KY BBQ joint, hotel & more land on Southern Living South's Best lists

From a historic hotel in downtown Louisville to a beloved barbecue joint with a hotel-like name, Kentucky scored big on Southern Living's latest "South's Best" awards.

The 10th annual "South’s Best" awards, which dropped March 12, recognize the top spots in the region based on votes from Southern Living readers. Categories for 2026 include the South's best cities, golf destinations, most legendary restaurants and travel stops, among others.

Though Kentucky didn't appear in the list of the "South's Best Cities 2026," the commonwealth made quite a showing in other categories.

Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn among 'Best Barbecue joint' winners

First up, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, the smoked meat and mutton mainstay in Owensboro, was a cut above the rest and took home best barbecue in Kentucky, based on the category of "Best Barbecue Joint In Every Southern State." That collection includes 16 states, ranging from Mississippi to Maryland.

Of Moonlite, Southern Living wrote, "Mutton and burgoo are the stars at this Owensboro legend, but there’s lots more to sample on the long all-you-can-eat buffets (beef brisket, chicken, and pork ribs — plus catfish on Thursday and Friday nights). Grab yourself some Southern-style veggies, too, and banana pudding or pie for dessert. Those are just a few of the ways the Bosley family has been keeping patrons happy since 1963."

Bardstown among 'Best Small Towns' winners

In the category of "The South's Best Small Towns," Bardstown ranked No. 12 out of 20 cities, which also shouted out the nearby (sort of) Tennessee towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

"The pulse of Bourbon Country is alive and well, and it’s in large part due to the charm of Bardstown," stated Southern Living. "Here, you’ll find long-lived institutions alongside more distilleries than you can shake a stick at. Head to Bardstown Bourbon Company for creative takes on classic Bluegrass State foods and drinks, then explore downtown’s Museum Row for a deep dive into local history."

The Brown Hotel among 'Best Classic Hotel' winners

Closer to home for Derby City, The Brown Hotel at 335 W. Broadway, was recognized as one of the best classic hotels.

“'Opulent yet approachable' is the tagline for this Derby City landmark that expertly blends a stately Georgian Revival facade and the comfort of a Hot Brown sandwich and bourbon flight served at the Lobby Bar & Grill," Southern Living states. "Open since 1923, recent renovations have kept this historic property ready for the modern traveler."

Malone's among 'Best Classic Restaurant' winners

Plus, the Lexington-founded Malone's, a popular steakhouse that also has a location in Louisville at 4370 Summit Plaza Drive, made the cut as one of the South's best classic restaurants. Malone's, which started in 1998 as part of Bluegrass Hospitality Group, now has five locations.

The Grilled Salmon Picatta at Malone's in Louisville.

Lexington named to 'Best College Towns in the South' list

And apologies may be in order to University of Louisville fans, but Lexington was named as one of the top 10 best college towns in the South.

"Explore horse country at the Keeneland Racetrack, a National Historic Landmark, and the Kentucky Horse Park. Check off a few spots on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, starting with the Woodford Reserve Distillery. Choose a trendy stay like 21c Museum Hotel or The Manchester to round out your visit," Southern Living states.

Cracker Barrel, Buc-ee's among 'Souths Best Travel Stops'

But one winning restaurant may hold the power to bring all of Kentucky together, as Cracker Barrel, with 57 locations in the state, ranked as the second best travel stop in the South. Buc-ee’s, with two locations in Kentucky, placed first in that category.

To determine the awards, an online survey was conducted by third-party agency Proof Insights among Southern Living consumers, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South, according to Southern Living. The survey was fielded from July 9 to Sept. 9, 2025, and had over 17,000 respondents.

Reach food and dining reporter Amanda Hancock at [email protected].