The Brown Derby

The Nick is definitely not for everyone -- but it's absolutely an experience you'll never forget…read more After my friend (who was hosting us) passed out, my other friend and I decided to see more of Birmingham's nightlife. A friendly bartender at Up-Down Arcade Bar (another must-visit!) told us about this place, mentioning it's one of the few bars open 24 hours on the weekend. Naturally, curiosity won. From the jump, this place had character. There's a bouncer at the door, a makeshift elevated DJ booth to the right where you have to pay cash for a "membership." Don't worry -- there's an ATM conveniently behind the booth, ready to charge you a nice little convenience fee if you didn't bring cash. The membership lasts a year, but still, that was a first for me. Inside? Small. Crowded. Lively. And at 1 AM, there was a guy passed out in a chair right by the entrance -- with his dog roaming freely around the bar. I honestly couldn't make this up if I tried. The bartenders were solid -- fast, cool, and trying their best to keep up with the rush. There's a selection of local beers (pretty good ones too) and two pool tables... well, technically one, since they only had one cue ball. The pool sticks? Ancient relics. The bathroom? I'll spare you the visuals. Outside was much more breathable. There was a local guy named Walter -- from Georgia, of all places -- selling BBQ. Cool dude. The turkey wing was a little tough, but his attitude made up for it. Now, the real highlights? The people and the atmosphere. You've got folks eavesdropping on your conversations, tossing around racially backed jokes at me (that I politely corrected), a row of chain-smokers out front, and a woman openly asking for cigarettes or change that may have been homeless, but was definitely a crackhead and she so eloquently vocalized. It's a gritty and downright raw type of place, but somehow, it works. There wasn't any live music when we came, but I'm sure that's what makes this place shine more than it already does in its own unique way. I'll definitely be back for a performance night. Bottom line: Five stars because The Nick is exactly what it's supposed to be -- an unfiltered slice of Birmingham nightlife that refuses to apologize for being itself.

It seems like I'd heard of this place since the day we moved to Birmingham in 2012. I've heard some…read moreinteresting stories about it since then also. lol! I went at 4:30'ish on a Tuesday for happy hour with some pals. Very slow time which was perfect for us. The bartender was very laid back. The customers seemed like regulars... familiar. Good drinks. The walls are super super busy. You can't look and not see something you didn't see before. I definitely recommend going for the experience if you've never been.

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The Garage

4.3(232 reviews)

1.3 mi

The Garage kicks ass. Tons of history, extremely dope vibe, great service, solid sandwiches/soup…read more If you get the chance go check out this historical gem tucked away in Birmingham. Voted one of the top bars to travel to in multiple magazines. The owner basically built a bar around his workshop. The middle looks way better during the summer, but a must visit if in the area.

We had a lovely lunch at the Garage!…read more Their sandwiches are fresh and made to order. It's very straight forward and you choose all of your own toppings. Soup changes daily and this day was chickpea and chorizo. Nothing life changing about it but it wasn't bad. We walked into a small, dark, crowded dive bar and ordered amongst several other people after waiting in line shoulder to shoulder with other customers. I say this not to complain (because with a crowd like this on a random weekday, they're obviously doing something right) but to take your kids in car seats (‍) with caution. Crowds in small spaces stress me out and it would have been even worse if we'd had the boys with us. I'd also highly suggest going on a day when you can sit outside. There's very minimal seating inside. They do have a lovely, spacious patio that also feels like a garden with plenty of trees for shade. However, they make it clear they don't want dogs there. Parking was horrific. A narrow street with cars on each side. We barely fit through it. If there wouldn't have been an open spot on it, I'm not sure what the next option is because I didn't see anywhere else and this street only held so many. I would dine here again because the sandwiches were fresh and delicious and they obviously know what they're doing! I was pleasantly surprised that they had prosecco as well. Just heed my few warnings and you'll enjoy as well!

Club Sandwich

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Prosecco

Upside Down Plaza

3.9(44 reviews)

1.6 mi

This is an "if you know, you know" place. It's in an alleyway down two sets of stairs that smell…read morelike they use a scrub and an antibiotic. The bar is spacious and has a neat vibe, graffiti walls, vending machine, pool tables, interesting decor... Definitely, worth a visit. Jackson was our bartender. Awesome guy!

