America's Best Small Food and Drinks Town Is the Bourbon Capital of the World—and It Has a Seriously Impressive Restaurant and Wine Scene, Too

Travel + Leisure

2 days ago

Book a room at The Trail Hotel, which features a rejuvenation lounge with IV treatments, an oxygen bar, a sauna, and more to help you bounce back from travel (and perhaps a little too much fun on the Bourbon Trail).
Start your day with Hadorn Bakery's signature 'Yum Yums,' twisted, chocolate-topped yeast donuts that frequently sell out well before closing time.
Stock up on sippable souvenirs at Evergreen Liquors in the heart of downtown Bardstown.
Take a detour to Bernheim Forest and Arboretum to explore some of its 40 miles of hiking trails and peek at more than 3,500 species of plants.
Pair a bourbon flight with a taco dog or smash burger at Scout & Scholar Brewery.
If you're new to the whiskey world and are just dipping your toe into distillery tours, Bardstown, Kentucky, might be one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it towns you pass on your way to Lexington or Louisville. But in May 2025, Bardstown made a big splash when the area's first luxury boutique hotel debuted. I was one of the first guests to stay at The Trail Hotel, and my trip proved that Bardstown (population: around 14,000) is well worth a stop.
Known as the 'Bourbon Capitol of the World' since the 1950s, Bardstown has been named 'The Most Beautiful Small Town in America' by several organizations. It's quickly becoming one of the most delicious small towns, too, thanks to restaurants with world-class chefs, creative mixologists, and top-tier sommeliers. Situated near the center of Kentucky, Bardstown is easy to get to from many corners of the country. And once you're here, distillery tours and tastings, unique shops, bakeries, restaurants, bars, museums, and more await.
'The fact that Bardstown is not a big metro area is part of its charm,' says Kentucky native Norma Smith, a bourbon butler at The Trail Hotel. 'Folks can come here, learn about bourbon's history, explore local businesses, and not have to feel the hustle-bustle of a large city. Bardstown is a small town with plenty of awesome things to do—and taste!'
The Bourbon Capital of the World comes by its title honestly. There are 11 distilleries within a 16-mile radius of downtown Bardstown, and even if you're not big into brown spirits, there's plenty to tempt your taste buds here. During spring, summer, and fall, Bardstown hosts a robust farmers market and farm-to-table dinners. Throughout the year, buzzy events like Bardstown Burger Week and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival draw crowds. Any time you swing by, you can fuel up at a variety of seasonally-focused restaurants with bountiful bourbon selections (naturally), Kentucky-made beers, and seriously impressive wine lists (Oak & Ember, for instance, has a level-three sommelier on staff). The Trail hotel's Single Barrel Suite.
Jessie Kriech-Higdon/Visit Bardstown
Something old meets something new at Bardstown's freshest and most fashionable hotel. Co-owners Brook Smith, Will Hardy, and Nathan 'Ejo' Edmonds have fond memories of visiting this building in its former life as a Holiday Inn. When the then-closed hotel went up for auction in 2021, they cast the winning bid—and got to work on a complete renovation and redesign. Today, The Trail Hotel's 87 rooms and eight bourbon-themed suites form a U-shape around the pool, pool bar, and what is now the biggest hot tub in Kentucky. Inside the lobby area, guests can swing (at the high-definition golf simulator), sip (in the intimate speakeasy), and eat (at Oak & Ember, a restaurant specializing in healthy-ish Southern fare). Guests by the pool at the Bardstown Motor Lodge.
Victor Sizemore/Visit Bardstown
If you prefer to be within walking distance of downtown, 11-year Bardstown resident Newman Miller, chef and owner of Mr. Tubs and partner at Scout & Scholar Brewery, recommends Bardstown Motor Lodge. This mid-century-inspired, pet-friendly hotel is what I imagine the Schitt's Creek motel might look like with an HGTV glow-up. The rooms are small but mighty, with smart TVs, a mini fridge, blackout curtains, and premium bath amenities, and the shared space is equipped with fire pits, a pool, and a retro rec room.
