In recent years, we have seen a massive uptick in out-of-town couples coming to Bowling Green for it’s unique and unforgettable wedding venues. Lost River Cave, The Arling, The Venue at 939 Adams, and so many more venues make Bowling Green’s wedding scene truly one-of-a-kind.
If you’ve chosen Bowling Green as your wedding destination but need help creating a recommendations list for “things to do” for your guests, we hope this guide proves to be a helpful resource from you! Our credentials? Shelley has lived in Bowling Green her entire life and knows every nook and cranny of this growing town 🙂
Feel free to link this blog post directly to your wedding website to share with guests — we don’t mind one bit! We love showing off our little town and sharing all of it’s best-kept-secrets!
BG is home to some amazing food (and coffee)! There are plenty of great spots worth recommending to your out-of-town guests (and we can speak on it because these are places we loooove to frequent ourselves!)
BEST LOCAL SPOTS FOR FOOD/DRINK/COFFEE IN BG
BEST BREAKFAST SPOTS IN BG:
- Lisa’s 5th Street Diner — No-nonsense greasy spoon that is never not busy! Blocks away from downtown BG and great if you need to cure a hangover… lol.
- Teresa’s Restaurant — Another great greasy spoon with larger capacity in their dining area! This place is a BG staple and a favorite for a reason!
- Pub by Novo — Gastropub-style BG favorite! They only do brunch on the weekends but it is WELL worth it! Get the breakfast pizza and thank me later 😉
- Awaken Bakery — Amazing gluten-free bakery with celiac-friendly pastry and breakfast options! Bonus: they serve coffee too!
- Wild Eggs — Cute brunch spot with yummy, lighter breakfast options. It is a chain, but def smaller-scale so it still feels very local.
BEST COFFEE IN BG:
- Spencer’s Coffee — Two locations, and it’s BG’s favorite for a reason! They serve breakfast/lunch as well, with varying options at each location.
- Sly in the Grove — AMAZING coffee & thrifting just 15 minutes away in Smith’s Grove. WELL worth the visit.
- Ace Coffee in Cave City — GO HERE! Great food, coffee, and atmosphere, and such a great stop-over if you decide to take a day trip to Mammoth Cave.
BEST LUNCH & EASY DINNER SPOTS IN BG:
- Bike Rack Bistro — Light, fresh, yummy brunch/lunch spot.
- The Lunch Box — A fresher take on diner food, and they serve breakfast too! We LOVE their fried chicken salads with house-made ranch.
- Mellow Mushroom — The BEST pizza in town! This is a chain restaurant, but they do a great job of keeping it local-centric.
- Gerard’s Tavern — American gastropub-style food located right off of Fountain Square. This is a popular spot so you may want to make a reservation if you go for dinner.
- Pub by Novo, TORO, & Novo Dolce — Same owners, slightly different menus, but great quality gastropub style food! Toro is our fave because they do Spanish-inspired “tapas” style dishes!
BEST ETHNIC FOOD IN BG:
Honestly, I think BG’s wide variety of authentic cuisines is one of the best things about our community. When we eat out, it is usually at one of these places!
- If you are craving authentic hispanic food, BG is heaven for that. Honestly there are too many good ones to name, and you truly cannot go wrong… Los Tres Volcanes, Taqueria Sinai, La Placita, MexOut, Cruz’s Mexican Express… We love them ALL.
- Thai Thai — Located in a historic home downtown and SUCH a vibe. Takes a while if you dine-in, so if you’re in a hurry you may want to pick up! Food is unreal.
- Thai Express — Another fave thai spot! More of a “fast-casual” feel.
- India Oven — Literally you have to go here. The best damn Indian food (like, truly award-winning)! Their lunch buffet is like heaven.
BEST “FANCY NIGHT OUT” DINNER SPOTS IN BG (Reservations recommended):
- Hickory & Oak — If you want a fancy night out, GO HERE. Seriously unbelievable food (not just steak) served family-style. The menu rotates out often and seasonally, and the waiters are well-equipped to walk you through it. We recommend trusting their recommendations and treating yo’self!
- Tony’s — A close second to Hickory & Oak! Located inside of the Embassy Suites, which is our favorite hotel in BG for sure.
