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    Alcove

    4.5 (59 reviews)
    ModerateLounges
    Closed Closed

    Alcove Photos

    ALCOVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Live music

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    Recommended Reviews - Alcove

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    Justin Y.

    The Alcove is one of our best bets when we hit Tuscaloosa for a game. A massive selection of beers, a great chill atmosphere and a mature but rowdy crowd make it worth the stop. Pros: The beer list is stellar featuring plenty of local, regional and popular craft brews. I'm told their bourbon selections were equally good and fairly priced. Prices are acceptable. It's not divey, but it's a bar in a college town. Still, it's chill enough to keep TVs pumping in additional SEC action without being overpowered with loud shitty music. Excellent live music on occasion. The outdoor setup is great. Cons: I wish they had food, but it's not a huge deal. Service can be a little odd in that everyone is so friendly, bartenders don't move super fast. The bathrooms are small and awkwardly placed. Conclusion: It's always on our list for a visit. Great beer and cocktail lounge and very ideal in the fall to sit outside. We can and do come back.

    Elise G.

    The Alcove is definitely one of my top three favorite bars in Tuscaloosa. Despite being in a college town, this is definitely not your average college bar. The Alcove is tucked away in downtown Tuscaloosa (look for the Christmas lights outside). The interior consists of three separate rooms, all of which are very dim and cozy. The walls are lined with old framed images and maps. As another reviewer said, it's a very casual, yet classy place. They have a great outdoor covered patio, which is more in line with the tiki bar vibe. It's absolutely fantastic on a warm summer evening. Now for the important part...the drinks! In my opinion, they have the best craft beer selection in Tuscaloosa and the staff is very knowledgeable about all of them. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of sours, porters, and everything in between, you'll have plenty to choose from here. If beer isn't your thing, they have a wonderful cocktail menu. Keep in mind that they use very high-quality liquors in their drinks (I think their well vodka is Tito's and well whiskey is Jack Daniels) and the prices definitely reflect that. Again, this is a bar that's refreshingly different compared most of the others bars in Tuscaloosa...it's definitely worth a visit.

    Someone brought pork chops!
    Ee Vonn Y.

    Alcove is five stars in my book because a five to me means that if I was under house arrest and could only pick one lounge I could go to for the duration of my sentence, this would be the one place in Tuscaloosa I would dedicate the judge's orders to. Alcove consists of 3 separate rooms, or rather 3 separate modes, in how you want to unwind your evening in this lounge. One room has live jazz music that you can enjoy. If it's too loud, you can socialize by sitting in the center room where the bar is located. Everyone seated at the bar is incredible nice, is open to having a conversation with you, and a friend of the bars' owners brought pork chops for everyone to have. They were good. In the adjacent room, you there are booths for you to have a more private gathering or conversation. This lounge has it all. If you want to change up the scene, just walk to the next room. This lounge feels naturally classy despite the rugged furniture. It must be the people who are very welcoming and looking for a conversation, or it must be that it doesn't try too hard, and they're looking for a nice calm, evening like you are as well.

    Small and Cozy (The Alcove)!
    Tim N.

    Finally a great Non-Smoking bar in Tuscaloosa! This place has style and serves some of the best mixed drinks I have ever had in Tuscaloosa! Has a back patio, with mushroom heater in Winter, and a nice front Patio. It is one of my favorites now!

    the front door of a restaurant

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    1 year ago

    Great beer list. Friendly locals. Nice quiet ambience. Very chill compared to most of Tuscaloosa.

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    2 years ago

    The bartenders can be rude, snarky and stuck up if you do not fit their vibe. I have witnessed some sever bias.

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    3 years ago

    Great atmosphere. Really good drinks. We sat outside & it was lovely. Good service as well.

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Love it great variety of brews, lots of quality stuff! Open a heck of a lot later than loosa. Staff is always great!

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    12 years ago

    This is the best bars in Tuscaloosa. They always have a fabulous beer selection, great cocktails, but above all, the service is top notch.

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Review Highlights - Alcove

    This hole in the wall might not look like much, but it's charming and cozy and has a fantastic beer selection.

