The beer selection is great! Â The outside patio and unusual vintage parking garage-turned-seating area with romantic over-hanging bean trees lit with lights is simply fantastic. Â Please go here on a date! Â So much fun!
Also, be sure to bring CASH, as they do not accept checks, credit cards, debit cards, or barter (LOL). Â There is an ATM there, but it charges you 2.25$ per transaction.
It was a Saturday night and my friends wanted to go somewhere different than the usual. Someone mentioned The Garage and off we went. Being born and raised in Birmingham, this place was kind of hard to find! Once I saw The Nick I figured the area out, but I had to pass by The Garage a few times to figure out the parking situation.
Once inside, it's obvious that The Garage Cafe is the quintessential dive bar. Unique decor inside and out, but there's more places to sit outside. Very chill place and void of any snobbery. Â When I asked the bartender if there were any specialty drinks, I was met with a confused look - but that's okay, he made me the best whiskey and coke I've tasted in awhile.
I will echo others and remind potential customers that The Garage does NOT take credit cards. It's a spring miracle that I actually had cash on me.
I have so much trouble finding Garage Cafe even after going there a zillion times. It's tucked away on a side street, which adds to it's charm.
You have to try it once, the food is not memorable, but the fun you'll have on their awesome patio simply filled to the brim with interesting concrete items, tables, statuary, etc. will be memorable!! Â It has a hip, laid-back vibe and is perfect for outdoor spring dining.
Bring cash, I believe it is cash only (although there is an ATM inside). They used to have live bands inside, which is super small.
It's a truly unique, hole-in-the-wall bar/cafe and the owner was friendly when we were there last time
It was in Esquire magazine (I think, I could be wrong about the magazine) as one of the Top Bars to Visit Before You Die/Best Bars in America. I agree, primarily for it's eclectic divey-ness.
This is probably my favorite bar ever, even without having any beers on tap. The patio is magical and beautiful. The inside is pretty neat looking too. The employees are the best. If I took a date here and they didn't like it, I would probably end that relationship. Bring cash. Get a sandwich, they're way better than you'd think.
Review Source:This is a great bar, but the sandwiches are the real reason I come here. As with any great sandwich, it comes down to excellent ingredients and getting yours toasted, and The Garage executes on both counts. The atmosphere is excellent (especially when it's a cool enough evening to sit outside), and the place also has a rich history. I love this place!
Review Source:You just spent the day in Birmingham on an impromptu trip from Montgomery and let's face it, you are exhausted. Â It's 8pm on a Saturday and all you want to do is crawl into bed and snuggle with a pillow. Â But the show must go on and you find yourself making a valiant effort to find somewhere low key yet interesting to drink at. Â You find yourself in a residential neighborhood with a one story bar called the Garage Cafe.
This, my friends, is a dive. Â They don't have anything on draft but the beer selection is decent. Â Their backyard is really big but half of it seems littered with random pieces of metal that could be found on an episode of Hoarders. Â Thankfully, they had a small fire pit. Â The whole place was pretty empty on a Saturday night and it's definitely not the sort of place where you can mingle with strangers. Â Smashing Pumpkins on the speaker, fire pit and metal chairs, looking at the back of a row of houses that could easily be a series of drug den. Â It was like something out of a sketch comic. Â And after a beer and an hour on the highway, my wish to cuddle with a pillow was granted.
This is dive bar couture! Â The Garage Cafe looks like a movie still, invented around a stone courtyard of antique statues and old stores with treasures of the past. Â The seating, the smell, the over-grown flora is straight out of the Bohemian Revolution. Â To feel like you've been transported into 1901, spend a couple hours at The Garage. Â It's like Southern gothic mated with Paris....
Parking is a bit of a hassle, but worth it! Â Remember to bring cash! Â They do not take credit cards. Â Hey, but plastic payment didn't exist in 1901, did it? Â And the beer selection is not hugely expansive, but you're going for atmosphere. Â And to pretend you're either Hemingway, or one of his wives. Â Heck, I vote they rename the place "The Hemingway!"
A quaint wonderful bar! I bet if Hobbits drank real brew they would drink here. Â The back patio is the place to be as there is a whole world of mystery and cool shit back there. Â It makes me believe that its what Indiana Jones's closet would look like if it had bartenders. Â If you get hungry they make pretty tasty sandwiches too. Â It may be hard to find. Â Use your GPS if you get lost easily. Otherwise, it's a lot of subdued lights in a quiet neighborhood. Special note: CASH ONLY EVERYTHING!!!
