Northern Kentucky
Arnie’s on the Levee
120 E. Third St., Newport, 859-431-4340
Big screens, a dance floor, stage, pool
table, jukebox, popcorn machine and year-round outdoor seating make
Arnie’s the Swiss Army Knife of Newport bars.
Stuff to do: DJs Thursday-Monday.
Recommended drinks: Full, one-ounce shots.
Food: Full menu.
The Avenue
411 Madison Ave., Covington, 859-261-6120
A comfy, modern lounge.
Stuff to do: Live music as scheduled.
Recommended drinks: Extensive beer selection.
Bar Louie
Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-291-7994
Panoramic views of Downtown, strong drinks and good times.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 5-7 p.m. and 10 p.m.-midnight Monday-Friday.
Recommended drinks: Unique martinis including the Tickled Pink, made with X-Rated Fusion, and the Diva martini made with pineapple vodka and PAMA.
Food: Full menu.
The Beer Sellar
301 Riverboat Row, Newport, 859-431-6969
Scenic drinking and dancing on a river barge.
Stuff to do: River shuttle to all Reds and Bengals games
Recommended drinks: 60 beers on tap.
Bobby Mackey’s Music World
44 Licking Pike, Wilder, 859-431-5588
A classic Honky Tonk with country music, cowboys and a mechanical bull.
Stuff to do: Freebie Fridays — no admission charge before 10 p.m., with movie passes, dinners, rodeo and concert ticket giveaways.
Recommended drinks: Ice cold longnecks.
Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar
519 Main Street, Covington, 859-491-7777
A classy restaurant welcoming to imbibers looking to step up their game.
Stuff to do: Half-priced wine on Wednesdays, Burger night on Thursdays.
Recommended drinks: Extensive wine list.
Food: Contemporary American.
Brothers Bar and Grill
Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-291-BROS
A well-packaged lounge overlooking the river.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Recommended drinks: 26 different drafts.
Food: Bar food.
Chez Nora
530 Main St., Covington, 859-491-8027
Fine food drinks, live jazz and a terrace with a view.
Stuff to do: Half price wine and appetizers every Tuesdays. Brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays.
Recommended drinks: Extensive wine list.
Food: Full menu.
Claddagh Irish Pub
Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-581-8888
Experience the magic of the jade isle with a view of the riverfront.
Stuff to do: Live Irish music Tuesdays and cover bands Saturdays.
Recommended drinks: Guinness topped with a shamrock.
Food: Full menu.
Cock & Bull English Pub
601 Main St., Covington, 859-581-4253; 275 East Sharon Road, Glendale, 513-771-4253
Traditional British Pub in the hearts of Mainstrasse and Glendale.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 3-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Recommended drinks: 37 craft beers on tap.
Food: Full menu.
Cosmo’s Grille Pub
604 Main St., Covington, 859-261-1330
A lively dance club and lounge.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. DJ Fridays and Saturdays.
Recommended drinks: Naughty Cosmo.
Food: Full menu.
Crazy Fox Saloon
901 Washington St., Newport, 859-261-2143
A fine neighborhood bar that prominently advertises its rejection of bigotry.
Stuff to do: Free pool seven days a week from 3-8 p.m. and again on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Recommended drinks: Absinthe.
Dee Felice
529 Main St., Covington, 859-261-2365
Jazz, Swing and the food of the French Quarter.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour all night Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. Drink specials Mondays. Live music every day but Monday, no cover.
Recommended drinks: Cajun Bloody Mary and the Dirty Prairie Martini.
Food: Cajun food.
Dickmann’s Sports Café
479 Orphanage Road, Fort Wright, 859-331-8076
A sports bar on steroids.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 2-7 p.m.
Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays.
Recommended drinks: Extensive beer selection.
Food: Full menu.
Funny Bone Comedy Club
Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-957-2000
Northern Kentucky’s favorite spot for live comedy.
Stuff to do: Stand-up comedy as scheduled. Open mic Wednesdays.
Recommended drinks: Funny Bone Long Island and the Rubber Chicken.
Food: Full menu.
Gangsters Dueling Piano Bar
18 E. Fifth St., Newport, 859-491-8900
Dueling ivories, the Gangland Newport theme and ghost tours make this a memorable destination.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 6-8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
Recommended drinks: Christy’s Martinis.
Food: Full menu.
Hofbrauhaus
200 E. Third St., Newport, 859-491-7200
It’s as close as you’ll get to Germany in Northern Kentucky.
Stuff to do: Live music daily. No cover.
Recommended drinks: Hofbräu Premium Lager in giant mugs.
Food: Authentic German fare.
JB Fins
301 Riverboat Row, Newport, 859-291-4133
A party bar offering live music and great Reds pregame festivities; open Memorial Day weekend through September.
Stuff to do: Ride a riverboat to Reds’ games.
Recommended drinks: Full selection of beers, mixed drinks and shots.
Jefferson Hall Saloon
Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-491-6200
This bar is built to accommodate a high volume — of patrons and decibels — and is built around music.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. weekdays. Live music and DJ performances as scheduled.
Recommended drinks: Eight microbrews on tap.
Food: Bar fare.
