The Avenue bar lights up the Madison arts district in Covington
Last night we stopped in to The Avenue bar, the latest contribution to the up and coming Covington arts district. Considering that this used to be the home of The Pad, home to Kentucky’s most beautiful girls, we didn’t have the highest of hopes. The “girlie” bars of northern Kentucky on the whole tend to be seedy, dark and scary enough to send my friends John and Russ running for the door.
Not only has The Pad had a complete overhaul, The Avenue bar in the Covington arts district is far and away the nicest bar we’ve seen open- on either side of the Ohio river- in a long time.
With exposed brick and ductwork, a 40 foot + bar and long, low davenports complemented by leather cubes, it’s downright swanky. But not scary- The Avenue bar has a great neighborhood feel, with a great mix of older blues-loving folks, 20 and 30-something singletons and a number of couples too.
The staff at The Avenue bar is friendly and warm- at one point I came back from the (pristine) bathroom to find our server plunked on a cube talking to my friend. The band was blues-y, with a stand-up bass (nod) and harmonica getting the whole bar enthusiastically involved in the music. Two beers, two mixed drinks and one shot (not mine) added up to $21, and we weren’t charged a cover, either.
The only reminder of the old days at The Avenue bar is The Pad’s billboard-like sign, now gracing one of the walls of the bar. Like the K & K in Bellevue, now the cleaned-up and trendified B-List, The Avenue bar on Madison is an overhaul worthy of the changes happening in the Covington arts district- and northern Kentucky.
The Avenue is located at 411 Madison Avenue.
Not only has The Pad had a complete overhaul, The Avenue bar in the Covington arts district is far and away the nicest bar we’ve seen open- on either side of the Ohio river- in a long time.
With exposed brick and ductwork, a 40 foot + bar and long, low davenports complemented by leather cubes, it’s downright swanky. But not scary- The Avenue bar has a great neighborhood feel, with a great mix of older blues-loving folks, 20 and 30-something singletons and a number of couples too.
The staff at The Avenue bar is friendly and warm- at one point I came back from the (pristine) bathroom to find our server plunked on a cube talking to my friend. The band was blues-y, with a stand-up bass (nod) and harmonica getting the whole bar enthusiastically involved in the music. Two beers, two mixed drinks and one shot (not mine) added up to $21, and we weren’t charged a cover, either.
The only reminder of the old days at The Avenue bar is The Pad’s billboard-like sign, now gracing one of the walls of the bar. Like the K & K in Bellevue, now the cleaned-up and trendified B-List, The Avenue bar on Madison is an overhaul worthy of the changes happening in the Covington arts district- and northern Kentucky.
The Avenue is located at 411 Madison Avenue.
Comments