As Northern Kentucky’s restaurant scene evolves, 2025 became a transitional year, seeing the closure of several prominent eateries and the emergence of new ones.
Below is our 2025 Dining Guide’s openings and closing list, so you can stay up to date on NKY’s ever-changing culinary landscape.
Closings
Amador Cuban (Newport on the Levee)
This Miami-style Cuban restaurant shut its doors in January 2025 after its operating firm, Pensacola Hospitality Group, decided to take a different direction, citing the closure of the Daniel Carter Bridge as a factor that strained the restaurant’s finances. The restaurant, which opened in 2023, served classic Cuban dishes, including the Cubano sandwich, Ropa Vieja (braised flank steak) and Lechon Asado (slow-cooked pork shoulder).
Bridgeview Food Hall (Newport on the Levee)
Pensacola Hospitality Group also owned Bridgeview Food Hall, home to vendors like Los Tacos Hermanos, Club Coop and Four Mile Pig. Bridgeview Food Hall opened in 2023 and served as a communal dining hall. The space was reminiscent of an upscale mall food court. It featured a diverse range of restaurants, allowing customers to enjoy a wide selection of cuisines. Similar to Amador Cuban, Pensacola Hospitality Group cited financial troubles following the closure of the Daniel Carter Beard bridge.
Opal Rooftop (Covington)
Opal Rooftop signified the growth of Covington’s fine dining offerings, giving customers a pristine rooftop view of the city and downtown Cincinnati’s skyline. With its signature rooftop bar, Opal valued aesthetics and ambiance in addition to its menu, which featured meals prepared by Grillworks’ wood-fired grill. In January 2025, co-owners Bill and Morgan Whitlow announced the impending closure of Opal, citing financial issues and operational barriers.
Rich’s Proper and Hangry Omar’s Slider Shack (Covington)
Rich’s Proper, and its iconic neon sign, have adorned Covington’s Madison Avenue and Sixth Street intersection since opening in 2018. The restaurant featured Creole- and southern-inspired cuisine, along with a large selection of bourbon. On the other hand, Hangry Omar’s was more casual, serving hungry bar-goers from inside the Covington Yard food court.
The Brickery Café & Play (Newport on the Levee)
The Brickery Café & Play was a Lego-themed café based in Newport on the Levee. Opened in 2023, the café offered families and LEGO enthusiasts a creative retreat featuring large-scale Lego sets, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Super Mario and Marvel.
The cafe announced its closure in March, with owner Daniel Johnson acknowledging the negative impact the closure of the Daniel Carter Beard bridge had on the business.
Hooters (Newport)
The floating Newport Hooters officially floated away. The restaurant, along with the other business on its barge, the Beer Sellar, closed in June 2025 alongside around 30 other locations nationwide. In August 2025, the barge on which the two businesses were located was taken down the river by a boat, and what followed were a lot of memes.
The Metropolitan Club (Covington)
The Metropolitan Club, a social club, event center and dining space in Covington, permanently closed. The club, often abbreviated to The Met Club, announced its closure via email in July 2025. Founded in 1991, the club has been in operation for approximately 35 years. It was established with the goal of providing a space where professionals and community leaders could gather, socialize and collaborate.
Zapata Cantina (Covington)
Zapata Cantina, a Mexican restaurant on Madison Avenue in Covington, announced its permanent closure in April 2025. Named after Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, the restaurant was known for its modern twist on traditional Mexican street food, featuring scratch-made tacos, small plates and dishes served on freshly prepared tortillas, accompanied by a mezcal- and tequila-centric beverage selection.
Kealoha’s Kitchen (Covington)
Kealoha’s Kitchen, a Hawaiian-inspired restaurant located at 529 Main St. in Covington, closed in October 2025 due to financial difficulties, according to the owners. Founded in 2021 by Val and Amy Abafo, the eatery began as a food truck before moving into a brick‑and‑mortar space, offering dishes such as pineapple teriyaki short ribs, Spam musubi and kalua pork.
Farmstand Market & Cafe (Union)
Farmstand Market & Cafe, a farm-to-table restaurant and market located at 9914 Old Union Rd. in Union, closed in early December 2025. Established in 2017, the café served locally sourced burgers, sandwiches, salads and dinner entrees, along with a retail market that featured locally sourced products and ingredients.
Openings
Mi Cozumel (Newport on the Levee)
Mi Cozumel is partying its way into NKY. The Cincinnati-based Mexican restaurant franchise is renowned for its lively atmosphere, Margarita Tower, tableside guacamole and flaming fajitas. Mi Cozumel offers over 40 margarita flavors for adventurous customers.
Mi Cozumel, named for the famous Mexican island, opened on July 1, 2025, inside the former Amador Cuban space facing the Ohio Riverfront in Newport on the Levee.
1 Levee Way P-122A, Newport
7 Brew (Newport and Florence)
7 Brew is a rapidly growing, drive-thru coffee chain that opened two NKY locations in Newport and Florence in 2025. 7 Brew boasts an expansive menu with ‘7 Originals’ Espresso drinks like the Blondie, Smooth 7 and Sweet & Salty. In addition, 7 Brew serves flavored energy drinks, sparkling sodas called “Fizz,” fruit smoothies, milkshakes and lemonades.
7 Carothers Rd., Newport and 8111 US-42, Florence
Noche (Covington)
From the creators of Hyde Park’s popular Italian-Argentine fusion restaurant Alfio’s Buon Cibo, Noche offers NKY residents a glimpse into Alfio’s signature dishes of hand-cut steaks, fresh pasta, empanadas, cocktails and premium wines. Noche means evening in Spanish.
