Jefferson Hall Saloon

So, Friday night in Newport, KY… what to do? How about a great local cover band playing at Jefferson Hall (or J Hall as the locals have dubbed it)? Sounds like a winner to me!
First time here, so here’s the initial impressions. First, it is quite smokey (I know, I know, it’s a bar, right?) and if I had my preference it would be non smoking. There were a few members of the local law enforcement community out front which is nice in case things get out of control (which it didn’t).
You walk in and the stage is to your left with nicely spaced tables located throughout and a adequately sized dance floor in front of the stage.
Large «U» shaped bar with multiple bartenders pouring a moderately strong drink (Makers and diet for me this night).
It looks like there was some outdoor seating with the clear vinyl walls. It was very warm in here during the show and it really felt good once someone propped open a few of the doors.
Hott Stuff Rocks was playing tonight and I saw the first half of their show. Good crown participation and dancing during the show. Good mix of new and older 80’s to 90’s to 2000’s.
I live within walking distance, so it is a convenient venue. I’ll be back!

This place is as close as you can get to having a dive bar at the Levee.
It’s smoky, usually crowded with bros and other unsavory characters and just not a place I really choose to go.
Occasionally they have some decent acts that pop up at the stage, and it certainly seems to draw a crowd.
However, I hate going to places where I have to wash my clothes the next day to get the smell out of them.
J-​Hall isn’t the worst bar in the world, but it certainly can’t be counted as a good one either.

This is probably my favorite bar at Newport just because it’s huge inside, has live music and a patio, great view of the river, and comes right off the Purple People Bridge for easy access. The food is just average but there are bands playing so it’s A-​OK. Beer choices are diverse and the servers are pretty attentive.

If you want to hold a social event, this is the place.
large open area
Bar
View of Cincinnati.
Cover bands. (why not have local original music bands?)

I have been here twice and had a good time both times. It’s one of the better places to go for night life with good drink prices. As all of my night life experiences, I have had fun with the group I surround myself with, but it seemed to gel better here than other spots I have been too. It’s very fun, and from what I have heard, a blast when a band plays here. I have yet to experience that, but if it gets better than the times I have been, then that’s a good sign.
I have had my cover skipped from knowing one of the bouncers, so that is a plus also. I’m not sure how much it is, but I imagine if it was $ 15 or higher, it would take this down a bit.

I went here after a Unilocal event at Claddagh ended on a Thursday. I suppose it depends on where one is, but it’s not unheard of for a Thursday to be a tad busy, right? I thought that might be the case at some of these Newport establishments, especially since the after party at Brother’s looked well attended. That said, Jefferson Hall was pretty empty, with 5 – 10 people drinking and spread through the establishment. I’ve walked by on weekends and this was definitely not the case (though I’m not sure that’s really my scene so this wasn’t terrible news) so I was a little surprised. Not a big deal, or a deal breaker, however.
There was a DJ on stage with terrible glasses as if he were at a rave but also great 90’s music. I’ll dismiss the glasses, even upgrade them to ‘cool in someone’s book’, for the great music we enjoyed. Way to go J-​Hall.
Also, it did not smell like smoke, which is why I don’t frequent any place in Kentucky! This was a good thing. Not sure it was just the low attendance, or if one can’t smoke inside, but I like my fresh air so this was a huge bonus!
As these ‘spring’ nights in Cincinnati have been, it wasn’t warm, per se, but we did elect to sit outside anyway. The breeze was nice, we could hear the music, and the city scape in the back is always a nice touch.
I had a nice, if uncharacteristic night, at J-​Hall (at least from what others have reported). I’d check it out again, though I do have to add that the ‘amber ale’ the SO ordered was sent back because it looked like hand pressed cider (one should be able to see through a light beer-​agreed?). He was unimpressed with their beer selection in general so this wasn’t a great addition to that piece of his opinion, but they happily replaced the ‘apple drink’ and the night wrapped up rather nicely.

