Mobile’s entertainment district fills with revelers every Mardi Gras, and the bars along Dauphin Street are at the center of the celebration. For visitors unfamiliar with downtown, a handful of spots within a block of each other offer food, drinks and live music worth knowing before the parades roll.
T. P. Crockmier’s
T. P. Crockmier’s has stayed busy all season as a popular place for Mobilians to share large meals with their Carnival companions. Reservations are long gone, but the spacious building still has room for those who want a sit-down meal and a drink between parades.
LoDa Bier Garten
LoDa Bier Garten’s wide selection of draft beers and fine bourbons is hard to beat anywhere downtown. The relaxed community feel appeals to partygoers flying solo, who can settle onto the long row of bar stools and find friendly company. Colorful lights and big flat screens set a festive tone.
Alchemy Tavern
Alchemy Tavern pulls out all the stops on Mardi Gras evening. Music lovers can catch local acts including the Underhill Family Orchestra and Infant Richard and the Delta Stones, with doors at 7 p.m. and a $5 cover. The night runs late, and the beer list features area breweries such as Fairhope Brewing Company.
Patrons can also ask the bar for the Mobile Mystic, a house cocktail built around a Carnival theme. Supporting these locally owned businesses keeps the Port City’s downtown lively long after the last float passes.