Bardstown, the self-proclaimed Bourbon Capital of The World. It's also Kentucky's second-oldest city. If you are looking for a place to eat and/or drink you will find yourself in Bardstown's historical downtown, where most of the bars and eateries are located. Right in the center of downtown is The Old Talbott Tavern, a historic inn, tavern, and Bourbon bar (they say it's the World's oldest.) As a bar, it was a great experience with a wide selection behind the counter, friendly bartenders, and live music on the weekends. I enjoyed slinging back some brown water while talking with the staff and other fellow travelers. As a restaurant it's A-OK. I ordered a Ribeye steak and some fries and it did the job. Was it on-par with the fare you'd find in the big city? Probably not. There's nothing wrong with that, especially when you are in a smaller town in the middle of Kentucky. The Old Talbott Tavern is worth visiting for the historic ambiance and a great Bourbon bar, just don't expect much from the food. read more

The Old Talbott Tavern - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Couldn't get reservations for dinner so we went for lunch. We Had bourbon flight & caramel old fashioned. Food was excellent & our server was lots of fun. We definitely book dinner reservations earlier next time we're in town . read more

Amazing drinks and desert. We had such a fun evening here with live music on Saturday night. So cool that this is the oldest bourbon bar. read more

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Download the app and walk around to look at the history. It will make you appreciate the history of the tavern. Four adults for lunch and were put in the very back room near kitchen although there were tables not as far back. Myself and another got the soup trio that was served temp wise warm not hot. The soup of day was curry cauliflower- nope- disappointed. Other 2 soups okay. The corn muffins were warm and very tasty. Other guest had chicken fried steak which he enjoyed and other guest had the Rachel sandwich that he enjoyed as well. Waitress was very fast and friendly. Parking was pretty easy and the location was nice to see a bit of old Bardstown. read more

Great music, friendly service, fun atmosphere and amazing appetizers. You need to make reservations if you wish to dine here. We did not, so we ended up on the bar side and had an amazing time. read more

I cannot express how amazing this place is. The food is great. The service is impeccable. This history is unmatched. If you're ever close to bardstown this place is a must! read more

When in Bardstown, you need to visit the oldest tavern. Not a tourist trap but a great restaurant and bar. Come sit where many others have sat. Enjoy a bourbon from their huge selection. Don't know what you want? No worries. They are happy to help you choose. Started off with a rye neat. Placed an order of Stagecoach Fries from the appetizers. Yelpers mentioned these and this appetizer is delicious. Hubby and I each ordered The General's Southern Fried Chicken served with gravy (tasted like mayonnaise) and two sides. I wanted green beans and coleslaw but they were out of coleslaw. I had their house fried potato chips instead. Very good chips. Hubby got green beans and collard greens. He said they were good. We enjoyed live music as we ate and chatted with the bartenders and people sitting near us. Talbots Tavern was established in 1779! They have an Inn, restaurant, and bourbon bar. No reservations. First come first served. read more

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Serving since 1779, Talbott claims to be both oldest tavern in the US, and oldest restaurant in KY. Since Open Table claimed no reservations available, we called looking for a 6:30 spot. They said they had several large parties, but could work us in at 7. We went early to grab an old-fashioned, but found ourselves seated at 6:30 anyway. I started with the Kentucky burgoo- a spicy beefy vegetable soup I first encountered at the Keeneland track near Lexington. This version was considerably more spicy, and truly delicious. I ordered the Jesse James Ribeye ($38.99, a chargrilled ribeye steak seasoned and basted in homemade Jim Beam marinade, with two sides). I ordered it medium and it was cooked to order and very flavorful. However, it was also quite chewy, and not easy to cut- I didn't finish it, and declined a box. Jeanette had the Alexander Walters Salmon (18.99- Wild caught salmon served with house-made reduced dill cream sauce and two sides). It was pan fried, skinless, and she said it was delicious and the dill sauce was great. One out of two, then. Our server, Bethany, negotiated around several of those large orders almost flawlessly, providing for a nice experience. read more

