Birmingham-Southern College - Nightlife

Bell Bottoms is a great dance club located a block past the Five Points South intersection, which means it is close to all the nighttime action. Bell Bottoms is an 18-and-over club, and it’s known for staying open late to please the night-owl crowd.

Club Red is one of the few places downtown that has a full-time DJ. Club Red is also a late-night favorite, known for its great dance-club atmosphere.

On Friday nights, Banana Joe’s is the place for the ladies because they have a girls’-night-out special, which means 21-and-up gets in free before midnight. It’s a popular place for people who like dancing more than drinking, because they’re known more for their music than their liquor. They are also one of the few places that will let 18-year-olds in.

Tantra has a DJ, a ladies’-night-out special, and even has a wide selection of appetizers for those people who aren’t big drinkers. Most people come to Tantra to sample the social scene and the dancing. They also offer live music on special occasions and are open till all hours of the morning for people who like to start the party late.

If you’re out with a big group for the night, a great place to go is The U. Their motto is “meet me at The U,” because if you have a party of five or more, after your first round, the house will buy everyone a round of complimentary drinks. On Thursdays, they expand on happy hour by having an entire happy day with $6 drinks from the classics menu all day. Wednesday nights they feature acoustic acts and free tapas with the purchase of a bottle of wine. If you’re in the mood for some sophisticated entertainment, The U is the place to go.

In addition to having the best calamari in town, Courtyard 280 specializes in happy hour. Every day from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. is happy hour with 75 cents off all well drinks, domestic beer, and wine. On Saturday, they up the ante with $2 domestics from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. They also feature live music seven days a week. If you’re out past the Summit and too far from campus to come back and party, Courtyard 280 is the best place to go.

The Barking Kudu is a great place for people who like to drink—and drink a lot. Some people have called it “a drinking man’s bar” because it’s not uncommon to see packs of guys cheering each other on in chugging contests or testing their limits on specialty shots. They also feature live local music quite frequently, and it’s a great place to go if you know people in a band.

The Break is one of the more well-known pool halls in Southside. There are people who practically live there, and you can see them every time you come in. They also offer some appetizers and food, but it’s not the best place to go if you’re looking for quality bar food. The Break is also one of the last places to close in Southside, so it’s one place you can spend all night.

The Nick offers the best of the bar scene. They have a club-style dance floor, pool, and a stage for great live music. They have weekly drink specials and also have a ladies’-night-out free cover charge special on the weekends. The Nick is also a great place to meet young people in Birmingham.

Zydeco is known as a great small musical venue. They frequently have national acts come in and play small shows and are known for getting a variety of acts to show up. Since they are a smaller bar, it can get crowded. There isn’t a no-smoking policy, so if you’re not into smoking, be prepared to leave reeking of Camels. But if you’re looking for good music and a late-night crowd, Zydeco is the best choice.  

Cave 9 is a volunteer-run, non-profit musical venue that is the place to come see up-and-coming local acts. All the shows are all ages, and it’s a great place to go if you’ve never experienced punk or indie music. The shows are cheap, and the bands playing are more about the music than the money.

Highland Coffee is a great place to go if you’re not a big drinker but love to chill out. It can get pretty busy late at night, but there are always interesting people around to talk to. They bring in local political groups to give speeches, and they host forums on all kinds of issues from constitutional reform to animal rights. Also, they are one of the most popular coffeehouses in town, which is a big kick in the face to the numerous Starbucks in Birmingham.

The Stardome is the only comedy club in town, and they can book nationally-known acts. In the past, they have had college favorites like Mitch Hedberg and Stephen Lynch. They also have special, discount open-mic nights that feature local and up-and-coming comedic talent.