Listen, I may be giving you a generous 3-​star rating here, JH – but only because I have nothing but my horrible experience at Hofbrauhaus to compare it too.
So, did our bachelorette party have fun? Yes, but not because of the bar. More so because of the great company of my cousins. I’m pretty sure we can make almost anything fun.
I will say that Jefferson Hall was the only non-​chainy place I saw in this shopping mall-​ish complex. No thank you, Bar Louie – I think I’ll pass. As we walked up to this huge mall, a herd of teenagers 200 – 300 people deep came flowing out of the AMC theaters. Oh hells no. Not the way I really saw myself starting out the night. Get me a drink, ASAP.
Enter Jefferson Hall. The bar itself is huge, dark and smokey. I should have turn and ran at that point. But no, we stayed. I can’t tell you how excited I was smell like an ashtray for the rest of the night. Shot girls were walking around with jello and drinks were a tad over-​priced… le sigh. It’s like they’re actually trying to suck.
I think the only redeeming qualities were the view and the live music. Not that the live music was all that much to write home about either, but the energy was high and they pulled my cousin up on stage. The outdoor patio boasted a great view of the bridges and Cincy skyline, which I really enjoyed.
But would I visit again? Nah… it was a little too lackluster to remember.

One of the best places in the Cincinnati area to see live music. They always have top acts and friendly staff.
I don’t go here very often. I am definitely well past the median age, but always feel welcome here. The bouncers are friendly to not just the hottest, but to everyone. I like that there is almost never a line.
Drink prices are a little high, but about the same as any place else at Newport at the Levee. I am always amazed at how fast their bartenders are! The line could be three deep all the way around the bar, but I never seem to wait very long.
The place can get really packed inside, but I love that they have the patio if you need to get away. What’s nice is that you can still generally hear the music from the patio, but not so loud that you can’t talk.
I always feel sorry when my man has to go to the bathroom. It is stuck way back in the corner past the bar. It always seems to take him double the time to get there than I do. On the other hand, the women’s bathroom is located right by the front door and next to the stage. It is always clean. There is generally a small line, but not too bad. I like the mirror and counter they have to check your makeup and hair away from the sinks.
The reason I usually go here is to see Lt. Dan’s New Legs. They are a band that does Hip-​Hop covers from the 90s on. They are currently my favorite live band. It doesn’t hurt that the two lead singers are hot! They play there the first Saturday of the month most times.
Looking for a wild, loud, party night out, this is a great place to spend all or part of the night.

Smoky. Loud. Cover charge. Unprofessional bartenders.
The only reason Jefferson Hall doesn’t get one lonely star is because the live talent (although being too loud for the space) was very good. They played great music, and I honestly would love to listen to them more… if the volume were just a teensie bit lower.
I’m looking forward to Campbell county to have a smoking ban like Kenton county, but I won’t knock Jefferson Hall for the smokiness of the place. What I do blame them for is a pointless cover charge to stand around in a smoky venue and have your eardrums blown out. I’m not sure what they’re trying to be. It seems like it could be a fun place to hear a cover band play good, classic music… but when you have people trying to bump and grind to a Matchbox 20 song, it ruins the experience.
Though I didn’t drink while at Jefferson Hall, I did see plenty of OBVIOUSLY wasted people (falling over, sleeping while leaning against the bar) getting shots served by bartenders. I went to bartending school and know it’s not only illegal but poor judgement to serve someone who is so wasted they’re falling where they stand.
This place is just one of the many bars in Newport that reminds me to only head to the Levee to catch a movie at AMC, get food and beer at Hofbrauhaus, or read in Barnes and Noble.

I have a love/​hate relationship with this place. Most of the time I kind of hate it, but sometimes I can’t help but love the live music and great view of Cincinnati from its outdoor space. When I’m not in the mood to hear extremely loud, live music, there is a large outdoor patio where you can enjoy a quieter time, while still being able to hear the music blaring from inside. There are great beer specials during happy hour and this is a great place to watch games before the late night crowd takes over.

Take my review with a grain of salt because I absolutely hate night club type places, still if I absolutely had to go to one on the levee this would be it. They occasionally have decent music and sometimes it’s even at a level where to can speak to people around you.
Rap music still sneaks into the place now and then which is an issue and the beer still is not cheap or easy to get on some nights. Still if your friends are forcing you to go to a night club urge for this one over Toro and Arnie’s. It’s not too bad.

