Rise and Dine in Bluegrass Country

For a delightful getaway, journey a short distance to Midway, the home of Holly Hill Inn Restaurant. The historic property embodies the gentility of past days and continues to welcome visitors with an easy grace, as it has for many decades. Brunch at the inn consists of three courses and is prix-fixe, although optional appetizers are available. Its accomplished chefs focus on simplicity of ingredients, starting off with a Kentucky cheese plate with roasted grapes, or fresh strawberries with honeyed yogurt. Main courses include omelets, several variations of poached eggs, pan-fried trout meuniere, and even the Low Country classic, shrimp and grits. Each comes with the inn's signature potato casserole and other sides – a full meal even before you treat yourself to peach melba bread pudding with bourbon sauce.

Back in Lexington but outside of downtown, Rossi's makes a terrific choice for Sunday brunch. Better yet, its tree-shaded, umbrella-studded patio is a perfect place to enjoy a wonderful meal while you take in the sunshine and soft breezes. A well-stocked buffet is Rossi's focus, which means that you can eat to your heart's content on customary breakfast fare while also checking out a selection of changing main courses and side dishes. A carving station contributes to the bounty, and add-ons include Belgian waffles, omelets, and eggs benedict.

If your breakfast regimen runs towards the lighter end of the spectrum, Lexington has a handful of well-loved eateries that cater to quick, casual dining. Magee's Bakery, for instance, turns out incredible baked goods and pastries, or you might consider a slice of quiche, a ham or sausage biscuit, or a healthy serving of breakfast casserole, layered with cheese, hash browns, veggies, and country ham. Magee's has been around since 1956, so you know they've got quality down pat. Plus, if you like the single-serve portion you've eaten, you can take home family-size offerings as well.

And if, in fact, you are one of those morning nibblers who is sated with a bite of pastry and a premium dose of java, rest assured that the heart of Kentucky doesn't disappoint. Coffee Times Coffee House roasts and flavors its own beans and has that funky, eclectic ambience that you've come to count on: part artsy, part industrial, and all accommodating. Relax with your favorite blend and while away the morning in serenity.

Common Grounds also has an easygoing coffee house vibe, and its downtown locale ensures that it gets lots of traffic. Come in for a fair trade beverage of your choosing – maybe with a cranberry walnut scone – and see what's slated while you're around. Live music and poetry readings find regular audiences, and when things are quieter, free WiFi access does its part to coax you away from productivity. You'll get no hassles from other folks, no matter your leisuretime tack.

With such an introduction to Lexington's breakfast and brunch favorites, you have no excuse not to rise early and dine well. The down-home dishes are invariably good, and thanks to eager, customer-friendly kitchens, patrons can even indulge in a hot brown – that quintessential Lexington delicacy – amid the morning selections. Bubbly cheese sauce, thin-sliced turkey and ham, and ripe tomato offer a kicky accompaniment to traditional breakfast components like bacon and toast. It's as if the open-faced sandwich were ready-made for this, the best meal of the day!