Guidebook for Birmingham
Food Scene
Delicious, healthy, and trendy with scrumptious vegetarian options. The ambience is warm and cozy, with fun music picks that make you want to Shazaam over and over again (depending on your tastes). It's the ideal place to go on a rainy or cold evening. It's also budget-friendly and informal, with extra seating upstairs for larger groups. Love the vegetarian dumplings, spicy miso ramen, and sake flight = perfect meal.
25 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Shu Shop
1820 3rd Ave NDelicious, healthy, and trendy with scrumptious vegetarian options. The ambience is warm and cozy, with fun music picks that make you want to Shazaam over and over again (depending on your tastes). It's the ideal place to go on a rainy or cold evening. It's also budget-friendly and informal, with extra seating upstairs for larger groups. Love the vegetarian dumplings, spicy miso ramen, and sake flight = perfect meal.
This is the best pizza in town, and is named to honor the US Post Office that was housed in that spot over a century ago. The salads are fresh, the pizza is thin and mouth-watering, and the jalapeno cheese bread is great for those who like a kick! Plus, this is an ideal place to start your night. Housed in Avondale, Post Office Pies is next to Avondale Brewery, across from Saturn (music venue), and walking distance to the Marble Ring (prohibition-era bar)--and so many other places. Tip: don't go during the 12-1 pm lunch rush.
46 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Post Office Pies
209 41st St SThis is the best pizza in town, and is named to honor the US Post Office that was housed in that spot over a century ago. The salads are fresh, the pizza is thin and mouth-watering, and the jalapeno cheese bread is great for those who like a kick! Plus, this is an ideal place to start your night. Housed in Avondale, Post Office Pies is next to Avondale Brewery, across from Saturn (music venue), and walking distance to the Marble Ring (prohibition-era bar)--and so many other places. Tip: don't go during the 12-1 pm lunch rush.
Tasty Thai food that is a 12 min walk (or 3 min drive) from our home. They have a variety of options, and the stir fry dishes are unforgettable. The Pad Prik with pork is my husband's go-to, while I enjoy the Spicy Basil Leaves with tofu. The bar is also better than most "chains" (this is a locally-owned Alabama chain, not a national chain), with craft beers on draft and yummy yet strong martinis. Favorite beer on draft: Golden Monkey. PARKING: If you drive, take a left onto 19th St S when following Google Maps, and then turn into the parking lot on the right after passing the 11th Ave S intersection. If you can score a spot outside, then you are fabulous haha.
24 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Surin West
1918 11th Ave STasty Thai food that is a 12 min walk (or 3 min drive) from our home. They have a variety of options, and the stir fry dishes are unforgettable. The Pad Prik with pork is my husband's go-to, while I enjoy the Spicy Basil Leaves with tofu. The bar is also better than most "chains" (this is a locally-owned Alabama chain, not a national chain), with craft beers on draft and yummy yet strong martinis. Favorite beer on draft: Golden Monkey. PARKING: If you drive, take a left onto 19th St S when following Google Maps, and then turn into the parking lot on the right after passing the 11th Ave S intersection. If you can score a spot outside, then you are fabulous haha.
This is my husband's absolute favorite restaurant. The best place for a unique culinary experience when you want to splurge (you can easily spend $100 or more for two people).
This is a tapas-inspired restaurant, so plan to order a couple plates in order to fully experience the menu. I order vegetarian, which is fresh and delicious no matter what you choose. Jasper's meal is always much more exotic than mine: his favorites are the roasted bone marrow, beef fat candle, and octopus. We loved the creme-Brûlée-esque dessert, which was "heated" at our table with a custom-made Ovenbird brand. Lastly, try the Gaucho cocktail. It's a tequila drink with yerba mate, served in a copper mate mug.
27 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
OvenBird
2810 3rd Ave SThis is my husband's absolute favorite restaurant. The best place for a unique culinary experience when you want to splurge (you can easily spend $100 or more for two people).
This is a tapas-inspired restaurant, so plan to order a couple plates in order to fully experience the menu. I order vegetarian, which is fresh and delicious no matter what you choose. Jasper's meal is always much more exotic than mine: his favorites are the roasted bone marrow, beef fat candle, and octopus. We loved the creme-Brûlée-esque dessert, which was "heated" at our table with a custom-made Ovenbird brand. Lastly, try the Gaucho cocktail. It's a tequila drink with yerba mate, served in a copper mate mug.
Entertainment & Activities
I absolutely love this place! The Woolworth features: duckpin bowling, ping pong, arcade games, board games/table games, fooseball, and more. The Mediterranean-inspired, Southern-rooted menu is delicious whether you order a snack, entree, or brunch (yes, they have brunch on Sat/Sun). There are tons of delicious vegetarian options. This is a perfect venue for an outing or date night. Get there early (7ish or earlier) to reserve a bowling lane. SPECIALS: Sunday nights are "Rec Nights": $2 bowling/person, free ping pong, and $2 Coors; Wednesday nights: 1/2 wine bottles. We go every Sunday!