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Driving through on the way to another distillery and saw this place! How cool let's check out the oldest bourbon bar in the world... so we did. First, the outside is very cool for the history nuts like me. A few neat artifacts inside as well. The room where the bar itself is has been modernized and doesn't really have that old feel anymore. It also smelled funny to me (kind of like cleaning fluid maybe...) so that was a turn off. They do seem to have retained some of the original bar but way less than I was expecting. I didn't personally eat or drink here so not reviewing the food, but it was a disappointment in terms of atmosphere. read more

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So being told it was the oldest bourbon bar in America piqued my interest. It did not disappoint! So not only do you get to drink somewhere that Abraham Lincoln, George Patton, and most US presidents have drank at. But also to have a phenomenal bourbon selection! The food was super good! Some of the best fried green tomatoes ever! The Kentucky hot brown did not disappoint either! I had been wanting to try one for forever! It was amazing! The real star of this place was the service. One of the best waitresses I have ever had! One that memorizes all of our names even though we never told her our names! Great food and bourbon suggestions too. Super cool place. I will be back! read more

The Old Talbott Tavern - Hot Brown! - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

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Visiting the area and decided to have dinner here. We loved the history of the place! We made reservations, but they were able to seat us early. There was a very loud party a few tables away that detracted from our experience, but that was no fault of the restaurant. I can easily see this being a nice, relaxing place for dinner. 3 of us had steak which was cooked to perfection. Tender and juicy; delish. 2 has pork chops. Neither liked the soft texture or the bourbon mango glaze. 1 had Shepards pie and he really enjoyed it. We also had peach cobbler which was very good. Overall I'd recommend and will come back of im in the area. read more

First time visiting and will be my last , the server we had was good , but can't say that for others , their was a party of 6 that had been waiting a very long time for their food , I heard them asking waitress politely where their food was because people that had came in after them had already got their food ( us being one of the parties) she rudely said to them that they weren't the only customers and they have other dining rooms to serve also . Apparently when she brought the food it was cold , we heard them say we aren't eating this and she said what do you want me to do . Like it was a issue , instead of saying sorry to them . They ask for the manager and she said she was the manager, then when she brought out the rest of the food . She said they were the f---ing rudest customers, my friend and I looked at each other and said did she really say that to them , I was in complete shock . I will never return and I will let people know how the manager and staff were , Awful customer service and the food wasn't good either !! You need to improve !! You don't deserve any stars in my opinion!! read more

We were in town for spring break. We have heard that eating at the Talbott Tavern was a must. The ambiance is great here. We started with drinks at the bar and they were great. We were seated at the time of our reservation. There were 4 of us for our reservation. Two ordered steaks, one ordered catfish and the fourth ordered soup and Caesar salad. We also ordered an appetizer of pretzel bites. Our pretzel bites didn't come out for our appetizer. When our food came out it looked delicious, but everything was cold...except the soup and of course the salad was cold. We appreciated the atmosphere and the food tasted fine but was cold. I would try it again. read more

I was so looking forward to my visit on NYE. Our server was very nice but unfortunately she couldn't make up for a horrible meal. It was a limited menu for the evening so I had high hopes. Steak was tough and stringy and had to ask for a steak knife and still had difficulty. Carrots were mostly raw. Mashed potatoes were cold and pasty. Tasted another dish with pork and it was really dry and over cooked. I would describe my meal of over $40 as a poorly executed banquet food. Very disappointed and would not recommend. read more

Loved this place, but I can only comment on the gift shop, where I bought some very tasty homemade bourbon balls, and the bar, where we got some well made bourbon cocktails. The building itself is worth a visit, dating back to the late 18th century, and has some well preserved Flemish masonry. There are also some historical exhibits upstairs. There's a restaurant that looks quite busy and probably needs reservations. Service was busy but friendly. Located in the cute "town square" where you can walk off the cocktails. read more

