We love the unpretentious but high quality bar bites here. The patio is quite pleasant and they know how to pour a good Guinness, it being a pub in the Irish style. Lovely neighborhood spot! read more

Love walking by this place. It has a cute seating area next to the outdoor bar and patio seating. It's perfect for the spring. We just came by quickly for a beer and ending up ordering onion rings. They were perfect the hype around them was confirmed! I love how easy it was to order food with the QR code. read more

The Jockey Bar - Onion Rings and Guinness - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Came on a packed St Patrick's Day expecting an average meal and spotty service due to the crowds. Jockey Bar was the exact opposite. We seated ourselves, ordered from the QR code on the table and the food arrived quickly delivered by an awesomely friendly waitress. You can also order directly from the bar but the code was much easier for us. They had an Irish band but the seats we found were in the back of the restaurant so you couldn't hear the music back there due to the layout of the dining area. Fish and chips were great, burger was basic but good and juicy, and the rest of the food we had was great as well. read more

We were staying at an AirBnB directly above this place and could not have asked for a better home base! The staff was wonderful and they carried Japanese whiskey. I got the whole group hooked on Japanese Highballs now. read more

Met up with some friends at The Jockey Bar for dinner and a drink around 7 on a weekday- There was plenty of seating indoor and outdoor which was great as it was a nice summer night. You can order food at the table (menu is QR code) and go up to the bar for drinks. Our waitress was nice and checked in on us every so often. It was a bit difficult to get service at the bar- not because they were busy but the bartender was absent a good portion of the time- maybe because it was a slower night? The food was typical "bar food" - nothing to write home about. Their brunch specials looked good though! read more

Great food! If you go you have to try the smashburger, pretzel bites, chicken tenders and of course the drinks!! Phenomenal service and even got to meet the owner who was very accommodating. read more

Quentin at Jockey Bar may very well be one of the best bartenders in Lexington! Friendly, knows a little bit of everything, and brings the best industry knowledge. Jockey Bar has some of the best pricing downtown and is the only place serving adult beverages during the Saturday farmers market. Food is also great! Cool, friendly vibe reminiscent of Irish pubs. read more

The Jockey Bar - Jockey Bar - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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It's your standard bar with great pizza. We came with some friends before a basketball game and had a good time. Lots of seating options and I think during warmer months there's more outdoor seating too. read more

The Jockey Bar - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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My son and I were passing through Kentucky and decided to drop in on Lexington. It was a Saturday and they had a farmers market. After roaming to find a restaurant we decided on The Jockey. We had dinner plans so we shared the double smash burger which came with chips. Service and food were great! Highly recommend if you are looking for a good place to eat. Laid back atmosphere.. read more

Friendly staff with one of the only street side bars open for Saturday morning Farmers Market. Great spot to stop for a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or other tipple before or after some fresh food and market shopping. read more

The Jockey Bar - Street view of the patio seating and banners - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Will never go back and will not recommend. Service was terrible, was told to have a seat anywhere, we waited almost 10 minutes before a CUSTOMER...YES, A CUSTOMER from the bar walked over to us and told us they don't wait on tables, you have to go to the bar and order drinks and food or use the card on the table to scan and place an order. So, I went up to the bar, and the male bartender just walked right past us, no "Hello" or "Welcome" no greeting, just goes down to stop and talk with "regulars" and drink his drink...while me and another person waited, she to pay, and me to order drinks. When the other female bartender finally came back, I finally got to place my drink orders. When she brought them, there was water all over the table, I had to go up to the bar to get a bunch of napkins to clean it up, and some coasters for our drinks. When asking for sugar for tea, she brings me a container of Splenda, I told her I need regular sugar, she states I will check to see if we have any, ???, the other bartender comes to our table and puts down like 15 packs of sugar with an attitude?? When we ask for milk for the tea, he looks aggravated and comes back with a very small spit-type plastic cup like you get from the Dentist, with milk, when the people next to us got a nice small white pitcher ??? The attitude from both these two was so off it was pathetic and we were very nice, even talking with the "customer" and introducing ourselves, very pleasant he was. The food was not great, however the cook who brought out the meals was very nice. The pictures on the internet do not represent what you get or the atmosphere, our meal was cold, and the flavors were off, so disappointing. When we came in there was horse racing and rugby on, and we were excited to watch, but they turn the volume down and put on a mixture of rap/country/pop music ??? Why not Irish music? Very bizarre. There was another incident when paying, so just make sure to count out your money in front of them before leaving. Leason learned. I could have used the Q card on the table, but it asks to add a tip, before you even have gotten your meal, so glad I didn't use it. - We drove an hour for this, and was truly disappointed. read more

