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Mom's Basement

4.1 (56 reviews)
InexpensiveBars, Arcades
Closed 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Mom's Basement Photos

MOM'S BASEMENT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Mom's Basement

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Reviews With Photos

Emily C.

Super cool spot. Unfortunately it kinda smells like a foot inside but it's still a really neat place. Cheap prices.

Angela B.

I really enjoyed my trip to Mom's Basement. I met a friend here for some drinks after work. I don't know how I never visited this place before. It really does remind you of your Mom's Basement. The atmosphere is fun and friendly. It is also laid back and feels like you are hanging out with family and friends. We absolutely loved our visit. We were greeted by Ralph (one of the owner's dog). Ralph was very friendly and we enjoyed him. The bartender gave us some great suggestions and told us which drinks were on the stronger side. That was really helpful in trying to decide that to get. The drinks were a decent price and they also have a pool table and other games inside. So I definitely think that this place is nostalgic and a place you can go to wind down and relax.

Mom's!
Chloe S.

Man oh man!! I had such a killer time here!! Friendly folks, a DJ spinning great tunes, delicious drinks, and ambiance to make ya feel right at home-- at your Mom's Basement!! The bartender, Ben, was just awesome! There's a pool table where you can play pool- for free! This place just kept getting mo' betta mo' betta for me if and when i live closer I'm going to be here all the time. I recommend you do the same!

Inside
Brensi M.

This is a very chill dive bar ambiance, we went there on a Friday night and had a great time. There are tables around the bar and a pool table right on the side. The bartender was very nice and friendly. Everyone at the bar was hanging out and having a good time playing pool. The decor around the bar are pictures of mom's hence Mom's basement. I will definitely take my mom's picture next time I go.

Jill G.

Super cool dive bar with pictures of Mom's all over the walls. Feels like it's straight out of the mid to late 80s. If you like cold beer you should come here.

Our social group had a great time!!
Davida B.

This place isn't like any other place in Birmingham. Our group loved it. The atmosphere and nostalgic vibe is something to appreciate. David was great!!

William D.

I absolutely loved this little gem of a bar. The customers as well as the bartenders that were there were kind and welcoming. The theme of the bar is that it's literally a basement. Think 70s vibe with wood paneling walls filled with glamour shots and risqué pictures of moms. Bringing a picture of your mom is recommended. They are always doing something there whether it be live music, trivia, karaoke...They are great at letting you know what's going on their Instagram page. I can't wait to go there again.

Chill area
Kristi B.

A+ ambience, super comfy. Employees done seem thrilled to be here but not rude. Asked for ID. I joked about being old enough to be his grandma. Didn't actually look at the ID and put a bracelet on. Here is how one conversation went. Me: "Can I see a menu?" Employee: "We don't have one". (Points to drink cooler) Me: "What about for food?" (Which is what I meant lol) Employee: "No. We only have hot dogs." Me: (thinking they have a variety) "Do we just put the condiments on ourself?" Employee: "We have ketchup and mustard." Me- I order the hotdog, ketchup only Also me- somewhat surprised to see chips. Not what I was expecting but still a cool spot. Would be a chill place to hang out with friends.

Janis T.

Mom's is a hidden gem in Bham. When you need a nostalgia fix and want to feel like you've been transported to your friend's basement in the 70's, this is your jam. It's cozy, comfy, artsy and pet friendly. They have frozen drinks on tap and the friendly bartenders will whip up just about anything you can think of that they have the ingredients for. Absolutely the perfect place for a low key happy hour or a chill Saturday afternoon.

Ashley H.

Came here with my social group and literally felt like I was hanging out with my friends in somebody's family basement. The drinks were good and budget friend. The decor was perfect for the setting. The only thing I did not care for was pets are allowed inside.

Ivancka S.

If you're feeling in a nostalgic mood, this place will transport you to another time. A capsule of all things back in the day and if you got mad love for your mama, you will appreciate this place even more. If you are not looking for anything upscale and somewhere more laid back, mom's will hit the spot. Hit up the pool table or battle it out with some arcade games or get crazy with the photo booth. Such a cool place and glad we have a bar like this in the Ham!