Traveling with a crowd? Try The Full Proof Penthouse. Owners Will and Alicia Hardy (yes, the same Will as The Trail Hotel) were featured on an episode of the Discovery+ show In With the Old, which chronicled their renovation of the Old Deatsville Inn in nearby Coxs Creek. The Hardys put their design superpowers to work to transform this downtown Bardstown three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment into a five-star vacation rental located in the downtown core. Laundry appliances, a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, and private rooftop space make this a fantastic choice for families and groups of friends. A Bardstown Bourbon Company tasting.
No visit to Bardstown is complete without at least one distillery tour, according to Smith. 'Each distillery has something distinct to offer,' adds Vince Metcalfe, the single barrel coordinator at Bardstown Bourbon Company, who was born and raised in Bardstown and has called it home for nearly 30 years. 'You can do tours, tastings, or just hang out at their bar and have a cocktail. It's very cool to see the unique history behind each brand.' Options abound in and around Bardstown, with notable names like Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience (home of Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Old Fitzgerald, and more), as well as at under-the-radar hits and up-and-comers such as Chicken Cock Whiskey and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Smith particularly adores the 90-minute Bottled-in-Bond Warehouse Tour and Tasting at Heaven Hill and the one-hour Rickhouse Barrel Thieving at Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Brown spirit buffs will delight in the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. With free admission and tours, this museum is home to more than 1,500 highly allocated bottles of whisky and bourbon that the curators have been collecting for 40+ years. If you're new to the world of whiskey, this is a helpful place to start, as it offers an overview of the people, places, and techniques that make this spirit special.
When you're ready for a break from the Bourbon Trail, navigate to 3rd Street. 'It's such a beautiful and quaint area with tons of local shops, bars, restaurants, and art studios,' Smith says. If you're in the mood for a savory snack, stop by Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium for a charcuterie board or 'Jake's Baked Balls' (sausage and Cheddar balls with a maple-bourbon glaze). If sweet is more your style, get the scoop at Big Wally's Ice Cream & More. While you're in the area, Smith suggests popping into Cactus Annie's to see the iconic Dolly Parton mural. Bernheim Forest and Arboretum.
You can hop on a handful of hiking trails mere steps from downtown. But if you're up for taking a 15-mile detour outside of Bardstown, you'll find one of Metcalfe's 'favorite places to enjoy the natural beauty of the state of Kentucky,' Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. Pack a picnic for a 'great way to spend time when not drinking bourbon,' Miller tells us. While you're stationed in this lush landscape, trek through some of the preserve's 40 miles of hiking trails. If kids are in tow, turn them loose at the 17-acre natural playground. They'll also enjoy the massive Forest Giants scattered throughout Bernheim, which are crafted from repurposed and natural materials. Evergreen Liquors, and upscale liquor shop with a tasting bar inside.
Steven Gray/Visit Bardstown
To refresh your wardrobe with effortlessly chic apparel, Kaden Lake Boutique is a must, Smith says. 'The owner, Alicia Hardy, has curated such a great women's boutique. She's definitely got style.' When I walked by, I couldn't take my eyes off the beautiful clothes in the window.
If your ideal souvenir is a drinkable one, you can't do much better than Evergreen Liquors. Keep an eye out for rare releases like Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked and Angel's Envy Barrel Select Sherry Cask. Smith likes to sample unique pours at the tasting bar 'while I decide how much of my income is reasonable to budget on more bottles of bourbon!'
Stock up on uniquely Kentucky goodies like Monk's Road Coffee Caramel Chocolates, Kentucky Hot Mix trail mix, Bramble Ridge sorghum syrup, and Elixir Kombucha at 3rd Street's Taste of Bardstown Market. If you're staying at a vacation rental or are in need of picnic provisions, check out their Airbnb grocery packages for quick-fix breakfast, snack, and dinner spreads. Freshly baked treats from Hadorn's Bakery.