Service was great! A guy named Kyler was working and he was the best! He was talking to us laughing making our time so enjoyable and was constantly asking if he can take empty drinks from our table to make sure it stays clean! 10/10 would come back purely to see him again he made the time super enjoyable! read more

Erica at the bar quickly served us. Most places were closed on a Sunday but The Jockey was. We sat outside and ordered food via the QR code. Everything came out piping hot. My daughter said it was the best fish and chips that she has ever had. The steak fries were nicely seasoned and crisp outside while soft inside. The smash burgers were done well and crispy on the outside. The tomatoes, onions, and pickles came on the side. We also had the pretzel bites and they were basted with butter and then salted. The queso was surprisingly not fully melted but the pretzels didn't need it. Overall this was a great unplanned experience since the places we had on our list were closed. However I would certainly return when I'm in the area next time. read more

I came in with a large group so I hope that explains my experience... I ordered a lemonade which tasted extremely watered down. I got a burger, medium rare but it was so over cooked, I could only eat half. My fries were very undercooked. I would recommend the fruit salad although my pineapple still included the core and order water. read more

The Jockey Bar - Ordered medium rare...what is this?? - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

The Jockey is always a good time for casual dining, Irish breakfast and calm bar scene ( except the weekends when college is back in session!) love visiting with the Irish crowd and seeing all the regular Lex customers. The manager, the chefs and bartenders remember their names and provide great service! Especially good place to grab a beer and watch the seasonal sports games and matches! read more

The bar and patio were nice but don't recommend the dining experience. Online ordering only and the Fish & Chips were small portions for the $18 price read more

The Jockey Bar - Fish & Chips (minus the smallest of the 3 in my hand) seems very overpriced for $18. - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Visited on a Friday night prior to a nearby event at Rupp Arena. We did not have a reservation, so we were relieved and pleased to be able to find a watering hole with quick food options. (The other venues were an hour or more waitlist and panic-inducing to make it to our event.) I had an espresso martini and my pal had a cosmopolitan equivalent and the bartender was working like a madman behind the bar to fill orders. He was up to his a$$ in crocodiles. Impressive! We ordered single patty dressed smash burgers with housemade chips and the food was hot and tasty. Ordering process is via an app at each table, which are unique and food is delivered relatively fast, and simple payment via the phone, so we had time to spare. I believe it was the owner who passed by our table several times to collect spent plates and glasses and had a pleasant Irish accent, so that was also impressive to witness hands on attention. We also had live music with a singing guitar player who was talented and provided some pleasant listening. The place has a great vibe in the bar area where we ended up, but there is also plenty of outdoor seating and another dining area with the feeling that the property goes on forever. Will plan to return if we are in the area again, as this was a small excursion from the Louisville area for us to attend an event at Rupp Arena. read more

Very disappointing since this was the recommended spot for "authentic" food. Cold fries, skinny cold fries, no curry sauce, "mushy peas" with non hydrated dry peas in the mix (not fun to bite down on!). Tartar sauce was basically mayo with nothing added. You order and tip through an app so it doesn't feel like you can have a conversation with a server to fix anything. read more

Great service, delicious food! Burgers, chicken fingers and pretzel bites were a huge hit with my family.

Service wasn't great. Burger was less than average. The bun tasted like they simply pulled it out of a plastic bag. read more

The Jockey Bar - Hope you don't like toppings on your burger. This is all they provide. Stay home, you can do better than this. - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Opened for one month now. Arrived 8m before 11a opening & they let us come in out of the cold. A very nice gentleman w/ shaggy hair got us some coffee & gave us menus. Six employees were standing around waiting until opening, one drinking coffee. I'd have to say they could have a few pots brewing befor breakfast & have the cream ready. After our first cup we had to wait for a fresh brew. There were only five customers & we were the only ones drinking coffee. We had to ask a few times for cream when it was not busy w/ many employees. The server said she had to run downstairs to get the cream. A few kinks need to be worked out there. Also when I ordered the Egg, cheese & Irish bacon sandwich, they never offered the Garlic Mayo as they did to the customer next to us. Also the Guinness could be a bit colder. Different server. Just fyi to management. I have to give them 5 stars on food & hope they iron out the kinks being that they are a new business w/ beautiful ambience of black & white horse pictures, TVG on & a great Irish Concept on food, which we need. Irish Breakfast was absolutely delicious & perfectly cooked. The tomato was supposed to be roasted, but no worry. The fries were plump & very good. My Egg Sandwich was on a soft toasted bun & was very satisfying, being that I didn't want to eat a heavy breakfast. Overall, food came out hot & savory & looking forward to the dinner menu as I overheard the table next to us wanting to order off of that menu such as the Sausage Rolls. read more