If you like bourbon and history than this is the place for you. I stopped in for an early dinner and while the food was great, the drinks were OK. I had the hot brown, which was very good. I also had the walnut chocolate pie for dessert. I ordered a couple cocktails, an old fashioned and a Manhattan; they were just OK. While they have a huge selection of liquors, especially bourbon, the cocktails were mediocre. While I wasn't blown away, I'd definitely come back and recommend you do if for no other reason than the history here. read more

If you read some of the other reviews, you might think twice about going to this establishment. I am baffled because our service and food were amazing. Our family left NOTHING on our plates. You must have dessert. I don't care if you think you are full, it is a must. Cobbler and the chess pie were fantastic. Christine was friendly and warm. It felt like home! read more

The Old Talbott Tavern - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Pretty cool place! We enjoyed going upstairs to see the Jesse James room. The food was good and our waitress was super helpful. read more

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A must eat in Bardstown. All the dishes we tried were very tasty and the Bourbon selection is truly magnificent! Our server Danielle was friendly, fast, attentive and kind. The Jesse James room upstairs is historic! My only complaint is the overpriced bourbon. $120 a shot for 20 year old Chicken Cock when I bought the entire bottle next door at CC that afternoon for 220. Be fair, folks. P read more

Completely lacking any common courtesy.. we arrived around 3:30 and asked at the check in counter if there was anyway we could order the fried chicken off dinner menu.. we were told no, that we would need to wait until 4pm. My sister was speaking with manager asking questions about menu , one was about the gravy that comes with the fried chicken .. We were seated and given menus, only to have the same manager come over and tell us they were out of fried chicken.. even though we were first ones seated for dinner .. he knew since 3:30 that was what we were going to order .... read more

Yikes We visited here at 3:50pm and it was not crowded. There were some people eating in the dining room areas, but there were lots of open tables. the host told us that they were currently switching from lunch to dinner and that it would be a 15 minute wait, which was not a problem. We got seated and ordered appetizers and entrees which were both just alright. The beer cheese pretzels were definitely the best of all the food. We were seated at a table in the room with all of the old menus posted, and in that room there is a server station where servers get drinks. As I was sitting at the table eating I witnessed our server remove her shoe and sock and do something to her foot, then she put her sock back on and continued working. At that point I was astonished but did not want to alarm my family as they had already finished their meals. Once the meal was over we asked for a to-go drink and had full view of multiple servers standing at the drink station talking right next to our table. After waiting about 3 minutes I approached the station and politely asked if I could get a to-go beverage thinking she may have forgotten, and our server was very rude telling me "yea im getting it". I have worked in the service industry and I really hate leaving negative reviews, however I would never remove my shoe in a dining room of a restaurant. At that point it becomes a food safety issue. read more

The food was delicious, our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The restaurant itself was relatively quiet. The restrooms were clean. The hostess was not the friendliest person but the overall experience was great! read more

This place is absolutely amazing the old fashioned feeling it gives is so cool and the food is spectacular I definitely recommend this place read more

The Old Talbott Tavern - Sweet tea is the best - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

One of the appeals of checking out The Old Talbott Tavern is the history behind it. For those that are passing through Bardstown (aka the Bourbon Capital of the World) for the first time and appreciate historical buildings (and bourbon), The Old Talbott Tavern is worth visiting once for a whiskey pour at their bar or some dinner if you're looking for a bite to eat. Culinary-wise is ok. It's a decent meal, but it's ultimately not why you go to visit there. There is a tourism vibe to it if you're looking to do that. Being that they do have lodging, the Old Talbott is a good spot located in the center of town to stay a couple of nights while you visit the nearby distilleries. The Tavern has the appeal of being a building that's been in existence since the late 18th century. When you walk into the building, it's clear you're walking on floorboards that have most likely been around for centuries. The stone walls in the tavern itself look like they are the same stone and wood when originally built. Whiskey-wise, they have a good selection of various bourbons from distilleries across the state that are recognizable to most fairweather drinkers and connoisseurs. The Old Talbott was where I was able to order a pour of Weller 12 and didn't need to pay an arm and a leg for one. The tavern dining room was a nice setting to have dinner, which ultimately wasn't anything extraordinary. The service was satisfactory, where we expediently received our food after ordering. I ordered the Abe's Country Fried Steak that consisted of a hand-breaded batter, served with pepper milk gravy, french fries, and green beans. The presentation and culinary experience seemed no different from any restaurant where you could order a country fried steak. The COVID-19 regulations were probably the reason why the servers provided ketchup and other condiment packets as opposed to bottles or serving dishes. But the experience did feel like we were at a Disney-themed restaurant out of Frontierland. Ultimately, we cut short having dessert and any more drinks due to another party by us that had been seated with an obnoxious child who couldn't behave himself and stay seated. That aspect aside, I'm glad we went to check out the tavern as it was our first time in Bardstown. But one time was enough. read more

