The Nick
2514 10th Ave S, Birmingham, AL, 35205
The Nick Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2514 10th Ave S
Birmingham, AL, 35205 - Phone (205) 252-3831
- Website https://www.thenickrocks.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :3:00 pm - 6:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Very Loud
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
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Matt P.
One of the best dive bars in the country. Avoid if you don't like loud music and dim lighting. During my eight years as a Birmingham resident I practically lived there. I still enjoy the occasional late night drink with old friends when I come home if I can talk my wife into letting me go. Open 24 hours on the weekends now. Maybe not as hip as Bottletree was or some of the newer places, but has always had the best sound in town. Booking is kinda all over the map, but it's an excellent place to catch the right band. Long live The Nick!!
(5)Jim F.
Held together by staples, tar, and sin, The Nick is still a Birmingham classic. I don't go as much as I used to but I'm still glad it's there. The shows still start too late but damn if that PA still doesn't sound great. And, if you're a band, you'll find The Nick has excellent on-stage sound -- so even if you'll playing to a bunch of inebriated ne'er do well's (and why wouldn't you be?) it'll still sound like your best show ever... And maybe it was. Nighthawks take note: The NIck stays open well into the wee-hours of the morning most nights and doesn't even bother to close on the weekends. Party.
(4)Matthew K.
The Nick is open 24 hours on the weekend now. I think this is pretty cool for the service industry people who like to go out but don't get off till the very early hours. So kudos to them. A very cool place with some history. Hell, my mother saw a show here when she was younger. Come here to drink a cheap beer, play some pool, and catch a band you've never heard of that's touring their asses off around the country or perhaps a local band.
(4)Michael N.
The Nick is essentially the CBGB's of Birmingham. This music venue/dive bar is just one of those iconic places that you want to be able to say you've been to. So many stories to be told. You will occasionally hear the story of when Bono was there or when Jack Black came just to hang and hear some tunes. Rest assured you will always experience something at The Nick whether you like it or not.
(4)Will L.
This place isn't only a staple In Birmingham, it's also help up by all the staples from years of show posters. The main complaint about the Nick is the smoke and show start times. In the past, you were lucky to see a four band show start before 11pm. Now a days, things are getting better. The new smoking ordinance and other local venues are starting to force some great changes to a great venue. Go see a historic venue, see great bands, go home before 6am, and don't feel like like you have to burn your clothes.
(4)Andrew M.
I went to The Nick for the first time this past weekend and I must say- I was pleasantly surprised. Driving by the venue during the day for the past couple years gave me little hope for what I might find inside after the sun went down. Boy was I wrong. The decor(you shouldn't call it that but I just did) is so rock-venue-vintage-grungy that It provokes nostalgia in raised-on-rock kid like myself. The staff was friendly, drinks were fairly priced and India Ramey jammed some great, soulful country tunes. But if country is not your thing, keep an eye on their other acts because this is the type of place that Stillwater could've debuted Fever Dog back in the fictional day. The 3-Star rating is just because all of the regulars tell me that the crowd is dictated largely by the act, which makes for a slightly inconsistent atmosphere.
(3)Jason H.
Dirty! Loud! Awesome! Loud rock club of the best old school kind
(4)Christo D.
Bottletree stole the good shows from The Nick, the same way Iron City is stealing the good shows away from Bottletree. The Nick is a classic venue, but it was disgusting 10 years ago--I hate to think what you might catch there now. Occasionally a great band will want to play there for the history, but that's about it.
(2)Michael C.
Wondering through the darker streets of the Ol' Dirty, one comes across a dimly lit watering hole at an obsolete intersection. One then enters the staple-walled, neon filled, music fueled establishment that is The Nick. The crowd, although leather-clad and grisly faced, is welcoming and quick to start witty conversation. The drinks are cheap, the bartender friendly (and may very well have a side job as a comedian), and the illusion of cliques are nonexistent. The rings your cold beer leaves mix and meld with the rings of many others. If you're a three piece suit kinda guy or gal, this isn't the place for you. If you're someone from out of town or just somebody that wants to drink in good company, you've found your spot. Welcome to The Nick.
(4)Chris S.
One of the best music venues/dive bars in existence. You have to like: 1. It's in an old gas station. 2. It's open late all the time 3. Big time artists have played here at some point. 4. It's never atrophied as a place to hang. A true institution. Great place to drink or watch a show.
(5)Evan F.
