Dine and Dash

Small-town charm meets urban dining and culture in southern Kentucky

- DANA MCMAHAN

'bowling Green, Kentucky, may be best known for the National Corvette Museum, but this is a city poised to rev things up.

Planted between the South and Midwest and home to Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green looks like a quintessential college town. But travelers who scratch below the surface are rewarded with a unique range of culinary offerings, from sweet Americana to traditional Southern fare to globally influenced cosmopolitan options belying the city's small size.

Strolling through the bustling downtown, visitors will find a sense of nostalgia sweeping them along. Locally owned shops and restaurants ring the fountain square and beyond, creating a small-town vibe that comes with bigger city perks.

EAT

Start your day on the square with an infusion of caffeine and community at the hopping Spencer's Coffee. This fixture plays up the historic architecture of its building with a front-row-seat view of the fountain square and the aroma of their fresh-crop coffees. Grab breakfast here or take your latte down the street to the wellness-centered Café Kindness, where scratch-made goodies, fresh juices, and smoothie bowls will get you sorted.

It's Pastiche Provisions for lunch, where locals line up for the beloved bodega's thoughtfully prepared sandwiches (including a fresh-from-New York bagel option) and the artisan cheese and charcuterie offerings.