Entry No. 19 — the Cincinnati file — filed under: speakeasy
The Secret Bar at CHAD
Concealed inside the Creative House of Art and Design, this secret craft venue serves cocktails amidst art supplies and opens onto a hidden alleyway patio.
The story
Walk past 609 Main Street in Covington’s MainStrasse Village and you'll think you’ve stumbled into a standard neighborhood creative studio. Creative House of Art and Design (CHAD)—spearheaded by artist Chad Turner (known locally as 'Mr. Chad') alongside Josh Drury—looks on the surface like a store for craft workshops and giftables. The front room is packed with Ms. Frizzle-style novelty earrings, Copic markers, handmade stickers, and grab-and-go art kits. But if you keep walking past the adult coloring books toward the back corridor, the shop reveals its second life.
Beyond the retail floor, the back hallway opens into an intimate, low-lit drinking nook known simply as The Secret Bar. There is no neon sign trumpeting its existence indoors; instead, craft cocktails are poured against a backdrop of art supplies. You can grab a drink, pick up a sketch pad, and step straight out the back door onto a secluded alleyway patio tucked far away from MainStrasse street noise.
The room functions as a sanctuary for Covington's queer and creative communities. On event nights like their recurring monthly Drink, Draw & Drag or Full Moon Fest, the craft store transforms into an energetic hub where local performers, artists, and neighborhood regulars mix paint palettes with craft drinks.
What it's like
You'll enter through a bright, colorful shop floor stocked with art supplies, feeling like you might be trespassing on a children's art class until you follow the corridor to the rear. Inside, the bar room is small and unpretentious, leading out onto a quiet, walled brick patio with outdoor tables. If the front store is closed during off-hours, look for the sidewalk chalkboard directing you down the side alley straight to the patio entrance. The vibe is casual, welcoming, and hands-on—pick up a craft kit at the counter before heading to your table so you have something to work on while you sip.
The move: Browse the art kits and quirky jewelry in the front store before heading through the secret rear hallway for a drink during their monthly Drink, Draw & Drag night.
- 📍 MainStrasse Village, Covington
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 609 Main St, Covington, KY 41011
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- HAIL - Records & Oddities — Pair your craft-and-cocktail session at CHAD with a walk one block over to HAIL to browse taxidermy, Ouija boards, and obscure vinyl.
- Hierophany & Hedge — Head four blocks east to stock up on ritual curios from shopkeepers Coil and Augur before settling onto CHAD's hidden patio for a drink.
- Second Story — Keep your Covington speakeasy crawl going just 0.3 miles away by heading upstairs to Second Story's tree-anchored bohemian lounge.
- The Futuro Flying Saucer House — Stroll 0.6 miles up the Covington hillside after drinks to gawk at a rare, original 1968 Finnish saucer house overlooking the skyline.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance to the bar?
Walk straight through the front retail store of Creative House of Art and Design into the rear hallway, or follow the side alleyway toward the back patio when the chalkboard sign is out.
Can I work on art while I drink?
Yes, you can purchase grab-and-go art kits, coloring books, or sketching supplies in the front shop and bring them to the bar or back patio with your drink.
What special events happen at Secret Bar?
CHAD regularly hosts monthly Drink, Draw & Drag nights, Full Moon Fest gatherings, and adult crafting workshops.
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes, the bar opens onto a private alleyway patio tucked behind the main building.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: creativehousead.com · visitcincy.com · citybeat.com
last checked: 2026-07-21