Published June 13, 2026 | Updated June 13, 2026

I recently stopped by Coven, Omaha’s first goth bar that bills itself as “The Home for Witches, Weirdos & Punks.”

Coven is co-owned by Noah and Katie Mock who also run Nite Owl and Fizzy’s Fountain & Liquors, and Brendan Leahy formerly of Fizzy’s. The new bar has taken over the old Down Under Lounge building at 3530 Leavenworth Street.

Walking in, the change from the DU was noticeable right away. It still has its black walls, now accented with red lighting, skulls on the bar front, a casket, and an old school jukebox, all of which add to the theme. The vibe reminded me of Anna’s Place, the speakeasy downtown.

The cocktail bar features classic cocktails with a twist as well as beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks and I’ve heard that they’ll even make up a mocktail. We tried an Aperol spritz with passion fruit and a rye Old Fashioned, both well executed and hit the mark. Unlike sister bars, Coven does not serve food.

Coven hosts a regular lineup of events including live metal and punk music as well as dance parties, cabaret nights, tarot readings and art shows. Its signature recurring event is Club Noir, a goth and industrial dance night held every second Saturday with resident DJs spinning dark wave, goth, EBM, post-punk, synthpop and everything in between for a $5 cover charge. The goth bar is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 PM to 1 AM, and Saturday and Sunday from 2 PM to 1 AM, closed on Mondays.

While the brick building no longer has its distinctive mural facing Leavenworth Street from its DU days, its ghost sign remains visible on its eastern end. Unlike some of the other nearby bars, it has a small parking lot, and an outdoor patio on the west side of the building offers a chance for daylight or just some fresh air.

The building it calls home dates back more than a century, when it housed Stockton Grocery, and later cycled through several drugstores before becoming a blade sharpening shop. More recently, it was home to the Side Door Lounge and The Down Under Lounge starting in 2015. Coven has its work cut out for it living up to the DU which Omaha Magazine named one of the best neighborhood bars as recently as 2024. The DU’s basement speakeasy held half of the original bar from its first location. I didn’t get the opportunity to check out the basement on this visit, so whether any of that history survives the Coven renovation remains a mystery for next time.

Not being goth myself, I admit to being a little intimidated by its theme. Despite that, I found it to be a welcoming, inclusive environment even if it’s not your theme. If you like their other establishments, I imagine you’ll enjoy Coven as well. It’s worth a visit.

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