We spent a Saturday afternoon in Bardstown shopping, chatting, and eating. There are some things we think you should know and recommendations we think you should have!
There are so many shops to see right around the square in Bardstown; HOWEVER, many of them close at 3 PM, and mostly everything is closed by 5 PM on Saturdays. This is definitely something to note if you’re wanting to browse stores. We did make it in time to stop on a few and recommend stopping in the ones we mention even if you aren’t looking to buy anything!
Shaq & Coco is a shop full of colorful furniture, nice clothes, and unique gifts. We loved the vibe of this place. It is so fun and full of color with touches of Bardstown references throughout. Most items here were above our price point for the day, but it would be a great spot to find a clothing item for a special occasion or if you wanted a cool piece of furniture. Cactus Annie’s - okay, this is a fun one. Cactus Annie’s is a shop full of Western clothing items. This is the place for you if you are looking for glitzy western wear. Sequins, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, tassels, and even roller skates. Our favorite part was their Moonpie collection though. They had flavors we had never seen before, such as salted caramel, Moonpie coffee grounds, and Moonpie mugs. If you are looking to tap into your inner cowgirl or want to grab a fun gift, drop in here.
Wild Thyme is an herbal apothecary. This shop was really neat to look around. It is full of essential oils, supplements, and many handmade items, like soaps. They even had some stuff for your furry friends, bags of coffee, and local honey. Our personal favorite here was their custom tea blends. One that really stuck out was a Yerba Mate tea blended with peppermint and cocoa!Okay, onto restaurants. After wandering through all the open shops, we had some time to kill before dinner so we went to Scout & Scholar Brewing Co. On this particular occasion we actually just had water, soda, and coffee while we chatted. We have been here before to eat though! We would recommend it for small bites and drinks. The vibe of this place is great. They have an awesome outdoor patio, but the inside is just as lovely. They have rotating beers on tap, as well as bourbon, wine, and cocktails that celebrate Bardstown. It is a great place to gather and be with people you love to be around.
Our last stop on this road trip is Toogie’s Table. Toogie’s is a farm-to-table restaurant, which we love. They also collaborate with Kentucky distilleries at their bar. So if you’re wanting a taste of Kentucky, this is the spot. Let’s start where we started, with starters. We 10/10 would come here and make a meal off their starters. It could easily be done. We had the Endive & Burnt Cabbage Cesar and the Burrata & Broad Bean Panzanella. Hands down the best Cesar salad ever. Both were out of this world. For the main course, we had the Sunday Gravy, which is a spaghetti pasta dish with lamb, and the Tavern Burger & Wedges. We would recommend both, but the starters are the real stars here.My Old Kentucky Home is right across the road from Toogie’s. We do recommend seeing this if you’re interested and time allows!Toogie’s is owned by and beside the newly renovated Bardstown Motorlodge. We have not been here, but have heard good things so it could be worth checking out if you’re looking for a place to stay.
We hope you enjoy Bardstown! We would love to hear your Bardstown favorites so feel free to reach out on our Facebook or Instagram! Cheers.
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