"The Nick Rocks." What else is there to say? Like most places near and dear to my heart, The Nick has been a part of my life for what feels like a long time. This was one of the few places my friends and I could frequent during high school and frequent it we did. My first visit was on September 8th, 1993 at the ripe young age of 9 years old with my older brother who worked the occasional shift behind the bar. What band was playing, you might ask? 311. And it was awesome. It sealed my fate in some ways and it definitely sealed The Nick as one of the greatest dives in the nation in my mind. I still stand by that statement today - nearly 20 years later. Put The Nick up against any dive bar in America and see where you have a better time. As a young adult I frequented The Nick, often walking down from the first apartment I ever rented on Highland Avenue. I can't imagine consuming as much alcohol and sleeping so little now, but at the time it was the only way to live. The Nick was my home away from home - albeit a hazardous one - but one that never judged and was always there for a good time.
(5)Alden C.
This review mainly pertains to the physical aspects of The Nick. They do consistently bring in some pretty good acts, so if someone I loved was playing a gig there, I might consider going (especially since the smoking ban has finally gone into effect). That being said, the venue itself is nasty. While it is cool that my dad used to hang out there (decades ago) and it was called The Wooden Nickel, it feels like I'm stepping back in time when I walk inside. The bathrooms are tiny, smell bad, and, in the multiple times I have been there, were not clean. It is dimly lit, has pool tables and darts, a low ceiling, a stage (obviously) and is very smoky, which I assume will change. As a woman, I would not feel safe going there by myself, because it isn't in the safest neighborhood, but in a group I think it's ok. So, if a band you really like is playing, you can tough it out. Or, if you really like uber-dive bars, this would definitely be a good place to visit. It just isn't my personal scene, which is probably why I prefer to spend my nights out elsewhere. (but I do love that a local establishment has been around for so long and continues to be a local institution...)
(2)Chris D.
The walls are like a rusty cheese grater, built up from decades of staple gun attacks. Home of the nastiest bathrooms I've ever seen. Customers who look like they show up every night (forever,) no matter what band has shuffled their amps in the door. Every single thing about this place screams DIVE at you. Despite (or maybe because of?) these things, The Nick is a landmark and deservedly so. None of the stuff I've mentioned got the star taken off. The star comes off because of an actual gripe that I don't find charming like the other things: you can safely assume that ANY show will start a minimum of 2 hours late... and there will be 4 bands before the headliner.
(4)Mike F.
DIVE!DIVE!DIVE! Cramped, awful acoustics, dark, nonmemorable acts, small bar. Stay away! Better dives around.
(1)Uncle F.
Take an old 7-11, board up the front, dump black paint all over it, then hold the whole thing together with millions of rusting staples from past show flyers. Coat the ceiling with old band promo pictures, and encrust the front of the place with band stickers. You then have The Nick. It's one of the divey-est of dives, with a low ceiling and the general feel of being in a bomb shelter. That said, it's a great place to see a concert. It usually attracts local bands and some other un-heard-ofs- but every now and again, they'll get some better-known musicians. (Fishbone was one of the last notables I saw here, on a surreal day that involved taking Angelo to get his sax fixed, then having him inspect my car thoroughly when he thought he left his cell phone in there....) I've seen this pace from the point of view of someone working with a band, and from the point of view of an audience member, and I've never really had a bad experience here. I won;t say the staff is always overly friendly or overly helpful- but they're also not bad at all. You will NOT leave hating the people who work there. In some cases, you may rave about one particular staff member who treated you very well- but most of my experiences have been just on the good side of average. Beer geeks: Not the place for you. There are a few better-than-average offerings.....but remember, this is a dive. That's its personality. If you want a dive like The Nick but with good beer, try Lovejoy's in Austin, TX.
(4)M S.
There is a such a thing as "Nick time" which means that the first band will go on oh...about 1-2 hours later than expected. Also, no food served so very smoky still. Every night I ever spent at The Nick ended like this: Me: "You guys, I seriously have to go. I'm wiped." Them: "Nooooooo, stay for one more." Me: "Okay, ONE more" -three hours later - All of us, while sitting on the front porch of the Nick: "Why is it so bright out here? Oh sh*t! Is that the sun coming up? F'in NICK!" The Nick rocks.
(4)Danielle H.
The Nick definitely ROCKS. Had the pleasure of visiting this most excellent establishment during my short visit to Birmingham. The people are awesome and I loved the dice game :)
(5)Will H.
Dive bar with cheap beer and live music. Not my type of crowd. More of a biker crowd when I was there. Pool tables and televisions are a plus.
(3)Reid A.