Review Source:I love The Garage. It has its flaws (cash only, no draft beer, very limited parking) but makes up for them with its unique atmosphere and friendly bartenders. This place is one of a kind.
I love any bar with an outdoor patio and The Garage has arguably the best one in Birmingham. In the 1920's and 30's it was used as an actual garage for the wealthy few who owned cars. Now, those garages are filled with junk. I believe the owner is a millionaire pack-rat and has just collected this stuff over the years. Most of the garages are sealed off with glass doors so you can see all the cool artifacts inside. At night the wisteria-coated courtyard is illuminated with string lights and makes for a great intimate setting. Good place to take a date.
The Garage is quite literally a hidden gem of Birmingham (seriously it's not easy to find at all). Seek it out, if you can. You won't be disappointed.
Looking for something to do? This place is quirky. Everyone is friendly. I hear the food is good, but I'm fearful of trying it. The drinks are poured strong but aren't anything special.
It's a great place to go with cool weather. Sit outside on the massive patio in the assorted thrown-together furniture. Relax and enjoy the ability to talk to friends at the bar. It's novel.
If you want to go drink at a funky bar that makes you feel like a yard sale threw up... Where they don't take cards, and a Rastafari cat checks your ID - this is the place.
The Garage.Is.Awesome! Why only 4 stars, you say? Because Yelp does not do 4 1/2 stars...and The Garage doesn't take credit cards and they have an "independently owned" ATM with crazy high fees. So, as a matter of principle I cannot give them 5 stars.
On to the real info...
First off, soups and sandwiches are two of my favorite foods. I know, really exciting, huh? And, The Garage Cafe has some of the best fresh daily, homemade soups and made to order sandwiches you are going to find anywhere. And, as far as the food goes that is it. But, on a warm, sunny day you cannot have a more enjoyable lunch.
The Garage Cafe is, well, an old garage turned into a cafe and one of the coolest bars you will find anywhere. By day, its a favorite of the locals for warm weather lunches in the courtyard. By night, its a hidden gem of a dive bar. This is not one of those trendy, uppity places where people get gussied up for no reason and show up just to be seen. This is a real watering hole, for real locals...and possibly the thousands of other people that pop in because The Garage was named in GQ magazine's "10 Bars Worth Flying To," list. Well, GQ was right on the money even if they did end a sentence in a preposition.
If you are not from Birmingham the Garage is hard to find. If you are from B'ham, well then the Garage is hard to find...unless you've been there before. But, its worth the 2 or 3 laps around the block searching. Inside the bar it's small. Like runt of the smurfs small. There's a not much room to roam around or mingle. But, that's okay because the magic of this place is through the back doors.
At first glance the courtyard at The Garage just looks like an estate sale on a giant patio. There's old metal chairs at concrete tables and a cat or two running around. Old garage doors hide an eclectic hoard of what seems to be junk. But, once you sit down for a few minutes the place start to grow on you like the ivy climbing all over the wrought iron surroundings. There is just something about the place. And, you have to check it out for yourself to really understand it. Do yourself a favor and try to find it. If you do find it...you'll understand what the buzz is about. Â
PS The soups and the sandwiches are really, really good.
I'm 35 years old and I've been on a lot of patios, and this is one of the best I've ever seen. Found this place on a recent visit to Birmingham and spent a couple pre-dusk hours there on a beautiful Monday.
A very unique atmosphere with the stone tables, antiques, and there were trellises with some sort of flowers in bloom. A lot of cool things to take pictures of, and the live music was not in-your-face. Just some really nice background stuff.
The sandwich menu didn't interest us enough to eat during our visit, and we would've really enjoyed some beer on draft, but other than that this place was a dream...
The Garage has become a Birmingham institution. Â (It was actually a Garage where people got their Model T fords serviced back in the old days. Â Now the individual garage bays in the courtyard are glassed in and filled with random junk that is for sale.) It is a great place to hang out by yourself or meet friends for a few beers. Â The courtyard area is a splendid place to hang out on mild, dry evenings anytime between March and October.
Occasionally the Garage has special events and live music. Â There is consistent live music on Monday nights (usually Jazz or Bluegrass). Â The bar has and tries to maintain a very low key local vibe. Â Before 10 p.m. you can order from a limited selection of sandwiches and a soup. Â the sandwiches are among the best in town. Â Try the roast beef with cheddar (hot) on three seed whole wheat with tomatoes, cucumbers, and thousand island dressing.
I love the place, but there are a few things that may frustrate the non-regulars, thus causing my review downgrade...
