The ultimate guide to Tuscaloosa’s best bars

Tuscaloosa is home to 95,000 people, 36,000 students, 16 national champions and one lively, welcoming community united under the phrase “roll tide.” As students and alumni, we are here to keep the University of Alabama’s legacy strong by studying hard, attending our classes, participating in extracurricular activities and of course, partying our asses off.

They say New York is the city that never sleeps, but who said a small town can’t be just as alive? Whether it is a fraternity band party, a date party or just your stereotypical college house party, there is something going on every single night.

However, after some time, your surroundings become more and more “adult-like” and you find yourself wanting to go out to bars every night of the week as opposed to dingy fraternity basements. Here’s a night-by-night guide to ensure the best week of bar-hopping in Tuscaloosa you could ask for.

Monday: Bingo at Moe’s

If you are fortunate enough to have the time and energy to go out on a Monday, there is a 99.99% chance you’re going to Moe’s Original Barbeque for Monday night bingo. Bingo in this town isn’t for old grannies, it’s for booze-filled students looking to kick start the week with some friendly competition.

Tuesday: T-shirts at Harry’s

If you still have the energy to go out this early in the week, then kudos to you. Tonight you’re putting on your favorite oversized t-shirt, athletic shorts and some nice brackets or necklaces and hopping aboard the bus for Harry’s. The only goal of this night is to get “freshmen year drunk” in comfy clothes and make memories you’ll only get the chance to experience through blurry pictures you find on your phone the next day.

Wednesday: Wine Wednesday at Gallettes

If you’re going through a mid-week crisis, don’t worry. No one at Gallettes will judge you for throwing back a full bottle of wine because they’ll be doing it, too. In fact, the bar encourages it by offering the bottles for $5 a piece – a broke college student’s dream.

The bar is always crowded on this night and can get pretty rowdy thanks to the 100 young adults recklessly slugging wine. Just prepare your body for the head-wrenching hangover by making sure you stop for messy fries before you pass out.

Thursday: The Bear Trap

This one was a tough pick, because every bar on Thursday is a good spot. But when I asked a few friends what their favorite bar to go to on Thursdays is, most of them said The Bear Trap.

If you’re still feeling rough from pounding down Merlot on Wine Wednesday, the open patio on the rooftop has the perfect atmosphere for you. The Bear Trap has a good mix of people, varying from those purposely getting belligerent drunk to those who are just enjoying the warm night over a cold beer.

Friday: Rounder’s

It’s Friday night, so you slide on the outfit you’ve been daydreaming of slaying in all week and hit up a pregame. After indulging in more liquor than you know you should, you are ready to hit the dance floor. In Tuscaloosa, we don’t ever need to go to Miami to experience a nightclub thanks to Rounder’s.

They have a room just for dancing, complete with deafening music, men sweating through their shirts, flashing lights and a fog machine that blasts every time a beat drops. This magical room is known among the students as the boom boom room – and it should come with an epileptic shock warning.

Saturday: Innisfree

If you are physically able to drink your way through a Tuscaloosa tailgate in the fall or survive a day of dizzy bat at a spring party, then you are wrapping your epic night up at Innisfree. This bar is a favorite for many college students and a hot spot for day drinking.

If you go to Innisfree, wear something you look good in because you are more than likely going to spot your ex and 20 other people you “know.” The atmosphere is always friendly and casual – no one is a stranger at Innisfree.

Pro tip: make sure you talk to the parents because there is nothing they love more than buying a young person a shot.

Sunday: Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s

If you don’t brunch on Sundays, you’re doing it wrong. On Sundays in the South, we go to church (if we aren’t hung over) and head downtown after for a fancy feast. My favorite brunch place is Five Bar because they have an insane Bloody Mary bar complete with everything you could ever want in it. The food is great and the atmosphere is cheerful – a perfect pick me up after a dehydrating, fun-filled weekend.