Early birds don't get the worm here, but they do get the warm baked goods that have a cult following. No wonder the door of Hadorn's Bakery is plastered with a sign that reads 'Open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until sold out.' Arrive ASAP for the best chances of scoring 'one of their famous Yum Yums,' Miller advises. The $2.15 treat is a showy donut drizzled with swirls of milk and white chocolate. Take it to go or enjoy your Yum Yum in a rocking chair on the bakery's charming front porch. Mammy's Kitchen serves southern comfort food in Bardstown.
If your day's agenda involves exploring the Bourbon Trail or hiking trails, 'Mammy's Kitchen & Bar should be your first stop to fuel up with a big country breakfast,' Smith says. They serve up Southern fare in a casual, country store environment, and I could eat bowls of their fried apples. Bring your appetite and some pals to share the Sunday special: 'Deep-fried Ginormous Cinnabon Roll' in a skillet. Or pull up a stool any day of the week for what Metcalfe calls 'the best Kentucky Hot Brown in the world.' For the uninitiated, this is an open-faced sandwich featuring sliced oven-roasted turkey, bacon, sliced tomatoes, and mornay sauce. Mammy's riff also piles on ham and eggs.
For what Metcalfe declares 'the best beer in bourbon country, brewed right there on-site,' alongside locally sourced comfort food like bacon jalapeño cheeseburger hand pies, fried chicken tenders with tots, and chocolate chip bread pudding, Scout & Scholar Brewing Co. is a local favorite. Come for the food and drinks, and stay for the atmosphere. 'Their patio is one of my favorite places to hang out on a beautiful day,' Metcalfe adds.
Some of Bardstown's best restaurants are tucked away inside distilleries, including The Bar at Willett inside Willett Distillery. 'The menu changes weekly to daily, so order whatever catches your eye. In my opinion, this is one of the best—if not the best—restaurants in Kentucky, and I've never been disappointed,' Miller says. If you happen to be there on a lucky day when the 'iconic' egg salad sandwich is on the menu, Smith says this is a must. A spread from Oak & Ember, a restaurant at The Trail Hotel.
Jessie Kriech-Higdon/Visit Bardstown
Cookbook author and Emmy-nominated chef Marvin Woods has also acted as personal chef for Oprah, Mary J. Blige, Barack Obama, and more. Now in his position as the executive chef at The Trail Hotel's signature 110-seat restaurant Oak & Ember and its lobby bar Embers, he can cook for you, too. Smith says that 'the salmon entrée has become a staple in my diet. The tuna sashimi is super flavorful, too.' I'm still dreaming about the Kentucky burgoo stew and beet salad I enjoyed during my May stay. Fall foliage in the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum.
The locals we spoke to boast that Bardstown is beautiful to visit any time of year, but according to Metcalfe, 'fall is when the community really comes to life.' Visit in September to take part in National Bourbon Heritage Month festivities, such as Bardstown's Kentucky Bourbon Festival (one of Smith's favorite weekends of the year). Or vacation in October for peak leaf-peeping and the Bardstown Arts and Crafts Fair.
Spring is the runner-up season, Miller adds, since the weather is beautiful and 'there aren't as many people visiting as there are in the fall.' Translation: Lodging prices tend to be more affordable, and distillery and restaurant reservations are easier to come by. The Bardstown, Kentucky welcome center.
Bardstown is approximately 45 minutes from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and about 55 minutes from Lexington's Blue Grass Airport (LEX). Although quaint downtown Bardstown is extremely walkable, you'll likely want a rental car to get to this small town—and to navigate to nearby attractions, such as hiking trails and restaurants. If you don't have a designated driver, plan ahead for car service. The Trail Hotel and certain distilleries can help arrange this. While Uber lists Bardstown as a partner city, available drivers are sparse, so plan ahead for alternative transportation.