Noche opened in July 2025 inside the former Rich’s Proper space. Rich’s neon sign, which overlooked Madison Avenue, was updated to read “Noche.”
701 Madison Ave., Covington
The Cauldron Café (Covington)
Covington’s newest cafe is situated in the heart of the city along Madison Avenue. The Cauldron Café, which opened in November 2025, serves specialty coffee, teas, pastries and light breakfast and lunch options, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients.
807 Madison Ave., Covington
CK Kitchen (Covington)
A new restaurant has opened in the former Spoon space at the corner of Fifth and Main streets in Covington. The space now houses CK Kitchen, an Asian-inspired eatery located at 501 Main St., featuring sushi, sashimi, specialty rolls, Korean fried chicken and various rice and noodle dishes. CK Kitchen blends traditional and modern Asian flavors, providing a diverse dining experience in MainStrasse Village.
501 Main St., Covington
Rump and Roll (Dayton)
Rump and Roll, a delicatessen and bakery in Dayton, opened in October 2025. It offers breakfast, deli sandwiches, soups and freshly baked goods, as well as meats and deli salads available for takeout.
526 Sixth Ave., Dayton
Tokyo Pie (Covington)
Agave and Rye now has a new neighbor, with Tokyo Pie opening at 633 Madison Ave. in Covington. Tokyo Pie offers Japanese-inspired pizza and a variety of innovative cocktails. The menu includes toppings like wagyu sausage, miso cream and umami-rich sauces. Its Tokyo-themed interior design adds an authentic touch.
633 Madison Ave., Covington
Little Matcha (Covington)
Little Matcha, a specialty matcha café in Covington, opened in October 2025, serving handcrafted matcha lattes and seasonal green tea drinks. The café sources its matcha from a family-owned farm in Japan.
322 Scott St., Covington
The Bodega at Roebling (Covington)
In March 2025, The Bodega at Roebling opened in the heart of Covington’s Roebling Point neighborhood. Founded by Covington-based lawyer Jamir Davis, the bodega serves small bites, New York-style bagels, coffee and wines sourced from across the United States.
During the day, the café offers breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, with later start times on weekends. After hours, the bodega transforms into a speakeasy, featuring a small wine room and cocktail lounge on weekends and Friday evenings.
326 Scott St., Covington
Spear Ridge Cafe (Independence)
One Holland Group founder, Gary Holland, wanted the Spear Ridge Cafe to honor his hometown of Independence. Spear Ridge Cafe, which opened in July 2025, boasts murals, old photographs and other memorabilia that pay homage to Independence throughout the 20th century.
The Spear Ridge Cafe is a comfort-food café and general store offering favorites such as smashburgers, catfish po’ boys, country ham and pimento sandwiches, hushpuppies and seasonal soups. Adjacent to the restaurant is the general store, which serves small bites, coffee and other convenient items.
11990 Mitch Dr., Suite 150, Independence
Wayfarer Tavern (Dayton)
Wayfarer Tavern is the latest addition to the growing Dayton dining scene. The tavern, situated within the historic Burton Building at 635 Sixth Ave., opened in late January 2025. The restaurant specializes in bar-style pizzas, essentially East Coast thin-crust with a Detroit-style cheese edge, cut into Midwestern square slices.
635 Sixth Ave., Dayton
McAlister’s Deli (Union)
McAlister’s Deli, a fast-casual food chain, opened the doors to a new store in Union at 9148 US Highway 42 in September 2025.
9148 US-42, Union
Jersey Mike’s (Independence)
Jersey Mike’s opened at 2164 Declaration Dr. on Aug. 20, 2025. Orders can be placed in store, online, or through the Jersey Mike’s app. Delivery is available in most areas through the app or third-party services, and curbside pickup is available for app orders.
2164 Declaration Dr., Union
Crumbl Cookies (Florence)
In August 2025, Crumbl Cookies officially opened a new location in Florence, drawing early crowds and a line backed up out the door. The store is run by franchisees Jaxon and Claire Tews, who now operate a number of Crumbl outlets across the U.S. including their first NKY location in Newport.
The Florence shop—located at 6805 Houston Rd.—replaces a former UBreakiFix and was described by the Tews as a long-sought leasing site in a busy retail market. It joins the nationwide Crumbl network, which now spans over 1,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
6805 Houston Rd., Ste 500, Florence
Schlotzsky’s (Union)
Schlotzsky’s, a national fast-casual restaurant chain, opened a location in Union in July 2025. The Union location is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dining options include dine-in, carryout and online ordering. The menu includes sandwiches, pizzas, calzones, flatbreads, salads and soups, in addition to vegetarian and gluten-friendly options.
9280 US-42, Suite A, Union
Chick-fil-A (Union)
NKY’s newest Chick-fil-A opened inside Union Promenade in September 2025.
9172 US-42, Union
Dairy Queen (Erlanger)
Erlanger, Edgewood and Crestview Hills residents welcomed the region’s newest Dairy Queen in December 2025. The restaurant is located inside the former Taco Bell.
3098 Dixie Highway, Erlanger
Dunkin’ (Covington)
Covington is now home to the first Dunkin’ in any of NKY’s river cities, with a new location opening in the city’s west end. The site was previously a Liquor City outlet.
430 Bakewell St., Covington