Colony Mill
The Colony Mill on West Street houses the Elm City Brewery, which is a micro-brew known for its wide selection of beers made on site. Different brews are featured daily, so check out the daily specials board for that day's choices. The Brewery also has a large menu of pub fare and main courses, at reasonable prices. It has serveral TVs, and an outdoor seating section during the summer.
major chains
Keene also features several major chains of mid-scale restaurants, each of which have their own bars. On Winchester St. are Pizzaria Uno, 99 Restaurant, and Applebees. Located off Winchester Street, at the Monadnock Marketplace, are Chilis, Longhorn Steakhouse, and the Olive Garden.
main street area
The Main Street Downtown area of Keene hosts several bars and nightclubs. The most popular of these is the Railroad Tavern, located on Railroad Square. This bar/nightclub features a dancefloor and DJs on Thursdays through Saturdays, several pool tables, as well as three bars located throughout its large venue. Although it primarily draws a younger college-aged crowd, people of all ages do frequent this location. The owners and bartenders draw a straight crowd.
Near to the Railroad is Kilkenny's. Primarily a beer bar, Kilkenny's has several pool tables. Although it is one of the smaller bars, its drinks are fairly inexpensive, making it a common starting point for people making the rounds of the Keene bar scene or doing a crawl. However, Kilkenny's does tend to draw more locals, and has a more conservative feel.
Margarita's is a large Mexican restaurant located on Main Street next to the Colonial Theater. While it does serve a full range of drinks, it is mainly known for its creative, though expensive, margaritas. It has an extensive Mexican-themed menu, and outdoor seating. In addition to a restaurant section, it has a lounge area that also features a pool table.
The E.F. Lane Hotel also has a bar/lounge known for its cocktails. The atmosphere at the E.F. Lane tends to be quieter and more intimate than some of the other downtown venues.
Further up Main Street is the Lab and Lager, which is one of the newer bars in Keene. The Lap has a small outdoor seating section, and some pool tables indoors. It draws a college-aged crowd, though it is generally considered a cheap knock-off of the Railroad.
Across Main Street from the Lap and beside Athens Pizza is McCues. This location is mostly a pool hall, with numerous pool tables and several TVs. It also serves a wide range of beers, and is popular for those looking to play a few games, or as a starting point for a crawl. The beers here are also fairly inexpensive, making a good place to start a night out.
21 Roxbury is located just off Main Street on Roxbury St. It is a martini bar with up-scale martinis and other cocktails. Its small, intimate location draws a more up-scale crowd, and is a good place for a date or a more quiet conversation.