As two girls who are both in our senior year at the University of Alabama, we have learned how to navigate the city of Tuscaloosa. There is so much that Tuscaloosa and the UA campus have to offer, from beauty services to dining. It took some time, but we have figured out how to run errands and make Tuscaloosa work best for us.
From Rayna and Kinley to all you trying to figure out the best parts of Tuscaloosa, here you go!
Bama Nails
Kinley: This is a great salon, relatively close to campus. They offer a student discount and even hold giveaways. The last time I went there, they were doing a raffle for a Louis Vuitton purse. I love how swiftly they work, making it a quick errand I can run between classes.
Beem
Kinley: For all the wellness girlies, this is the place to go. They have private saunas, and even one you can go to with friends, where it offers color therapy and your own AUX. I went a ton last semester to unwind and saw great results. They even offer red light therapy and other services. It is pretty easy to get in with multiple sauna rooms available for booking!
Bradley’s Market
Kinley: This is a quaint market over the bridge! They have home decor, take-home meals and gifts. One of my favorite things to grab from there is the frozen Cookie Fix cookies. They have a bunch of different flavors, with my personal favorite being chocolate chip. One of my friends loves their chicken and dumplings. She loves their Breakup Cookies too. It’s a fabulous Tuscaloosa business that offers some “home cooking” when being away from home.
Comfort Grounds
Rayna: This is my go-to for a specialty coffee. I order a coconut caramel coffee. I love their coffee because of its quality, and of course the taste. This is my signature order every time I go.
Kinley: This is a great coffee shop to stop at when you are taking a walk around campus. I tried this when it opened last semester on a walk with one of my friends. I tried their Vanilla Matcha and it was delicious. The owners are super nice, and I think this is a great local spot to check out.
Dukes Clothier
Kinley: This is a fabulous local business for unique pieces. Their jewelry options offer pieces at many different price points that can’t be found at many places. Their clothing is also super unique, and they carry a bunch of fabulous brands like Ulla Johnson, Alemais and Ramy Brook. They also have a cute dog named Shug that you can always hang out with when you are shopping!
Dunkin’ Donuts
Rayna: The consistency here cannot be beat. Every time I go there, I order the same thing. It’s one of their green tea refreshers. I will occasionally get an iced caramel coffee.
El Agave
Rayna: This is one of the newer Mexican restaurants in Tuscaloosa. It is a great Mexican restaurant located at Midtown Village. I have enjoyed everything I have tried so far and think this is one of the best restaurants in Tuscaloosa right now.
Five Guys
Rayna: Although this is a chain, this is my go-to whenever I am craving a burger. They can be a little expensive but it is well worth it. I go for a simple cheeseburger as my order.
Fuku Ramen
Rayna: Ramen is one of my favored dishes of all. This place has everything I am looking for. I like getting one with chicken. Especially as the weather keeps cooling off, this is a warm dish that is so nice to enjoy in chilly weather.
Glam Salon
Kinley: If I ever need a hair blowout or last-minute haircut, this is where I go. They are always reliable and friendly. Not only that, they work swiftly, never keeping you there for too long. I think their hair blowouts are fairly affordable compared to other places I have gotten my hair done. I would recommend anyone needing these hair services to check them out!
Hair By Neveah
Rayna: When it is silk press season, I go to my hair stylist named Neveah. She does a great job at giving me advice in order for me to keep my hair healthy.
Hurricane Creek
Rayna: Hurricane Creek is a park with creeks and walking trails. It is one of the prettiest landscapes in all of Tuscaloosa. It is a great place to get away campus and unwind.
Midtown Village
Kinley: I had to throw this one in here. This is usually where I find myself running errands when I must. From Buff City Soaps to Ulta, and I personally love Loft, it is a one-stop park and shop for all the chains in Tuscaloosa. My friends and I love to check out Old Navy here when they have new activewear and clothing drops. There is an assortment of local boutiques that are really cute from Lavish to South Boutique. As a student at UA, this is a great place to go when you just want to park and walk around different stores.
Nails by Petra
Rayna: For my nails, I have a nail tech I go to in Cottondale, AL. She does an incredible job at copying my inspiration photos and pasting it on to my nails. She specializes in Gel X among other things. Not only that, but she also greatly cares about the health of your nails.
Plato’s Closet
Rayna: If I need an outfit for gameday, this is where I check first. They offer a great assortment of clothing.
Kinley: I totally agree with Rayna. Plato’s is a great place to look for unique gameday pieces. When I go through my closet and clean it out, this is where I drop off well-loved pieces I do not have an use for anymore. They go through your items quickly and give you cash on pieces they buy from you.
Snow Hinton Park
Rayna: I love spending most of my time in nature. So, this is one of the places I walk often. They have a ton of walking trails to choose from.
Taco Mama
Kinley: This is by far one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I have grown up loving this place and I am so happy we have one in Tuscaloosa. They have a patio that is perfect for sitting on sunny days and spending time with friends. My friends and I will go to play mahjong and enjoy some cheese dip and guacamole. The long line is worth it!
Target
Rayna & Kinley: What would we go without Target? We are so glad to be a school that has a Target so close to campus. This is where we go when we need to restock some self-care items and check out their athletic wear. Target is a classic and we are so happy we have one in Tuscaloosa.
Turbo Coffee
Kinley: I think I go to Turbo Coffee at least once a week. It’s my favorite coffee shop in town. I will usually make a stop on my way to work for a little “pick me up!” They have a ton of flavor options, with a fall menu that has been super popular. I recently tried the Cookie Butter in both their matcha and coffee. In the matcha, it’s sweet. In the coffee, it is well balanced with the strong espresso. My favorite matcha order is the blueberry matcha. Turbo Coffee is also a popular stop for studying and pop-ups when businesses come to town. Every time I go in there, it is usually packed with people studying or coming for a coffee date with friends. It is lively and quick for when you need some caffeine from a local shop.
Tuscaloosa Farmers Market
Rayna: For skincare, I go to the Farmers Market every Saturday to buy whatever I need. I use whipped tallow as my moisturizer. There is a local woman who makes it and it helps my sensitive skin so much.
Kinley: Stopping by the Farmers Market is one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday. They have a sourdough shop I love, along with a taco cart I like. They have local artists, bakers and craftsmen who set up on Saturday mornings for locals. It sits right along the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk so it is a great way to be active and support local businesses.
Tuscaloosa Riverwalk
Kinley: Rayna and I both love this spot as a place to explore nature. The Riverwalk is extremely close to campus. In fact, I will often walk from my on-campus housing to the Riverwalk. It can be as long or as short as you want it to be. There are different starting points and things to explore. I love to go and walk a couple miles with friends or even alone with some music.
Vintage Nails
Rayna: When I am unable to get in with my usual nail tech, this is my favorite alternative. I will get a full set of almond French tips with Vinnie. He is a perfectionist when it comes to his work. This is a reliable spot for amazing nails.
We know it can be difficult moving to a new place and figuring out where the best places to go are. Hopefully this guide served as a way for you to get to know more about places in Tuscaloosa! What’s your favorite place to go as an UA student? We would love to hear.
