The Nick

Dive Bar with great music and hold your breath bathrooms. If you like music and good times and a good dive this is it. We had a great experience with the band HiDaze and Chris our most awesome bar tender. Thank you!

This place has all the atmosphere you could ever ask for in a great dive bar! There were band headshots all over the ceiling and tons of kitsch everywhere. The stage for music and the music was amazing. I would recommend this for anyone who is into really cool rock and roll dive bars!

The Nick is always a good time. They even offer open mic nights which really helps local artists of all kinds grow their craft and get exposure. I full support what they have going on. Water is crazy expensive though if you are at a show, so definitely be prepared for that.

The Nick is a Birmingham icon. Not always in a positive way. In years past, it was sketchy at best. Not now! We had a ball! Never felt anything but excited to be in a VERY cool venue with all its history plastered on the walls. We saw Jack Blocker, 3rd in this year's American Idol competition. Absolutely fabulous! Great band, wonderful showman, really good music from original material to covers, and he is wonderful at engaging his audience. It's a small venue so you can really get up close and personal. The sound was awesome! Crowd was chill and fun too. While we were enjoying the show, folks were also shooting intense games of pool! Highly recommend!

Used to live in Birmingham/Hoover/Pinson and now live in Califailure. I've seen countless bands and countless venues in So Cal including every club on Sunset/Hollywood Blvd but not one compares to the Nick. I make it a point to stop in when I'm in town. The people, the sound, the hold your breath bathrooms, and the uniqueness of the place was always a good time. Make sure they keep it open....its iconic.

This place brings a very diverse and unique crowd. It's a great place to socialize and meet new people. I wouldn't advise drinking here tho maybe byob from the car. They definitely sell petrol/rubbing alcohol and put it in high end bottles. I'm not sure if this is a dive bar thing but it felt illegal af. Selling people cheap liquor at high end prices should be investigated honestly. Dogs are welcome to sit at the bar.

The nick is a dive bar but Walter makes it so much better! M-th 6am-2pm then Friday & Saturday starting at 9pm is his schedule! It’s too good 10/10

Cassie was a pleasure to speak with let me tell you she brought phone and I had no clue I lost it. I appreciate her and think she needs a raise. Love Ashlee Shannon and Cole were also pleasant and curtious as well. Will be back great service ❤️

What's not to love about a good dive bar?!?!?! The former "Wooden Nickle" was rebranded "The Nick" in 1982 and, in its previous life, was a "Birmingham's Finest Quik Mark." I find it hard to believe it has a capacity of 250 - that would be a tight fit in this building! You're practically on stage with the band when it's a packed house. The Nick is where you go for live music, cheap beer, or Jack and Cokes, and late nights. It is open till 4 AM, and either does or does not close on the weekends. (Here are their hours from their website: We Are Open Sun - Thurs: 2:00 pm till 4:00 am Fri - Sat: till 6:00 am.) Maybe due to their "after hours" hours, the Nick is now a "membership only" place - from their website: "The Nick is 21 and Up Private Club Membership Card ($5 Per Year) & Valid ID to Enter." They don't serve food, it's just a bar and it was a smoking bar until about 10 years ago. Bono (along with Adam Clayton) visited The Nick and coined it "Birmingham's Dirty Little Secret." Back when I frequented it, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played the Nick (5 times), as did Janes Addiction, Wheezer, Korn, and the Black Crowes, among other famous bands. Good local/regional bands played here too! I recall cheap cover charges, maybe $10.00 and bands always starting after their scheduled time. As you would expect, the restrooms are graffitied, and the walls are covered with stapled band paraphernalia, such as stickers, photos, etc. Faded old band photos are even stapled to the ceiling! There's an ample front deck/porch area with benches, and a landmark marquee that overlooks the tiny, dicey parking lot. We usually parked streetside on 10th Avenue and made the short walk to the Nick. Do stop by the Nick, to get a shot of Tequilia or a cold PBR, to say you did!

Went to see Trapt and local band Hill St. the place had good atmosphere and the sound was very smooth, it wasn't over bearing and the guitars did not sound harsh the sound tech had it dialed in good. Hill St. started the show with really good energy and continued to build throughout the set while holding nothing back. Trapt came on stage and did their set. If another band I like comes to town or Hill st. Is playing I will definitely return , the place also has decent street parking and was easy to get to FYI they charge a member fee to get in on top of ticket sale.

I went to see an early concert. Doors at 7, show from 8-930. I read the reviews and was a bit hesitant but this place is just simply a dive bar. Robin the bartender was nice, chatty, and attentive. The bathrooms are grungy to go like a dive bar but the actual toilet and sink were clean with properly locking doors ( make sure you lock the door, people just pull on the door, too loud to worry about knocking ). Now as the night went on the cleanliness decreased but that is because people are just gross and messy, no fault to the bar. They can't keep cleaning up after drunk people that can't pee in the toilet vs on the toilet. I was up front and the "acoustics" were fine, not too loud and very clear. The part that was a bit weird but I understand bc it's a private bar...I was a fool and bought a ticket online ( fees and such) I paid an astronomical amount vs at the door. He didn't really care about my ticket I just showed the email with a confirmation number. I had to still pay $ and put a bunch of personal information on a sheet to be a "member". All of the patrons were nice and non judgmental. I would go back and rec. To others.

Amazing atmosphere!! I love the private bar experience!! You have to pay $5 for a year membership but who cares when you get to hear live music that's awesome??