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    The Sanctuary on 25th - Korean Pork Belly - Twice Cooked, Tender and Crispy Pork Belly Glazed in a Specialty Korean BBQ Sauce, Topped with Scallion

    The Sanctuary on 25th

    4.4(111 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    I had been meaning to try this bar for some time. Ran out of the house while some work was…read morehappening at home and I needed a great afternoon stop to kill some time. Made the decision to turn in and try Sanctuary; how fortuitous! First, this isn't just a music venue! It's a classic bar with real cocktails (mocktails, as well), but also a great reincarnation of an old church. And they serve awesome food!! Second, the drinks and food are top notch! Try a Paper Plane! It's my new favorite way to drink bourbon, TBH. You will absolutely feel distinguished while you do. I overheard many professionals around me, too, so it's definitely a place to run elbows with University types. Finally, I love music. This place has different musicians all the time. But my favorite is Dr. Warren Ertle's Corpse Revivers, an old fashioned Jazz band! They play two shows a night, almost every Tuesday! I say "almost" because, well, ...just check the Sanctuary's facebook page before you invite friends to a show. (Ask me how I know!) Overall, it's a great time, try the tacos!!

    After another big Alabama Crimson Tide baseball win--bringing out the brooms and finishing the…read moresweep on Sunday--my wife and I met up with some friends at The Sanctuary on 25th to celebrate. We've eaten here before and have been wanting to make it back, but between their popularity and our schedules, it's felt like trying to line up a dentist appointment during tax season. Tonight, though, everything finally clicked. We got there early and were greeted by two cheerful hostesses who promptly sat us in the corner... felt a little like we were back in kindergarten for talking too much, but we made it work. Oh--and if you're into live music during dinner, this place delivers. There's something about enjoying a good meal with live music in the background that just elevates the whole experience. It's also the kind of setting where local artists get their start, and you never know--you might be listening to someone on their way up. Once our waiter came over, we held off ordering while waiting on our "fashionably late" friends--who, for the record, treat arrival times more like loose suggestions. Eventually, the crew assembled and it was game on. I kept it simple to start: water, no lemon. Let's not contaminate perfectly good H2O--I want it 100 proof. For appetizers, we ordered the Fried Cauliflower and Fried Okra to share. And by "share," I mean I ordered them and then immediately abandoned that concept. Only child tendencies die hard. Both dishes were excellent. The fried okra, paired with their Creole ranch, absolutely stole the show--seriously, that sauce deserves its own fan club. The cauliflower was also very good, and the homemade remoulade held its own... just not quite on the Creole ranch level. Our friends ordered the Street Corn Dip, and while I didn't personally get any (again... sharing isn't my spiritual gift), I can confirm it was outstanding based on the fact that the dish came back cleaner than a whistle. One of the coolest parts of this place is the atmosphere. The building still carries that old church feel--you can almost picture folks sitting in pews listening to a sermon. These days, though, the only preaching happening is coming from the kitchen, and there's a "sinful" bar running along one wall that probably wouldn't have made the original blueprints. For the main course, my wife went with the Lobster Mac and Cheese, and I ordered the Chili Lime Shrimp. The mac and cheese was a solid choice--rich and flavorful--but just a touch on the dry side. A little more cream would take it to the next level... perfect, but not Jesus-walking-on-water perfect. The shrimp, on the other hand, was good but didn't quite live up to expectations. It started strong but didn't finish the game, and I ended up handing off the last few bites like a reliever coming out of the bullpen. All in all, The Sanctuary on 25th is a great addition to the Tuscaloosa food scene. Between the unique setting, strong appetizers, live music, and overall experience, it's definitely worth a visit. Just be prepared--it stays busy, and if you plan on sharing food, make sure you're sitting with better people than I am.

    Photos
    The Sanctuary on 25th - Bacon Wrapped Dates - Medjool Dates wrapped in Hickory Smoked Bacon and glazed with a Honey Bourbon Reduction

    Bacon Wrapped Dates - Medjool Dates wrapped in Hickory Smoked Bacon and glazed with a Honey Bourbon Reduction

    The Sanctuary on 25th - Rojo Chicken Tacos - Braised Chicken served on a Crispy Flour Tortilla, Topped with a Street Corn and Cotija Cheese

    Rojo Chicken Tacos - Braised Chicken served on a Crispy Flour Tortilla, Topped with a Street Corn and Cotija Cheese

    The Sanctuary on 25th - Steak Al A Plancha - Lime and Garlic Marinated Flank Steak, sliced and Topped with a Fresh Herb Chimichurri (Cooked Medium Rare)

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    Steak Al A Plancha - Lime and Garlic Marinated Flank Steak, sliced and Topped with a Fresh Herb Chimichurri (Cooked Medium Rare)

    Alcove - lounges - Updated May 2026

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