Alcove International Tavern

Bar

730 22nd Ave
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35401-1841
United States

(205) 469-9110 | map
alcovetavern.com

Monday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 2:00am
Friday: 3:00pm - 3:00am
Saturday: 3:00pm - 2:00am
Sunday: CLOSED
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.5
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
23
pDev:
7.11%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of jamyers1
Reviewed by jamyers1 from Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev -9.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The Alcove is a Tuscaloosa staple for townies and guests alike. For a full evening: start at Alcove for a drink or 2 after 6 pm, then walk to Loosa Brews for another drink or 2, then have dinner at The Avenue Pub or another great downtown Ttown restaurant! The Alcove has live music, interesting drinks, and is usually full of eccentrics. Not to mention DOG FRIENDLY!

J
Aug 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.38 by punkska20 from Alabama

Jul 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by Kramerbarthomer from Colorado

Jul 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.82 by Thebeertrailpodcast from Alabama

Mar 24, 2015
Photo of Huntbuc
Rated by Huntbuc from Alabama

4.52/5  rDev +0.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
Always fairly crowded...its a small bar. Enjoy going there... Service pretty good... Cool enough...
Feb 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.65 by CIBoy10 from Alabama

Jan 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Matchew from Alabama

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.48 by beastdrink from Georgia

Oct 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BlackNotesIII from Alabama

Sep 14, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by bozwellj from Alabama

Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by justinm4bama from Alabama

Apr 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by mlhenson from Alabama

Mar 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by leftstagebrew from North Carolina

Jan 17, 2014
Photo of Jacurdy60
Reviewed by Jacurdy60 from Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
Great atmoshpere. They sell bombers to go and to drink at the bar. They don't have the most extensive selection, but if I had to guess, I'd say they had 15 beers on tap along with about 40 different bombers and a number of bottled/canned beers. Everything was a bit overpriced, I paid $8 for 12oz of Stone's "W00tstout" which may be a good deal, but I am cheap. I was shocked they even had it. Overall, it's probably the best beer bar in Tuscaloosa and the "craftiest."
Oct 03, 2013
Photo of Doscon
Reviewed by Doscon from Alabama

4.29/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
When I'm in Tuscaloosa, I avoid the strip in favor of the Alcove International Tavern. I have never been disappointed with their selection. The mason jars are also a nice touch. When you find yourself in town on game day, stop in for Oka Uba IPA or come back on Celtic Music night.
Jun 20, 2013
Photo of D_Andrew
Reviewed by D_Andrew

4.5/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Probably the best bar in Tuscaloosa for those of us who enjoy beer. The prices aren't extraordinarily cheap, but definitely reasonable. Bartenders move quickly and will give a good recommendation if you ask. I've never had any liquor here as I always come for beer, so I can't speak to that.

The atmosphere is nice. This is not a bar for college students - it's usually twenty-somethings, grad students, and professors. The college students who are there are tolerable as they are there for the beer or the chill atmosphere.
Sep 17, 2012
Photo of lewwjr
Reviewed by lewwjr from Virginia

3.86/5  rDev -14.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
If you are looking for a stuffy fruity girl drink place, this is NOT it. As destined by others, it is a small galley format with character. The mixture of patrons is eclectic to say the least. From Alabama intellectuals to soroity girls stopping by for a round to good local beer lovers, its all there. The staff is knowledheable. Don't expect any fru fru smiles or fake frontal bar charma.
The selection is one of the best in tuscaloosa- bottle and draft.

Overall, this place rocks reaL beer kudos.
Jun 20, 2012
Photo of number58
Reviewed by number58 from Alabama

5/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
The Alcove is my favorite bar in Tuscaloosa, hands down. Their selection is great. The atmosphere is a welcome change from the norm in this town. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, not to mention the one guy's legit mustache.

The Alcove is a fairly small bar, but I actually think that works to it's advantage. It's a smoke free place. Tuesday nights there is live jazz, and these players are not to be missed. The crowd isn't your typical frat boys, which is very good.

They have 12 beers on tap, and rotate them frequently. They also have many more beers in bottles. The selection here is easily the best of any bar in Tuscaloosa. Prices are good too. The beers on tap range from $4 and up, depending on the gravity and availability of the brew.

I cannot recommend this place enough. It's such a change of pace from everything else in Tuscaloosa. If you love beer, this is the place to be.
Mar 24, 2012
Photo of jackpot72
Reviewed by jackpot72 from Alabama

4.86/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
The Alcove is easily Tuscaloosa's best bar. Its beer selection is second to none, the service is first rate, and the atmosphere is wonderful.

Before the Alcove opened, Tuscaloosa beer enthusiasts had no home. Most bars were overrun with students, and there were few place that catered to responsible adults with taste. The Alcove dared to be different, and it somehow has managed to maintain its charm as its popularity grows.

The Alcove offers a dozen beers on tap, and more than 100 over all. They often feature Alabama and regional beers, and you can usually sample a beer before investing in a pint. The bartenders know the selection well and always make good recommendations.