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This tavern is attached to the Talbott Inn. It's the world's oldest bourbon bar - which is perfect since we were on a bourbon trail trip. The bar has a large selection of tap beers, bourbon, and other spirits. My fiancé and I went multiple nights during our stay in Bardstown and really enjoyed ourselves. Brendan was our bartender one of the nights and he was so nice & informative on bourbon. Plus he makes some great cocktails so that's always bonus! Check out the Talbott Tavern when in Bardstown! read more

We had a great stay at the tavern! We spent 2 days here in the Daniel Boone room - one of the rooms with a noise warning on nights with live music. If you come here expecting a stay like you would in a chain hotel, you'll be disappointed. They're missing some of the classic amenities I've come to expect in a place like a Marriott, like spare pillows, a clear spot to put luggage off the floor, updated TV, etc. However, for everything this hotel may lack, it makes up for in charm, personality and history. Our room was comfortable and clean, and the staff we interacted with on the hotel side were very helpful. We enjoyed the complimentary breakfast both mornings we stayed here - it wasn't anything fancy but it was delicious. It was kind of fun making connections with other guests and some of the hotel/bar/restaurant staff while we were there. We chatted quite a bit with the owner, and appreciated the extra context for some of the history of the space - including information about the collection of art in the dining room and some of the lore surrounding the murals unearthed during the fire in the 1990s (said to have been left by King Louis of France) and two bullet holes left by Jesse James in the murals. The owner was also a great resource in finding cool places in the area to visit. The bar, which is apparently the world's oldest bourbon bar, had an extensive selection of bourbons and signature bourbon cocktails to choose from. There was also a limited selection of non-bourbon drinks (including beer, wine and limited other spirits). However, the bar lives and dies by the bartender. The first night, our bartender didn't seem to be the standard bartender and likely was filling in from another role - as a result, the vibes in the bar were a little lower energy. Our second night, Brendan created such a fun environment - all of the patrons at the bar were chatting and having a great time. At the restaurant, we went for dinner one night. The beer cheese appetizer was great, but not at all what I expected. I was anticipating something more similar to other beer cheeses I've had in the past, a warm, meaty cheese. This was more like a pimento cheese - perfectly southern and a bit unexpected, but truly hit the spot. The catfish was absolutely delicious and perfectly crispy. My fiancé had the pot roast and raved about it. Kristine was also an incredible waitress - she was running around like crazy and really made us feel so welcome. I even ordered a drink not on the menu (a hot toddy to help with a sore throat) and she went above and beyond to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. Overall - this was a great place for a couple day trip to Bardstown. It had great proximity to downtown and a number of stops on the bourbon trail. We would highly recommend staying in a historic room and making stops at the restaurant and bar while you're in town. read more

It was okay. Was probably a great place in it's day. The food was good, as well as the service

Good drinks, good service, cool atmosphere One of our many stops on the Bourbon Trail read more

The Old Talbott Tavern - Sidecar - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Amazing beautiful restaurant. Our waitress was the best. The food is delicious. The burgoo was absolutely amazingly delicious. The honey brown was the best too. Can't wait to go back. read more