1. The bar is cash only. Â There is an ATM that excises a $2 fee in the back.
2. The neighborhood can be a bit unnerving at night. Â I have been approached by those wanting money and selling drugs before. Â While the staff is tough as hen's teeth, the streets outside can get uncomfortable.
3. There are no beers on draft. Â A wide selection of bottles, but no draft beers.
4. This is a beer place. Â Sure, you can get a glass of wine, or one of a handful of standard mixed drinks (jack and Coke, vodka tonic, etc.), but this is not really the place for unique cocktails or wine selection.
5. The staff are great people, but be mindful that they cater to regulars. Â Don't expect instant conversation or friendliness at your first visit.
This place is unbelievable. Â You have to see it to believe it. Â The courtyard is filled with old statues, iron gates, giant wisteria vines, concrete tables and benches, French iron bistro chairs.
Inside is a friendly neighborhood bar, with ice chests full of all kinds of beer. Â A motorcycle hangs from the ceiling. Â Cool ambiance.
Now for the surprise, their soups and sandwiches are FANTASTIC. Â They are homemade, breads are local and fresh.
I have driven from Tuscaloosa just to hang out at this place. Â If you can catch live music here, it's usually really good. Â One thing, it is cash only, but there is an ATM in the back.
Upon arrival, a plethora of statues greeted me outside. A rusted sign hanging with the words, The Garage dangling beckoning us to come investigate. (WTH, I thought to myself) My friend Jeff beckoned us into this place and 'hello honey, hey you'all was the warm greeting we received. After I ordered my Strongbow beer and paid CASH (they only take CASH, come prepared if not they have an ATM right around the corner). We made our way out to the outdoor patio!!!! Wow what a sight... this is where landscape statues go to die! ha. Â Broken heads, arms, legs abound in this graveyard of greats. It is terrific with the shimmery x-mas lights in the background and smokers puffin' away.... We could have sat there and chatted all AFTERNOON long but unfortunately our friend who has a serious case of ADD wanted to move on to the 'next' cool thing in Birmingham! Siigggghhhh I wanna stay here and 'chill.' Until next time.
Review Source:As other reviewers have written, this is a great bar with a cool ambiance and a low-key atmosphere. The bartenders are very friendly, and the service is quick. However, I have noticed one serious problem with this place: in the past two years, two people I know have had their cars broken into while parked on 10th Terrace S in front of the bar. One of them reported the break-in to the staff and was told that it's not an uncommon occurrence there. Yikes. I realize there's only so much they can do to prevent break-ins in what's already not a great part of town, but that's the kind of thing that might send business elsewhere.
So yes, the other reviewers are right: this is a great place to hang out and have a few drinks. But if I were you, I would definitely be careful when parking your car and make sure that you don't have any bags or valuables in plain view.
My favorite bar in Birmingham mainly because of the fantastic patio area and the great service. A very local place where the bartenders remember you and interact. Â The patio is the best in Birmingham and has so many interesting nooks and crannies that you could spend all day snooping around or you could just enjoy the great weather out there. Â It's not just a nighttime watering hole either. Â They make fantastic sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Â I highly, highly recommend this place to everyone in Birmingham and it's the first place I take my out of town friends. Â One word of advice, bring cash as they don't take cards.
Review Source:I went here on a visit to Birmingham with my girlfriend. Â The courtyard was amazing with massive vines growing over the entire building. Â There was a plethora of seating with private areas where you can just relax and talk. Â Each seating area is unique - such as concrete benches or antique metal chairs and tables. Â Very quirky. Â Cash only.
Review Source:Jimmy Watson and Brothers know how to throw a party every happy hour with cute and friendly bartenders and the coldest, most complete beer selection on earth. Â The kitchen is small but packed with flavors you can't resist, soups sandwiches and surprise Irish, Redneck, Cajun dishes. Â Inside you're greeted by a cast of regulars watching football. Â Outside in the hanging Garden of Eden, you will be mesmerized by the quirky, quaint and arcane antiques scattered among the wisteria. Â The most original hangout in America also offers the best musical acts in the south.
Review Source:One of the best bars in Birmingham. Their courtyard has an ambiance not matched by any other in the area. Â This is a perfect spot to commune with great friends for a few drinks. Although you may find yourself searching for a table on the weekends as this place lives up to all the hype and is a regular hot spot for in the know locals.
Be sure to take some cash because that's all they accept. If you are new in town and looking for a chill place to relax with friends and enjoy a few drinks this is the place to go when the weather is right.