Played pool with 3 #2 balls and a few fours. Drink beer...have fun. Don't think about it…read more#divebar#divebar I love dive bars. Would give it a 5 on but the urine smell was too prevalent for me.

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Red Lion Lounge

4.1(22 reviews)

2.7 mi

Red Lion is a laid-back neighborhood bar with fun caricatures covering most of the space. We even…read morerecognized some of the patrons at the bar from the wall. They have basic drinks at reasonable prices and the people were friendly. It's nice if you want a quick two ingredient cocktail before or after a show a Homewood Theater, which is a quick walk away. Definitely a dive bar atmosphere but sometimes that's what is called for.

Absolutely love the Red Lion! It is strictly a bar, no food…read moreavailable, but it is wonderful. Very comfortable and welcoming. I will definitely go back.

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Daves Pub

3.8(53 reviews)

1.7 mi

Dave's Pub on St. Patrick's Day = pure chaos in the best way…read more Packed, high energy, drinks flowing, and the bartenders kept up like pros. Classic dive bar vibes with a fun crowd and great atmosphere! Will 100% be back!

Dave's Pub is located in Five Points South. They have some of the cheapest drink options I've seen…read more They have some local bands and karoake nights too. They also have an outdoor patio that just about always has people. Service is always good here too.

NEW YEARS PARTY at DAVE'S PUB

Car Bombs

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Green Beer

Mom's Basement

4.1(56 reviews)

0.9 mi

Very chill bar and nicely decorated. Definitely looks like a mom's basement so the theme was…read moreexecuted perfectly lol. Drinks are regular price but surprisingly high for the atmosphere? Spent $25 on two drinks. They have a $5 cash ($7 for card) Photo Booth that gives you literally no warning before taking your pictures and shining VERY bright lights before each pic. Came out horrible but love a Photo Booth lol. Service was good and they have free pool tables. Nice to try out a new place!

I attended the Chicken parade here recently on 02/14/26. I was distraught bc they didn't start on…read moretime. I'm rarely early or on time so this sent me into a tizzy! Literally. The parade didn't have many participants this year but I can't speak for in the past.. The JO band was the highlight of the parade for me. I had a few Jell-O shots and accumulated a lot of Mardi Gras beards throughout the night. I guess you can say my first chicken parade was a success!

Inside area

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Lou's Pub & Package Store

4.0(69 reviews)

0.7 mi

The Yelp! Category questions really can't fit this place. It's like trying to fit the proverbial…read more'quadrahelic block of unknown dimensions' into a surface without any obvious holes. They don't normally serve food, so you can bring your dog. Except tonight they're having a crawfish boil. Is it romantic? Not by my estimation, but there is always a couple kanoodling in the corner which is making the people holding a wake slightly uncomfortable. So why should you come? Three reasons: 1) the service. Bartenders that can meet a wide variety of expectations are hard to find. 2) the quality of the cocktails is hard to beat. It's so nice to have the Buffalo Trace Manhattan hit the bar without a word being said. 3) The price. Ten bucks for a top shelf Manhattan (I pray they don't read this) is such a bargain. I may be here in happy hour, but hey. One of B'ham's must sees. Please don't though, because as the song says, 'Everyone hates a tourist'.

Had some Monday night brewskis with the boys. Lou's is one of those places that is so casual and…read more"locals only" that even as a local, I feel like a poser. This place is storied, I'm sure my parents drank here before I was even thought of. Birmingham legend spot. No beers on draft, I understand, means they have less dishes to do. But they have all the classic domestics and local beers you could want. Plus, they make great cocktails. The spicy marg here is unlike any other. Service is insane. On this Monday, we were treated like regulars. The man in charged asked us what kind of music we wanted on, "pourers choice," we said. He proceeded to play exactly what we wanted to hear, which included Forget You by CeeLo 3 times. The woman serving our table was awesome. "What can I get for you baby?" Suddenly, my Monday woes fell by the wayside. The couple of outdoor tables are a great spot to enjoy an evening in Birmingham. I haven't bought anything from here yet, but they seem to have any liquor you could want.