8 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
The Woolworth
1006 20th St SI absolutely love this place! The Woolworth features: duckpin bowling, ping pong, arcade games, board games/table games, fooseball, and more. The Mediterranean-inspired, Southern-rooted menu is delicious whether you order a snack, entree, or brunch (yes, they have brunch on Sat/Sun). There are tons of delicious vegetarian options. This is a perfect venue for an outing or date night. Get there early (7ish or earlier) to reserve a bowling lane. SPECIALS: Sunday nights are "Rec Nights": $2 bowling/person, free ping pong, and $2 Coors; Wednesday nights: 1/2 wine bottles. We go every Sunday!
Drinks & Nightlife
THE place to get a craft cocktail in Birmingham, featuring a periodic table (behind the bar) that is a spin-off on abbreviations for Birmingham's iconic businesses and restaurants.
Unique experience as each of the mixologists are very capable of blending any type of drink you could be craving. You can order traditional drinks and they know exactly what to do, or you can let the bartender know what you like (flavors, liquors, etc) and they will custom craft something to your liking. Angel is our favorite bartender! Street parking can be annoying during peak times (7 pm onwards) so grab a spot as soon as you are .1-.2 miles away.
70 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
The Collins Bar
2125 2nd Ave NTHE place to get a craft cocktail in Birmingham, featuring a periodic table (behind the bar) that is a spin-off on abbreviations for Birmingham's iconic businesses and restaurants.
Unique experience as each of the mixologists are very capable of blending any type of drink you could be craving. You can order traditional drinks and they know exactly what to do, or you can let the bartender know what you like (flavors, liquors, etc) and they will custom craft something to your liking. Angel is our favorite bartender! Street parking can be annoying during peak times (7 pm onwards) so grab a spot as soon as you are .1-.2 miles away.
Prohibition-era cocktail bar that can only be entered through a telephone booth (found on the second floor of Hot Diggity Dogs in Avondale). A beautifully delicious drink menu! The best part is the luxury and comfort of the bar seating--well worth the wait if there is one. The interior design is immaculate, and even the bathrooms are stunning (cracked mirror walls in the women's restroom). Highly recommend this place!
26 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
The Marble Ring
430 41st St SProhibition-era cocktail bar that can only be entered through a telephone booth (found on the second floor of Hot Diggity Dogs in Avondale). A beautifully delicious drink menu! The best part is the luxury and comfort of the bar seating--well worth the wait if there is one. The interior design is immaculate, and even the bathrooms are stunning (cracked mirror walls in the women's restroom). Highly recommend this place!
One of our favorite breweries. It is located in Avondale and also has a sour-beer-specific branch just .16 miles away from it (The Sour Room). They have light beers, Belgian-style beers, and IPAs. My favorite is the tripel: Miss Fancy's Tripel, named after the legendary and beloved Birmingham elephant who reigned as "queen" at the Avondale Zoo in the early 1900s. The have fun events and live music--check out the calendar!
115 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Avondale Brewing Company
201 41st St SOne of our favorite breweries. It is located in Avondale and also has a sour-beer-specific branch just .16 miles away from it (The Sour Room). They have light beers, Belgian-style beers, and IPAs. My favorite is the tripel: Miss Fancy's Tripel, named after the legendary and beloved Birmingham elephant who reigned as "queen" at the Avondale Zoo in the early 1900s. The have fun events and live music--check out the calendar!
Sightseeing
The Vulcan Statue is the world's largest cast iron statue. You can see him from our front porch, but paying a visit is worthwhile. If you go into the park and read through the various history booths, you can learn the fascinating history underlying that exact spot. There is a hike that starts at the base of the statue (see signs on road), and follows with panoramic views of downtown Birmingham. The observation deck (~$15) is an even better panoramic for the brave (I'm scared of heights and still begrudgingly managed to slowly step around). The gift shop has great Birmingham history books, t-shirts, etc. Visiting this statue was initiation to the city when we first moved into this house!
203 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
พาร์คและพิพิธภัณฑ์วัลแคน
1701 Valley View DrThe Vulcan Statue is the world's largest cast iron statue. You can see him from our front porch, but paying a visit is worthwhile. If you go into the park and read through the various history booths, you can learn the fascinating history underlying that exact spot. There is a hike that starts at the base of the statue (see signs on road), and follows with panoramic views of downtown Birmingham. The observation deck (~$15) is an even better panoramic for the brave (I'm scared of heights and still begrudgingly managed to slowly step around). The gift shop has great Birmingham history books, t-shirts, etc. Visiting this statue was initiation to the city when we first moved into this house!