I enjoy dive bars, and The Nick is pretty much a textbook example of a dive bar. I've seen some great concerts there over the years (including Living Colour many, many years ago before they hit it big). You'll always find a diverse group of people, but everyone I've met there has been friendly. The bartenders are outstanding, and most of them learn your name after just a visit or two. The beer is always cold, and the prices are great. It is a bit smoky, but you can go out on the front deck area.
(5)Steven S.
Truly a dive bar. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Place definitely has a lot of character. Parking was a bit of a challenge so best to carpool or have a cab drop you off/pick you up.
(3)Heather A.
WOW! I have NEVER, repeat NEVER, had a bad time here- which is a big statement when it comes to drunken nights and dive bars. This place knows how to rock, how to serve a cold beer and how to keep its people happy. The crowd is about as diverse as it gets, MINUS the chotchskie's which is refreshing. My hope is that this place never becomes a sell out and moves to a glitzy or new location as I love everything about this bar!! (Cue music from "I love this bar' by Toby Keith.)... Disclaimer: I am not a country music fan just find this song hilariously entertaining and entirely fitting. It started playing in my head the second I started writing this review!
(5)brett b.
Dirty rock joint. Cheap drinks, staples on the wall and hard livin' history.
(4)Bryan C.
This place is off the hook! When we first showed up, we were doubting our choice because the outside it kinda torn up. It looks like somebody got pissed off with a staple gun in their hand! It was different when we went inside, though. The crowd was well rounded. The bartender kicked butt and the drinks were cheap. The bands were amazing!! They book some big names here. We saw three different bands and they all were impressive. I will definitely be back here!
(5)Aisha H.
Well to say this is my favorite bar would be an understatement! Great live music the coldest beer in town! I have seen some of the best local and national act here over the years, many refer to it as the CBGB's of the south!!!!
(5)David M.
One of the Best Dive Bars in the South! I was taken here by my friend Greg McR (B'hamsters will know him) after visiting Ona's and the Blue Monkey AND The Furnace (hey I was in town for a wedding). In other words, we were there LATE and still got served. If you remember The Antenna or Barrister's in Memphis or CBGB's in the Bowery (rip-both) you'll understand the attraction. The rock is LOUD, the drinks are strong and cheap.
(5)Drew W.
I love this bar, cause every band rocks a little bit harder when they play here. It's a dive for sure, but the sound is top quality, the bartenders are fast and friendly, and it almost never closes.
(5)Andrew M.
I went to The Nick for the first time this past weekend and I must say- I was pleasantly surprised. Driving by the venue during the day for the past couple years gave me little hope for what I might find inside after the sun went down. Boy was I wrong. The decor(you shouldn't call it that but I just did) is so rock-venue-vintage-grungy that It provokes nostalgia in raised-on-rock kid like myself. The staff was friendly, drinks were fairly priced and India Ramey jammed some great, soulful country tunes. But if country is not your thing, keep an eye on their other acts because this is the type of place that Stillwater could've debuted Fever Dog back in the fictional day. The 3-Star rating is just because all of the regulars tell me that the crowd is dictated largely by the act, which makes for a slightly inconsistent atmosphere.
(3)Jason H.
Dirty! Loud! Awesome! Loud rock club of the best old school kind
(4)Christo D.
Bottletree stole the good shows from The Nick, the same way Iron City is stealing the good shows away from Bottletree. The Nick is a classic venue, but it was disgusting 10 years ago--I hate to think what you might catch there now. Occasionally a great band will want to play there for the history, but that's about it.
(2)Michael C.
Wondering through the darker streets of the Ol' Dirty, one comes across a dimly lit watering hole at an obsolete intersection. One then enters the staple-walled, neon filled, music fueled establishment that is The Nick. The crowd, although leather-clad and grisly faced, is welcoming and quick to start witty conversation. The drinks are cheap, the bartender friendly (and may very well have a side job as a comedian), and the illusion of cliques are nonexistent. The rings your cold beer leaves mix and meld with the rings of many others. If you're a three piece suit kinda guy or gal, this isn't the place for you. If you're someone from out of town or just somebody that wants to drink in good company, you've found your spot. Welcome to The Nick.
(4)Chris S.
One of the best music venues/dive bars in existence. You have to like: 1. It's in an old gas station. 2. It's open late all the time 3. Big time artists have played here at some point. 4. It's never atrophied as a place to hang. A true institution. Great place to drink or watch a show.
(5)M S.
