A hidden gem! I had heard about this place and finally got to go. A friend and I got similar stuff, like the noodles and salad, and we both enjoyed it tons! The scenery is so beautiful, I wish I could live in the little forest there. read more

Bring your own bug spray. But totally worth it! This place is like a hidden escape from life. There's so much greenery! Small selection, but great food and drinks. We'll for sure go back if we get the chance. I just wish they had live music more often - they're a perfect venue for a chill afternoon/evening vibe. read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This is the second time I'm come to Kentucky native cafe. The first time, I was in awe at how beautiful it is here, but now that that's over, I'll go with 3 stars. For the goat cheese and olives and a country boy gose, I paid $20. The beer was cool, but not cold. The appetizer was pretty tiny for $12. I would have expected at least two types of olives with different flavor and maybe some fresh herbs (something to add to the flavor) with this portion. If this were in a different location, I would be pissed... but the atmosphere is keeping me chill ;) If you want a special atmosphere, go here. If you're looking to be impressed by the product go elsewhere. But still come here one another day haha ‍ read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - $20 olive and goat cheese platter with a beer - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

An absolute gem! You have to spend an evening here. It's a magical place. This little nugget is located behind Michler's greenhouse. It's a beer garden and has some home made baked goods and appetizers. We have really enjoyed it the 2 times we have gone. If you're visiting Lexington this a must place to go! read more

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Hidden gym in Lexington, Native Cafe has a local selection of food and drinks, Everyone is so nice and helpful. Food is delicious and beer is even better...their hours are a bit strange at times so check out their website before heading over! read more

What a great way to spend a Sunday! I love having brunch Kentucky native cafe & Michlers florist the atmosphere is hard to beat. The pretzel bun with egg salad is so good and man that apple dumpling! read more

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Kentucky Native is my favorite place to stop for a drink on a nice day in Lexington! It's sunny and has lots of plants that create the perfect atmosphere to meet up for drinks. I haven't ventured much into the food menu, but I've never tried a beer I didn't like here. Be sure to take a stroll through the greenhouses at Michlers while you're here. Kentucky Native is an outdoor oasis right in the heart of Lexington that seems to transport you far away into a beautiful little forest. read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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This is such a lovely escape that is sneakily adjacent to downtown. I love the setting and the shade is a huge bonus during hot summer days. Because the food/drink area is small, I'd expect very few options, but you can get quality food, beer, coffee, and gelato. I feel like the drinks and gelato are pretty reasonably priced, but the food seems high for how small the portions are and how basic many of the dishes are. I did get pesto and caprese on a pretzel roll once that was WONDERFUL, but the other food I've had here has been mediocre side dishes that don't warrant the price. In the future, it will probably be a destination for outdoor drinks, but it's definitely a unique Lexington spot! read more

Stopped in to chill and grab some cold beers. They have live music and they sound great today. This place is an amazing place to take in some cool shade, beverages, and possible a salad. The kids have a play area to run and play. There isn't a bad place in the area to sit. Even on the hottest summer day this place is like 10 degrees cooler. I haven't been here at night but I see they have light stingers all over the place and I assume it would be just as awesome to be here during the evening hours. This green spot is a gem inside the city limits. Tammy Q and I love to visit this place. We will continue to give this local place our business! Keep doing what you're doing KY native café! read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Food and beverage order shack - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Absolutely wonderful. A light, healthy menu and the best environment imaginable. I can't believe it took me so long to try it! read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Ordering - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Beautiful surroundings made me feel like I was in a forest in the middle of the city. The food is super yummy and the service here is great. I highly recommend it for a nice summer or fall day when it is not too hot or not too cold because it is inside!! read more

If you are visiting Kentucky and want to see where the locals hang out of a beautiful spring evening, this is it. The food is fabulous. Healthy creative salads in an enchanting outdoor space. Not to miss! For food lovers. read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Asparagus salad, cauliflower salad and tuna - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I love this place so much!!! It's one of my favorite local eateries. Even on the hottest days the fact that they have a canopy of trees allows the temperature to stay nice and cool. I have yet to have something there that I don't like. read more

Great place... just go! Hidden Gem I do wish they'd offer a little more protein selection but honestly, I don't have any complaints. This is really a magically little place!!! read more

Really great outdoor area in Lexington. Food menu changes often and you can choose 2-3 things to make up your entree. They also have a selection of shareables. Food was delicious and filling and there is also a small selection of alcoholic drinks. Atmosphere is key here and a great place to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon exploring on your own or catching up with a group of friends! read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Food - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Beautiful area and super cute date night idea. The food and drinks were incredible and light, perfect for a summer night. The service was quick and the ordering process was simple. Will be going again!!! read more

One of the most romantic places you could take your special someone in Lexington. Imagine sitting in a garden under in the evening under strings of lights enjoying a snack and glass of wine. The menu is very simple and overpriced but the food was good and the experience is one of a kind. Also puppy friendly. read more