The service and ambiance is great. We just didn't like that they move the tables when the band gets going to make a dance floor. The hubby likes a table to put his drink on.

Found this spot on a recent trip to Birmingham and I gotta say it was exactly the type of place I was looking for. Cheap drinks and a low key vibe. Will be returning if I'm ever back in the area.

Super cool dive bar! Tons of history with this joint and if you are nice enough the bartenders may tell you about it. The bartenders are awesome and treat you like a local. If you love Dive Bars, this is one you don't want to miss.

If you're looking for a late-night dive bar in Birmingham, this is your place. I've been going to The Nick for many years (I even went on a first date here, many years ago...) and I think it has only gotten better. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better spot in town for live, local rock music. The drinks are always cold and the people are friendly. I love hanging out on the large front deck between bands as well. You can always meet someone new there. Be sure to check out the ceiling and walls once you're inside. It's plastered with posters from bands that have played there in the past. There are some pretty big names hidden in there.

I've been trying to get to the Nick for months and I finally got to stop by on a Monday night. Now I know you're thinking, "Monday? How could that be fun??", but it was pretty much perfect. I was given the chance to end a dreary Monday with a fun evening having a few drinks with some new friends. Everyone was so nice and the drinks were great! The feel of this place is incredible with a great group of people, lovable and bubbly bartender, great conversation and a playlist that I can really appreciate. Upon first look it seems like parking would be a nightmare but keep in mind that there's plenty of parking on the street, especially under the bridge. Walking up can be a bit intimidating because of everyone sitting outside and the hardcore dive bar vibe this place puts off, but keep in mind that everyone is there to have a good time and to make some new friends. The inside of this place is like nothing I have ever seen. There's posters, stickers and flyers that act as the wallpaper. I spent a good twenty minutes just sitting at the bar and reading over everything that was covering their walls and ceilings. They have their specials/beer prices posted on a board right beside the bar so check it out before you order. They also have a tons of shows here. Although I haven't been for a show yet, I have looked a couple of times. There's typically three or four bands that play in one night with a cover charge of only $5. It'll more than likely be bands that you've never heard of but that's the fun of it all isn't it?

Great bar and great music. If you are visiting Birmingham you have to experience The Nick at least once. The area around the bar tends to not be the safest, but as long as you watch your surroundings you should be fine.

Definition of a Dive bar. Decor? Well their are staples everywhere on the walls with old posters of past bands. They do have some good bands and are open very late.

Terrible service, OK prices, shady atmosphere. I live within walking distance of this place and gave it more than enough opportunity. The owner was incredibly rude, I witnessed him curse a customer out for voicing a different political belief from that of the owner. As a local who loves a good Rock dive bar, this is a HARD pass.

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.

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.

A hidden gem and definitely a dive hole in the wall bar. A place where musicians from close and far come come and play there best stuff. Tons of local service industry come here to unwind after a long shift of serving us regular folk lol. If you are out and about and don't want the night to end come on down and grab a cold beverage at the nick.

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...)

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!

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.

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.

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 acts here over the years, many refer to it as the CBGB's of the south!!!!

Dive bar complete with torn bar stools, awesome beer, and random music acts! Cool little hole in the wall.

Dirty! Loud! Awesome! Loud rock club of the best old school kind

Wasn't much happening on a Wednesday night. The band didn't start until 10:00. As for the atmosphere well it'd been even less exciting without the sound check.

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.

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.

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.

Can you say dive bar? However, bartenders are fast and friendly. I usually just order a beer or a jack/coke. The prices are good. The outside has a lot of sitting room but the inside is very cramped (especially if a good band is playing). The bathrooms are disgusting ( just an FYI)

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.

Best dive bar, hole in the wall or what ever you want to call it! Dark and dingy and full of character. A must see for any thrill seekers.

Be prepared to take this place for what it is...a dive bar. I love a good dive bar, but this one can be a bit over the top (witness the bathrooms and you will see what I am saying.) That being said, they do have some great shows here. Some of the shows might leave you with ringing ears, but I have seen some great acts here. I honestly don't care much about the place when there isn't music going on. We went in this past weekend a little after 2 AM on a Saturday night, and it was pretty dead. I know that about 3 or 4 that night, it would be crowded again. However, without a band to enjoy, I don't see a lot of reason for being here (other than that is open late...and 24 hours on the weekends.) There are other places that are open until 5 or 6 AM, which is usually long enough for me. Definitely check out a show here if you haven't though!

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.

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.

This place is total trash. The band was terrible, and I had to pay a $12 cover at 3am. Not worth

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.

DIVE!DIVE!DIVE! Cramped, awful acoustics, dark, nonmemorable acts, small bar. Stay away! Better dives around.

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.

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!

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.

Dirty rock joint. Cheap drinks, staples on the wall and hard livin' history.

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.

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 :)

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.

Came up from Atlanta to see a band play, I'd never been here but I gotta say this place is awesome. Great vibe and atmosphere. This is the definition of a dive bar and what every dive bar should strive to be. I'll definitely be back.

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.

Only been once and can't wait to go back. Really liked the old school look with posters stapled everywhere.

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!!

I was invited to go see a band play there. Until then I had never stepped foot in The Nick. I know the place is a dive bar but come on. The place was so nasty. I did not want to sit down or touch anything. If I was the owner or just an employee I would be embarrassed at how bad that place looks and smells.