The atmosphere is cozy even though the bar has recently doubled its space. It's Tuscaloosa's only smoke-free bar, and there's often good live music. The bar also often offers tasty free food on game days.
Feb 07, 2012
Photo of bdeast1
Reviewed by bdeast1 from Alabama

4.86/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
The Alcove Tavern is a great addition to the night life in Tuscaloosa, Al. If you're looking for a nice change of pace from all the other student, BMC, well drink locations this is a great place to visit.

The Alcove is located "downtown", however is not really next to anything significant as far as locating it goes. Turn east onto 8th street from Lurleen B
Wallace, and look to your left, you'll see it.

It is the only place in town that doesn't allow smoking inside. This is great for those who want to be able to relax with a drink and not have to worry about smelling like they partied all night. For smokers they do have an open front patio and closed back patio, with fans and heaters as weather permits.

They have recently expanded to allow for much more space. There are several bar stools and and several tables in the main bar area. The have more tables and chairs in the newly expanded area, though they aren't the nice wooden chairs and tables in the main area. The decor and atmosphere is very nice and relaxed. Slow enough to know you're not in a crowded student bar, but usually busy enough to give it plenty of atmosphere.

They have Jazz night on Tuesday and often have live music on Fridays and Saturdays. They also have a 4-9 pm happy hour.

They only have mid to top shelf liquors here, and a 2 ounce pour minimum, so every order is a nice stiff drink.
The beer selection is also very nice. They put a lot of focus on craft brews and are always getting new brews. They have about ten beers on tap that they rotate (They never waist any tap space with any BMC beer). They have a wide selection of both styles and breweries. They advertise having about 100 different beers ranging from Trappists, Belgians, Stouts, Porters, to Double IPAs, IPAs, PAs, Barrel Aged, Sours, etc. Many different styles have at least one Representative.

Overall the place is nice, great atmosphere, and very friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you find yourself looking for a good time and good drinks check out Alcove, you won't be disappointed.
Nov 30, 2011
Photo of yesferro
Reviewed by yesferro from Mississippi

4.64/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
stopped by there after checking BA for suggestions on where to go in Tuscaloosa. Our gps confused us, so... for those of you depending on the good ole robot, if it says turn off University onto 22nd, IGNORE IT!, turn onto 23 and get past that huge building, then take 2 rights and get back onto 22nd, it'll be on the right, easy to miss.

Now, as for the bar itself, I loved it, not a huge tap selection but very fresh beer, nice bottle selection and a very nice staff. We went mid afternoon, the bartender was very friendly and since there is absolutely no food to be had, she even offered suggestions as to where to eat.
The bar itself is rather small, there were only 3 other patrons there but I could see it getting crowded really fast, we didn't get to check out the patio, it was nice and cool inside, just like we liked it after a 3h drive.

We'll certainly be back, the bartender was great, the beer was great and reasonably priced and most of all... there was no loud music, nice to be in a beer bar where we could have a conversation without yelling.
Jun 26, 2011
Photo of boudreaux
Reviewed by boudreaux from Alabama

4.09/5  rDev -9.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
The Alcove is definitely the best place to find beer variety in Tuscaloosa. This bar makes a major effort to provide the broadest selection of different brews, providing a great selection of on-tap and bottled brews. Tuscaloosa may not be the market for beer connoisseurs, but the Alcove definitely goes a long way toward bringing the great world of beer to the area.
As a college student, people expect me to appreciate quantity (American Adjunct Lagers) over quality (microbrews). However, bars like this allow me to experience the world of beer. Without beeradvocate, I never would've been interested in a bar like this. However, this website has awakened within me an interest to expand my beer palate and has given me the knowledge and confidence to order beers that would have intimidated me otherwise.
Jan 25, 2011
Photo of Kingstinkypants
Reviewed by Kingstinkypants from Alabama

4.36/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Atmosphere: Great atmosphere the patrons are usually easy going as are members of the staff. On some occasions it can get crowded with college kids which is a plus for some and a minus for others, I've really only seen that on a couple of occasions. It is non smoking inside with a covered patio in the back for smoking and a non covered patio in the front also.

Quality: The best beers available are stocked along with a good selection of changing taps.

Service: I've always found the bartenders to be very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, but have never had all that much interaction with them as I am usually with friends.

Selection: I think they stock the best they can get, Alabama has only had "big beers" for about a year now and not all distribution lines are up yet, but if it can be had in the state I would expect to change it here. I believe they have 6 taps, but it could be as few as 4 or as many as 8 (I guess I am due a visit soon), they change them often and usually have beers on tap that are not usually available in other places in town.

Food: None.

Value: Not the cheapest bar in town, but they don't serve the cheapest beer. You get what you pay for and I think their prices are reasonable for what they serve.

Overall I think if you are in Tuscaloosa and like craft beer you have to check this place out. Tuscaloosa has a surprising number of bars that serve good beer for its size; I guess that is the benefit to being in a college town.
Sep 29, 2010
Alcove International Tavern in Tuscaloosa, AL
Place rating: 4.5 out of 5 with 23 ratings