Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar

I'd never been here before, and came for the Gothica event. I absolutely loved every bit of the experience. It was a little hard to find, which then became part of its charm.

Visited Pilcrow several times during my two month stay in Birmingham for business, and every. single. time. was nothing but a vibe. I love a good tucked-away spot, and LOVE a well-poured mezcal concoction even more!

This joint makes great craft cocktails at reasonable prices. It's an out of the way in the middle of everything. The menu is full of delicious sounding concoctions as well as a wide variety of spirits. I started with samples of tequilas and a mezcal and finished off with Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good (it was more than "pretty good") Seeing the bartenders preparing the cocktails is a show in itself. Pilcrow is a unique experience in Birmingham. #speakeasy #hiddengem #killercocktails #happyhour #craftcocktails

In town on business and always looking for a good cocktail spot. Walking over from the hotel into what felt like a genuine “cocktail cellar” was an experience in and of itself. Beyond just creative cocktails and diverse options, the sole bartender on duty Elle was killing it. Not only did she know her stuff and keep up with demand while running solo, she was also incredibly pleasant and treated everyone with a great attitude.

This is a really cool idea and the signage bringing you in inspires a sense of wonder and excitement. The metal plated announcement of a “cocktail cellar” invites you in to experience something unique. As you go down the stairs and see the neon lighting it brings more energy and what appears to be a swanky underground cocktail bar. However once you make it all the way, you’ll find skulls, melted candles, and curtain rods hung to separate tables. This is a fun place for a bachelor party or a rowdy night out but not really a lounge vibe. The drink menu had some good ideas and the execution was good, but it wasn’t anything over the top or unique, just a basic cocktail. To be clear it wasn’t a bad experience, it’s more that we were underwhelmed based on the discreet marketing expecting something like an attaboy experience.

Love this place! Great atmosphere and better cocktails! As a busy realtor and short term rental host, this is one of my go to recommendations for a must visit local bar. Come for the cocktails, stay for the vibe.

The Pilcrow is a cool place to visit while out in Birmingham. They make fun and interesting drinks. They have something for everyone. I tend to step out of my comfort zone here and order things I would normally stay away from. So far, so good. I have liked most of them.

Oh Em Gee... Pilcrow is soooo cool. You walk into a sort of hidden doorway and down the steps into the cool basement bar that's an instant relief from the heat outside. The bartenders are awesome about helping with drink recommendations. I wanted something with Mezcal and he whipped up the perfect drink for me. We had a group and were able to be seated together and they were great about checking on us. Really loved the drink selection, ambiance and excellent service. This is another place I plan to return to again and again.

The Halloween pop-up had a cool vibe and fun decorations, but it didn't fully deliver. The specialty drinks were just okay--nothing stood out--and for the price, I expected more. Service was pretty slow, and it felt like the staff was overwhelmed. It wasn't a bad experience, but it could've been better!

My 'GO TO' spot in Birmingham for the best old fashion cocktail can be found here located in the basement of Founders Station. Just look for the red neon signs outside and descend the staircase into the depths of this eclectic bar. The mood is always a perfect balance regardless of how many patrons inhabit the space at any given time. Bar service staff has been top notch since day one.

Never will ever patronize this place ... terrible service . Appalled and sad it's that bad . I have been 2 times and every time was bad. Do better.

Relaxing and chill atmosphere with yummy cocktails. It's an underground cocktail lounge that does not disappoint! Order from the menu or ask for the bartender to be creative! I got a yummy twist on an old fashioned and I loved it!! Close to a lot of other cocktail bars so make a night of it and hit them all!!

