Discovering the Best Places to Unwind in Newport News

Newport News is home to some great places to unwind and enjoy an evening out! From bars with unbeatable happy hour deals to venues showcasing live music with popular local bands, the city has something for everyone. Whether you’re a visitor exploring the area or a Newport News native seeking something new, discover some of our top picks for the best happy hours and hangouts.

Please Note:  The following list is not exhaustive. We’re always on the lookout for new spots and will update our recommendations as we discover more hidden gems. If you have a favorite venue that we missed, let us know and we’ll include it in our next update!

Brickhouse Tavern

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Sunday-Thursday: 11 am to 2 am | Friday-Saturday: 11 am to midnight

A favorite of CNU students, Brickhouse Tavern is a family-run restaurant that opened in 2007. Friends gather here for their world-class pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and beverages. Daily drink specials include various wine selections, including sangria, along with drafts on tap that range from IPAs to stouts, lagers, and ciders. If you’re a regular here, it is said that the staff “knows you by name, by good times, and by your favorite dish even before you order.” You are part of the Brickhouse family! A recent reviewer on Yelp had this to say: “Amazing service and the pizza is so good. They have an outside patio with lights …. Definitely the perfect late-night spot.”

Coastal Fermentory

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Sunday: Noon to 8 pm | Monday: Closed | Tuesday-Thursday: 2 to 9 pm | Friday-Saturday: Noon to 10 pm

Since its grand opening in December 2020, Coastal Fermentory has been dedicated to giving back to the community. They hold food drives, book signings, yoga classes, artisan markets, cornhole tournaments, toy drives, trivia nights, music festivals, block parties, and more. They’ve even hosted what they call their 23rd Street “Marathon,” where participants run exactly .081 miles (that’s 5,132.16 inches) from door-to-door between Coastal Fermentory and Ironclad Distillery next door! Afterward, everyone drinks and enjoys live music, food trucks and special releases. Their “Drink Beer and Do Good Series” gives non-profits a percentage of all sales and tips during a specified timeframe on select nights. Beer education classes offer samples and insights into brewing and beer styles. One reviewer praised them as “a little gem in downtown Newport News” that supports local revitalization. A new location, Coastal Fermentory Uptown, is under construction at Bland Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue, near the airport.

Cozzy’s Comedy Club and Tavern

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Sunday: Noon to midnight | Monday-Friday: 2 pm to 2 am | Saturday: 7 pm to 2 am

At Cozzy’s Comedy Club, it’s happy hour all day, every day! This lively and budget-friendly spot features stand-up comedians, pool, darts, Texas Hold ‘em tournaments, and karaoke. Enjoy a casual dining atmosphere with an American-style menu that includes burgers, fries, steak, seafood, and shareable appetizers. Join the fun on Thursday nights at 8 pm for Comedy Open Mic, Sundays at noon for Texas Hold ‘em, and most Friday and Saturday nights for top-notch comedians. A recent review raves: “Great place to take in a comedy show. Bar is small enough so anywhere you sit is a good seat. Staff is always nice. Pretzels are awesome. Drinks reasonable. Waitresses work hard making sure you have everything you need. Great place for a girls’ night out or couples. I try to get here every time I'm in the area on a Friday or Saturday night.”

Craft 60 Taphouse & Grill

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Sunday: 11 am to 10 pm | Monday-Thursday: 3 to 10 pm | Friday-Saturday: 11 am to 11:30 pm

With 80 beers on tap, 20 different cocktails, 14 varieties of wine, and more than three dozen stouts, ales, IPAs, and lagers on deck, it’s no wonder Craft 60 Taphouse and Grill bills itself as the region’s premier destination for the best craft spirits! Specials range from “Thirsty Thursdays” when all mugs are the price of a pint to “Twisted Tuesdays” when domestic and imports are deeply discounted. A recent review on Yelp called Craft 60 an “Overall amazing experience. They have many different happy hour specials each day of the week. The food was fast and fresh. Their fries were amazing. Service was fast. Servers were very attentive.”

District 41 Sports Bar

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Monday: Closed | Tuesday-Wednesday: Noon to 10 pm Thursday-Sunday: Noon to 2 am

Established in 2018, District 41 is an affordable, upscale sports bar for the sports fan by day and the social butterfly by night. It is co-owned by two lifelong friends and natives of Newport News: Robert Freeman and Antoine Bethea. The bar got its name from the number Bethea wore on his jersey when he played professional football in the NFL. They have craft beers on tap, an extensive list of local, domestic, and imported selections, daily drink specials, and weekday happy hours. A recent Yelp reviewer had this to say about District 41’s happy hour: “Went here for Happy Hour today and I wasn’t disappointed. The Happy Hour menu was good. We had the wing basket and shrimp basket. Plus, the drinks were on point! Jazzy, our waitress/bartender, was great. She recommended some really good drinks - tequila lemon drop is a must try. We will definitely be back!”

