While you visit Birmingham, we encourage you to learn about the city’s history and commitment to the future. We hope you love exploring the neighborhoods as much as we do!
BHM is the main airport for Birmingham and is the largest in Alabama. It is located 5-10 minutes from downtown and main hotels. Southwest, Delta, United, and American all serve BHM. As an alternative option, Atlanta's airport is a 2 hour drive from Birmingham.
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Museum that commemorates the state of Alabama’s athletic history. The museum contains more than 5,000 objects related to the state’s athletes.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Home to the world’s largest motorcycle collection! Pretty impressive museum.. Only downside is that it’s a little out of the way from downtown.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Free. This is the largest living museum in Alabama. It houses more than 12,000 plants in exhibits spread throughout 27 unique gardens.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Free on Sunday’s. The museum depicts the struggles of the civil rights movement from the 1950s and 1960s. It is located across the street from 16th Street Baptist Church.
Birmingham Museum of Art
Free! Home to the largest comprehensive collection of art in the southeast. The museum includes one of the largest collections of Asian Art in the US. It’s also known for having one of the largest collections of English ceramics outside England.
Eternal Word Television Network
Free tours of the television studio! Home to a worldwide Catholic broadcasting network
McWane Science Center
Extensive science museum and aquarium for children that has the largest IMAX dome theater we’ve ever seen. Fun fact: home to the world’s 4th largest collection of extinct marine reptiles.
Negro Southern League Baseball Museum
Free! Explores the history of African American baseball and sports memorabilia
Rickwood Field
Free! Walk onto the field and explore the stands at the oldest professional baseball park in the United States.
Sloss Furnace
Free! Explore this Birmingham National Historic Landmark signifying the city’s industrial past. Birmingham is the only place in the world where all three ingredients for steel (coal, limestone, and iron ore) occur naturally within a ten mile radius. This site is also found on a list of the top 100 places in the world for paranormal activity.
Southern Museum of Flight
Features nearly 100 aircraft as well as engines and other aviation parts. Check for Groupons!
Vulcan Park & Museum
Large monument with a great view of Birmingham. Also includes a museum that explores Birmingham’s industrial history.
Automatic Seafood & Oysters ($$$)
This new restaurant was started by an Alabama native who spent much of his career as a chef in New York and in New Orleans. The restaurant features dishes mainly from the Gulf Coast. It was recently named one of the nation’s top new restaurants of 2019 by Thrillist.
Big Spoon Creamery ($)
Our favorite ice cream in Birmingham. Big Spoon has been recognized in several magazines, including Southern Living.
Bottega ($$$)
Bottega is owned and operated by Frank Stitt, who many in the restaurant industry view as The Godfather of contemporary southern cuisine. Bottega’s food also has an Italian influence. This restaurant has both a casual dining room and an upscale dining room. It’s the location where we had our first Birmingham date!
Chez Fonfon ($$)
Known for being a semi-casual French restaurant. Awesome wine selection, and our favorite burger in Birmingham! The legendary Frank Stitt serves as the executive chef.
The Continental Bakery ($)
Great breakfast spot with the best bread and pastries in Birmingham. Provides the bread for Chez Lulu, a French restaurant next door.
El Barrio ($$)
This is our favorite Mexican restaurant anywhere. The menu is very diverse in flavors. Get there early!
The Essential ($$)
Comfort food with a mixture of pasta, sandwiches, salads, and pastries. This is also a really cute brunch spot!
The Fish Market ($$)
Greek restaurant with an extensive seafood menu. Make sure you visit the Southside location.
Galley & Garden ($$$)
Farm-to-table American/French food in an elegant and historic home. The chef, James Boyce, has spent much of his career in New York, Arizona, and on the west coast. He was a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southwest while working at his Arizona restaurant. He’s been on the Today Show and Martha Stewart as well as in Men’s Health and Food & Wine. Galley & Garden also features live jazz on Sunday’s.
The Garage ($)
Esquire recently named The Garage as one of its top ten bars to visit in the United States. This is a real dive. It’s like you’re eating in the middle of a concrete industrial garden. They specialize in sandwiches and beer. THEY ONLY ACCEPT CASH! There is an ATM on site, however. And IT’S 21+! Go in nice weather.
Gatos and Beans ($)
This is a local cat cafe. Come grab a coffee, and then watch or play with the cats. The cafe has around 10 cats, and they’re all available for adoption. We suggest making reservations on the weekend.
