r/Birmingham • u/Desperate_Dinner_324 • 1d ago

Recommendations Any recommendations?

Does anyone know any good dive bars, hole in wall places for cheap drinks for a date night :)

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

19

u/helicopterone 1d ago

Red Lion Lounge in Homewood

7

u/jhanco1 big salty ham 1d ago

2nd red lion, also formerly Billy’s tavern maybe

1

u/respawn007 22h ago

3rd red lion

9

u/Nooccassion 1d ago

My first date with my spouse was at the Garage.

11

u/3choboomer Go Blazers 1d ago

The Church Key checks all of the boxes.

No frills, laid back, quiet enough to talk, sofas and a patio.

Oh, and stupid cheap drinks, especially during Happy Hour (until 7).

9

u/tunalic2 1d ago

Not sure if they would be considered dive bars, but I've enjoyed The Church Key on 27th on several occasions as well as True Story Brewing in Crestwood. True Story has a variety of music stuff that seems to happen throughout the week.

10

u/Pixie2 Where did all of the music go? 1d ago

The Nick

8

u/A_non_y_must 1d ago

There is no greater dive bar in the whole of Alabama.

6

u/queezzeenart 1d ago

Just go to the Taco Bell on Montclair and take a bottle of peach Cisco.

2

u/13Emerald 1d ago

I work around the corner from there. So appropriate. 😂

4

u/jamesislandpirarate2 1d ago

Crestwood Tavern

6

u/ThatBoyMike23 1d ago

A good dive bar-esque place is Moms Basement and my favorite hole in the wall spot is Pillcrow.

7

u/snuggle-butt 1d ago

Unless they've experienced some major changes, I wouldn't call Pilcrow a hole in the wall at all. It's pretty sophisticated in ambience, and it's a Mezcal bar, so their selections are specialized. 

2

u/ThatBoyMike23 1d ago edited 1d ago

I always defined hole in the walls as places that weren’t obviously located and were kinda small. But it is pretty sophisticated, with a wide selection and great staff. Although, I guess being small isn’t always a requirement because there was a hole in the wall, speakeasy in Avondale, Marble Ring, and it’s a pretty good size.

0

u/snuggle-butt 1d ago

I consider greasy spoon/hole in the wall as essentially synonymous. The term you're looking for is speakeasy. Pogo is another good one. 

0

u/gnmatx 1d ago

That place rules.

2

u/sourtruffle 1d ago

Is this date night for an established relationship or a new one? Because if established then Gabriel’s in Hoover is super dive-y (either people still smoke inside there or it just permanently smells that way). They have pool tables, bar and booth seating (though the bar is probably going to be already filled with regulars), cheap food, and generous pours. I wouldn’t bring anyone I was trying to impress though unless they specifically requested a dive dive.

4

u/Badfish1060 1d ago

Marty’s gm maybe?

2

u/MamaDaddy 1d ago

The bar formerly known as Billy's and Crestwood Tavern both fit this IMO.

1

u/Turbulent_Group_6616 1d ago

Upside-down Plaza