I always have enjoyed Michele's. Went 2 weeks ago and the cashier asked if I wanted to put a 15 percent tip on the card. I have always left a tip in the jar. Just think if the cashier ask for a tip for just taking your money, why not just raise the prices . Why ask for a tip, when the customer picks up their food and drinks. The customer also takes plates, utensils and glasses to a cart when finished. read more

We went here on the first week that it was opened, and there are a few things that it could fix but if they can get those wrapped up this is going to be one of the coolest places in Lexington. It is the more traditional beer garden, with a bunch of long picnic tables and lots of trees and shrubbery for shade. you feel like you're in a little european oasis in between downtown and campus. When we went, it took about 30 minutes to get through a line of about 20 people. The app they were using to take cards seem to be taking a long time and that may be a Wi-Fi issue, but it made the line almost too long. Also if you get the wrong table on a hot day, you are sitting in the sweltering sun, maybe a few industrial fans for those who come for a happy hour and it is really hot. Other than the few quirks to a new business, it was a really, really cool hidden gem that will remain packed. The food also rotates and is usually some simple summer salad ( potato salad, pasta salad) and there are pretzels and cookies all the time. Unique place, that really adds something new! read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Perfect weather makes Kentucky Native the perfect place to be. - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This place is just so nice and magical. Love how earthy it feels. It was a bit too cold today to hang around and check out more of what this place had to offer but from what I got to experience, I loved every minute of it. Ordered the 3 for $10.95 special of quinoa salad, caramelized apple tart, and roasted butternut squash with tahini sauce. All of the food selections were very delicious! So much flavor, especially in their tahini sauce (tahini, lemon juice with water and garlic) I'd highly recommend coming here on a sunny day. read more

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There is nothing more serene and beautiful than this little café located next to a beautiful greenhouse in the middle of Lexington. If you didn't know the location, it would be hard to find this place because it is perfectly tucked away from the street view. I enjoy coming here for a snack to share over some coffee or tea and enjoy some good quality of conversation. Probably the perfect time of the day to visit would be during dusk when the lights around the greenhouse give this place even more of a magical feel! Menu of food items feature pretzels to share, cookies to cure the sweet tooth, a few options of sandwiches and several options of light salad-like fare such as sesame noodle salad, quinoa salad, etc. So far everything I have tasted has been excellent and worth the price. They also have a handful of beers on tap. Before closing temporarily for winter season, KY native café hosted a small outdoor holiday market. It had probably 15 different vendors. I really liked the experience of it and hope that they can expand it in the upcoming years. One small problem with this place is that they start running out of food pretty quickly. On each of my visits, they were down to a very small number of available items to choose. I hope with a little more planning, they can maintain a decent number of options going throughout the day. KY native café provides a unique little get away from the rest of Lexington. Can't wait to see this place become one of Lexington's hidden gems. read more

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I am always impressed with the food and drinks at Kentucky Native Cafe. While I would come here to enjoy the atmosphere alone, the food brings an added draw. On my last visit I got the chickpea curry salad and red pepper goat cheese sandwich. Both were so fresh and delicious I was left wanting more! The salted pretzel bread is so delicious and I'll eat just about anything if it includes goat cheese so this was the perf sandwich for me. I love curried spices and the texture of chickpeas so the cold salad was right up my alley as well. My mom and I came here on this visit right after our mother/daughter ceramics class on UK's campus (we're cute, I know) and I suggested KNC because it was close. I figured it would be perfect for a quick and fun dinner on a pretty summer night and I was right, she loved it! She got the red pepper and goat cheese sandwich as well and a watermelon pineapple salad, which she loved. I tried it and wasn't into it because I'm not a fan of either fruit (it's a texture thing). Kentucky Native Cafe is a perfect hidden gem between campus and downtown, although you wouldn't know you weren't actually in a forest while eating here. read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Curry chickpea & mango salad and roasted red pepper and goat cheese sandwich on pretzel bread - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This is a Kentucky Hidden Gem!! Tucked behind a greenhouse and flower store is a garden cafe paradise. Stringing lights, beautiful landscaping. Try the pretzels read more

This is a great place to meet with friends to relax, enjoy beautiful scenery, have drinks and eat some interesting salads. The food prices are reasonable, but it's not the kind of place to eat if you are starving. It's more of a light meal or snack. I ordered the pick 2 for $7.95 meal - selecting eggplant and kale salad. Both were good. The other items on the menu sounded interesting and I'd like to go back to try them. I also liked how they had a parking lot with plenty of spaces. My only complaint was that I got a mosquito bite on my foot. Next time I'll wear bug spray. read more

An AWESOME oasis in the heart of Lexington, near the UK campus. This is absolutely reminiscent of a German beer garden, with the food and beverages to match! The staff are super friendly, as well as the cat that visited for some scratching. Come at dusk and watch the bats departing for their night of feeding on pesky insects. Next time we go, well use some bug spray, but what do you expect from a natural area in the heart of the city? read more