Hilton Tavern Brewing Company

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Sunday-Monday: Closed | Tuesday-Thursday: 11 am to 10 pm | Friday-Saturday: 11 am to 11 pm

Hilton Tavern, one of the oldest restaurants in Newport News, was established in 1930. Back then, it was called Adam’s Place and was Hilton Village’s first “watering hole” for shipyard workers – the only place in the area where they could get a beer. In 2016, Lorain Cosgrove, owner of Cozzy’s Comedy Club, took over Hilton Tavern with a partner. Today, they offer daily food and drink specials with live music. With 22 taps that rotate weekly, there is always something different to try. Ask about their $4 Beer of the Day specials and their extensive wine list. Other adult beverages include sours, wheat ales, amber ales, IPAs, stouts, porters, lagers, pilsners, and small-batch seasonal brews. As for food, Hilton Tavern is known for its baby back ribs, pork barbecue, and wings – smoked and grilled in an outdoor kitchen. Hilton Tavern is a popular neighborhood destination – the perfect place for friends to enjoy some down time.

Hoss’s Deli

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Daily: 11 am to 2 am

Included in the Hoss’s Deli logo is “Bikes Out Back.” It doesn’t matter if you arrive on two wheels or four, you’ll be welcome at this popular Peninsula hangout. Established in 1992, Hoss’s Deli has been slinging burgers and serving fries, wings, nachos, and cold beer for more than three decades. Happy Hour runs from 3 to 7 pm Monday through Friday. Daily specials include Military Mondays, which gives a 10 percent discount to members of the armed forces; Taco Tuesdays offers not just discounted tacos but special prices on margaritas; Wednesday’s Hooker Night isn’t as risqué as it sounds! This is the night the bar’s signature seafood dishes are offered at a steep discount; Thursday nights bring half-price bites at 6 pm; while the weekends offer discounted Bloody Marys and Mimosas until 6 pm.

Ironclad Distillery

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Wednesday-Thursday: Noon to 6 pm | Friday-Saturday: Noon to 8 pm

Ironclad Distillery gets its name from the ironclad ships that first saw battle during the American Civil War in 1862. Located in a former dry goods warehouse near the historic site of the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia clash, Ironclad Distillery honors this maritime legacy by crafting authentic small-batch, handcrafted bourbon whiskey using local Virginia grains. The nearby James River’s humid, brackish air infuses a unique flavor to the bourbon, making it a true Coastal Virginia product. Ironclad began its bourbon production in 2015 with six small 26-gallon boilers and stills, with its tasting room opening in 2018. The bourbon is aged in American white oak barrels, and each bottle’s label features blueprints of either the USS Monitor or the CSS Virginia. What a fun and flavorful way to celebrate Newport News’ rich maritime heritage!

Manhattan's NY Deli & Pub

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Sunday: Closed | Monday: 11 am to midnight | Tuesday: 11 am to 1 am | Wednesday: 11 am to midnight | Thursday–Saturday: 11 am to 2 am

Manhattan’s has been in business since 1987 and is still going strong! In addition to its tasty menu, they offer live entertainment almost every night of the week. Special events include DJ Trivia on Mondays from 7 to 10 pm; Karaoke on Tuesdays from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am.; College Night on Wednesdays from 7 pm to midnight; Thursday Night Splash features a mix of reggae and calypso music; and Fridays and Saturdays bring you DJ music from 9:30 pm to 1:30 am. Don’t miss their happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with an extended happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 9 pm. Dollar drink specials are available from 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday. Sports fans can enjoy their favorite games on several large-screen TVs. Manhattan’s isn’t just a place to grab a drink—it’s an entertainment hub!

Tinto Wine and Cheese

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Sunday: Open for special events only | Monday: Closed | Tuesday-Wednesday: Noon to 7 pm | Thursday: Noon to 8 pm | Friday-Saturday: Noon to 9 pm

The founder of Tinto Wine and Cheese, an American who moved to Portugal years ago, wanted to share his love for Portugal’s culture, wine, and food. Inspired by this passion, he and his wife opened Tinto Wine and Cheese in Virginia Beach, with the Newport News location being one of four in Coastal Virginia and the only one on the Peninsula. Tinto is a boutique wine shop featuring wines from small, family-run wineries. They offer weekly tastings of four to six wines, discussing the grapes, origins, and characteristics of each selection. Monthly, they host a “Wine and Paella” experience with a chef from Land of Saffron, a Richmond-based company specializing in authentic Spanish paella. Additionally, Tinto organizes themed wine dinner parties with a private chef who curates a five-course menu paired with six wines. Their offerings also include wine classes and tours to some of Europe’s best wine regions.