By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Editor and University of Alabama Alumni
One of the top party college towns in America is Tuscaloosa, and that is part of what makes the University of Alabama #2 in PubClub.com’s Top Party Schools list.
A combination of the students and alumni – who come rolling into town on fall Saturdays for tailgating and Crimson Tide football – make “T-town” a great place for fun bars and nightlife. Here’s a rundown of the top places to party, the bars and nightlife in Tuscaloosa.
Downtown Tuscaloosa Bars
In dowtown Tuscaloosa, all roads lead to Innisfree Irish Pub. This indoor-outdoor bar has two patios and two bar areas full of college students (and alumni!) and it one of the top two bars in Tuscaloosa (keep reading for the other).With its lively social scene, this is the start and often the finish for many a T-town bar goer, a one-stop, we’re-staying-here place. And frankly, there’s little reason to leave because you can wander from one part of the bar to the other – front to back and back again and onto the front or side patio – and have different experiences.
Another lively place is Moe’s Original BBQ, which has bands playing live music in a cut-loose, this-is-a-college-town bar atmosphere. You had better get there by 9 o’clock, too or you will be in a blocks-long line. Pros’ Tip: Especially on a Thursday.
For the older crowd (that is, non-students) there is Five Bar, a nice restaurant that has a bar scene, Avenue Pub and the Lookout Rooftop Bar at the Indigo Hotel. Temerson Square has more non-collegiate bar options. All the places are within a 5-minute walk of one another.
The University Blvd. Strip Bars
Okay, that other top bar in Tuscaloosa is Gallette’s. Walk in the front door on University Blvd., (a sign says Campus Party Store) and you’ll see a busy mingling bar. But walk around the back, and, well, you’ll be greeted by a scene that looks like a Hollywood movie premer. There are people all over the place, all trying to get into the club, which is a massive area with a big stage and a pumping DJ. It’s quite the scene!
With the front bar it Gallette’s is truly a pub club bar, a pub in the front and a club in the back. It is also the closest bar to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium and has its signature “Yellow Hammer” drink served in a colorful plastic cup.
Now with that out of the way, hang onto your hats because what follows is a rapid-fire rundown of the other awesome bars in this very happening area right off campus.
Rounders is rocking. So much so that the line to get in there goes for a block-plus down the street, starting at 8 o’clock. It’s funny because one minute there’s nobody around and it’s as if somebody flipped a switch and all of a sudden there’s 50 people in line. It does mellow out a bit and so what’s the big attraction? Well, a cool hangout bar and a rocking club that makes it one of the most sought-after bars in Tuscaloosa.
The Twelve25 is one students’ favorite hangout. It’s drink, served in a you-get-to-keep-it plastic cup, is The Tipsy Elepant. It’s a vodka-based cocktial, knd of like a Long Island Iced Tea. Next to that is back-to-the-past Irish bar Egan’s Irish Pub. Previously it was the smoke-smelled dive bar Unique and now the long and narrow spot is a throwback to a Tuscaloosa legend that once was an iconic Tuscaloosa bar for 41 years. PubClub popped in for a few drinks on a football weekend and it’s a hang-out place that’s a good spot to sit and get a cheap cold one or cocktal (a heavy-poured drink is just $8).
The Bear Trap is a bar behind University Blvd., that is Tuscaloosa’s only rooftop bar that also overlooks the football stadium. This is busy “hang out” bar that’s all outside. Oh, there is small bar downstairs that nobody goes to because, according to a lovely girl PubClub.com talked to about it, “it’s borthing there.” The Bar Trap also has a stage for live music.
Sideline, just off University Blvd., is a really fun, small and casual bar that is especially good during the week. If you want into a bar without a line or cover charge, you can usually get that at Houndstooth Sports Bar, a large bar with enough TVs to show every sport ever created. Buffalo Phil’s is a wings place (with pretty good burgers) that has a bar scene.
Tuscaloosa Live Music Bars
Two Dimes opend on the Strip in 2025 and is a live music venue that often has ticketed shows but also has a huge inside and dance floor when there are not bands.
Rhythm & Brews near Tuscaloosa River Walk (2308 4th St) is a live music bar featuring Nashville recording artists and other very good bands. The Rabbit Hole, between the downtown and Univeristy Blvd., bars, is a cool place that looks like a big house and has bands. It even has a front porch. And a more happening area in the rear with the bands.
Druid City Brewing Company is not only Tuscaloosa’s orginal craft brewery, it also has bands as well as karaoke. It’s right on the Universithy Ave., Strip, too.
The Booth is a lively come-as-you-are bar with a fun local rocvk cover band. The drinks are cheap (either the beers are really cheap or the bartender really liked me because my bill after a few of them was less than $20). The only thing missing here is sawdust on the floor, tho there is a pool table in the back. The Booth is around the corner from Moe’s, which as previously stated also has bands.
Getting Between The University Blvd., & Downtown Bars
It’s about a 20-minute walk between these two bar areas on a flat, safe street, but even better there are golf carts that go between the two places for about 6 bucks. That’s the way to pub crawl in style!
Lines And Cover Charges At Tuscaloosa Bars
It is important to note that some bars have lines and cover charges, particularly on football weekends. PubClub.com recommends getting to places by 8 p.m. – even earlier if you want into Innisfree or Gallette’s – and most cover charges are $20, tho can be as much as $60. On “normal” weekends (that is to say, non football ones) getting into the bars is generally not a problem. But football weekends are the most fun times to be out in the Tusaloosa bars.
This post was updated in 2025.
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