Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up, need a place to relax and do some writing, or hope to hang out with like-minded individuals, Kentucky’s coolest coffee shops have just what you need. Featuring live music, delicious pastries, charitable origins, and latte art, these 7 Kentucky coffee shops are the coolest places in the state to get a hot drink.
Walls adorned with art and a seating area filled with a bizarre yet complimentary selection of rustic and modern furniture set the stage for this forward-thinking coffee shop in Lexington. A Cup of Common Wealth allows patrons to “pay it forward” and buy a cup of coffee for a stranger, allowing visitors to start their day off right with delicious caffeine and a good deed.
The Creme Coffee House in Owensboro is an eclectic indie coffee shop that blends traditional southern feel with the modernity of spending the day in a coffee shop. The shop is full of antique furniture and different blends of wood that represent Kentucky’s rich history, but events like open-mic night make the shop anything but old-school.
When you combine colorful décor, delicious coffee, and eclectic merchandise, what you get is Third Street Stuff in Lexington. The atmosphere at Third Street is absolutely fun and vibrant, and the people watching is brilliant. Buy fun knickknacks and decorations in the gift shop, work using the free Wi-Fi, play one of the available board games, or just people watch while sipping coffee.
North Lime in Lexington pairs delicious coffee with its natural companion—homemade donuts. With their own signature coffee drinks and donut flavors like funnel cake and cinnamonkey, it’s easy to understand why the store is always packed. Pairing that with a nice outdoor seating area and trivia on Thursday nights makes North Lime one of the best and coolest coffee shops in Kentucky.
Spencer’s Coffee in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is more than just a coffee house—it’s also a bar, hangout, and diner. Offering homemade pastries, breakfast, and lunch, it’s a great, relaxing place for some coffee and delicious food during the day. In the evening, however, you may want to opt for a craft beer instead of coffee. It’s a simple, cool place to relax among the WKU students and Bowling Green locals.
Carabello Coffee in Newport serves artisan coffee and gives back to the community—the shop donates its profits to local and international charitable causes. If that’s not cool enough, book a reservation in their Analog Slow Bar. Up to six people can spend an hour with a barista in an exclusive area while the barista crafts custom coffee drinks much in the same way that experienced bartenders craft signature and unique cocktails.
The Fuzzy Duck in Morehead harkens back to the days before Amazon when you could go to your local bookstore and discuss literature with other like-minded individuals while drinking a tasty cup of coffee. The Fuzzy Duck coffee shop and café shares a building with Coffee Tree Books, and a visit is sure to leave you satisfied, energized, and ready to read.