Linda R.

This place reminds me of my best friends parent's basement; straight from the 1970s with wood paneling, a praying hands lamp, pictures of people's moms, cool beer lamps, a potato chips vending machine and a vintage photo booth. They also have a pool table, dart boards, board games, pinball games (including my favorite Centipede) and a foosball table. This place is all about atmosphere and hanging out with friends. If you are looking for draft beer, you won't find it here. Only canned beer. They do, however, offer Good People and Ghost Train. One thing I can guarantee is that there is so much to do, you won't be bored. The night we went, parking was not a problem. They have a huge parking lot!

Paige P.

Mom's is the best bar in Birmingham, hands down. Cheap beers, fun frozen drinks and shots, and an eclectic décor that transports you back to your childhood. Mom's is the dive-iest of dive bars - the entire bar is filled with pictures of people's moms, and you can bring a photo of your own mom to hang as well! They have pool, pinball machines, dart boards, and occasionally live music. They also have a small back patio if you'd rather sit outside, though it fills up quickly. I think my favorite thing about this place is the people that go there. It is one of the most diverse crowds in Birmingham, and you will always end the night with an interesting conversation! WE LOVE MOM'S!

Pool tables. Couches. Pinball machines.

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The best! Loved it! Fun vibe video games ... pool table so cute! Bathroom reminds you your in a basement.

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Ask the Community - Mom's Basement

Review Highlights - Mom's Basement

It's in a very walkable part of Avondale so you can make a night of bar hopping, although I doubt you'll want to leave Mom's anytime soon.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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Paramount - Downtown Birmingham

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I wanted to love this place SO BAD!! There's an attached arcade!!…read moreAnd the staff was SO NICE and friendly and helpful and I loved the industrial, creative decor. But we'd spent the day at McWane Center and we were starving so we were there to EAT! The food looked gorgeous but it tasted very meh. The onion rings had too much breading on them, which I didn't think was possible, but here we are. The part of the breading next to the onion was mushy so that threw off the texture of the whole thing too. The burger was very much like a Whataburger. Even the lettuce smelled the same. I got The Standard and the bun of the burger was a little mushy (similar to Whataburger) and there was not much meat. For an $11 burger, I'm expecting more than a Whataburger. My middle kid likes everything on her burger and isn't picky at all and the loaded kid burger looked impressive but it was about the same as mine. Not awful, but not very good either. Very close to the same amount of meat. She's the queen of the Clean Plate Club and she only ate half. The fries were good but a somewhat too salty, the dip that came with the onion rings was excellent and we ended up using it for the fries. We had 2 adults and 3 kids and our meal was $63 before tip for 5 waters, 2 adult burgers, 2 kid burgers, a kid grilled cheese, and a basket of fries and onion rings (I thought I was ordering a "side" of fries, not realizing I actually ordered a basket and it was a lot of fries and onion rings). We don't mind spending money on good food, but the prices here don't align with what you get. No one was more disappointed than me, I've been wanting to eat here for FOREVER!!!

We sat at the bar. Nice selection of beers. We had the three hander and my wife had a gourmet hot…read moredog called West Virginia. The food was perfectly prepared and surprised us how good. The bar was very busy but the bartender was very attentive. Great service. The ambiance was perfect for a corner bar downtown.

Up-Down Arcade Bar - Tokens

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My husband, sister, brother-in-law, and I recently visited Up-Down Pizza Arcade in Birmingham, and…read morewe had a great experience. We ordered a large buffalo chicken pizza, and it was absolutely delicious, fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The atmosphere was lively and fun, even though we felt a little out of place since it was packed with college students. Still, it added to the energy of the place. It was very busy, but the service was fast and efficient. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and took the time to explain how everything worked, which we really appreciated. I loved seeing all the classic arcade games from back in the day, it brought back so many memories. We would have enjoyed sitting outside, but it was too cold during our visit. Overall, this is a fun spot with great food, great service, and a great vibe. I'll definitely be back when the weather warms up!