- The Bistro — A local BG restaurant that has been around forever! Cozy & intimated, located central to downtown BG.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN BG:
Sure, you could go to Nashville (and get really overstimulated in traffic… and then get more overstimulated trying to walk through the throngs of tourists on Broadway…) OR you could stay right here! Southern Kentucky has SO much to offer to out-of-town guests — here are some of our recommendations!
- Core Element Yoga Studio — Book a private class for you and your wedding party, or drop in for one of their rotating daily classes…you might just see me there depending on when you go! 😉
- Lost River Cave — SUCH a hidden gem in the heart of town! Hike one of their beautiful valley nature trails, or book a historical cave boat tour. They also have a GREAT gift shop full of local goodies, and an amazing children’s play area.
- Chaney’s Dairy Barn — Great local food and ice cream with an incredible children’s play area surrounded by KY’s finest farmland!
- Jackson’s Orchard — It gets a little crazy here in the fall, but this family-owned orchard is a BG cult-favorite! Stop by between April & mid-November for seasonal fruit & produce (those peaches tho)! We love getting lunch at “The Apple Kitchen” and taking in all the beauty of Warren County’s rolling hills. And we always have to stop by the country store to stock up on apple cider before we go! (See photos below!)
DAY TRIP ITINERARIES
Whether you are just wanting to do something fun with your family or wedding party before the big day, or simply be able to share some fun recommendations for your out-of-town guests to get the most out of their time in BG, here are our personal recommendations!
IDEAL DAY IN BGKY:
If you’re staying in town or close to downtown BG, spending some time in the heart of downtown on Fountain Square is a MUST!
Our ideal morning downtown: Grab a coffee/pastry at Spencer’s (and sit on the back patio, if there’s an empty table!), classic diner breakfast at The Lunch Box (or Awaken Bakery for the gluten-free folks & 30 Bird for healthier options), and shopping on the square (Vette City Vintage, Candlemaker’s on the Square, Back Down South Boutique, Amothecary, Staircase Wine)
If it’s the afternoon or evening: Dinner at Mellow Mushroom or Alley Pub & Pizza before walking over to 440 Main for a glass of wine, homemade ice cream at Meltdown, and then maybe a little bar crawl (Cliffs of Moher, The Copper Bar, White Squirrel Brewery, or Donna’s, BG’s best dive bar… followed by 2am hot dogs at G-Dogs)
Shameless plug… Our store is located in downtown BG as well! Pop into Molotov Skateshop for skateboard gear, apparel, art supplies, or just to see our sweet lil community space! Check our Instagram for updates on shows or community events happening at the shop.
SPEND THE DAY VINTAGE-SHOPPING IN SMITH’S GROVE (15 MIN FROM BG):
One of our favorite ways to spend a Sunday is going up to Smith’s Grove! It’s only 15 minutes from BG and just the sweetest little town. Before they put in the Buccee’s, the most famous thing about this little community was it’s incredible selection of vintage/antique shops. A lot has changed in recent years, but the small-town charm is still there, along with a new wave of young vintage-shop owners!
Our recommendations? Stop and get lunch at Grammie’s Home Cooking or Flavour Isle (the cutest little walk-up dairy dip), get a coffee at Sly (seriously some of my favorite coffee in the whole area, no contest), and do some vintage shopping at Sly, Smalls (right across the street), and all the other cute shops on Main Street.
SPEND THE DAY AT MAMMOTH CAVE (30 MIN FROM BG):
If you only have a day to spend exploring southern Kentucky, we think Mammoth Cave National Park is a must-see! Only 30 minutes from Bowling Green with SO much to offer. The park itself has so many gorgeous walking trails, and of course we have to recommend you take a cave tour (the Historic Tour is the classic go-to). The park rangers are extremely helpful, so stop by the visitor’s center and ask them to help you make the most of your trip to the park if you’re short on time!
And while you’re there, the nearby town of Cave City is the weirdest little tourist trap you will ever see. It’s a bit of a time capsule with abandoned roadside attractions, but there’s still plenty worth stopping and seeing. Big Mike’s Rock Shop (owned by our friends, Sarah & Denis!) and Ace Coffee Co. (AMAZING coffee, food, and local gift selections) are musts!
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