Good sandwiches, service is all business--not overly friendly or hostile--sort of neutral and brisk. I like that you can build your own sandwiches. The Reuben is pretty good. The outdoor patio is a great little place to sit on a spring or fall day in the South before it gets too muggy and buggy. Â This eatery is tucked away so it might be hard to find, especially for the map-impaired.
Review Source:I really like this bar. It's a great place to drink and relax with friends on a warm Spring/Early Summer evening. The atmosphere is excellent and so is the food. Sit in the outdoor patio area if weather permits. The inside is small and cramped. I highly recommend any of the sandwiches and the Beer Cheese soup is heavenly.
Review Source:As far as bars go, this place is great! Â Atmosphere is cool and weird. Â It reminds me of the type of place you would find in Austin, TX (yes, thats a very good thing.) Â That patio is large, but yet very private. Â There is a lot of junk out there, which adds to the ambiance. Â Good beer selection. Â Its a must visit when the weather is nice.
Review Source:Went to this place to catch up with an old friend after the Tom Waits show earlier this summer. One of the more unique bars I have ever been to. The kind of place you wished you lived within walking distance of because you would go there all the time. Having a beer in the courtyard of this place was almost as unique an experience as seeing Tom...I will definitely be back.
Review Source:Great bar, one of my favorite spots to catch a drink in the 'ham. The outdoor patio looks ... well, it looks just like a garage. There's a hodge podge mix of chipped garden statues, bird baths, old appliances, lawn equipment, etc, etc., and it's fun to wander and peruse. Rumor is that it's all for sale.
Beware before you go, though: it's cash only.
The Garage is also known for its tasty sandwiches, which they serve late into the night. Visit this unique B'ham establishment for lunch and a beer, or do some serious drinking on a Saturday night and order up a midnight snack while you're at it.
i asked the bartender what the building used to be. he answered, "a garage." should've figured.
the garage is rad. inside, you're greeted by a large rectangular concrete bar, where the bar is lined with ice and beer so the bartender never has to reach far to get you what you want (assuming they're not too busy.) the interior is cozy and warm, the kind of place you want to relax with your buddies. but the real charm of this place is the spatious patio in the back, concrete tables and lawn chairs, windy branches that grow up and over the seating areas, spaces along the side (possibly once used for cars?) that are full of old rusty treasures.. first timers will probably drink about half of their beer while looking at each of these "rooms".
Nice bar, nice folks. Â One of a couple places I always visit when I'm in Birmingham.
Inside, it's nice and dim, but not too dim. Â Once when I went there was good live music. Â They also make very tasty sandwiches.
Outside, there is a patio scattered with architectural remnants from the business next door (I forget the guy's name but his stuff is rad) --and a fire pit. Â
Downsides: it's cash-only and once I got a round of really weak drinks. Otherwise, all good things.
The Garage is one of those places who's description really doesn't do it justice. Nestled in a side street off from the rest of Southside's entertainment offerings, it offers a night out different than pretty much anywhere in Birmingham. While the interior of the place is a little small, depending on my mood I would claim this is "cozy", the exterior patio is more than interesting enough to make up for this. The outside design is a variable menagerie of antiques and fixtures laying strewn about throughout the courtyard, while chairs and tables sit interspersed.
The overall feel of this bar is quieter and more relaxed than the normal crowded and loud feel of Birmingham's nightlife and makes it a great starting destination for a group night out. The bartenders are good and the drink selection is adequate. I've never tried the food, however others say the offerings available are really delicious.
The only bad thing I could say about the Garage, is that when it rains the patio is obviously useless and therefore the inside becomes incredibly crowded from time to time. On a night with good weather though, the Garage is a quirky and entertaining location, that I would really recommend..
A Birmingham icon found off of highland ave. Â I'm not sure what the building originally was, but it has been transformed into a wonderful watering hole to hang out at. Â The garage has a huge courtyard filled with antiques and a plethora of old garden features, such as statues, bird baths, and benches. Â The trees and bushes are over grown and the lighting is dim giving it a rustic feel.
I highly recommend this bar.
Funky bar in an old antique store. In the courtyard, away from the cramped and smoky interior so common of Birmingham bars, groups of friends mingle leisurely -- particularly on balmy Southern evenings. Scattered around are kitchsy but fun objects like old bird fountains, etc., and closed off rooms are brimming with an odd assortment of Alabama Americana. Bartenders respond well to a decent tip with a generous helping of liquor in a drink.
Perfect bar for friends who want a watering hole that they can still carry on a decent conversation without going hoarse.
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