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Makers & ginger

Paramount - Downtown Birmingham

4.3(477 reviews)

1.7 mi

I wanted to love this place SO BAD!! There's an attached arcade!!…read moreAnd the staff was SO NICE and friendly and helpful and I loved the industrial, creative decor. But we'd spent the day at McWane Center and we were starving so we were there to EAT! The food looked gorgeous but it tasted very meh. The onion rings had too much breading on them, which I didn't think was possible, but here we are. The part of the breading next to the onion was mushy so that threw off the texture of the whole thing too. The burger was very much like a Whataburger. Even the lettuce smelled the same. I got The Standard and the bun of the burger was a little mushy (similar to Whataburger) and there was not much meat. For an $11 burger, I'm expecting more than a Whataburger. My middle kid likes everything on her burger and isn't picky at all and the loaded kid burger looked impressive but it was about the same as mine. Not awful, but not very good either. Very close to the same amount of meat. She's the queen of the Clean Plate Club and she only ate half. The fries were good but a somewhat too salty, the dip that came with the onion rings was excellent and we ended up using it for the fries. We had 2 adults and 3 kids and our meal was $63 before tip for 5 waters, 2 adult burgers, 2 kid burgers, a kid grilled cheese, and a basket of fries and onion rings (I thought I was ordering a "side" of fries, not realizing I actually ordered a basket and it was a lot of fries and onion rings). We don't mind spending money on good food, but the prices here don't align with what you get. No one was more disappointed than me, I've been wanting to eat here for FOREVER!!!

We sat at the bar. Nice selection of beers. We had the three hander and my wife had a gourmet hot…read moredog called West Virginia. The food was perfectly prepared and surprised us how good. The bar was very busy but the bartender was very attentive. Great service. The ambiance was perfect for a corner bar downtown.

I rarely eat the impossible burger but it was so darn good!

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Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint - Birmingham

4.2(825 reviews)

0.8 mi

this was the best burger i have ever had in my life!!!!…read more its in a busy area so parking is iffy. but we went after it rained and were able to find a parking spot and a table almost immediately. menus are on the table. my waiter was attentive and the burger was everything! cooked to perfection....hot, cheese melted, mushrooms a nd onions grilled, bacon crisp. and their sauce...it comes in a bottle on the table and it was chefs kiss as a condiment. definitely planning on going here every trip!

My friends and I went to Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint for lunch and I had the Dr. Gonzo burger…read morewith cheese fries. The burger itself definitely lives up to the hype. The fries were good but the cheese a little too salty. Our waiter was super nice and checked on us constantly which is always a plus. Overall, a great choice for burger lovers--especially if you're in the mood for something a little different from your standard cheeseburger.

Downstairs

Showalter burger. Applewood bacon, cheese, and a whole egg. On a halved doughnut.

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Saturday fun day!!

Billy's Tavern

4.5(2 reviews)

0.7 mi

Billy's is back open in Lakeview!!! I heard thru the grapevine the bartenders at Lou's Pub down the…read morestreet are the reason Billy's is back. Woohoo! It's a dive bar, nothing fancy. Pool tables, booths, music, and lots of people. I hope that Billy's opening back up helps Lakeview become fun again. The last few years with Moe's being closed and multiple incidents at Innisfree, my friends and I have been avoiding the Lakeview strip, but it truly is one of the only blocks in Birmingham where you can bar-hop around. Music: when we arrived, they were playing 'Lavender Haze,' track 1 off of Taylor Swift's Midnights album. They then proceeded to play tracks 2 through 6, in order. This was the most effective way to win me over. I'll be back! Probably way more than I should be! P.S. I believe last call was around midnight last night. Unsure what the usual hours are going to be, but they were busy!

Had a blast as always Sunday at Billy's (2nd time) Barbara the bartender is great. Second shift not…read moreso much! Came in and demanded everyone close their tab before he started, seemed to rush Barbara out. I understand closing your tab so Barbara can get the tips but don't demand ask :) PS, he seemed to have a bad attitude problem. Just my opinion.