March brings the beginning of longer, warmer sunny days, and there are few better ways to spend them than outdoors with friends, beer and basketball.
Even for those not into the sport, March Madness is a fun and exciting time. There are countless places in NKY to embrace the madness, but few as great as Covington: Gigantic TVs at Covington Yard, halftime shots at Molly Malones and postgame fuel at Smoke Justis.
Join us this Streetscapes as we visit some of the most electrifying places to spend a March afternoon or evening.
Molly Malones Irish Pub
Not paying a visit to Molly Malone’s in March is nearly criminal.
From their famous St. Patrick’s Day parties to celebratory basketball beers, there’s no environment in March quite like Molly’s, which has been a community staple since opening more than 15 years ago.
Long before the Roebling district took off, Molly Malone’s was serving shepherd’s pies, pints of Irish beer and Irish whiskey to its guests.
Those who missed out on the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day proper can find traditional Irish pub fare at Molly’s year-round. Bangers and mash or an Irish breakfast, whichever guests are in the mood for, are always on the menu. They’ve also got plenty of options for gameday fuel in addition to Irish offerings.
Covington Yard
Arguably the best TV setup in all of Northern Kentucky, Covington Yard has giant TVs spread throughout their enormous space to ensure patrons never miss a minute of action.
For truly invested hoops fans, this is the place to watch multiple NCAA tournament games while still being able to socialize. Covington Yard takes March Madness seriously, with different games on each TV, food trucks at the ready and buckets of beer that seemingly never end. To add to that, they also have cornhole and other festive games to keep non-basketball fans entertained, too.
Happy hour specials and festive cocktails can always be found at the Yard. On any warm weather day, this is one of the best spots in town – so it’s no surprise they’re packed with passionate fans this time of year.
Smoke Justis
For those who aren’t into the hype of March Madness but still want the ambiance, comradery and most importantly, the food of the season, Smoke Justis is the place to be.
Smoke Justis is most famous for its smoked meats and bourbon selection, but this sports bar offers much more. The smoked wings are a must order for the table. Slow-smoked and flash-fried, these wings will satisfy everyone in the group.
Smoke Justis also didn’t forget about vegetarians: Cauliflower wings are the best around, and the fry boxes are also a great gameday dish option. The restaurant’s loaded fries come in five different flavors: chili cheese, buffalo chicken, BBQ, veggie and cheese and bacon. There are plenty of TVs to cheer on your favorite team, over 500 bourbon options, and ample beer and cocktail offerings to ensure no fan goes thirsty this March Madness.
What To Know If You Go
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
Location: 112 E Fourth St., Covington
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 a.m.
Website: mollymalonesirishpub.com
Phone: 859-491-6659
Covington Yard
Location: 401 Greenup St., Covington
Hours: Monday and Tuesday, closed; Wednesday and Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday, 4-11 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Website: covingtonyard.com
Phone: 859-993-9273
Smoke Justis
Location: 302 Court St., Covington
Hours: Monday, 4-11 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Website: smokejustis.com
Phone: 859-814-8858