TRUST ME IM A COSMO-POLIGIST! This is another example of a spot I've been dying to check out, but wanted to wait for just the right time. Since November is my birthday month, I figured why not take this whole month and explore the spots I've yet to, but have always wanted to explore. It's an all month celebration of everything ME! Some may say that Pilcrow is a Speakeasy bar, but in my opinion it's just a bar/cocktail lounge. When it comes to speakeasies the first thing that comes to my mind is a nifty and sometimes fun way of entrance. This one is underground, but isn't as hidden away as other speakeasy bars are. I feel like most people either know of it's existence or have seen it in passing, not out of sight out of mind so to speak. Located on first Ave North right next door to Cayo Coco. In order to enter you walk down an alley way then down a flight of stairs, that's where the entrance to this bar is. The red lighting gives off a very sexy, yet inviting vibe. All of the bartenders are very sweet and give amazing recommendations. Before coming here I had chatted with a coworker of mine and he told me that the bartender with the beard was super sweet. My coworker was not kidding. I did not get the bartender's name, but I have to give credit where credit is due. The bearded bartender was AMAZING! Since this is a cocktail lounge, the menu has just that. Cocktails of all sorts and some beer options too. For my first drink I ordered the Pennant Champ which was similar to a White Russian. Not only did it look and smell amazing, but the taste matched too. My second cocktail was Yoga Pants, a fun a fruity cocktail. In my opinion it tasted like a pink starburst with a little more tartness to it. Both my drinks were fabulous. I loved my experience here. Though it is a bit small, the decor, vibes and bartenders make this hidden gem what it is. My friend and I both agreed that this had to be a hopping spot on Halloween. But even though we missed out on Halloween this year, if they are open on New Years Eve, we think this would be a great spot on our bar hopping journey through the city.

Very quick service. Super cool waitress. Love this bar! The ambiance is dark and dungeony and super cool. No food on the menu!

This joint makes great craft cocktails at reasonable prices. It's an out of the way in the middle of everything. The menu is full of delicious sounding concoctions as well as a wide variety of spirits. I started with samples of tequilas and a mezcal and finished off with Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good (it was more than "pretty good") Seeing the bartenders preparing the cocktails is a show in itself. Pilcrow is a unique experience in Birmingham. #speakeasy #hiddengem #killercocktails #happyhour #craftcocktails

Amazing atmosphere bartender was super friendly, drinks were yummy. Hard to find if you're not looking

Still fabulous! Black walnut is it! Also, restrooms are upstairs and it's a small capacity place!

Oh my goodness! A MUST if you visit Birmingham. I would frequent here. The staff was so friendly and the service was quick and personable. I love that they introduce the staff on the front of their menu so you really feel welcome and get to know everyone. The drinks were AMAZING and the atmosphere was incredible. I love skulls and day of the dead themed places and they nailed it. You go down a little flight of stairs to get there and it's a cozy bar underground.

After reading in Bham Now about the top places to get Halloween cocktails, my husband and I decided to do a cocktail tour. One of our stops was Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar. Located on the backside of Cayo Coco and known for its secret location, Pilcrow was a little difficult to find. Luckily we saw other people walking in the right direction, so we decided to follow them. When we arrived there was a $5 cover at the door. I'm not sure if this was because it was Halloween weekend or if this is a regular thing. We arrived around 9:30, there wasn't a line out the door, but there was a steady stream of people. All the tables were full, but luckily we were able to find two seats at the bar. The bartenders were very busy, but still super nice. I was impressed with the decorations , and I loved their Halloween drink menu. My husband and I decided to share three cocktails. The first one was called Witch's Kiss , the second one was called Don't Look in the Basement, and the third, my favorite was called Cemetary Spritz. Also, it was served in a cool skull mug. Overall it was a super fun evening, and I definitely want to visit Pilcrow again.

Pilcrow is definitely in my top 5 bars of Birmingham. I love the private (and free) sections you can have for your group. That definitely adds to your experience and makes you feel secluded in a way that I love. Even when there's a crowd you feel like you're in your own little private space. The atmosphere is amazing and the service and drinks are top tier as well. Try the weekend frozen specialty drink, it never fails!! I always leave here satisfied and it's become a staple whenever I come out! I would definitely recommend.

This place is truly a hidden gem in Birmingham. It's a little tricky to find but totally worth it when you get in there! Yates was the bartender tonight. Drink genius! Heads-up: they do not serve food but there's good options in walking distance. Definitely recommend!

This is a hidden gem in downtown Birmingham. I hadn't heard about it until recently, but I'm glad I did. You can't see it from the street, and it's located in a basement-like room. Very low key and intimate. It's good for a date night or night out with friends. There was music playing, but it wasn't loud. You can actually hold a conversation without yelling. I recommend the Founder's Margarita, but there are many choices. The bar was busy, but the bartenders were hustling getting drinks to people as soon as they could.

We came here on a Friday night and had a blast. The drinks were all amazing, and the ambience and vibes were so cool! We got a private table that was separated from others with drapery. It was cozy and kind of dark and intimate, but with fun bar vibes. I love that we had a waitress and didn't have to go to the bar every time we needed a new drink. Would definitely come back! Here are the drinks we ordered: Yoga pants 8/10 El Diablo 9/10 Heugel margarita 9/10 Witch's kiss 9/10

Cocktails were awesome. I am very picky about my Manhattan. It was perfectly crafted with my requested Bulleit Rue and straight up. Perfect meaty dark cherry. Stirred as and good Manhattan is and blended to perfection! Highly recommend!

Amazing atmosphere, unsure why we received minimal service, we got one drink and never saw our server again, went to the bar about 20 minutes later, closed our tab and left.

Nice hidden chill spot. I would highly recommend this establishment for a date night. I love how they had melted candles everywhere almost as if they were celebrating the day of the day. I would come back to try the mixed drinks.

The atmosphere in this place was phenomenal!! It's a low key bar in downtown Birmingham that you wouldn't even know is there unless you know where to look for. The vibe of the place was amazing and the staff and bartender was very sweet and helpful. The drinks were so good, I asked the bartender for a sour yet fruity drink and he mixed up a great and strong concoction for me!! I will definitely be going back!!! 5/5

Super glad I got to experience this amazing establishment. First and foremost, it's always nice to see how bars implement social distancing during these unprecedented times and I must say, they're doing a pretty good job. The seating sections are partitioned off so no two parties are in close contact. I really appreciated this for safety reasons but it also made our time together much more intimate. Now, for the drinks. At first I decided to go with something simple and safe, a whiskey with ginger beer. After the first round though, I felt like walking on the wild side so I decided to order The Founders margarita; and boy was I pleased. Everything about the drink was immaculate and intentional. I especially loved the poblano pepper salt rim which added a bit of complexity to the drink. All it took was one drink for me to start feeling it and I'm assuming it's because it contains both cognac and tequila, lol. Anywho, this is such a cute place for quite literally anything. Must try!

Stopped by for a few cocktails since we heard there was a new "speakeasy" in Birmingham. I wouldn't call this place a speakeasy because it's not really hidden hence the big neon symbol pointing to the entrance and it's social media presence. Overall, this place is really cool the decor is pretty simple yet unique. I am certain this bar will definitely continue to draw a large crowd. The cocktails are pretty good I tried the Witch's Kiss and the Ampersand Collins and my husband had a basic margarita. The staff was extremely friendly and opened to providing suggestions according to your taste. I am excited about this new addition to Birmingham and I can't wait to return.

Truly a gem in downtown Birmingham area! This speakeasy bar has great decor, vibes and the staff is amazing! Had a couple of rounds here and enjoyed every bit of it. Definitely recommended!

I didn't know anything about this place, but my husband's friends had us meet them here. It's a nice place, with minimal but cool decor. They do not serve any food, but the drink list is nice! I tried the Witch's Kiss and I like it! The place is narrow and on the smaller side, but the bartenders and servers were super friendly. This is definitely a good place to hang with a few friends or take a date!

This is a very cool bar. Located in a cellar that was turned into a bar. Me and my wife were in town for the weekend and after our meal upstairs we came down to unwind and we both thought this was a nice chill spot. The bar was packed and the bartender was spot on. The only thing I wished they had was TV but then again that's what a sports bar for.

Pretty chilled lil spot.. drinks were good, vibes was nice.. definitely would go back

such a chill bar. The drinks were well explained and given good recommendations based on what we wanted. Would totally come back again!

Great service! Cool vibe! The bartender offered to make me a jalapeno margarita because I didn't think I could handle the ghost pepper margarita. I I wouldn't have liked the ghost pepper margarita. But, the jalapeno margarita was just right! Service was good.

At first I was super impressed and excited for this place. Then, we sat... and I started looking around. It was at most... an okay place. The concept was nice. Because it felt edgy at first. But it fell short unfortunately. The bar stool seating was awkward because it felt like you were sitting in timeout looking at the wall. The waitresses/bartender was okay, she seemed annoyed when she came to us until we made a compliment about her cloths and then she started warming up. But i don't think it's the customers job to make you happy about your job... The drinks were way over priced and they didn't live up to their names (awesome names), and they were pretty but didn't taste like anything. I might give it another try, hoping this was just an off night.

Nice addition to the night life scene in Birmingham. We visited on a Friday evening around 7:00 to have a drink prior to dinner at a nearby restaurant. It is a unique space, a bit small, but inviting nonetheless. Since it was early, it was not crowded and there were a few open spaces on the sofa (one long continuous sofa along the wall), as well as one high top. The menu had several choices that caught my eye, but I decided on the One Night in Bangkok and I am so, so glad I did. It was flavorful, refreshing, and delicious. It definitely ranks in my top 5 of best drinks in Bham. One concern, it took a really (emphasize really) long time for the mixologist to prepare our drinks, even with my husband standing at the bar waiting. I understand the drinks are specially made and I expect to wait longer than I would for a basic Jack and Coke, but the wait was extensive. I must say this was a bit of a turn off. However, I enjoyed my drink so much that I will certainly return.

Best bar in Birmingham. But this is serious. Every other bar is inferior. I don't know why yelp has a minimum word review but Pilcrow is the greatest.

I had actually never heard of this place until I came two days ago, and I probably wouldn't be able to find my way back here without google maps. This speakeasy is tucked away in a basement on Morris Avenue. This place is nicely renovated, and when we walked in there was already a decent number of people here. The lighting inside was interesting, as you can tell from my pics, it was mostly red and not the easiest to see in but definitely set the atmosphere they were going for. I couldn't really make out what the menu said, but I tried some of my friend Kimia's drink which was El Diablo (I think). It was a little too strong for me but good for those who like tequila I'm sure. I can see a lot of women and non beer/wine drinkers liking this place. Service seemed a little slow, but not ridiculous.

Pilcrow is the gem in the heart of downtown. Great service. Great ambience. Great experience. If bars in Birmingham were being ranked Pilcrow would be at the top. The owner is often present and concerned about how things operate. The staff is second to none in the city. I highly recommend it!

First impressions walking down into the Pilcrow Cellar was a cozy and intimate medieval-style cocktail bar. Exposed brick, candles lighted across the walls and intimate lighting were all part of the great ambiance. It's a little tight on seating given the popularity, but ample shared space and couches that you should be able to find room for you and your friends. Cocktails and beers available were pretty well made - they have a bunch of bottled craft beers, as well as some on draft. Cocktails were generally unique and they out a good twist on some of the classics. The downside to my experience was the service while waiting at the bar - I think we waited about 15 minutes or before we could get our first order in after being passed over several times. It got a little better after that but still a little lacking. I'm usually not picky and will give the bartenders a pass if it's super busy but that didn't seem to be the case that evening. I'll definitely be coming back and recommend Pilcrow to those in search of some genuinely good cocktails in Bham.

We visited Pilcrow on a Saturday night while we were waiting for a table for dinner at The Essential. This was our third time there and every time has been so much fun. Follow the red neon "P" and go through the red door and down the stairs to reach your destination! The drinks are unique with most featuring tequila. The space feels like you're in a secret cellar with candle wax dripping down the walls like candles have been burning for years. Super cool vibe! My husband ordered the tequila and Paloma squirt and really enjoyed it. I ordered the Interrobang Punch with Titos, passion fruit, and Prosecco and it was so delicious. Definitely my favorite drink I have ordered here so far. Around 7pm on a Saturday, the place was not very crowded yet and it was a great time to go. Also to note, two employees walked up twice to make sure we were doing ok. Service was great, employees are enjoyable and knowledgeable of the menu. Be sure to check this place out!

Sweet new bar in town. Love the location, the vibe and cocktails. Great place for a good social gathering, conversation and some good cocktails. Hip and trendy.

This bar has a one of a kind atmosphere being in a cellar and having the red light all around. There were also many melted candles along the wall to add to the feel of the room. The drinks were smooth and delicious. The tequila cocktails let you taste the agave without having a harsh bite at the end.

First time here. Instantly fell in love with the place because of all the pride gear that was on display. Supporting LGBT pride will win with me anytime. But the service and the drinks were delicious as well. They actually had a menu dedicated to pride. I tried the Blue Balls first and it was delicious. I also tried the Grindr. Yes it came with a condom attached. Lol. We laughed hard about that and then collected quite a few lol. We an amazing couple at the bar. We asked one question and we spent the next 3-4 hours having a complete blast. The waitress asked did we know each other prior to tonight and we said No and she thought it was hilarious.

This was my second time coming. The first time I ordered a basic vodka water, so didn't experience their signature cocktails. The atmosphere of this place is really cool and I love the melted wax on the walls from the candles. I'm not sure if it's because it's been rainy the past few days, but it smelt like mildew this time. I ordered the Tullahoma, which is one of their bitter drinks. I don't recommend it. My friend ordered The Manny Martinez and couldn't even drink it. Somehow that drink ended up on my tab, I guess because we all shared it until it was gone. The bartenders are friendly and fast, but the drinks are just not good. If I come back, I'll remember to order something not on their menu.

Great new edition to the BHAM bar scene. Honestly, I had never heard of the place until I overheard some people talking about it. The place is very intimate and unique. I loved the option of a tequila shot and beer deal (bottom of menu)... first time I've seen a deal like that. This would be a great place for a drink when meeting a date or a couple of friends. It's not big enough to bring a huge crew. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back!

I have been to pilcrow many many times now and I have to say it has gotten better and better. Many improvements have been made over the last few months. I think it is a great addition to the Birmingham bar scene. Known as a tequila speakeasy, it is tucked away in what appears to be a basement. Super dim red lighting, exposed brick walls, very different from anything else in Birmingham. Their cocktail menu is packed full of boozy tequila cocktails, but my favorite is the Blanco tequila, with a modelo for $8. You really can't beat that. They also have a great happy hour, drinks like a sazerac for $6, or beers a few dollars off. This is a great date night place, loud enough to not feel awkward but quiet enough you can still hear the other person talk. Grab a seat at the bar, and enjoy some tequila. Let's hope tequila makes her clothes fall off. HA!

Love this hidden underground bar. Signature cocktails are great and the atmosphere is fantastic!

A recent new addition to the downtown bar scene. Pilcrow is a speakeasy, the second in the metro area after The Marble Ring. The location is actually really cool. The interior is decked out with a modern neon light design which reminds me of a more minimal Little Trouble (located in Atlanta). The inside is a little narrow and seating is one long sofa on the left side of the bar with multiple round tables lining it. Obviously they're new and I've been to enough bars to be a little underwhelmed. There's definitely a lot of little kinks that still needs to be worked out, so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. The bartenders here definitely aren't quite there yet in terms of drinks making skills to me. There's definitely a lot of room for improvement.

I really like the vibe of this place. It is super cool underground, but I think they could branch out just a little with their drinks. I also think the seating & decor was a little bland. The service was good & drinks were tasty so we will be back, but I think they can step it up some.

This place has always been crowded whenever we would try to come here, but this visit we actually got a chance to come in. I loved the seating area. Me being not so much of a drinker I had a hard time deciding on a drink. I ended up getting the Ampersand Collins. Very tasty, but I didn't really like the coconut milk. This place was a cool laid back date night spot!

Pilcrow is almost perfect! Bham needed a tequila bar and now we've finally got one. The interior decor is great and very unique, I love that the tiered walls is part of the original architecture of the building and i'm sure you'll be seeing photos of the Pilcrow entrance sign all over Instagram. We didn't have any issue's with the service, you just have to keep in mind that cocktails are made from scratch so it won't always be the quickest, that's to be expected at every cocktail bar though. Everything we tried was great and they have a variety of drinks so there is something for every taste. We'll be a regular here and I hope that you will too!

Love love love this place. The vibe is great, the staff are friendly, and the cocktails are really good. It's right next to the Essential on Morris Ave. Highly recommend the Interrobang (‽) punch if you like refreshing, fruity drinks that taste more like a tea than a sugary drink. Don't be scared of the rooibos, it makes the drink really smooth. I will definitely be back again!

Pilcrow was a great find while visiting Birmingham! Stopped in after following the P to a basement and found an oasis of awesomeness!! There were many signature cocktails to choose from but so glad I chose the Heugel margarita made with fresh squeezed key lime juice. It was PERFECTLY made and so refreshing! Comfortable atmosphere, great service and a stellar cocktail make Pilcrow a great place to hang out with friends or grab a drink on date night!

We visited this business only days after they opened, and I expected there to be a little chaos (just from previous experiences of new bars/lounges). But I will say this, everything ran completely smooth! We went about 6pm on a Saturday. Yes most of the seating was full but the room was still so spacious. The bartenders were super nice and they made amazing drinks! They seemed like more of mixologists than bartenders. I say that because I was sitting close to the bar and noticed a certain art and creativity each bartender used when making a beverage. The atmosphere and decor was also very nice and make the experience very intimate. I will be back very very soon. Morris Ave was the perfect place for an establishment such as this one!

In town for the holidays and we randomly found this place while trying to find a tequila bar cellar. Loved this spot! Nice vibe and amazing drinks! Gave me a different perspective on what Bham has to offer. I definitely recommend this spot!