Birmingham guide
The best cocktail bars in Birmingham
Birmingham has 18 standout cocktail bars worth your time — these are the ones locals actually send people to, ranked by how well-loved each spot is and checked by hand. The House of Found Objects, Adiós and El Barrio lead the list. No chains, nobody pays to rank.
The House of Found Objects
Cocktails among the found objects. Feizal Valli's cocktail bar next door to El Barrio, built out of repurposed finds, with costumes and a bubble machine. Esquire put it on its 2026 list of the best bars in America.
Esquire Best Bars in America
Adiós
Agave cocktails & margaritas. Tequila and mezcal bar in The Dagny building on First Avenue North. A James Beard semifinalist for beverage service in 2025, and a margarita worth the trip.
James Beard semifinalist, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
El Barrio
Modern Mexican & weekend brunch. The downtown original on Second Avenue North; the second one is in West Homewood. Weekend brunch is the big draw.
Juniper
Gin cocktails. Restaurant and cocktail bar in Forest Park inspired by Victorian gin palaces, so gin runs the menu. Weekend brunch, and one of the best patios in town.
Mayawell
Tequila, mezcal & a rooftop. Neill Crook's agave bar in Lakeview, with Mexican-inspired food and a rooftop that looks back at the skyline. Order downstairs and carry it up.
Tucana Tiki Bar
Rum cocktails, tiki style. Nicky Vann Tisdale's tiki bar in the Denham Building near Railroad Park, open since 2023. Every December the holiday drinks go tropical.
Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar
Mezcal and tequila cocktails. Joe and Meg Phelps's basement bar under the old Caldwell Printing Works. Find the alley between Founders Station and The Essential and look for the neon sign.
The Collins Bar
Bartender's-choice cocktails. Cocktail bar downtown with a big back bar. Tell them what you like and they'll make you something.
El Barrio (West Homewood)
Mexican-Southern plates and margaritas. The downtown Birmingham favorite, now in Homewood's West Row development. Mexican and Southern cooking mixed together.
Bamboo on 2nd
Sushi & late-night cocktails. Pan-Asian plates, sushi and a strong cocktail list in a dark downtown room. Open late.
Paper Doll
Cocktails in a dim, velvet room. Dim, velvet-heavy cocktail bar on First Avenue North. Good for a date. Happy hour is a deal.
The Fennec
Cocktails, bites and live music. Bar and music room in Parkside, a block from Railroad Park, with cocktails and small bites.
Key Circle Commons
Cocktails & small plates. English Village cocktail bar with small plates, four years in as of 2026.
SeaBar
Raw bar and crudo. Seafood bar next door to Little Betty, from the same group. Sit at the bar and order oysters.
The Local Bourbon House & Eatery
Bourbon list & Wagyu smash burgers. Bourbon bar on Highway 31 in the old Hillside Music & Que space, under new owner Kiran Sunkavalli. Smash burgers, tacos and Southern comfort food.
Carrigan's Public House
Patio pints & pub food. Pub food and a long bar on Morris Avenue. The patio fills up when it's nice out.
El Zunzún
Latin plates & a heated patio. Latin American food, a busy bar, and a patio they heat in the winter.
SoHo Social
Patio drinks on SoHo Square. Where Homewood goes after work. Busy patio, plates to share.
Good to know
What is the best cocktail bars in Birmingham?
The House of Found Objects — cocktails among the found objects. Adiós and El Barrio round out the top of the list. Every place is locally owned and checked by hand.
How many cocktail bars are on this list?
18, all locally owned and ranked by how well-loved they are. None of them paid to be included.
Which have a Michelin or James Beard honor?
The House of Found Objects and Adiós.