2 Fisted Willie's came to Lexington in September of 2024 following a massive renovation of the historic space in the University Plaza Center. This Woodland Avenue location was the former home of the historic Library Lounge, a popular disco/nightclub in the 1970's and 80's and was one of the first establishments to offer an early mixed drinks lounge happy hour after special permission from city and state officials. Made even more famous with tales of intrigue in Sally Denton's "The Bluegrass Conspiracy", the walls of the building hold a wealth of history that continued with subsequent businesses. In 1996, John Lynaugh opened Lynagh's Music Club hosting artists such as Patty Griffin,Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins, The Silos, Metropolitan Blues All-Stars, Leon Russell, Billy Joe Shaver and pre-fame John Sturgill Simpson. Lynagh's Music club closed in 2006, and, as a celebrated pillar of the city's independent music scene, the space transitioned into Cosmic Charlie's. Cosmic played host to The Whigs, Blackberry Smoke, Stampede, Fifth on the Floor, Bongripper, Chris Knight, Wheeler Walker, Jr., and many more through its relocation in 2016.

2 Fisted Willie's is on the historic corner of Woodland Avenue and Euclid, a focal point of Lexington's University of Kentucky campus, steps away from Woodland Park, and a short walk from established Chevy Chase neighborhoods, locally owned boutiques, and historic storefronts. The University Plaza setting is famously known as the traditional epicenter for massive University of Kentucky basketball celebrations. After UK defeated Syracuse in 1996, thousands of fans spilled into the streets. While most celebrating was peaceful, the crowd that gathered in the area of Woodland and Euclid avenues created quite a bit of chaos. At one point firefighters had to help a man who had climbed up a 25-foot sign at Woodland and Euclid to wave a UK flag. Notable celebrations also followed with the NCAA Championship in 1998 when the Cats defeated Utah and another monumental gathering in 2012 for the win over Kansas and UK's 8th National Championship.

Willie's is open daily Tuesday-Sunday at 4pm and closed Mondays for private events. On UK gameday, doors open early for afternoon games, so check socials for adjusted times!

We offer live music every Friday and Saturday night.

Hours:

Tue: 4PM-2AM

Wed: 4PM-12AM

Thu–Sat: 4PM–2AM

Absolutely. There's Great Bagel, Wing Stop, and Subway here in the University Plaza, so grab what you want or DoorDash and bring it on in! We're a bar first — the food's on you, the drinks are waiting at Willie's.

Yes! Athletic wear must be appropriate for a night on the town. No hoods or bandanas, Pants worn at waistline at all times. Don't wear anything that would embarrass your mamma!

Head to our Events page, find the show you want, and either pay at the door, through the Line Leap app, or for our larger ticketed events grab tickets under the Events tab. Touring acts and Special Events are ticketed in advance; smaller shows will have a Live Music cover at the door that you may handle through Line Leap or when you arrive.

Every Friday and Saturday night, year-round. Local college bands, DJs, and nationally touring artists — the guitars never stop at Willie's.

Refund policies depend on the event and the ticketing platform. Reach out before the show and we'll point you in the right direction.

You bet! Birthdays, corporate buyouts, game day groups, you name it — we've got the space and the setup to do it right. Fill out the form on our Private Events page and we'll get back to you to schedule your fun.

Capacity depends on the space and setup. Tell us your headcount in the Private Events inquiry and we'll let you know what works best.

We've got professional sound engineers and talent booking in-house, so live music or a DJ is absolutely on the table. Just let us know what vibe you're after in your inquiry.

The sooner the better — weekends and game days fill up fast and we traditionally host private events Sunday - Wednesday. Get your inquiry in early so we can lock down your date.

Yes. Game days are our busiest, so we recommend booking a table ahead of time. Reserve your spot through our booking page and you're locked in before kickoff.

Easy — book directly through our reservation page (powered by Toast). Pick your party size, date, and time, and you're set. For bigger groups or private setups, the Private Events form is the better route.

Reservations, when available, are for parties of 8 or more and , after confirmation, we will hold your spot for up to 15 min after your confirmed time.

Rooftop's first-come on most nights, but for groups and events we can often set it aside. Please check the reservations tab to see what's available!

There's parking in and around the center, plus street parking in the neighborhood. On game days and big show nights it fills up, so leave a little extra time and plan to come early and stay late.

Walking distance. We're your spot before the game, during the game, and after the game — no need to fight stadium traffic.

Yes! We want everyone to enjoy the bar. For specific accessibility questions about the main floor or rooftop, give us a shout and we'll help you plan your visit.

Shows, unless otherwise stated, are 21+. We offer Line Dancing during the week, hosted by Bluegrass Ballroom, and that is an 18+ event. All who enter must have a valid ID.