When you think of top foodie destinations in the Southeast US, many of the popular cities are overcrowded, incredibly expensive, and a bit overhyped. I’m here to tell you about the lesser known GEM of Birmingham, Alabama. We spent Labor Day weekend in The Magic City and loved every minute of our time there. Birmingham has all the essential components of a prime weekend destination – charming neighborhoods, unique and interesting museums, hiking trails, boutique shopping, and of COURSE – amazing restaurants. Did you know Birmingham is home to 7 different James Beard Foundation awards for chefs and restaurants? Here’s the lowdown on where we stayed, what we did, and what we ATE!
The Redmont Hotel
2101 5th Ave. N, Birmingham, AL 35203
The Redmont Hotel is located in downtown Birmingham and a perfect location for exploring the surrounding areas. The hotel was established in 1925 and has well appointed rooms, valet parking, and a great rooftop view of the city. The hotel is also a part of the Hilton brand, so you can use points to book this hotel if you are a Hilton Honors member.
Where to Eat in Birmingham
If you love good food, you’ve got to check out these spots in Birmingham! Birmingham has it all… everything from soul food to good BBQ to upscale dining. We really wanted to jump into the food scene so we tried many different spots and they were all uniquely impressive.
Chez FonFon
Situated in the charming Five Points South neighborhood of Birmingham, Chez FonFon offers an upscale French bistro inspired menu with something for everyone. The burger here is locally known to be one of the best and it did not disappoint! My personal favorites were the Steak Tartare and the amazing Basque Cake dessert which was a rich, decadent, and buttery finish to our meal!
Continental Bakery
If you’re craving a well-made pastry or dessert, take a stroll in the English Village neighborhood of Birmingham and stop in at Continental Bakery! They had these adorable Alabama-shaped shortbread cookies with a heart design for Birmingham. We also tried the almond croissant and a cookie sandwich. They had an incredible amount of treats to choose from. I wanted to get one of their mini cheesecakes, but it was just too much for two people!
Frothy Monkey
The Frothy Monkey is known for their breakfast and brunch options and it doesn’t have to be a Sunday for you to indulge in this menu! We ordered several breakfast items including avocado toast, biscuits and chorizo gravy, and a peach seasonal French toast but don’t skip the lattes! The Havana latte really hit the spot for me – it’s a latte with espresso, steamed milk, condensed milk sauce, cinnamon, and star anise.
Hot and Hot Fish Club
This was my favorite meal and restaurant from our visit to Birmingham! It’s no wonder that Chef Chris Hastings received a James Beard Award for Best Chef South based on his work here. The restaurant interior and exterior is so charming but still casual, while the food is anything but ordinary. The best plate of the night for me was the tomato salad. Fresh, local, heirloom tomatoes with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, finished with corn, lady peas, fried okra, bacon, and aioli. All together it was one of the best dishes I tried all summer! The other dishes we ordered were also fantastic – the Bone in Pork Chop, Bread service with cheddar biscuits and basil butter, Seared Tilefish, and Blackberry Cobbler.
Bottega Cafe
Bottega Cafe is another one of Frank Stitt’s restaurants, a local restauranteur and one of the Birmingham winners of a James Beard Award. Bottega is an upscale Italian spot later in the night, but the cafe is open for lunch and touch more casual. My favorite dishes were the Baked Feta and the Roast Beef sandwich! Jack ordered the pizza and we both shared one of their beautiful and decadent desserts.
The Essential
On a search for the best brunch in Birmingham, The Essential came highly recommended and I completely agree! They make many of their dishes and components from scratch. I really loved the Sourdough Pancakes with whipped ricotta, blueberry compote, and sliced almonds on top. Another favorite was the Brunch burger which was Big Mac style with special sauce, pickles, and shredded lettuce. The cocktail menu and coffee selection made this spot perfect for a hearty brunch!
Automatic Seafood and Oysters
Our last meal in Birmingham was at Automatic Seafood and Oysters and this place was hopping! The design and interior is so funky and intimate, and the food was top notch. The yeast rolls with honey butter are the perfect way to start off your meal. My favorite dish was the seared scallops with fig agrodolce!
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
I knew we had to have some good BBQ while visiting Alabama, and it was hard to narrow down which spot I wanted to try, as Birmingham has lots of popular choices! I settled on Rodney Scott’s BBQ and I was really impressed with the food. Of course we had to try the infamous Alabama White BBQ sauce which is best used on smoked white meats, such as Turkey or Chicken. My favorite part about this spot was that the sides and Banana Pudding are on par with the meat! Nothing to sacrifice here… order it all!
What to Do in Birmingham
When you’re not eating your heart out, there are so many things to keep you busy in Birmingham. Here are some of my personal favorites.
Barber Motorsports Museum
As a girly girl, I was not expecting to enjoy this museum but it was SO cool and I really enjoyed the time we spent there! They have floor after floor of famous motorcycle models dating back to 1867, in addition to classic vintage cars and other similar items. They have meticulously restored all of these motorcycles and cars to their original pristine condition and it is an amazing sight to see.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Birmingham Botanical gardens are free and open to the public every day of the year! Which means this is a great activity to do on a Sunday when other attractions may be closed. They have a conservatory, a Japanese garden, a formal rose garden, and many many more sections. The gardens are partially shaded and beautiful at sunset.
Saturday Market at Pepper Place
Every Saturday morning at Pepper Place, there is a fun market with local famers, butchers, and products and it’s a must do! When we visited it was very busy but they had everything from jewelry to home decor, to all types of food products. We snagged a pastry from one of the vendors and I got some earrings! If I lived locally, I would have loved to pick up a pretty bouquet of flowers as well.
Other Things to Do
- Visit the Vulcan Statue and museum
- Visit the Birmingham Museum of Art
- Go brewery hopping in Avondale
- Go hiking on Ruffner Mountain with a great view of the city
- Go boutique shopping in the neighborhoods of Homewood, Mountain Brook, and English Village
As you can see, we had an eventful and delicious weekend in Birmingham! I hope this blog post inspires you to consider Birmingham for your next trip.