Slow Slow Slow Waited an hour only to find out they were going to need at least another 45 minutes. Not happy, nor will I come back. Manager made it a point to inform he was seating as well as order taker but was sorry then walked off Very disorganized for a Sunday 6:30pm dinner. They finally stopped taking people because of "under-staffed" or something along those lines. Make a reservation is all I will say. Good Luck read more

Old tavern in downtown Bardstown. Small and quiet. Great cocktails. It was busy, but we eventually got served and were not disappointed. Blackberry Old Fashion was really good. Next time we might try the food! read more

Amazing service! fabulous food! Intriguing history! We had the best time here!!! Drinks were fabulous and their food was top notch! President Lincoln stayed here too! Go upstairs and see the bullet holes in the walls and the painted murals that were saved from a fire! read more

Quaint downtown Bardstown location with tons of history. Food was fantastic, the Bourbon Walnut Chicken was tasty but the Fried Catfish stole the show for me. Catfish is so easy to cook and dry out, this was moist and melted in the mouth. Though not a tartar fan, the homemade version here was a nice addition. Topped with wild rice and collards. Delicious! Wait was minimal and service was great and quick. read more

The Old Talbott Tavern - Bourbon Walnut Chicken, wild rice, collard greens - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

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Great service, the fried green tomatoes were so good, and our entrees were great (Walnut Bourbon Chicken for my friend, Country Fried Steak for me). Highly recommend. read more

Waited 40 mins for a table. We're seated in a room with only 2 other tables. Long wait for food once ordered Came out cold. Pork ribeye was tiny. About the size of a deck of cards and not as thick. It was overcooked yet only lukewarm. And how is it possible to serve a cold baked potato? Husbands country fried stead breading was too thick and also only lukewarm. The chef clearly hates his job. Giving 2 stars as it looked like the waitstaff were trying to please people but stretched too thin. Pass on this place. read more

Fun to have drinks and dinner at such a historic place. We dined with another couple on a Monday night. We tried to have an appetizer with drinks before dinner. After requesting a menu item our waitress would inform us that they were out of that item. Finally we found something that was in stock. About half the beer taps were covered showing they were out of those beers. Same thing continued with dinner. Instead of saying we are out of X,Y, and Z we would select a menu item and were told we were out of that. What we did order was delicious. Whoever is responsible for ordering food and beverages is not on the ball. We're not having Covid supply chain issues. read more

arrived at 7:10. was placed on the wait list for seating using my phone number. went to the bar. sat at the bar patiently waiting for my table. was told 30-40 min. after waiting 50 min we inquired about our table. my answer was. "We callEd you, you did not respond". I reviewed my number with the hostess who was less than kind. My number was completely wrong and she blamed me. she also said she came to the bar and we weren't there. we we sitting at the bar at the end. she lied. I was told I could not be seated and basically tough luck. The hostess never apologized for her error in taking my number. This was my first and last experience at The Old Tabbott Tavern. read more

Service: Impeccable! Food: 4/5 stars We went on a Tuesday around 3pm and had a ten minute wait before we were seated. Not a problem as they do virtual tours that you can follow and walk around as you wait. Once seated, we started off with the pretzels and beer cheese, which were the star of the whole meal. Would 100% order those again. As for entrees, I got the Buffalo chicken wrap and my mom got a classic BLT. The wrap was spicy so definitely only order if you like spicy! The BLT was on the smaller side for a serving size but the bacon was the best part, according to my mom. The service was amazing! The ladies at the host desk were nice enough but our server was simply the friendliest little thing ever, her name was Jamie. She kept our drinks filled, made sure we had everything we needed, and sent us home with a free dessert as my birthday was the next day. Overall, it's a good place to stop if you're into history, friendly service, and yummy appetizers! read more

Food was good, the ambience was cool. The Talbott has a historic background that they need to take advantage of.

Slow service, but all else was great! Great flight of bourbon. So helpful in understanding all the bourbon stuff.So much history! It's amazing, really! read more