In the week and a half I spent in Birmingham for a super nerdy conference/workshop this became one of our go to spots for a tasty libation. It is dirty, loud and extremely cheap; and I loved every minute of it. This is your prototypical dive bar in all of its glory. You will either love this place or hate it, there is no in-between.
Review Source:it is RIDICULOUSLY BAD!!!!!! I cannot EVEN BELIEVE how RUDE Â these people are... I have been going there for 11 YEARS (actually 14 since EVERYONE KNOWS they let UNDERAGE PEOPLE IN ALL THE TIME)... it used to be a fun chill place, but it is now a place that is "SOMEHOW" EXCLUSIVE ahhahahahah The PLAZA is EXCLUSIVE HIPSTER HEL* Â It is a sick dank little hole in the ground with more bodily fluids within for liquid than liquor. ALSO* they were playing Justin Beiber (sp)?
Review Source:I hated this place first time I came here. It was loud, crowded, Metallica was playing constantly on the jukebox, mediocre beer selection, and the place smelled of something foul. No one warned me not to go into the bathroom. It was like something out of a horror scene. I felt like I needed to take a bath after leaving the place.
Somehow though, this place grew on me. This is now pretty much my go-to place when I want to get trashed for dirt cheap and play a variety of songs on the jukebox. I enjoy hitting up the pool tables as well if I'm with people. Oh and that jukebox is actually pretty rad and you never know what you will hear playing on it. You'll usually see something interesting or funny coming here in the late hours.
If you've never been, come on Sunday nights. Lots of dancing, karaoke and great tunes.
I'm unsure how anybody finds Upsidedown Plaza in the first place. It is hidden in that sort of courtyard area in Five Points between Cosmo's Pizza and the soon to be open World of Beer. A buddy of mine was a regular there, so that was the only way I came across it.
It's pretty much the definition of a dive bar. Graffiti all over the walls, cheap beer, loud music from the jukebox and half of the bar consists of pool tables and foosball. I haven't been since they changed the smoking laws, but I bet it has a slightly different atmosphere now (no pun intended).
The folks that frequent Upsidedown Plaza are mostly all young people. If you aren't wearing something flannel, don't have a few tattoos and unkempt facial hair you'll stick out like a sore thumb (I definitely did).
If you are looking for a loud, dirty bar to play some pool or foosball, this one is at least worth a try.
Addressing many previous reviews, this place is a lot more comfortable now that the smokers are corralled outside upstairs.
I have spent many late night hours of my young adult life in this windowless, rowdy, underground box feeding the internet jukebox with more rock music to sing along to, singing karaoke (with Jeff Dizzle on Sunday nights), or singing to some of Birmingham's best live rock bands.
I am the musical minority. I think most people come here to cheaply fuel alcoholism or play pool, neither of which I like. They do have darts, which I like, but I am bad at. This is a classic institution of grungy drinking times, but I think the Black Market Bar up the street (opening first week of August 2012) will be a nicer joint that still holds a rad rock vibe without the pee.
I thought I'd been to a dive bar before, but this one was definitely the most divey of them all! We knew Upside Down Plaza was somewhere under the plaza behind the Hotel Highland, but it took a local to guide us down. As we descended the stairs into the dark I said, "Yep, smells like the bar."
They either don't serve or didn't have ginger ale, but do have a couple of good beers available. And lots of cheap liquor.
I imagine this is a really good place to hang out with regulars after hours, but at happy hour it was a total overwhelm. Around the bar there's a circle of TVs, the jukebox is going, people are singing. I needed several more of those cheap drinks to comprehend what was going on around me.
This is a good place to get wasted with the service industry crowd. Â There was a lot of drunken crooners doing the live karaoke thing although one girl did a Rilo Kiley cover that was spot on. Â Seriously, I didn't even realize it was live karaoke. Â That was beyond impressive. Â
Drinks are really cheap. Â Like $1 wells (which simply doesn't happen in DC) and super cheap shots. Â I have no idea how they can sell their alcohol at such discount prices, but then I remember that I don't have to care. Â I'll just be grateful that they can allow me reach a certain state of debauchery at a comfortably low rate. Â
One of the most amazing aspects of this place is that I think it was somewhere around 4 AM before I was finished drinking. Â People often deride my state, but how about a little credit for the incredibly generous closing times? Â I have been all around the country, and you can find more bars open in Alabama past 2 AM than most states. Â This is yet another bar where you can get hammered for cheap. Â If that isn't worth four stars, then I don't know what is.
It may not be the fanciest place. But you don't give a shit about fancy if you've arrived at the Plaza, do you? The bartenders are attentive. The jukebox has a strange assortment. Go on a day that isn't considered a weekend and it'll be empty; more room for you and a small group to play pool or video games and relax with some drinks. Just don't be a loud, ignorant asshole and you might not get screamed at from one of the regulars.
Review Source:My co-worker and I were in town for business but wanted to experience the bar scene. Â We were told by someone we met at Speakeasy to come here. Â
It was pretty much empty with pool tables and a pinball machine, which I totally dominated. Â I think drinks were reasonably priced but we had just come from $1 well drinks. Â We played a game of pool and spoke briefly with the other patrons.
Great little dive bar and I bet it is much more interesting when it is crowded...
If you're looking for class, then this ain't the place for you. That being said, this is my favorite dive bar in the city. Sure, it's dirty and smelly. In fact, the first time I ever came here I had a little trouble finding the place. It's well hidden. I asked a random stranger on the street if he could tell me where the place is and he pointed me in the general direction and told me to follow the smell of stale urine. It was good advice, but aside from that it's a really fun place to hang out with friends, get drunk on cheap beer, dance like a fool to the hip jukebox, and play pool. They have several pool tables, billiards, foosball, pinball, darts, and a couple of arcade machines. What more could you want? Also, they have live music on rare occasions, but most of the time it's just the jukebox. Avoid on Sundays, which are karoake nights.
Review Source:I thankfully got introduced to the Upside Down Plaza about a week ago and I've been back twice since then. Â Yes, it's a bit of a dive but the signage on the stairs down to this basement bar is very particular, "NO BUMS, BEGGARS, etc." and I wouldn't say the clientele can be classified as just alcoholics and hipsters. Â Between the darts, pool tables, foosball, etc. this is a great place to go with friends to just hang out and have a good time. Â Sadly, the service tends to be a bit slow which always seems to be a downer when you're trying to get another drink or close out your tab. Â
Location is a bit hard to find if you don't know where you're going. Â There is a mostly abandoned courtyard plaza behind the Highland Hotel on 20th. Â The plaza entrance is a not very well lit stairwell with a neon sign. Â Once you get into the creepy unlit courtyard, you can't miss it.
Spend an evening in here and every other dive bar you enter will seem overpriced and underwhelming. Â The concrete floor, walls, and ceiling are covered in years of graffiti, the drinks are around $2, and the place won't close till people get sick of drinking. Â There's no bouncer telling you not to stand on the tables and fling bottles at your friends, or keep you from dancing half naked in a shower of beer. Â Instead the bartender will just hand you another beer and hope you have fun with that one as well. Â
fair warning though, if you don't like smoke then stay out. Â This place is in a basement and there is no ventilation. Â You'll probably also want to head to the sushi joint upstairs to use the restroom, even if you're a guy.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,607 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,970 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,306 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,904 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,983 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