JerZee’s Pub & Grub
708 Monmouth Street, Newport, 859-491-3500
A pub for all occasions — happy hour, late night or patio relaxation.
Stuff to do: Karaoke on Wednesdays, DJS on Fridays and live bands Saturdays.
Recommended drinks: The Astrobomb Shot.
Food: Bar food.
Keefer’s Irish Pub
902 Madison Ave., Covington, 859-261-5333
A wall of 18 televisions brings you all the sports your heart desires.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 3-8 p.m. weekdays, Saturday until 8 p.m. and all day Sunday.
Recommended drinks: Root Beer Floats with spirits.
Food: Bar fare.
Keystone Bar and Grill
313 Greenup St., Covington, 859-261-6777
A quirky, fun neighborhood pub serving up ten different mac and cheeses and many satisfied patrons.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 3-7 p.m. weekdays.
Recommended drinks: The Angry Bloody Mary.
Food: Full menu.
The Mad Hatter
620 Scott St., Covington, 859-291-2233
An intimate space to check out local and national acts.
Stuff to do: Live music as scheduled.
Recommended drinks: Extensive beer selection.
Madison Theater
730 Madison Ave., Covington, 859-491-2444
One of Northern Kentucky’s favorite spots for live acts. General admission cabaret seating and standing.
Stuff to do: Live music as scheduled.
Recommended drinks: PBR.
Mainstrasse Village Pub
619 Main Street, Covington, 859-431-5552
The microbrew Mecca of Mainstrasse Village.
Stuff to do: Live music on Mondays and free pool on Thursdays.
Recommended drinks: Cold Yagermeister
Food: Popcorn
Mansion Hill Tavern
502 Washington St., Newport, 859-581-0100
Regulars are rewarded with excellent Blues and troll dolls for their patronage.
Stuff to do: Live music Wednesdays and Friday-Sunday.
Recommended drinks: Extensive beer selection.
Food: Bar food.
Mokka and the Sunset Bar & Grill
500 Monmouth St., Newport, 859-581-3700
A dash of coffeehouse, one part restaurant and one part neighborhood tavern.
Stuff to do: Live music Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Karaoke Thursdays.
Recommended drinks: Dragon Juice.
Food: Full menu.
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
112 East 4th Street, Covington, 859-491-6659
Like a good Irish pub, this place can get rowdy; and like a good community gathering space, its trivia night welcomes all.
Stuff to do: Bluegrass band on Mondays, poker on Tuesdays trivia on Wednesdays, poker on Tuesdays, live music Thursday-Saturday.
Recommended drinks: Daily drink specials and $2 draughts on Friday nights
Food: Irish pub food.
Riverwalk Sports Cafe
136 E. Third St., Newport, 859-261-2804
A place to catch the big game or chill out across from the big city.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 5-8 p.m. Monday-Friday with $4.50 pitchers.
Recommended drinks: Tabi’s Special shot.
Food: Pub food.
Shimmers Tavern
1939 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright, 859-426-0490
Live bands, theme nights and a respectable selection of sporting events on TV make it worth a visit.
Stuff to do: Live music on weekends.
Recommended drinks: Bloody Marys.
Food: Full menu.
Southgate House
24 E. Third St., Newport, 859-431-2201
Once the home of the Tommy Gun inventor,
the Southgate House still packs a wallop with one of the area’s best
performance spaces for local and national acts.
Stuff to do: Live music as scheduled.
Recommended drinks: The Tommy Gun.
Strasse Haus
630 Main St., Covington, 859-261-1199
One of the best parties along Mainstrasse, and that’s saying a lot.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. weekdays. Live music seven daily.
Recommended drinks: The Bengal Bomb and Hug Chug.
Tickets Sports Café
100 W. Sixth St., Covington, 859-431-1839
A 19th Century firehouse turned sports mecca.
Stuff to do: Live music as scheduled.
Recommended drinks: Margaritas and F-Bombs.
Food: Full menu.
The Waterfront
14 Pete Rose Pier, Covington, 859-581-1414
Twinkling ivories, a glittery view of the skyline and upscale dining.
Stuff to do: Live bands Tuesday-Saturday.
Recommended drinks: Wines and martinis.
Food: Full menu.
Willie’s Sports Café
401 Crescent Ave., Covington, 859-581-1500
Family dining and adult spectator sports.
Stuff to do: Karaoke Wednesday and Sunday.
Recommended drinks: Mystery shots.
Food: Full menu.
York Street Café
738 York St. Newport, 859-261-9675
A classy, retro space with terrific live shows and excellent dining.
Stuff to do: Live music on weekends.
Recommended drinks: Washington Apple, York St. coffee and Italian Sodas.
Food: Full menu.
Zazou Grill and Pub
502 West 6th St., Covington, 859-261-9111
A neighborhood pub where good times are had by all.
Stuff to do: College night on Mondays with $1 draughts.
Recommended drinks: Zazou Blue shot.
Food: Pub food.
Zola Pub and Grill
626 Main St., Covington, 859-261-7510
A place to get what you need, if what you need is live music, good food and solid company.
Stuff to do: Live music most nights including bluegrass on Tuesdays and The Turkeys on Thursdays; Burger Mania on Wednesdays.
Food: Bar food.
