Located in the Continental Gin industrial park, Cahaba Brewing Company is the heartbeat of Crestwood. The facility has ample indoor and outdoor space, and it’s often put to use as a space for events. Holidays and warmer weather bring “Cahabazaar” artist or night markets, the calendar here is regularly stacked with bingo, trivia, open mic comedy, and chess nights, and local food trucks make an appearance nearly every day.

While their whole gimmick is nostalgia and familiarity, Mom’s Basement is a distinct enough dive that one can believe there’s no other place like it. The space is decked out with a pool table and vintage pinball machines, and framed photos of customers’ moms hang from the 1980s-esque paneled walls (Feel free to bring your own!). Weeknight events include trivia, Thursday karaoke, and free pinball Wednesdays, while weekend draws range from dance parties to vintage markets and free Sunday shows.

There’s an unwritten law in Avondale: if the sun is out, then everyone and their dog is out on Avondale Brewing Company’s back lawn. Home of the Brunch Punch Shandy, A-OK IPA, and Spring Street Saison, among others, Avondale Brewing Co’s core selection of brews is solid, but they’re always experimenting. (For something more niche, check out The Sour Room). This is often the neighborhood’s nexus of entertainment. The back lawn hosts major acts, like Phoebe Bridgers, Jason Isbell + the 400 Unit, and the recently remodeled upstairs hosts intimate acts like solo shows, comedy night, and even weddings and rehearsal dinners.

Avondale spot Parkside on Fifth has one of the most distinct atmospheres and best patio spaces in Birmingham’s entire bar scene. Formerly home to a home and garden shop and Parkside Cafe, which closed in 2021, Parkside offers craft and draft cocktails, beer, and food from longtime patio resident, the Airstream food truck Hotbox. Consider it an elevated version of its predecessor. Be sure to pay your respects to Tab, the bar cat who recently passed away.

Inspired by a now-defunct hotel of the same name in located in Trinidad, Queen’s Park specializes in lesser-known, yet still classic cocktails. The bar has a festive atmosphere and an exceptional sense of hospitality that’s only equaled by the quality of their drinks. Owner and beverage director Laura Newman is a Certified Sommelier and the first woman to win the Diageo World Class US competition (She placed second at the global finals).

At Paper Doll, a good time is just as important as a skillfully made cocktail—and based on the quality of their drinks, we are talking a very good time. Don’t be surprised to find dance parties, DJ sets, and live music, and this bar is also happy host an event with no room fees or minimums. Plus, the $6 cocktails until6 p.m. is one of the neighborhood’s better weekly happy hour deals.

Birmingham mourned the loss of The Atomic Lounge in 2021. However, the House of Found Objects (or HOFO) maintains much of its predecessor’s charm — the vintage decor and furniture, the Sex Panther cocktail, the otherworldly aura. The space itself is a visual spectacle, a shrine to “found objects”—familiar objects stripped of their identity and reborn as art. Clouds dangle from the first floor ceiling, and surfaces like tv screens and display cards offer foreboding advice such as “Sometimes to get rid of all the rats you have to burn down the house.”

Jesús Méndez and José Medina Camacho’s tequila-focused cocktail bar opened at the end of 2022, but team Adiõs made such a strong delivery that it already feels like a quintessential part of Birmingham’s nightlife. Adiõs’ drinks and atmosphere pay homage to Mexico City—the ingredients are fresh and citrusy, and the airy space is tastefully lit and dotted with plants, while a bright yellow ofrenda altar sits in a rear corner. Even when the space is crowded, the super attentive service makes drinkers feel like the only people in the room.

Located in Pepper Place, The Lumbar offers a reprieve from adjacent attractions like the farmers’ market, some of Birmingham’s higher-end restaurants, and event venues. The Lumbar pays homage to the college experience and UAB without the chaotic atmosphere you’d find in a bar geared towards that age bracket. It’s actually chill enough to catch people in their early 20s looking over Powerpoint slides in a booth. Clever cocktails come served in flasks and beakers, and board and card games dot the tables. It’s also a solid spot for late-night eats: the Tetris tots are greasy and crispy in all the right places, and the garden burger is the polar opposite of artificial.