While touring downtown Birmingham on my first night out with my friend who lives here, he took us…read moreto Up-Down Arcade Bar -- and let me tell you, I can't wait to go back! As a transplant from Atlanta, I have to say the gaming bar scene there feels limited. Battle & Brew is probably the most well-known, with its endless screens, gaming consoles, and themed nights -- but Up-Down manages to capture that same fun energy while feeling more personal and connected. This place has everything you could want for a great night out: outdoor seating, an outdoor bar, and an endless lineup of arcade games, including a whole wall of pinball machines. You'll find everything from the classics like Capcom titles to newer favorites like Mortal Kombat. What really set it apart for me, though, was the outdoor setup. The terrace above the bar is the definition of a vibe -- great lighting, awesome atmosphere, and plenty of perfect photo ops. They even have outdoor games like cornhole, which added to the social feel. Huge shoutout to the bartender working outside that night -- she was a local and super friendly, giving us a list of other cool Birmingham spots to check out while we were in town. If you're looking for a place that's got character, fun, and a whole lot of energy, Up-Down is it. Whether you're here for games, drinks, or just good company, this is the kind of spot that makes you want to stay all night.

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Activate was so much fun and completely exceeded my expectations. Every room felt like stepping…read moreinto a real-life video game, and the challenges were the perfect mix of physical and mental. The staff was friendly, the place was super clean, and the whole experience was smooth from start to finish. If you're looking for a unique date night or group activity in Birmingham, this is absolutely worth it. I'm already planning my next visit!

Oh my gosh, so fun! Went with my 27 and 20 year olds. We had a blast. I reserved our time ahead of…read moretime which was nice. They also take walk ins if they have availability. I got a 10 percent off coupon code online. When you get there you check in at the front desk. They give you a wrist band that you can use for a locker if you need one. Lockers are free. Each person also gets a wrist band to play. First time players register at the kiosk. We were then taken into the gaming area and given instructions then we were free to get playing! There are several rooms, each with about 5 different games. One is a basketball room with different games. You can get directions for each game outside the room. Once you pick the game, you each scan your wrist band, press start and enter the room. The games have different levels. You can choose to go to the next level or exit the room. The games have a moderate level of activity which gets harder as you pass the levels. Water fountains are located outside the rooms near the bathroom. You will need them. Play is for 75 minutes which was plenty of time for us. After you turn your wrist band in you are given a keychain you can scan the next time and it will have your gaming info from previous play. We will be back!

Dave & Buster's Birmingham - Brekky smash burger

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I really wanted to like this Dave & Buster's location in Birmingham, but unfortunately, the bad…read moreheavily outweighed the good. Let's start with the positives: the drinks were great, the happy hour prices were solid, and the bartenders were excellent. However, everything else was a major disappointment. The front desk staff were unpleasant right from the start, and the pricing system is incredibly convoluted. I was expecting to pay $72 based on what I was told, but I was ultimately charged almost $90. I received no receipt and absolutely no explanation for the upcharge. Once we got to the floor, the staff were incredibly unfriendly. We tried to play the Human Crane game, but there were no clear instructions on how to pay for it, and the floor staff were just flat-out rude when we asked for help. This place feels like it was originally designed and priced for adults, but it now caters almost entirely to children. Between the unexplained overcharges and the poor customer service, I definitely do not recommend it.

We brought our 10-year-old in for spring break yesterday evening between 4-7 PM. The food and…read moreservice were both good--our waitress took great care of us, and we had no issues with anything we ordered. We ended up spending around $200 between dinner, drinks, and gameplay for 2 adults and a kid. Unfortunately, the overall experience was disappointing due to the number of games that were out of service. There were so many unavailable that it really took away from the experience. I'm not usually one to complain, but it became frustrating enough that I even started taking pictures. I eventually stopped because there were just too many to document. Literally if you look at the pics you start to ask yourself are you serious?

Mom's Basement - bars - Updated May 2026

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