The Jockey Bar - Proper Irish Breakfast, though the tomato is not roasted 5/5 - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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While visiting the area in March decided to celebrate my Irish heritage and give this new pub a try. After a short debate with myself I chose the Bangers and Mash over the Shepherds Pie or Fish and Chips. The menu seems to have evolved some even in the short time it has been open as it was slightly different than the pictures recently posted. Personal pet peeve, if someone orders unsweetened tea at least offer sweetener or automatically bring it if not on the table. The Bangers were as good as any I have had before. I can't speak to their authenticity since I have never been to Ireland myself and only recently become aware of the my Irish heritage, I didn't have an Irish grandma that made them for me. I would have liked a bit more of the gravy with the mashed potatoes which were ok. Not a huge fan of peas but they were ok as well. While not directly controlled by the pub, parking in the area is limited to multiple pay lots and a few metered spaces on the streets. Maybe the pub and other restaurants in the area should explore options for validated parking. I will be less likely to return and pay for parking when there are so many other options in Lexington where parking is free. read more

The Jockey Bar - Bangers and Mash - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I we ate here several weeks ago, I really didn't know what to think about it. The have redecorated the inside & it kind of feels like you're at Keenland?? Menu was really really different...many Irish themed dishes, but then curry dishes and nachos???Not what you would expect. Our beers were not very cold, We settled on some food choices we would have rather not have made. With outside patio & Rupp Arena/Heritage Hall area opening back up, maybe things will be different?? read more

The Jockey Bar - Pesto Pasta with Blackened Chicken - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Last night was our first night in Lexington and we were looking for somewhere cool to eat and found this place. It was packed with UK fans but cleared out as soon as the game started. We were lucky enough to get a table in the bar area. The service was great and everyone working there was very friendly. I started with a glass of house wine and realized once I looked at the menu I should have picked one of the local beers. My husband got the Lexington Brewing Charismatic so at least I got to taste it. I can't go somewhere that has shepherd's pie and not order it so that's what I had for dinner. It was so yummy. The sauce in the beef mixture was fantastic and the piped mashed potatoes on top were cooked perfectly. I like to try new things and order something different when I go back to a place I've been before but it will be very difficult for me to not order this again on our next visit. read more

The Jockey Bar - Shepherd's Pie - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Service was incredible. They accommodated us in our own quiet little space up on the balcony. Really awesome spot and still had food and drinks promptly. They made special requests when needed for food restrictions. Also, these car bombs of different flavors had us coming back even on other nights of the week. Cool horse racing gear around it. Will definitely check out again when back in town! read more

Good food, attentive service, nice patio for outdoor seating and bar, and live music inside. The crab cake salad was good and my boyfriend enjoyed the chicken sandwich with Irish bacon. Nothing particularly remarkable, but a solid meal. read more

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Fun Place We have enjoyed the " Jockey" numerous times , good memories of the ol cheapside bar with a horse racing twist. Great drinks and service. The classic theme is what you expect in horse country A definite place to visit while in for the races. They say a new menu coming in April. Can't wait to visit again. read more

We have had only positive experiences here, and we have been quite a lot!! Perfect saturday morning post farmers market lunch spot. food is always perfect, bar is typically fast, and everyone (especially the new owner) is SO nice! I believe they said they renovated and reopened recently (as in probably a year ago?) so i'm not sure how it was before, but if that is what's stopping you don't let it!! Seriously one of the most enjoyable spots we go to, and they have always been very respectful of my working dog (and even give her a water bowl:) read more

Prior to taking in a bluegrass show at Arts Place, we decided to give Horse and Jockey a try. We were in a bit of a rush, so we weren't able to do anything beyond drinks/appetizers, but we enjoyed what we had time to try! Horse and Jockey is, of course, in the location of former of Cheapside Bar. While the basic layout remains the same, it's clear that significant improvements have been made to the former establishment. The interior now has a horse racing theme, large televisions tuned to racing, much improved restroom facilities, and Irish music in the background. Like I mentioned, we only got to try appetizers, but we enjoyed our Home-Baked Sausage Rolls (Irish Bangers in puff pastry served with Coleman's Mustard and House Ketchup) and Beef Empanadas (filled with stewed beef a la Shepherd's Pie beef). Like the appetizers we enjoyed, the rest of the menu is largely centered around traditional Irish fare, which I think will be a big hit with the horsey folks and lovers of all things Irish. Many thanks to the Horse and Jockey crew, who got us in/out quickly, so we could catch the show! We plan to go back soon and explore the menu further! read more