It’s all about agave at Mayawell—their collection includes more than 90 different types of tequila, mezcal, sotol, and raicilla, but they also offer local and Mexican beer, New World wine, and classic and house cocktails. The interior space is cozy, with rustic decor and warm tones, while a patio and rooftop bar provide additional room outdoors. Grab a snack at the food truck outside.

Opening a bar in 2021 is already a major feat, but Juniper took that accomplishment several steps further and became a thriving part of Forest Park. The gin-focused bar emphasizes both the spirit’s history and botanical nature, taking design notes from Victorian-era gin palaces and honoring plant life both indoors and out. Their outdoor space is more of a courtyard than a patio, and the interior walls are bedecked with floral arrangements and oil paintings. It’s the kind of place to impress someone who appreciates a good cocktail and aesthetics—Juniper’s so Instagrammable it’s constantly rented out or used as a venue for proposals.

Caya Coco takes inspiration from 1940s-era Cuban culture, mixed with just the right amount of Southern charm. Rum dominates the cocktail list, but there’s also an extensive beer and wine selection, and the outstanding food menu perfectly complements the drinks. Jewel tones and intricate textures like rattan and basket weave dominate Caya Coco’s interior, while the outdoor area is more streamlined and modern.

Birmingham has no shortage of breweries, but nobody does sour beer or bold flavors as well as TrimTab. The experimental brewery’s ingredients range from oyster shells to Watermelon Jolly candy and even glazed doughnuts. Opened in 2013, TrimTab is now a fundamental piece of the Lakeview District’s bar scene. The core events here lean towards live music, dance parties, karaoke, and weekly bingo, but the brewery also hosts frequent tap takeovers and benefits such as a pet Halloween costume contest.

There’s always something going on at LGBTQ staple Al’s on 7th, from drag shows and battles, karaoke, and watch parties to themed dance nights. The decor is simple and divey, because the energy from the staff and patrons is all that’s needed to create an amiable atmosphere. Most events focus around the indoor mirrored stage, but there’s also a smaller outdoor stage on the patio.

As one of Birmingham’s formative bars and venues, The Nick’s impact on the local nightlife and music scene, especially in the 70s and 80s, is too significant to ignore. Artists including Alabama Shakes, Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, and Red Hot Chili Peppers all played here in their earlier days. This dive isn’t for everyone, but the people who get it, get it, and those who don’t can leave. They host live music just about every night, so come prepared with earplugs and a good attitude.

Tucked into a residential part of Southside, The Garage is one of Birmingham’s best-kept secrets. The indoor part’s atmosphere is relaxed and worn-in, and the patio, covered with European antiques, conjures vibes straight out of a storybook. The bar-cafe is cash-only and exclusively sells beer, but there’s an ATM inside. The Garage experience is incomplete without one of their sandwiches. Last year, a longtime regular straight-up bought The Garage and still stops by every day. 

Golden Age isn’t just a wine shop—it’s a haven for natural wine lovers and anyone searching for their next favorite independent winery. The Mountain Brook retailer and bar has an incredible selection, especially if you’re a fan of orange wine, sparkling wine, or Champagne (There’s a whole room just for it!) and knowledgeable staff. They also hold educational tasting events and host pop-ups for local businesses, complete with a wine pairing. Last year, Golden Age was nominated for a James Beard award for outstanding wine program.

People don’t expect a place like Red Lion Lounge in south Homewood, and that is part of its beauty. Open since the early 1960s, Red Lion is one of the oldest bars in the city. The space itself is small and hidden away, and definitely not the kind of place someone would stumble on spontaneously. Their regulars have been going there for years, possibly decades, and the staff keeps a chart of their birthdays. The walls are decorated in memorabilia—photos and framed caricatures of regulars, plus the occasional tribute to Elvis. It’s a haven for a very particular kind of customer, so don’t come if you can’t appreciate the classics.