I really enjoy Jefferson Hall. The variety of music throughout the week is tremendous and they regularly host my favorite local bands.
While crowded, it’s a great place to go and let loose. You can go outside or in the back to chat with friends, or stay closer to the front and dance.
The drink prices are reasonable and you aren’t ever cheated on the alcohol in the drink. The food is typical bar food — tasty and easy to eat.
The two downsides — not enough stalls in the women’s bathroom and the smoking.

Ok, Jefferson Hall Saloon, I need some help here. Do you want to be a dive bar with a dingy stage, long messy bar, dark lighting and lots of open room? Or do you want to be a Newport party bar, with statues of Captain Morgan as you walk in, the patio outside and … well, being located on Newport on the Levee?
Honest to god, it felt like they were trying to do both at the same time. You walk in (past the Captain), and the small entrance way opens into a giant space. Stage to your left with high tables and high chairs and a long bar to your right.
I love a good dive bar, and anywhere else I think I might right like this place. It’s not a chain, it’s just a bar looking to provide music every night of the week. They even have a decent selection of bar food. I could be happy.
Here’s where it goes wrong though — and that’s its location. This just didn’t feel like a Levee bar, but damn if the clientele didn’t change my mind. The amount of grunginess to the level of polo-​shirts and high heels in this place just did come together By the time I left, it started to feel more like a meat-​market than an actual place to get a drink.
Plus, like still allow smoking, which doesn’t kill my night, but it certainly doesn’t make it better.
I think if you catch this bar at the right time of night, it could be a really fun place to be. However, on the weekend, later on, uh-​uh, no way.

I went to a social networking event here. First time here and hey, it’s pretty cool with a nice open floor and great view outside. Even have an area outside to enjoy.
They had really good appetizers and Maker’s on the Rocks is well a daggone good Maker’s on the Rocks.
The event was pretty awesome so we had a good time.

I don’t enjoy Jefferson Hall on a normal night for several reasons: it’s really loud and I am not a fan of being drowned in cigarette smoke. I have never eaten there. That being said, Jefferson Hall has kindly hosted two shows for a friend and there’s nothing wrong with the space itself. The drink prices are good and when it’s not totally overwhelmed with people, it’s actually reasonable pleasant to hang out there. There’s a nice view of the Cincinnati skyline and a pretty large outdoor area on the levee (which for the winter is covered by a tent and I’m wondering how gross it might get in there). Generally meh, but could be worse!

Ew. I am blown away that this place has a 4 star rating. Last weekend was my second visit. In the last stop of the bachelorette party, we arrived about 115 and still had to pay the five dollar cover charge. Grr! I didn’t even have anything to drink!
I think the big claim to fame here is the live music. I love nothing more than to listen to live music. However, even in my early 20’s, the music was SO LOUD! My ears have always rung after I have left. For my first visit during the summer, my friend and I sat outside and could hear the music clearly. Both bands have been very talented, just too loud!
It also seems like both times I have been there, there are belligerently drunk girls on stage flashing me with their entirely too short skirts and grabbing the performer’s crotches. First of all, how rude to the performers, and second of all: EW! If I was interested in seeing that (which I most certainly am NOT), I would go to a strip club.
Also, they still allow smoking there and I don’t enjoy smelling like an ashtray when I leave.
I would much rather go somewhere where I can talk to my friends and they can hear me and enjoy more «mature» company.

Good place to go every once in a while, but you can get sick of the atmosphere pretty quickly. Plus, it’s in Kentucky so it can wreak of smoke in there.

Good place to see a band, Nice Patio in the summer. Smoking still allowed.

Cheap Drinks. Great People.
Tell the bartender that Tony, one of the owners, said he would buy you a free drink and watch the look you get.
Priceless.

Late on a Friday afternoon this large bar was getting fairly crowded. It has daily drink specials and serves food, although we were just there for a couple of beers, so we didn’t stay to eat.
I think the place tends to have a later night crowd with live music on some nights. It definitely has a presence in the Levee, being one of the larger tenants on the second floor.