What new restaurants are opening in Lexington? Here are 7 to look forward to this year

Janet Patton
·3 min read

Lexington loves new restaurants. The vibrant local dining scene is always welcoming new establishments.

More than a dozen new restaurants have already opened this year, including Lexington’s newest dining and drink trend, non-traditional bars that offer cocktails while you make candles or bouquets.

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New Lexington restaurants to try soon

Here is a list of seven more dining establishments opening soon you can look forward to trying before the end of 2024:

A new world cuisine, cocktails and wine bar will open on West Short Street in fall 2024.
A new world cuisine, cocktails and wine bar will open on West Short Street in fall 2024.

▪ 3TEN: Lexington chef Jonathan Lundy and sommelier TJ Cox, the team behind ItalX and Corto Lima, are opening an upscale cocktail bar called 3TEN at 310 W. Short St. this fall in the former location of Creaux, which closed when the building sold. They plan to offer a cocktail list with 30+ drinks, plus international cuisine and wine from around the world six nights a week.

Upscale cocktail bar with intercontinental cuisine and wine coming to Lexington

A new restaurant is coming to the popular Jefferson Street corridor. The former Jefferson Street Coffee will be remodeled for the new restaurant that will include outdoor seating.
A new restaurant is coming to the popular Jefferson Street corridor. The former Jefferson Street Coffee will be remodeled for the new restaurant that will include outdoor seating.

▪ Dingbats: One of the founders of West Sixth Brewery is opening Dingbats, a new pizza place located at 471 Jefferson St. The new restaurant will be a small neighborhood pizzeria, Brady Barlow said. Pizza will be available whole and by the slice, with limited seating indoors and patio seating. It’s expected to open by Labor Day, Sept. 2 in the renovated former Jefferson Street Coffee building.

New restaurant from West Sixth founder coming to booming Lexington dining district

Par 6 Social at Fayette Mall closed in July 2023. A Italian restaurant called Mileta will be opening there this fall. The menu will be upscale contemporary Italian that also leans into Kentucky bourbon.
Par 6 Social at Fayette Mall closed in July 2023. A Italian restaurant called Mileta will be opening there this fall. The menu will be upscale contemporary Italian that also leans into Kentucky bourbon.

▪ Mileta: This new locally-owned Italian restaurant will be opening at Fayette Mall in the former Par 6 Social spot. The upscale contemporary concept also leans into Kentucky bourbon and Italian spirits and is expected to open this fall at 3565 Nicholasville Rd. Suite 932 near The Cheesecake Factory.

New, locally owned, upscale Italian restaurant coming soon to Fayette Mall

A rendering of how the new Osaka Japanese Restaurant in Great Acres will look when it’s ready to open later this year.
A rendering of how the new Osaka Japanese Restaurant in Great Acres will look when it’s ready to open later this year.

▪ Osaka Japanese Restaurant: A favorite of Lexington sushi fans, Osaka is opening a new restaurant in Great Acres, the new shopping center off Leestown Road. Owner Su Chen said that she hopes to open the second Osaka at 112 Lucille Dr. in September.

Popular Japanese restaurant opening second Lexington location. Here’s where and when.

PARLOUR, an Indiana-based pizza chain, has a menu of craft pizza options including “The Dr,” with an olive oil base, sliced provolone, shredded mozzarella, sliced green peppers, sliced red onions, smoked chicken bacon, jalapenos, sliced roma tomatoes and house-made peppercorn ranch drizzle.
PARLOUR, an Indiana-based pizza chain, has a menu of craft pizza options including “The Dr,” with an olive oil base, sliced provolone, shredded mozzarella, sliced green peppers, sliced red onions, smoked chicken bacon, jalapenos, sliced roma tomatoes and house-made peppercorn ranch drizzle.

▪ PARLOUR Pizza: The Indiana pizza chain known for craft pies and beer, is coming to the old O’Charley’s building location on Harrodsburg Road. The location is expected to open in early October. The restaurant’s slogan is “People-Pizza-Pints” and the menu includes smoked wings, grinder sandwiches and calzones as well as 10-inch and 14-inch pizzas. Signature dishes also include the Sriracha Bourbon BBQ nachos.

Indiana pizza chain known for craft pies, beer to open multiple Lexington locations

Athenian Grill owner Ilias Pappas is opening a new full-service restaurant to serve traditional Greek cuisine such as yiouvetsi (stew with orzo) with lamb shank.
Athenian Grill owner Ilias Pappas is opening a new full-service restaurant to serve traditional Greek cuisine such as yiouvetsi (stew with orzo) with lamb shank.

▪ Santorini: A new sit-down Greek full-service, upscale restaurant from Ilias Pappas, the owner of the popular Athenian Grill. Santorini will be near Fayette Mall in the former Saul Good spot at 3801 Mall Rd. #120. Pappas said he hopes to open the restaurant in December.

New upscale Mediterranean restaurant coming from popular Lexington Greek chef

A second location of Viva Mexico, at 400 Vine St., is going in where Old Vine Bistro, Ranada’s Bistro and Wines on Vine were.
A second location of Viva Mexico, at 400 Vine St., is going in where Old Vine Bistro, Ranada’s Bistro and Wines on Vine were.

▪ Viva Mexico: The second location of a popular Mexican restaurant is expected to open in August in the former Old Vine Bistro spot at 400 Old Vine St. Suite 106. It will serve authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, with a full bar.

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