There is a such a thing as "Nick time" which means that the first band will go on oh...about 1-2 hours later than expected. Also, no food served so very smoky still. Every night I ever spent at The Nick ended like this: Me: "You guys, I seriously have to go. I'm wiped." Them: "Nooooooo, stay for one more." Me: "Okay, ONE more" -three hours later - All of us, while sitting on the front porch of the Nick: "Why is it so bright out here? Oh sh*t! Is that the sun coming up? F'in NICK!" The Nick rocks.
(4)Danielle H.
The Nick definitely ROCKS. Had the pleasure of visiting this most excellent establishment during my short visit to Birmingham. The people are awesome and I loved the dice game :)
(5)Evan F.
"The Nick Rocks." What else is there to say? Like most places near and dear to my heart, The Nick has been a part of my life for what feels like a long time. This was one of the few places my friends and I could frequent during high school and frequent it we did. My first visit was on September 8th, 1993 at the ripe young age of 9 years old with my older brother who worked the occasional shift behind the bar. What band was playing, you might ask? 311. And it was awesome. It sealed my fate in some ways and it definitely sealed The Nick as one of the greatest dives in the nation in my mind. I still stand by that statement today - nearly 20 years later. Put The Nick up against any dive bar in America and see where you have a better time. As a young adult I frequented The Nick, often walking down from the first apartment I ever rented on Highland Avenue. I can't imagine consuming as much alcohol and sleeping so little now, but at the time it was the only way to live. The Nick was my home away from home - albeit a hazardous one - but one that never judged and was always there for a good time.
(5)Michael N.
The Nick is essentially the CBGB's of Birmingham. This music venue/dive bar is just one of those iconic places that you want to be able to say you've been to. So many stories to be told. You will occasionally hear the story of when Bono was there or when Jack Black came just to hang and hear some tunes. Rest assured you will always experience something at The Nick whether you like it or not.
(4)Will L.
This place isn't only a staple In Birmingham, it's also help up by all the staples from years of show posters. The main complaint about the Nick is the smoke and show start times. In the past, you were lucky to see a four band show start before 11pm. Now a days, things are getting better. The new smoking ordinance and other local venues are starting to force some great changes to a great venue. Go see a historic venue, see great bands, go home before 6am, and don't feel like like you have to burn your clothes.
(4)Will H.
Dive bar with cheap beer and live music. Not my type of crowd. More of a biker crowd when I was there. Pool tables and televisions are a plus.
(3)Reid A.
I enjoy dive bars, and The Nick is pretty much a textbook example of a dive bar. I've seen some great concerts there over the years (including Living Colour many, many years ago before they hit it big). You'll always find a diverse group of people, but everyone I've met there has been friendly. The bartenders are outstanding, and most of them learn your name after just a visit or two. The beer is always cold, and the prices are great. It is a bit smoky, but you can go out on the front deck area.
(5)Steven S.
Truly a dive bar. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Place definitely has a lot of character. Parking was a bit of a challenge so best to carpool or have a cab drop you off/pick you up.
(3)Jim F.
Held together by staples, tar, and sin, The Nick is still a Birmingham classic. I don't go as much as I used to but I'm still glad it's there. The shows still start too late but damn if that PA still doesn't sound great. And, if you're a band, you'll find The Nick has excellent on-stage sound -- so even if you'll playing to a bunch of inebriated ne'er do well's (and why wouldn't you be?) it'll still sound like your best show ever... And maybe it was. Nighthawks take note: The NIck stays open well into the wee-hours of the morning most nights and doesn't even bother to close on the weekends. Party.
(4)Matt P.
One of the best dive bars in the country. Avoid if you don't like loud music and dim lighting. During my eight years as a Birmingham resident I practically lived there. I still enjoy the occasional late night drink with old friends when I come home if I can talk my wife into letting me go. Open 24 hours on the weekends now. Maybe not as hip as Bottletree was or some of the newer places, but has always had the best sound in town. Booking is kinda all over the map, but it's an excellent place to catch the right band. Long live The Nick!!
(5)Matthew K.
The Nick is open 24 hours on the weekend now. I think this is pretty cool for the service industry people who like to go out but don't get off till the very early hours. So kudos to them. A very cool place with some history. Hell, my mother saw a show here when she was younger. Come here to drink a cheap beer, play some pool, and catch a band you've never heard of that's touring their asses off around the country or perhaps a local band.
(4)Alden C.