Helen ($$$)
Recently featured as the #3 Best New Restaurant in the US (Esquire). This is an excellent contemporary take on classic Southern “Family Style” dining traditions. The restaurant, located in a 1920s building downtown, was started by James Beard finalist Chef Rob McDaniel. The recipes used are inspired by his memories growing up in rural NW Alabama and cooking with his grandmother, Helen. We recommend coming for lunch to save some money. Be sure to try their Angel Biscuits!
Highlands Bar & Grill ($$$)
In 2018, Highlands was named Best Restaurant in the United States by the James Beard Foundation. The world-renowned Frank Stitt is the executive chef. Highlands is also home to Dolester Miles who was voted the Most Outstanding Pastry Chef in the United States in 2019. Book a reservation at least a month out. This place is in high demand!
Melt ($$)
This spot has lots of cheesy options with some menu items that are very unique. Began as a food truck. This place gets busy!
O’Henry’s Coffees ($)
A Birmingham staple — this relaxed coffee chain serves great coffee, breakfast, and pastries.
Ovenbird ($$$)
Ovenbird is known for its small plates. We have also really enjoyed their Saturday brunch. This restaurant is operated by Chris Hastings who has several times been a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the South.
The Pizitz ($)
The Pizitz building is home to multiple different order-at-the-counter restaurants, each representing a different type of cuisine. There is a free parking garage at the intersection of 1st Ave N and 18th St N.
The Red Cat Coffee House ($)
Great place to go for coffee and sandwiches. There’s a location by Pepper Place and one by Railroad Park.
Sons Donuts ($)
New donut shop in Avondale specializing in hot mini donuts. There is a great seasonal menu but also the option to customize your donuts with their sugars and dipping sauces. This is a joint collaboration between the families behind Big Spoon Creamery and Steel City Pops. The menu also includes a milk bar with housemade flavored milk shots.
Wasabi Juan’s ($)
Wasabi Juan’s mixes Mexican and Japanese cuisines. It’s known for its sushi burritos served with chips and salsa. There is also a dessert sushi burrito called the Frushi which mixes fruit and rice crispy treats. Make sure you go to the 2nd Ave S location (“The Battery”).
Avondale Brewery
We recommend coming here in nice weather. It’s a really laid back environment with lots of green space and dogs. There are also quite a few notable musical acts that come through from time to time. Open until midnight.
Cahaba Brewing Company
Great brewery environment with lots of games. Cahaba is known for its American Blonde and its Pale Ale. Open until midnight.
Carrigan’s
Really casual, cool industrial pub spot for beer with a nice rooftop patio 3 stories up. Open until midnight.
Collins Bar
This is Jenny’s favorite bar anywhere in the world! The bar is known for custom cocktails — meaning you tell the bartender what kinds of flavors you’re feeling like, and he/she will make a special drink for you. It’s also been featured in Southern Living. Open until midnight.
Good People Brewing Company
Brewery with an extensive selection. This is the most well-known of Birmingham’s breweries regionally. Check to see if the Barons are playing. If they are, parking will be an issue here. Open until midnight.
The Lumbar
Great casual cocktail bar that also has an excellent bar food menu. Started by a former nurse — now a PhD student in Birmingham. It’s located in Pepper Place. Note that the kitchen and bar both close at 10.
Mayawell Bar
This has an excellent signature cocktail selection that draws on its list of 80+ agave spirits. The bar honors the flavors of traditional Mexican tequila and Oaxaca mezcal.
Moon Shine
This bar with small plates is located 16 floors up on the rooftop of the historic Elyton Hotel. It’s more spacious and more places to sit down than the Redmont rooftop bar. Food service runs until 11, and the beverage service goes until midnight.
Pilcrow
This is a very laid back speakeasy. It’s located underground in a 150 year old building. They have live jazz on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s. Pilcrow is especially known for its high quality tequila. Open until 2am.
Queen’s Park
This cocktail bar is home to the recent recipient of the National Bartender of the Year Award in the United States, the first female bartender to win. She also placed 2nd in the 2018 global cocktail-making competition in Berlin. Queen’s Park probably has the most extensive drink menu in Birmingham. Open until 2am.
Trim Tab Brewing Company
Eclectic environment with excellent seasonal beers and the best IPA in Birmingham. Hop Culture lists this as one of America’s 10 best breweries. Open until midnight.