2012 1st Ave N.
Birmingham, Al 35203
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205.583.5007

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205.583.5007

Tag: ruffner mountain

Welcome to Birmingham!

            We’re so excited you decided on Birmingham for your new home. This city we love has so much to offer from food to the great outdoors. We know it’s not easy being in a new city so we’ve pulled together a guide of our favorite local spots. Enjoy!

Food

Highlands Bar & Grill

Recently named “Most Outstanding Restaurant in America,” this is an iconic Birmingham spot. Don’t forget to try the award winning coconut cake while you’re there!

Chez FonFon

Another charming Frank Stitt spot. Slightly more relaxed atmosphere and excellent French inspired cuisine.

Hot and Hot Fish Club

Classic Birmingham. We recommend sitting at the chef’s table for the full experience.

Jack Browns

Although Birmingham has some outstanding burgers, Jack Browns is arguably one of the best. The extensive beer offering, secret sauce and outrageous burger selections (try one with mac and cheese or peanut butter) make this spot unlike any other.

Fancy’s on 5th

Another great spot to grab an out-of-the-ordinary burger, or oysters. Fancy’s often has live music on the patio and a creative cocktail menu that never disappoints.

El Barrio

The best Mexican food in town. Try their seasonal guacamole and margarita for a real taste of something different!

Bamboo on 2nd

Right across the street from El Barrio, downtown. You won’t find more delicious sushi!

The Essential

This charming new spot on Morris Ave is known for their homemade pop tarts but don’t miss out on their lunch and dinner menus!

Bottega

Dine on the casual side, formal side or al fresco. Bottega is a classic Highland Park spot with a little something for everyone.

Hotbox

A unique dinning experience – don’t let the airstream and low key atmosphere fool you, this food is no joke

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Drinks

Breweries

The Bham beer scene is pretty strong. Head to Good People before a Barons game, take your dog to Avondale or try out the new Back Forty. Did we mention Trim Tab, Cahaba, Ghost Train and Red Hills? Explore multiple stops in one afternoon when you book a Pedal Tour.

The Collins Bar

Let these mixologists create the cocktail you never knew existed and play a few board games while you wait. This is a great spot to grab a drink after work.

The Atomic

Take a time machine back to the 1960’s at this downtown bar. You can even choose a costume off the costume menu. It’s a unique cocktail experience to say the least.

Brat Brot

Birmingham’s first German biergarten. The indoor/outdoor space is uniquely charming and offers bocce and fire pits. Enjoy both German and local beers as well as German food selections.

Lou’s

It might not look like much but you’ll feel right at home with the friendly and knowledgeable staff. Don’t forget to play a round of Yahtzi for a chance to win some cash!

Marble Ring/Zeldas

Birmingham’s 1920’s speakeasy experience. Enter through a phone booth in Hot Diggity Dog’s and enjoy a throwback to the flapper era. Now you can enjoy a glitter themed dance floor out on the patio at Zeldas!

Moon shine

This rooftop bar can be found at the top of The Elyton Hotel. Comfortable seating and great view make this is laid back spot to catch up with friends.

Pilcrow

Coming soon to Morris Ave, we can’t wait to try out this Mezcal speakeasy! A first for Birmingham!

Music & Entertainment

Iron City

This restaurant and event space doubles as a concert venue and when they’re not hosting live music, they’re offering family friendly events, sports viewing parties and more.

Saturn

Coffee shop, bar, concert venue and all around entertainment center thanks to their selection of board and video games. There’s constantly something fun going on here.

Alabama Theatre

This Birmingham landmark offers plays, concerts, and even movie nights! Catch a different Christmas movie every night of the week during December!

Lyric Theatre

The oldest theatre in Birmingham has been restored and is used for concerts, ballets and entertainment of all kinds!

Outdoors

Rufner Mountain

Get some fresh air and hike the beautiful trails of this nature preserve. You can also enjoy family and community events a couple times a month at the nature center.

Railroad Park

This 8-block green space in the heart of the city is a great place to spend time outdoors. Enjoy free exercise classes, summer concerts and ice skating in the winter.

Vulcan Trail

This two mile trail has been recently expanded and leads straight to The Vulcan and Vulcan museum.

Zyp Bikes

The easiest and most affordable way to get around the downtown area. You can rent a Zyp bike at one location and return it to another.

Rotary Trail

A nod to Birmingham’s history, this is a great place in the city to take a stroll!

Things We Love: Birmingham in the Fall

There are certain realities about Birmingham weather. One of them being that summers are hot, miserable, and best spent lying under/in front of/directly on top of a fan. By September, we’ve forgotten what it’s like to want to be outside. We congratulate ourselves on having made it to work most days and not making permanent pilgrimage to the beach.

Then fall finally hits, and we kind of wish we lived outdoors. Deep front porches and rooftop decks are the most valuable real estate, and all the best entertaining happens outside. At the same time, the city comes alive, and we can’t wait to go exploring. We humbly argue that Birmingham is possibly the best place on earth from late September through mid December.

We offer the following as evidence:

Image via Greek Food Festival

– Food festivals. The Greek Festival and St. George’s Middle Eastern Food Festival each offer delicious food to eat in or takeaway. They’re also handily located near parks (Railroad and George Ward, respectively) should you opt for an impromptu picnic. And you should.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Nature’s refuge in the city steps up its offerings with first Saturday Wine and Cheese Hikes and third Friday Beer on the Back Porch. The hike is pretty self-explanatory. For the back porch nights, a $25 admission fee is worth dinner, music and three drink tokens, plus the warm, fuzzy feeling of helping nature by drinking beer. Everyone wins.

Image via BMetro

– Accessible culture. Festivals like Moss Rock and downtown’s ongoing Art Crawl bring art shows and local artists to everyday spaces. The Day of the Dead Festival adds Southern influences to the Mexican Day of Remembrance.

– Halloween without coats. Our Halloween costumes have infinite possibilities because they don’t need to be made of or covered by wool. Not that we’re endorsing sexy anything, but good old Batman looks better without a pea coat. (With this year’s cold snap, he might have needed a fleece, but at least he wasn’t battling snow flurries.)

Imave via What to Eat in Birmingham

– Fall menu items. The Brussel Sprout Kale Salad has made its triumphant return to Post Office Pies. Yes, you should still get pizza, but when was the last time you got excited about salad? Brewery menus count too, and we’re fans of the Pillar to Post Rye – aged in Bulleit Bourbon barrels – on tap at Trim Tab. Plus, the No Joka Mocha is back at Avondale Brewery, and it’s finally cool enough to crave a Coffee Oatmeal Stout at Good People.

That’s our list. What’s yours?