This review mainly pertains to the physical aspects of The Nick. They do consistently bring in some pretty good acts, so if someone I loved was playing a gig there, I might consider going (especially since the smoking ban has finally gone into effect). That being said, the venue itself is nasty. While it is cool that my dad used to hang out there (decades ago) and it was called The Wooden Nickel, it feels like I'm stepping back in time when I walk inside. The bathrooms are tiny, smell bad, and, in the multiple times I have been there, were not clean. It is dimly lit, has pool tables and darts, a low ceiling, a stage (obviously) and is very smoky, which I assume will change. As a woman, I would not feel safe going there by myself, because it isn't in the safest neighborhood, but in a group I think it's ok. So, if a band you really like is playing, you can tough it out. Or, if you really like uber-dive bars, this would definitely be a good place to visit. It just isn't my personal scene, which is probably why I prefer to spend my nights out elsewhere. (but I do love that a local establishment has been around for so long and continues to be a local institution...)
(2)Chris D.
The walls are like a rusty cheese grater, built up from decades of staple gun attacks. Home of the nastiest bathrooms I've ever seen. Customers who look like they show up every night (forever,) no matter what band has shuffled their amps in the door. Every single thing about this place screams DIVE at you. Despite (or maybe because of?) these things, The Nick is a landmark and deservedly so. None of the stuff I've mentioned got the star taken off. The star comes off because of an actual gripe that I don't find charming like the other things: you can safely assume that ANY show will start a minimum of 2 hours late... and there will be 4 bands before the headliner.
(4)Mike F.
DIVE!DIVE!DIVE! Cramped, awful acoustics, dark, nonmemorable acts, small bar. Stay away! Better dives around.
(1)Uncle F.
Take an old 7-11, board up the front, dump black paint all over it, then hold the whole thing together with millions of rusting staples from past show flyers. Coat the ceiling with old band promo pictures, and encrust the front of the place with band stickers. You then have The Nick. It's one of the divey-est of dives, with a low ceiling and the general feel of being in a bomb shelter. That said, it's a great place to see a concert. It usually attracts local bands and some other un-heard-ofs- but every now and again, they'll get some better-known musicians. (Fishbone was one of the last notables I saw here, on a surreal day that involved taking Angelo to get his sax fixed, then having him inspect my car thoroughly when he thought he left his cell phone in there....) I've seen this pace from the point of view of someone working with a band, and from the point of view of an audience member, and I've never really had a bad experience here. I won;t say the staff is always overly friendly or overly helpful- but they're also not bad at all. You will NOT leave hating the people who work there. In some cases, you may rave about one particular staff member who treated you very well- but most of my experiences have been just on the good side of average. Beer geeks: Not the place for you. There are a few better-than-average offerings.....but remember, this is a dive. That's its personality. If you want a dive like The Nick but with good beer, try Lovejoy's in Austin, TX.
(4)Heather A.
WOW! I have NEVER, repeat NEVER, had a bad time here- which is a big statement when it comes to drunken nights and dive bars. This place knows how to rock, how to serve a cold beer and how to keep its people happy. The crowd is about as diverse as it gets, MINUS the chotchskie's which is refreshing. My hope is that this place never becomes a sell out and moves to a glitzy or new location as I love everything about this bar!! (Cue music from "I love this bar' by Toby Keith.)... Disclaimer: I am not a country music fan just find this song hilariously entertaining and entirely fitting. It started playing in my head the second I started writing this review!
(5)brett b.
Dirty rock joint. Cheap drinks, staples on the wall and hard livin' history.
(4)Bryan C.
This place is off the hook! When we first showed up, we were doubting our choice because the outside it kinda torn up. It looks like somebody got pissed off with a staple gun in their hand! It was different when we went inside, though. The crowd was well rounded. The bartender kicked butt and the drinks were cheap. The bands were amazing!! They book some big names here. We saw three different bands and they all were impressive. I will definitely be back here!
(5)Aisha H.
Well to say this is my favorite bar would be an understatement! Great live music the coldest beer in town! I have seen some of the best local and national act here over the years, many refer to it as the CBGB's of the south!!!!
(5)David M.
One of the Best Dive Bars in the South! I was taken here by my friend Greg McR (B'hamsters will know him) after visiting Ona's and the Blue Monkey AND The Furnace (hey I was in town for a wedding). In other words, we were there LATE and still got served. If you remember The Antenna or Barrister's in Memphis or CBGB's in the Bowery (rip-both) you'll understand the attraction. The rock is LOUD, the drinks are strong and cheap.
(5)Drew W.
I love this bar, cause every band rocks a little bit harder when they play here. It's a dive for sure, but the sound is top quality, the bartenders are fast and friendly, and it almost never closes.
(5)