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Stumbled on this gem on our way to a different restaurant: so stoked we pulled in! It's all outdoor seating (no umbrellas: take note on hot or rainy days...), rotating seasonal menu, and a totally chill vibe. We hung out as the sun set so we got to see the lights come on. It was a great night! Stoked: Kids love it! Toy trucks to dig around in a garden atmosphere; local as it gets (from the garden right there) and delicious food. Bummed: Pick a nice day to go: no covered seating. Tip: it's a "pick 3-4 items" type menu. It's enough to share, especially if you get a beer. They pour big steins! read more

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We went to dinner last night. What a delightful place. I had the watermelon mint salad and the peanut noodle salad with sparkling water to drink. The watermelon salad had yellow and red watermelon . The peanut noodle salad was really good. Two for 7.95 was enough for me .You can get 3 salads for 10.95. Can't wait to go back and have the apple dumpling! read more

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We went there on a Thursday, late-evening. I love the location. The lighting. What a great space for hanging out with friends and relaxing! I'm not a beer drinker so my choices were tea, water and sparkling apple juice. I opted for sparkling apple juice. My husband enjoyed the local beer options (5 & change for a what appeared to be a 1/2 Liter stein). Six were on-tap. We had the pretzel plate (9 & change) and although the pretzels were good I didn't care for the onions & radishes. Whomever eats them will scare you with their breath.... I thought the rest of the food options were pretentious and overpriced. That needs some tweaking. Mosquitos like me. This is on the backside of Michler's Florist/Greenhouse. I had five bites from that evening. I didn't let this effect the star-rating but its important to relay for others that have this problem. Wear repellant. Three stars for the atmosphere and one for the pretzels & the fact that my husband liked the beer. Try some other food options at a more fair price and the fifth star will come easily. read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Entrance from the parking lot out back - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Wonderful is a understatement. Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Lexington. The atmosphere is great! It's Lexington's hidden Gem of restaurants. read more

This place is favorite! Good vibe! Good drinks! Pets welcomed :) Great for large parties. read more

When the weather is perfect (like today), this place is just the best to be. They have a good selection of beer, wine, and small dishes (mostly vegan and they are all delicious!). The only thing is since it's a garden, there are insects/mosquitoes around at times. But otherwise it's a great hang-out place! read more

Kentucky Native Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Such a great place we stumbled upon while visiting Lexington. Food was AMAZING! I couldn't get enough of the peanut noodle salad and the strawberry basil gelato was the perfect way to end our anniversary date. I look forward to going back and bringing our son so he can play in the forest playground next to all the outdoor seating! read more

Great menu. Ingredients taste fresh. Extremely affordable. Food came out very quick. Beautiful and peaceful environment. This would never happen in l.a. haha. read more

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Very cute Little spot for good fresh food, some drinks and to chill. Dogs are welcome. Had German style Helles beer. Very tasty. read more

Love this place! I have one complaint... I wish the kale brussels sprouts salad was on the menu all the time!

Great ambiance. We enjoyed a glass of wine and beer and Shared a delicious pretzel and scone amongst all the beautiful plants and trees. Cello player set the tone. I would drive the distance between Louisville and Lexington just for the scone. read more

Well me and the boys were out here again and we had the best idea in a long time. . Why not we just combine r to favorite things in the world running in the woods and eating good food thats when we discovered ky native cafe. Fixed myself up with a pretsel and beer cheese woo doggy i also got attacked by birds and my buddy harold ran into a tree. Great experience the boys will be back lol read more

This is physically the perfect summer spot. Beautifully set up with huge old trees and lots of well spaced out tables. Service-wise, they are feeling the pinch of staff shortages. As I have to go evenings and weekends along with the rest of the city, I have never seen a line shorter than 10 people. You order at the window and the person taking your order is also the bartender. They only serve beer and wine which should make this faster but some of the wines are spritzers. There is a table next to the building where a food prep person sets your order and calls your name. I have never seen a staff member bussing any tables but they have a cart set up on the other side of the building for you to do that yourself. This building holds very little food because if you go within the last 2 hours of the day, 90% of the menu items will be erased from the chalkboard. If you fear pesticides, this is your spot as the flies and bugs are plentiful so spray yourself down before you come if you are okay with OFF. This sounds like I hate the place and I really don't. I just don't come hungry and I order 2 drinks every time I make it to the window. With more staff and more food, this would be a 5 star location. read more

This is the perfect place to take little kids to hang out in the late afternoon. Sand pit with toys, A little Koi pond and beautiful series of green houses to explore, nice local craft beers, delicious Bavarian pretzels, and local ice cream. I wouldn't plan on this being dinner; it is more like small plates. But the atmosphere is incredible, casual, very easy-going place to spend the afternoon. We can't wait to go back for brunch. read more

Unique outdoor venue. Fresh, local, high quality food and beverages. We enjoy grabbing a drink and browsing through the greenhouses as well. A must try place in Lexington. read more