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The drinks get 5 stars while the food gets 3 = 4. The service was really good too. I got the Shepard's Pie and it was lackluster compared to the pics... You can see my photo vs others. I found myself using the salt and pepper shakers, which tells you a lot. This is a standard Irish pub IMO and part sports bar. They have a massive TV to watch world soccer (football) as they call it. The bank of booth style seating along the way is not the most comfortable. Even if you pull the table all the way to you, you won't be able to reach the back. They have a nice drink menu of fancy cocktails and table seating in the back. The menu is straight out of Ireland. read more

The Jockey Bar - Old fashioned - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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New place to check out - only been open to the public a few weeks! Our experience was good overall, we had dinner on a Saturday evening (after a UK basketball game downtown). The restaurant was very busy and they were understaffed, something to work on, but they were apologetic for. Food was wonderful, no complaints about our choices at all! Music was a bit loud (but I also sat right below a speaker in the corner). We will definitely be back again, just like any new restaurant, needs some kinks worked out - as someone previously mentioned! read more

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Fun ambiance. Excellent burger. Ice cold beer. Great service even when extremely bysy and h I sting a private party at the same time. We will definitely return. read more

The service was subpar and someone named Jimmy was extremely rude. We purchased several beers from them but he seemed offended we didn't buy food. read more

Go see Quinton, great server ! Full heartedly recommend him especially on weekend's ! Good at convos and can pour some amazing drinks. Love this spot. read more

Quentin is the most awesome bartender. Took great care of us, great espresso martini, wonderful vibe, excellent taste in music. You get Quentin you'll have the best time. read more

Been for brunch and lunch. I love the location and the place is fine, but I was pretty disappointed in the brunch; we waited around an hour for a breakfast sandwich and an English and then they got my breakfast sandwich wrong somehow. I chalked this up to a soccer game that everyone was watching, despite maybe less than 20 people in, not eating. With the time we had to wait, it didn't seem like asking for a redo was prudent given our time constraints. They apologized, but left everything on the bill. For a couple bucks, that just means don't go back. But I did and the Shepard's Pie is fricking delicious and whoever was tending bar then was cool AF. So yeah, hit or miss. Will go back. read more

My son and I are visiting Lexington for a show at Rupp Arena. We went out for lunch and decided to checkout this Irish pub. When we first walked in, a customer greeted us and said we could sit anywhere. A customer, not an employee. The bartender was behind the bar, but never acknowledged us. My son and I sat at a table. A server came to our table and told us that all she could get us was water and if we wanted anything else to drink that we would need to walk up to the bar to order it. For ordering food, she instructed us to scan the QR code and that we would have to order and prepay for our food or that I could go up to the bar and order food. When I went up to the bar to order a beer, I asked if I could order food also. The bartender said that the beer and food are separate and said I wasn't able to order food there. Which I thought was weird because if I was actually sitting at the bar I could order food. So I proceeded to order through the QR code. After we received our food, the server never came back to check on us to see how everything was. We ran out of waters and never got refills until I went searching through the restaurant for the server. My son ordered the chicken tenders and fries. The chicken was bland and flavorless and the fries were cold, but he proceeded to finish the meal because he was hungry (he's a teenage boy). I ordered the fish and chips. The batter was fine, but the fish inside the batter was mushy and fries were cold. I wasn't able to eat it and again went searching through the restaurant to find the server to send the food back and get a refund. The manager never came to the table. Since we had to prepay through the QR code (via Toast), getting a refund was very frustrating and it was not accurate because I was still charged for the tax of the fish and chips. When we were going through the refund process, I noticed one of the cooks coming out into the dining room to see who "this person was" (aka me) that was sending the fish back. I've worked in restaurants and bartended for several years and still, the manager never came to the table and no staff members seemed to care in how to make it right. It was a very disappointing experience. I asked our server if every restaurant is like this in Lexington and she said "no, we were just different." That's very true. read more

I'm updating my review after giving this place another try, probably 20 more tries, actually. The patio space brought us back a second time, and since then, we've had nothing but positive experiences. Great ambiance, consistently tasty food, and great service. I especially love that the owners are involved. Each time we've returned, they are present, interacting with guests and actively working alongside staff. Love it! read more

This place is awesome!!! Everyone that works there is amazing!!! They have the best fish and chips and shepherds pie!!! If you haven't tried it yet y'all are missing out and definitely need to go try it!!! I definitely recommend the Horse and Jockey!! read more

My husband and I went here for brunch on a Sunday morning. Everything was perfect. I have been to Ireland and tasted food just like this and they prepared it spot on! The sausages omg they are buttery smooth just like you get in Ireland!! I loved it and wish I lived closer so I could eat here more often. read more

The Jockey Bar - Full Irish breakfast with over medium eggs. So good!! - Irish Pub Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky