The Collins Bar

Super cool bar with fabulous custom cocktails. Super unique and delicious! I wish I took more pictures. The food items are so fun too! A must stop in while in the area!

Stopped in just for 1 drink and stayed for 3 more. The paddy melt was out of this world and still thinking of how good it was. Service was polite but not over baring and a please to deal with. Can't wait to return again

Ben is amazing! Great drinks! Great personality! He really had the customer service the Collins expected as Chris would give! Thank you Ben! Thank you Chris! You all are exceptional!

Neat little place. The atmosphere is great and the decor is outstanding. The cocktails are craft and made to your tastes so you can tell your bartender what flavor profiles and liqour you'd prefer and they'll make something to your liking. The drinks tasted as wonderful as they looked.

Absolutely loved this place! Went in for my birthday with no expectations and my mind was blown! The atmosphere and cocktails were spectacular and the food was so amazing! Monica was delightful! She made sure we were taken care of and had the best energy! I need to come back asap!

Cool vibes inside this bar. You tell the server or bartender what you like (they asked us 3 questions, I think) and then they make a drink custom for you. We enjoyed our experience and would definitely go back!

Great experience with girlfriend and friends. Drinks weren't too bad and the food was decent. Atmosphere was the best.

Collins Bar is a Birmingham gem where the drinks are as unique as the atmosphere. Owned by Andrew Collins, this place radiates the heart of Birmingham's welcoming spirit. The bartenders are true pros, crafting drinks tailored to your specific tastes, making every visit a personalized experience. Whether it's a night out with friends or a cozy date, the space perfectly accommodates any occasion. My wife and I have made countless memories here, from our first dates to nights out with friends. If you're in Birmingham and can visit only one bar, make it Collins Bar. It's not just a bar; it's an experience that embodies the essence of the city.

Very cool, ambience and love that they create the cocktail to your liking. Very personalized and great service. Very fun vibe with lots of little hidden elements.

The Collins bar is undoubtedly a Bham staple, located on 2nd ave North, amongst other lively restaurants and businesses. The great thing is they're open late night so you cab easily stop by after dinner or make it your last bar crawl stop. I came for a post work celebration with my team and we had a great time recounting the night over our mood inspired drinks. Service has been consistently swell, with skilled bartenders and friendly servers. Grateful to have this place around.

Atmosphere: Collins is a dark and cozy bar, perfect for an intimate gathering with friends or a nice date night. Service: It was pretty busy when we went, but we were able to snag a table as a group was leaving. Our server was friendly and happy to explain their ordering process. Collins doesn't have a set drink menu; instead, you provide your preferences for a drink, and the bar will whip something up for you! Food: We asked for a green tea shot-inspired cocktail. We were served a cocktail with notes of whiskey, spices, and lemon. Our whole group was satisfied with the drinks served! Overall: Collins is a lowkey, chic lounge to grab unique drinks. The staff and bartenders are friendly, and the ambiance pairs well with libations. We don't frequent bars, but Collins would be our spot of choice if we're looking to go out for a drink.

My favorite bar in Birmingham. This bar is perfect for those who are looming for a different drink beyond just the normal or even those new to drinking and looking to explore what they may enjoy. Highly recommend.

First time coming here and was recommended this place from a friend. I enjoyed my drinks and socializing on the patio. My bartender gave me pretty good service and made sure I was taken care. So I stayed pretty late and all the food places were closed but the security mentioned that they sell food. I end up ordering the patty melt and that was probably the worse decision I could've made. The burger didn't taste season and the cheese was very cheap. That was probably thee worse patty melt I have ever had. I didn't upload the petty melt picture because it was that awful. Plus it came with chips at least I thought it was but I received Chex mix. I guess that was a rookie mistake ordering food there , but I will definitely stick with the drinks over the food.

7:45pm on Saturday. Already poppin and the vibe is good. It is a cold night and also cold inside The Collins Bar as well. Not comfortable at all as we had to keep our coats on. We each had one cocktail... They were good. The music was good but loud...people are shouting in order to be heard. We wanted to have another drink and get some food but with the loudness and cold, we decided to leave but we will give this place another try...hopefully next time it'll be a little warmer so we will want to stay for more drinks. PS... they also post a sign that reminds people to pay for their parking in the lot or they will get towed... Believe them, as we saw it happened to the car next to us as we were standing there!!

LETS GET INTO THE BIRTHDAY SPIRITS! So, yesterday was my 26th birthday. For this birthday, I wanted to experience something out of the ordinary. The best way that I thought I could accomplish this was to go to a mixology bar. For those who might be unfamiliar, a mixology bar is similar to other bars, but it has a major twist. At a mixology bar there is no cocktail menu. There are a whole bunch of spirits, you explain to the bartender what flavors, spirits and style of drinks you like/and or are lookin for. They can take it from there and come up with something for you to enjoy. I came with a fellow Yelp friend of mine as it was also her birthday yesterday. (Yes, we are birthday twins). This concept has always been something that has peeked my interest, but I had not experienced this level of expertise or service at any of the other bars in Birmingham. Fortunately, for us the lady working behind the bar last night was Allie Phifer, the new general manager at the Collins Bar. She has been apart of the Birmingham bar scene for quite some time now, but has recently made Collins her new home. I put full trust into her to make me something scrumptious. I had told her that I liked berry cocktails, usually going more for cocktails with vodka in them, but was wiling to try what ever she put in front of me. She had asked if I had ever dabbled in the gin world. I had not, prior to last night, but as I said before, was willing to try something new for the experience of a professional mixologist making me a drink. What she winded up making me was an alcoholic blackberry lemonade with gin. And it was to die for. Not only getting the opportunity to experience the mixology world first hand, but also sitting and watching in awe as she made the drink right in front of me. When she put the drink in front of me all I could do was stare at it. It was almost too pretty to drink. A mountain of shaved ice on top with a simple yet beautiful garnish. I was VERY impressed. This was a beautiful drink. Not only by the way that it looked, but also by the way it tasted. There was no flavors that overpowered each other, in fact all of the flavors complimented each other quite nicely. The gin itself was very floral and worked hand and hand with the blackberry syrup and lemonade in the drink. A+ for service. As it was both mine and my friends birthday, I was staying a little low key about it, but not her. The minute we walked inside she announced to the entire bar that it was both of our birthdays. Before we left we were sang to by the bartender and everyone else in the bar. They also brought out a delicious brownie with a lit candle on it. This was definitely a birthday to remember and one for the books. I would be happy to come back to Collins bar. The service was fantastic, the drinks were delightful, and everything about this bar screams nostalgic. From the paper airplanes hanging from the ceiling to the periodic table of elements, lastly the colorful umbrellas hanging on the outside. This bar is one of the best of the best in Birmingham. I will most definitely be back.

Wanted to take Sweet Peach out for a cocktail before dinner while recently visiting Birmingham. The Collins Bar didn't let us down. Great vibe! We saw people of all ages and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Liked the decor...how many young people even know how to dial out on a rotary phone? Our bartender, Olivia, offered thoughts on several local restaurant options and was the perfect host. Prices seemed right in line with what we paid the next couple days around town.

Christian was our waiter and he was fantastic!! He was patient with us when we did know what we wanted and was extremely knowledgeable. I asked for him to make me something with the hand torch and this is probably the best most sophisticated drink I have had. Christian made this experience 10 out of 10! When you go, ask for him!

I've. honestly never had a greater than average experience at this place. The concept is great, but the drinks have usually been subpar. Maybe I'm not asking for the right thing, but I end up with something similar to a watered down cocktail at best. The service is also not the best- I've had awkward or rude interactions on multiple accounts with different groups. With all the new bars popping up, Collins definitely won't be at the top of my list. Do appreciate the late hours though.

I'm sure this place is likely great on most nights for most people. Not me. After the Janet concert, we stopped here for a drink. I started filming the awesome, talented bartender so that I could shout out the place. They immediately told me that was wrong and I should ask permission. Then they started filming me and asking me "how does that feel?" Like I was doing something bad. I was so embarrassed. What should have been a fun night after a concert my husband gave me for Christmas...turned out not so great. The manager tied to apologize and buy us our drinks but we'd already called our Uber. In the age of technology you'd think a bartender at a bar would recognize that someone filming and posting your skills would be a good thing for the business. Unfortunately this bar chose to embarrass the patron instead. Do better Birmingham

Good drinks. Service was great. Dark ambience but not very inspired as a whole. It was decent for a night out.

Before our show I wanted to take my sister to one of the best drink spots in downtown Birmingham and the The Collins Bar didn't disappoint... The bar tender made an unbelievable Old Fashion and The periodic table of dopeness behind the bar is pretty awesome.... Great vibe.... Nice drinks.... I loved it...

This place is pure fun, especially for the younger crowd. The bartenders are brilliant. There's no drink menu. You just tell the bartender what spirits and flavors you like and they'll come up with something on their own and never disappoint! They also take specific orders so you can still order what you want. The place has outdoor seating, a private back room, tables inside, the bar, and BOARD GAMES. It's one of my favorite Birmingham spots.

Great chill spot for cocktails! I stopped by here last night and had a good time. The decor is definitely unique and inviting. The great thing about this bar is that there is no menu so it leaves it to the bartender to make. I had two great cocktails and will definitely be back to try the food!

Such a fun idea!! I loved being able to ask for a custom drink and getting a total surprise!! I asked for a mezcal drink that was slightly sweet and slightly spicy. It was really good overall although I wished it had been a little spicier. Overall, it wasn't my favorite mezcal drink ever but I absolutely loved the idea and the bar was so cute. Definitely would come back!

A dark, glowing environment bustling with conversation and cocktails, the main excitement of visiting The Collins Bar is the unknown. The bartenders are tasked with crafting you a curated concoction based solely on your chosen properties. It's a fun time, even if not every drink hits the mark. I would love to go back again and again. First-timers will enjoy it, and regulars can appreciate the uniqueness of every visit. When it gets busy, it can be a bit hard to get a spot with a waiter. Especially when the bartenders are having to think about each drink individually.

Great spot to go a hang out, the food was delicious and different which I loved. One thing I will say the drinks were kinda expensive, but overall a great experience

The ambience was ok, but it's probably by design it's a bit congested and the bar scene in town is very active so it was a bit louder than we like, but the cocktails were to die for. My wife mentioned a few flavors she liked, they came back with something that had this hint of passion fruit but not too sweet that she said was the best drink she's had.

This was my second time here and could possibly be my last. The first time the service was great. This time, not so much. First off, my friend asked the bartender for a drink recommendation. Usually the bartender will ask what flavors you like, etc. But this bartender was very short and borderline rude. This bar is known for craft cocktails. Or at least we thought, So we ended up ordering a very basic drink, , Tito's vodka with cranberry juice. I wasn't paying attention, but my friend noticed the bartender using a different vodka. When she brought the drinks, we asked her what vodka did she use. She said they were out of Tito's so she used the well vodka which was from the same distillery. Wait what?? You can't just give us what you want ma'am!! That's not what we ordered! We asked her why she didn't tell us they were out of the vodka we ordered (Tito's) and she got defensive. She was cutting us off and being super rude. After going back and forth with the bartender, she made us another drink with the vodka of our choice (Ketel One). That's after she dropped a drink in the process. She was clearly angry with us for her mistake. After that, she never came back to us. Getting another bartender to help us was challenging. The service was just bad. Once we got another bartender's attention, he took care of us. But our overall experience was bad.

On my recent visit to Birmingham, I came to patronize my favorite bar here. Since Covid, things have changed a little. It's a lot less crowded but the warm welcoming vibe is the same. You can sit inside socially distanced or sit outside with your crew and enjoy the amazing cocktails The Collins Bar has to offer. Either way - you definitely have to stop here. Will I be back? YES.

Wow. My partner and I had a weekend trip to Birmingham a few weeks ago and our dinner plans ended up having an hour and a half wait. Thankfully, this was directly across the street and had been on my list for a while. This place was PACKED on a Friday around 7pm. They have a number of booths but any vacant one had reserved signs on it. We got lucky and got a couple of bar stools and ordered a pair of old fashioneds. The bartender was super attentive and friendly, despite it being balls to the wall. Their selection of spirits was quite impressive. Also, unbeknownst to me until i went to the restroom, they have huge back area for seating as well. I was definitely impressed and enjoyed my time here.

Our Bartender Peggy made the night. It was amazing to watch her skill in mixology. Very focused and profession taking the time to perfect each drink!! Example of how the service can really make or break a bar or restaurant!! Great job!!

This bar was sooo soo cute and cool. It's worth going in for one drink, but like many reviewers have said, the customer service was great, our waters were continuously filled, and we could have stayed a while. The place was pretty packed when we arrived, so it took a minute to get a drink, but once it was our turn, we were not rushed. The bartender asked questions about our preferences so she could make us our custom cocktails! Mine was whiskey and pineapple and i believe sprite. My husband for the Cuba libra and my friend ordered a nice refreshing minion style drink with coconut rum! Every drink is unique from the glass to the ingredients, and the prices are very reasonable! No more than 12 - ours were $10 each. The vibe of the place is awesome and there are so many spaces that catch your eye! The paper airlines on the ceiling, the periodic table behind the bar, and the new music they promote hourly! Def need to add this place to your list. Street parking is available for a a fee, or you can park in the lot close to it, I've heard it's about $6.

The vibe was so nice and our server was great. I think her name was Emily. The drinks were also good.

This past evening was the first time I ever went to this place. One thing I like is that there is a parking lot where you can park that is right across the street. It's $6 to park, which is worth it because after you leave, you don't have to make a long trek back to your vehicle. The first thing I noticed about Collins is the little sitting area outside and the umbrellas hanging up at the entrance. When you walk in, the vibe is definitely eclectic. There are games like Jenga and large paper airplanes hanging up. Behind the bar, there's a periodic table that is super dope. Now, this bar has true mixologists that work there. One bartender--I believe his name was Mike--was truly phenomenal. They have a beer and wine list, but there's no cocktail list. For cocktails, you tell them a drink you like or you can give them a flavor profile and they'll create something for you. Oh...and they have absinthe here. Need I say more??? We tried the food as well and it was decent. I had the tator tots with chili & cheese added. It was good, but it needed a little more seasoning--just a sprinkle of salt & pepper would have made them perfect. My husband had two of the hot dogs and he really liked them. I was here on a double date with good friends and we absolutely had a great time! I'll definitely be back!

My GF and I just spent 20 minutes at the bar getting ignored and unable to order a drink. Not a I'll be with you shortly, not a I'm sorry it's a busy night give me a few , nothing. Other locals getting service but apparently tourists get ignored. I suggest going to Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar around the corner. Amazing drinks, service and decor.

This is a fun bar. Drinks were top-notch, bar tenders were seasoned professionals, great decor, and not too expensive. Most importantly, I got the last root beer dum dum out of the bowl. Use your phone flashlight to search the bottom of the glass. Cheers.

My absolute favorite bar in Birmingham. Although street parking is kind of a pain in the butt to find on the weekends because this area has some great eating/drinking spots (there's a parking lot across the street that's available for a fee if all else fails), it's definitely worth the hype. As soon as you walk in, you know you're in for a good time. The massive paper airplanes dangling from the ceiling and their rendition of a periodic table let me know that, lol. Huge fan of their decor. But back to my first experience. I was kind of shy. I obviously didn't know what to order, and I definitely wasn't as creative with my drink as I could've been. You mean no drink menu? Correct - besides wine, beer, and appetizer/food items. So time to get creative. Don't come to the Collins Bar wanting a bottled domestic beer (yes, I saw someone do just that and I had to chuckle to myself, lol). My second experience was 100% better. If you are a Moscow mule type of person, I 100% suggest you add blueberry. It's a simple but most perfect combo of all times and I am still blown away with my new creation. My boyfriend loves Manhattans but he added a citrus note to it and it was also BOMB. Let's just say, we will be regulars here with our regular orders ;)

Love, love, love the Collins. The bartenders are terrific and the drinks are outstanding. I said I wanted a dealers choice, but usually drink rye, and she asked if I liked manhattans, which of course. And she made me a riff on the Manhattan, called the Waldorf, and it was magical. Would recommend this place to anyone as a terrific down to earth, unpretentious cocktail bar.

You won't be disappointed. Walked in greeted off the bat. Bartender very professional. I didn't get his name. But good dude. Young lady that also served me outstanding service all in the whole time she was training a new server (Hannah). Good luck young lady on working at Collin's. Great place to go if your in town. Food was good too

I have never had a bad experience at Collins! Tonight, I had Wren as a server and he was PHENOMENAL!! So attentive and made sure we were having a great time. 10/10!!!!

This bar used to be our friend groups favorite bar. Service has gone down hill. After sitting at a table with dirty drinks, we did not say anything but waited for a server. A bartender came by and said "I have a clean table if y'all would like". We politely said "It's okay, we are in no rush". Her reply was "okay, you just make more work for us." The server, on top of this, while cleaning the table, snarkly said "Yea sorry, there is just unwritten rules in bars,", and proceed to avoid serving us for 30 min despite trying to stop her several times. When the server finally came by, they said "oh well let me figure out since y'all played musical chairs", despite sitting in the exact same spots. The bar tenders proceed to make drinks with no liquor and served us solely mixer then asked us to pay. As a member of the LGBTQ community, being served by another member of the community, I am embarrassed that such negative and inappropriate behavior is how he/she/they is represented us. This establishment should really address how it's workers treat others

I swear I wrote a review for these guys before but apparently I must have done that in my sleep. That said let me preface the review by stating I love these people so my review is biased because of my nerd-like obsession with Mike and Phillip's cocktail making skills. Location - downtown and walkable from pretty much anywhere that matters. Ambience - dusty paper airplanes, what's not to love? Bonus did tugging even further on my nerd heartstrings with a periodic table. Geek style - level expert Parking - Uber there...because you can't just have one drink and I'd hate to read about your DUI in the paper. Pricing - those complaining cocktail prices have clearly little knowledge of the ingredients or skill needed to manifest a drink out of thin air. If you're expecting a solid four part cocktail to cost $5 you should stick to a 2 part Jack and 2 part Coke menu item. Pro tip - order a hotdog.

First stop every time in Bham, staff is great. Drinks are great. Never tried the food.

Incredible atmosphere. Very cool scene. Hannah was excellent and turned our bad night into an incredible night out. Excellent service. Excellent drinks. Thank you Hannah!

Kind of a cool atmosphere in this place and I can see how if this was in your neighborhood you'd probably make this your local bar. Cool tables in the back by the bathrooms if you wanted a little more privacy. We sat at the bar to have a few drinks. We didn't stay long because the first drink was really bad. After that, we were out.

This is a great Birmingham establishment! I love the environment and aesthetics inside and out! Great drinks as well!

Really enjoyed this spot. I like spontaneity of just telling them what you like and they coming up something! Also the periodic table appeals to my nerdy side, so that was pretty cool as well.

Great atmosphere!! The bartender asked "what do you like" then commenced to prepare the best tequila drink ever!! The bacon fat tater tots and homemade ranch were the perfect pair. The hummus had the perfect hints of spice and garlic!! Definitely a great hangout spot to enjoy drinks after work or for a free Friday night.

We visited during happy hour time after completing business across the street. Service was extremely slow on a Tuesday night. I tried to order at the bar when we walked in and was told a server would come. It was at least 30 minutes before we got our drinks. We ordered a Mai Tai and an Ol' Fashion. Neither drink was mixed properly. The Ol' Fashion was missing ingredients, and I think the proportions were off in the Mai Tai. So neither drink was any good. We decided to close out and go to another bar. I think we were there an hour and a half and were only able to get one drink order in. At least we didn't see any rats. Based on reviews, I am sure the regulars get better service.

Drinks were great. Great concept, but sat at the bar and didn't get service for 30 minutes at a time.

This bar was very nice. They serve food and drinks. One downside is that they do not have a cocktail menu so you better come prepared with ideas in your head. They can pretty much make anything but you'll have to know what you want. My friend and I went here to watch the game and the tv was very small. We made it work but it was EXTREMELY small. The food was interesting. The pigs in a blanket were not your traditional pigs. I was expecting something different so they caught me off guard . Aside from that, I would definitely go back. The staff was friendly and the vibe of the place was nice.

This is the place to go when you want a unique drink that you can't exactly recreate. The bartenders or should I say mixologists are amazing. When a friend and I were there, you just ask for whatever flavor you're in the mood for and they manage to make an amazing drink. Highly recommended bar and they serve food as well, but it's not a restaurant. The atmosphere is really neat, paper planes on the ceiling and they have board games. Check it out.

The Collins bar is by far the most extraordinary table service bar in the city. The vibes are so big that they emanate from the roof in a satellite dish and ricochet off the moon. Bravo

This place is unique, fun, and mysterious all at once. It's the fun retro sign that drew me in. It was the serious mixology that kept me there longer than I anticipated. I sat at the bar and asked for a drink menu. No drink menu! You tell the bartender what you like, and he creates a hand-crafted drink right before your very eyes, using super fresh, unique ingredients. I wanted a bloody mary, and this could have been the most unique, fresh tasting bloody mary I've ever had. I actually can't stop thinking about it. I regret not watching him make it. My second drink had tequila and pink grapefruit juice, along with guava and peppercorn. Sounds crazy, but it was AMAZING! I'm not from here, but it was such a fun, unexpected drop-in, that I told the staff I wanted to steal all of them, and their concept, and take them to my state. They advised me that would actually be kidnapping. If I'm ever in Birmingham again, I'm sooo coming back here!

Whenever I go to a bar, I really like to see what makes the bar unique. Two things really stood out to me at this bar and as I'm sure you know, the first is telling the bartenders what you like and they make it for you. The second are the HOT DOGS. We were in a group of four and sat at the back where there wasn't wait service. We eventually found a nice booth seat and the waiter offered to hold our booth spot while I went to grab my friends from the back. He took out orders and came around often. The drinks he made were great! Everyone at the table loved every single drink he made. I wish I got his name but we all agreed at our table that we would always look for him when we came back. I saw that they had hotdogs and hadn't eaten dinner yet, I figured I would just get a standard chili dog and it was very good! As I looked at the menu, I wondered what lyric sauce was. I googled it and found out the hotdogs here have a history. I decided to order a normal lyric dog and loved it! I do think that the hot dog isn't for everyone, because the lyric sauce has a nice sort of tang to it, but it's 3 bucks so give it a shot if you're there! Our waiter came by often and refilled my sprites without me asking. We usually barhop after just one round of drinks but our waiter literally made the night for us and we stayed for 3 rounds. Will be back soon!

I really like The Collins Bar. From the floating umbrellas outside, the large paper airplanes hanging from the ceiling inside and the fish shaped candy dish greeting you in the front, to me, this place has atmosphere. The seating is great, patrons feel like they are in their own private alcove but part of the action at the same time. In the back there are private tables with a cool red lighting and a TV if you are in to watching sports. And that is just the atmosphere!! Now about the drinks. You name the cocktail, they will make it for you. And if you are looking for a fancy, tropical type drink, like a pina colada, they will make this for you and even add a fancy umbrella. This is not one to miss.

I've been coming to The Collins bar for years and I love this place so much! I make it a point to come here when I come into town! It holds both a sentimental value but it is also just a cool bar. So the atmosphere is that of a typical bar dimly lit nice ambiance, some board games that can be borrowed, and some chic decorations, most notably the large periodic table on the back wall behind the bar. The thing that I love the most about Collins bar is that you can order tastes rather drinks which for me when I was new to drinking was perfect for trying different things. What this means is if you don't know what you want drink wise you can talk to your server and say I don't know what I want but I like fruity/tropical or berries etc and these alcohols and not these. And they make some collaborations with those details, you can also ask for odd things like extra fun or some surprise and they usually don't fail to impress! I ordered extra fun and they gave me a fancy tiki cup and sparkly coaster. It's these little details that make it great!

You can never go wrong coming to Collin's. I love how different this bar is. Virtually no menu. Just speak on what you typically like and have this amazing mixology magic happen right in front of you. Not only are the bartenders knowledgeable, they have never made anything that I have not wanted again. The crowd is always friendly and everyone just comes to have a casual and good time.