Tuscaloosa Travel Guide
After spending 5 years in Tuscaloosa, Alabama obtaining my undergrad and master degree I have earned the right to write a post about some of my favorite places to eat and hang out at in T-Town. I also recently got the opportunity, thanks to the pandemic, to spend a little time down there this summer showing my boyfriend (and now fiancé!!) all my favorite places in my favorite college town.
You may think the only thing that Tuscaloosa has going on is a good football program, but they actually have some of my favorite restaurants and bars as well. So, if you are planning on going for a game to see the tide roll or just passing through on a road trip, here are some places that you should definitely go to:
Buffalo Phil’s
This is a classic spot to get some great buffalo chicken dip, wings and cold beer. Buffalo Phil’s will give you the experience of a true college town spot. Monday and Tuesday’s are my favorite days because you can get a pitcher of beer for $4! Does not get much cheaper than that. Don’t sleep on their Grown Up Grilled Cheese though. That sandwich does wonders (I get it with ranch instead of bleu cheese though). Make sure to check their website for their daily drink specials.
Taco Mama
This place serves up some of the best margs and tacos in town. Taco Mama is the place that my parents always request that we go to for a fast casual meal. If you can’t decide on what dip to get, get the dip trio to try the salsa, queso and guac (I have dreams about this guacamole). I typically order the taco basket, but they also have great quesadillas, nacho baskets and burritos. Go with friends and get a pitcher of margaritas to share while sitting on the patio taking in an amazing Alabama sunset. They opened up a location in Charlotte, NC recently so now I am able to get my Taco Mama fix without having to drive all the way to Alabama for it!
Avenue Pub
I will stand by my words saying that this is the best burger EVER!!! Avenue Pub is the place that I say that everyone has to go to while in Tuscaloosa. Looking at this picture I am craving this burger and about to drive back to Tuscaloosa for it. The fish and chips and the Thai nachos are awesome too. Also, they have happy hour specials on week days of $3 local beer pints and a $5 burger from 3-6pm. The owners of Avenue Pub also opened up Central Mesa within the last few years and it’s a great spot for some Latin American dishes with a Southern twist.
Loosa Brews
If you are a craft beer lover then Loosa is the place to be. With 60+ rotating taps from craft beer across Alabama and the country, they are sure to have something that you will enjoy. The staff is super helpful and knowledgable about the beers and will help you out. If beer isn’t your thing then they also have a craft wine selection too. The best part is that they also have a ton of arcade games, ping pong, ring toss and pinball. So make sure to stop by to try a craft brew while playing some games or relaxing on their patio.
Five Bar
The name Five Bar has to do with the menu. There are five entrée items to choose from and boy do they do them well! Thursday - Sunday though they have an extra menu item to choose from. My family loved to visit this spot for a special dinner. Our favorite things to order are the baked avocado, ribeye and ms. anne’s fried chicken. Happy Hour is everyday from 4-6 so try to stop by to get half priced drinks during that time! There is usually a long wait, so go early to put your name in and explore downtown Tuscaloosa.
Innisfree Irish Pub
Head to The Free for some classic pub food, drinks on the huge patio, and to enjoy watching some college football. When you are here late at night, the “over the top” pub fries are a must…with lotssss of ranch to dip. My other favorites are the fish and chips, the reuben, chicken tenders and the wings tossed in Irish Gold sauce (if you know, you know). Some people may just come here to have a Sabanade or a Guinness, but they actually have some great pub food.
Black Warrior Brewing Company
One of the few breweries in Tuscaloosa is Black Warrior Brewing Company. Located in downtown Tuscaloosa they are serving up some good local beer and have a great space to enjoy it. There is a small patio out front and a good amount of seating in the tap room. The Bama Blonde Ale and the Lock 17 IPA are two of my favorite brews by them. There are games that you can borrow to play and Tuesday nights there is trivia. My family came in second place last time and it was a lot of fun!
The Lookout
The best place to watch an Alabama sunset is on the rooftop of Hotel Indigo at The Lookout. Enjoy a cocktail and a flatbread while enjoying the views that Tuscaloosa has to offer. If you like gin, the Bees' Knees is delicious and you can’t go wrong with the pesto chicken flatbread. There is plenty of seating and is also a great event space (one of my friends had a graduation party here and it was so fun).
Gallettes
If you went to Alabama before 2016 you will hear people talk about the old vs new Gallettes. They went through renovations and completely re-did the inside of the classic old school bar to make it more open and updated the bathrooms. I do miss the vibes of old Gallettes, but I sure do appreciate the new bathrooms and not having to wait in a huge line now. Either way, Gallettes is still serving up Yellowhammers on gameday and it’s located right next to the stadium. Mondays they have $1 beers, Tuesdays they have $3 Yellowhammers and Wednesdays they have $5 bottles of wine. This is one of the go-to bars and I sure do miss it!
Well I ended up writing about a few more places than I was planning because I just could not narrow it down. I could even write about 10+ more places that I love and would recommend going to. Some of these would include:
Heat Pizza Bar - the chicken bacon ranch is my fave and is $7 on Wednesdays
Depalma’s - get the white chocolate bread pudding…and you won’t want to share so make sure to get one for yourself
Rama Jama’s - located literally less than 100 feet from the stadium, it’s your classic grill & bar
Heritage House Coffee and Tea - my favorite place to study while sipping a latte and splurging on a homemade dessert
Catch 22 - infused liquor that brings the cocktail game to the next level
River - located on the Black Warrior river with a rooftop dining area
Chuck’s - great sushi that is $2 off on Tuesday’s
Babes Donuts - delicious donuts and breakfast burritos
Dreamland BBQ - get the ribs and mac & cheese…you will not regret it
There are other things to do besides eating and drinking the whole time you are in Tuscaloosa though. Go to the riverwalk to enjoy some outdoor scenery along the Black Warrior River, go to the top of one of the many parking decks to watch the sunset, walk around the quad and university boulevard taking in all the big trees and architecture, walk down sorority row admiring all of the beautiful houses (special shoutout to DG!) or stroll around the strip or downtown Tuscaloosa peeking into the local shops. There is so much to see and do and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to live here for a few years making memories with some awesome people. I hope you get to experience a few of these places while you are in T-Town!
Roll Tide, Madison
