closed Sunday | 859-266-9000 |
| Epping’s on Eastside | 264 Walton Ave. | Tuesday to Thursday 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 4 to 10 p.m.; Sunday 4 to 9 p.m.; closed Monday | 859-971-0240 |
| Granddam | 941 Manchester St. | Monday to Saturday 5 to 10 p.m.; Sunday 5 to 9 p.m. | 859-785-3905 |
| The Merrick Inn | 1074 Merrick Drive | Monday to Saturday 4 to 10 p.m.; Sunday 4 to 9 p.m. | 859-269-5417 |
| Honeywood | 110 Summit at Fritz Farm, Suite 140 | Monday to Saturday 5 to 9 p.m. | 859-469-8234 |
A few details from the restaurants: Jeff Ruby’s calls itself a lively, upscale steakhouse in the heart of downtown; Coles takes reservations through OpenTable or by phone, asks parties larger than six to call, and holds wine dinners; Epping’s has happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. and adds a 3% fee to card payments; the Merrick Inn has a bourbon bar; and Granddam, off the Manchester hotel’s lobby, offers free parking across Manchester Street until 6 p.m.
A show or a film
- Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St.: a 1,000-seat historic theater built in 1886 and renovated in 1976, according to the city; the season is on Central Bank Center’s site.
- Kentucky Theatre, 214 E. Main St., 859-231-6997: films, Art on Screen and the Troubadour concert series.
- Manchester Music Hall, 899 Manchester St.: concerts; age limits vary by show.
- Lexington Philharmonic: the orchestra’s season is on its site; box office 859-233-4226.
More stages are in live music and nightlife.
Drinks and tastings
- Lost Palm, 941 Manchester St., seventh floor: a 21-and-up rooftop bar with walk-ins welcome and private cabanas by reservation. 859-785-3906.
- Dark Arts Whiskey House, 1170 Manchester St., Suite 190: guided tastings or a pour at the bar; open until 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
- Wise Bird Cider Co., 1170 Manchester St., Suite 140: house ciders and the Little Fork kitchen; open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Barrel House Distilling Co., 1200 Manchester St.: tours on the hour, with the Elkhorn Tavern next door; open until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Games and dessert
- District 7, 1170 Manchester St., Suite 160: games including duckpin bowling and ping pong, with food and drinks; open until midnight Friday and Saturday. 859-303-8327.
- The Burl Arcade, next to the Burl on Thompson Road: retro arcade games and pinball with a full bar.
- Crank & Boom, 1210 Manchester St., 859-288-2176: ice cream made in house.
Getting there
Lextran’s LexRide runs 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday, April through October, every 12 to 15 minutes, between downtown, the Distillery District and the Warehouse Block. Parking options are in getting around Lexington.
More
- Valentine’s Day in Lexington and New Year’s Eve
- Brunch in Lexington for the morning after
- The Distillery District
Frequently asked questions
Where can I go for a nice dinner in Lexington?
Options with dinner hours on their own sites include Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, 101 W. Vine St.; Coles 735 Main, 735 E. Main St.; Epping’s on Eastside, 264 Walton Ave.; Granddam, 941 Manchester St.; and the Merrick Inn, 1074 Merrick Drive.
Which Lexington restaurants are open late on Friday?
Jeff Ruby’s serves until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Coles 735 Main, Epping’s and Granddam serve dinner until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, according to their websites.
Is Coles 735 Main open on Sunday?
No. Coles 735 Main is closed Sunday. It serves dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with the bar and gazebo opening at 4 p.m.
Is there a rooftop bar for date night in Lexington?
Lost Palm, on the seventh floor of the Manchester hotel at 941 Manchester St., is a 21-and-up rooftop bar with walk-in seating and cabanas by reservation.
What can couples do in Lexington besides dinner?
See a film or concert at the Kentucky Theatre, a show at the Lexington Opera House, a whiskey tasting at Dark Arts Whiskey House or duckpin bowling at District 7.
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