Hotel Snapshot
Lexington is a lot like its ubiquitous racehorses: quiet and restrained until rearing to show off the strides they’ve taken to become the best at what they do. For Kentucky’s second largest city, this translates to leadership in hospitality and entertainment, spotlighting the businesses and communities that make it one of the most sought-after Southern destinations in the country.
The Manchester hotel is part of this bluegrass renaissance, as celebrated through its meticulous design details and eagerness to blend industrial tradition with eye-catching modern luxury. The former distillery space, Lexington’s first to open in 1865, has been transformed into a hub of preserved history, forward-thinking gastronomy, and cozy, warehouse-inspired accommodations, attracting tourists and locals alike to enjoy long weekends over a meal, drink, stay, or all three.
Due to its overnight popularity and seemingly effortless ability to juxtapose the region’s rich past with a pioneering present, the property earned a coveted spot in TIME magazine’s list of World’s Greatest Places in 2024.
Design & Character
Arched, rickhouse-style entryways lead to an always-bustling lobby, complete with nods to local horse culture through distressed wood, camel leathers, and brass hardware — a color palette that also lends itself to the sun-kissed Appalachian landscape.
Oversized equestrian-themed artwork overlooks velvet-clad seating areas with Missoni-esque furniture and pillows adorned with teal, navy, and mulberry zigzags. The rooms are designed to be lavish and inviting, offering stacked books, live plants, and circular tables to chat and imbibe around, or to simply use as a relaxation escape among the energy that swells nearby.
The Rooms
Rooms are fitted with everything a traveler may need to make his or her stay more comfortable, from central light-dimming technology to high-end appliances like a coffee machine, Marshall stereo, and a supersonic hair dryer. The lobby’s plush and handsome decor extends into the bedroom with deep blue walls, hunter green headboards, and textures reminiscent of a barn’s tack room.
There are 124 rooms and suites in total, including a penthouse and a unique quad offering with two sets of bunk beds for a family or group of close friends.
The Food & Drink Situation
Hotel Manchester houses two culinary options, both of which exceed the expectations of standard hotel fare. Its anchor, Granddam restaurant, touts an extensive menu of elevated comfort food with ingredients sourced from local purveyors. Dishes include deviled eggs, grilled oysters, and a signature fried chicken served on a pork lardo orzo mac and cheese. The filling eats are a welcomed addition to its bar’s robust and inspired wine, cocktail, and spirit menu.
The rooftop is home to tropical Lost Palm, influenced by 1960s South Florida — Lexington’s Southern Sister in Horses. It features a flamboyant tiki cocktail program, as well as more adventurous plates like gator bites and a plantain-doused wagyu beef hot dog.
The Amenities
Though Lexington demands all-day exploration, there is no shortage of on-site amenities for the guest who doesn’t want to stray too far from home base. This includes bike rentals to pedal through nearby Gatton and Triangle parks, a bespoke gym with a cable machine and free weights, private event spaces for celebrations, and a programming calendar that is chock-full of activities like bourbon tastings, live music, yoga sessions, and trivia nights. Guests can also book private tours through the hotel’s concierge to hit up some of the region’s most renowned food, drink, entertainment, and museum venues.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Lexington’s biggest draw is its surplus of things to do and see. A few highlights include polo lessons at Commonwealth Polo Club in Paris, a Bites of the Bluegrass food and history walking tour, horse races at newly-expanded Keeneland, and a walk through the LexArts center art gallery. Travelers would also be remiss to not visit and tour an active distillery with Castle & Key offering some of the most stunning, garden-laced grounds in the state.
Fast Facts
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Vibe: An architectural marvel that marries its distillery roots with modern eclecticism, all through the lens of the city’s trademark equine culture.
Rating: Four-star
Room Count: 124 guest rooms and suites
Pricing: Prices start at only $61/night, depending on time of year and availability
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The Manchester has become a hotspot in and of itself, making it a go-to locale to kick off a night in style.
Dining: Two on-site restaurants, including lobby and rooftop bars
Amenities: Gym; bike rentals; restaurants; rooftop and lobby bars; free wifi; private event spaces
Nearby Attractions: Keeneland, Kentucky Horse Park, The Arboretum, Castle & Key Distillery, Mary Todd Lincoln House
Airport: Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
