When I was a kid, one of my favorite places to go was Newport on the Levee. I was mesmerized by the cooks at Dewey’s throwing dough and serving you the best pizza. Between that and the aquarium, there really wasn’t much more a kid could ask for. As I grew, my visits to the Levee became less frequent.
In the past few years the Levee has revamped itself and I’ve finally been able to visit the new Newport on the Levee, located at 1 Levee Way.
The Gallery
The Gallery is located in the main building of Newport on the Levee. It still hosts a movie theatre, but has revamped the businesses and carries a huge variety of local shops, as well as coffee, beer and so much more.
When I walked in I couldn’t believe this was the same place I used to visit years ago. For a second I felt as if I were on vacation, stores and shops I’d never seen before and an interior that made me forget I was in Newport Kentucky.
Wooden Cask Brewery
I started with a familiar favorite, Wooden Cask. I’ve been to Wooden Cask’s York Street location several times. I’ve always loved their beers and the atmosphere, so I knew what I was getting here.
This location is smaller than the original but is the perfect spot to start your night at the Levee. Located on the corner of the main building, The Gallery. There’s an outside and inside entrance that lead to the bar, and has a direct walkway to the river walk.
My friend and I grabbed one of my favorite beers, Girl Next Door, and mapped out where else we wanted to visit that night.
As much as I love sitting in a brewery all night with friends catching up, sometimes it can feel routine so I loved that this location can still offer everything you love about breweries, but give more variety and options to your evening.
They also have some really tasty foods, if you don’t want to wait spend a lot at one of the restaurants or are looking for a quick bite this the spot.
Little Spoon Bakery and Cafe
I feel a bit predictable in writing this, but I have to stay true to who I am — I always have to know where the nearest coffee shop is at all times. When I walked into the Gallery and saw this Breakfast at Tiffany’s looking café, I made a beeline for the entrance.
I already knew coffee was a must but was elated to see that they serve a local favorite, Carabello. We all know how I feel about Carabello and their amazing espresso, so a vanilla latte wasn’t just an option, but a necessity at this point. It was just as velvety and smooth as what I would get at Carabello’s original location.
Bluegrass and Sass
If coffee is my kryptonite, shopping would be a close second. I cannot pass up going into boutiques, I love the variety of items they carry. Boutiques tend to cater to a certain style, this one was more in tune with a country vibe.
Although I wouldn’t say that my own personal style matches that, I was still able to find a lot of things that I loved, including a sweater dress that is now a fall staple. I love the uniqueness of boutiques and that I can find something that is trendy yet unique and that I don’t run into someone wearing the exact same item that I have. They already have in some cute sweater, hats and bags all ready for the fall season.
Bridgeview Box Park
Bridge View Box Park is one of the main reasons I wanted to visit the levee. It’s an open-air shipping container park featuring six different food and drink options. It faces the Cincinnati Skyline and has enough variety that it will please everyone in your group. Beer drinkers can enjoy West Sixth Brewing’s many options, Cocktail drinkers have Blackmarket Saloon, Kon Tiki and the Buzz to choose from and for your friend who is just there for the food, has Crepe Guys to save the day.
My friend grabbed a drink from Kon Tiki, while I grabbed us a crepe. Instead of sitting we opted to utilize the yard games they had and watch the Kentucky scrimmage on the giant TV.
This would be a great place to watch the Bengals on a Sunday, endless food and drink options, a giant TV to watch the game, and a crowd of fans makes for an unmatched atmosphere.
Beeline
I was planning to stick to Bridgeview Box Park and The Gallery but came across this bar as I was walking along the river, and it may be my favorite stop of the night. The bar is situated in the middle of the Riverwalk, so you have the perfect view of Cincinnati.
There are so many seating options, an outside bar facing the skyline, an outside bar facing the interior of Beeline, and a bar inside of Beeline facing the skyline. Needless to say, you will find a seat here, and you can cater it to the weather or your preference. The sun was going down and it was getting chilly outside so we opted to sit inside facing the river. The interior was a mix of modern and classic, with velvet seats, neon signs and gold accents.
Their drink menu was just as beautiful as their interior. I opted for a cocktail, while my friend kept it classy with a wine. It was the ideal girl’s night spot. The older I’ve gotten, the more I enjoy bars where the music isn’t the main event and that you can sit as opposed to being shoulder to shoulder with strangers. The atmosphere is more of a lounge vibe than a club, which is much more appealing to me.
Our bartenders were friendly and efficient, I ordered one of their signature drinks, Bend the Rails, which had fruit flavored vodkas, honey, fruit juices and was topped with an edible flower. I love when a drink matches the aesthetic of a place and is delicious. The bar was named after a railway that connected Columbus and Cincinnati and many of their drinks, like mine, are named in correlation to the railway system.
It’s such a peaceful, sophisticated ambiance that really makes you love the city you’re in and what it has to offer even more. It’s a view and atmosphere people travel to large cities for, when we are lucky enough to have it in our own backyards.
Newport on the Levee has been a staple in many Northern Kentuckians lives, like myself, since they were kids. The revamp of the levee has brought in so many amazing businesses and restaurants that you’ll find yourself making trips here as much as possible.
There’s so much to offer here that I’ve already been planning on going again to check out other places that I didn’t get to visit. It has the same familiar views you know but has really elevated to be a place for every occasion and person.
Have a street, city, business you want me to check out next? Email me at mchehman@gmail.com and it could be featured on the next segment of streetscapes.
Link NKY Streetscapes series is powered by Duke Energy, proud employer of 2,300 people in southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky who live, work, and play in the vibrant communities and neighborhoods highlighted through these stories.