Things To Do
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
An industrial tourism must-do! Sloss has a great little video in the welcome center that goes through some Birmingham history, and it's always cool inside the structures on a hot day. About a five minute drive or Uber from downtown or Avondale.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Allot a few hours, BCRI is packed with information. Right across the street is Kelly Ingram Park, with sculptures memorializing the Civil Rights Movement and on the next corner is the 16th Street Baptist Church. Nearby restaurant Green Acres is a great place to get fried catfish or chicken and to take a walk past the historic Carver Theater. Walkable to downtown and just down the street from Birmingham Museum of Art.
Reverend Joe Minter's African Village in America
Joe Minter's "outsider art" sculpture display is a Birmingham must do. You'll basically be looking through a fence into someone's back yard, but if you're lucky he'll come outside and talk to you. Joe Minter was featured in the Met this year and has been profiled in the NYT several times (do a quick Google before you go). This is about twenty minutes out of downtown Birmingham and might be hard to Uber to. We encourage carpooling! This is right down the road from Red Mountain Park - It would be easy to combine visits.
Red Mountain Park
Acres of trails only a fifteen-minute drive from downtown Birmingham. Includes a giant zip-line, lots of hiking, and a ropes course. Its also remarkably cool and shady on a hot summer day and Margaret has been working on oral histories here throughout 2019. About fifteen minutes from downtown, but accessible by car or Uber. Nearby good eats include Seoul Restaurant (Korean), Red Pearl (Chinese) or Mr. P’s (sandwiches/butcher).
SAW’s Soul Kitchen
It's the best BBQ for those that are looking! Try the white BBQ sauce or the "pork pile." Seating is limited, but you can take it to go and eat at it Avondale Brewery a few doors down. Saturn, across the street, is a favorite coffee shop/bar/music venue.
Reed Books
It would be wise to not go in looking for anything, but instead to let yourself discover something new at this self-proclaimed "Museum of Oddities." Walkable/downtown.
The Market at Pepper Place | Saturday Farmers Market
You won't want to miss this Saturday morning market. Live music, chef demos, and fresh and prepared foods. Look for Jones Valley Teaching Farm - Margaret used to work here and they are doing the bouqets for the wedding! We suggest a short uber/drive from downtown rather than walking due to lack of sidewalk accessibility. Ovenbird is a good brunch option right in the same plaza.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice (Day Trip)
We highly recommend a trip to Montgomery for anybody staying an extra day on either end, in order to visit the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the corresponding Legacy Museum. It will take about an hour and fifteen minutes each way. Try Farmers Market Cafe for a meat and three lunch.
McWane Science Center (Good for Kids!)
Downtown science center! Around the corner from the Pizitz Food Hall and Paramount, both good, kid friendly lunch or dinner options.
El Barrio Restaurante Y Bar
If you've got an extra dinner in town this is your spot. This place is often hopping and doesn't take reservations. Go early and if you get stuck waiting, put in your name and check out The Collins Bar down the street, they will call you when your table is ready. We love the plantain nachos and any fish entree they have!
The Garage
There's no better bar on a beautiful summer day. Find a shady spot on the back patio and get a sandwich, soup or tune plate (and a beer). Kids are allowed during the day. This is a great, easy lunch option!
Lou's Pub & Package Store
Our favorite bar in Birmingham -- an old school gem in Lakeview with the best bartenders around. If you are looking for food nearby Slice across the street does a good sit-down pizza, Hattie B’s is around the corner for hot chicken and The Automatic down the street does oysters and seafood (but make a reservation for this one).
Seoul Restaurant
Definitely one of the restaurants we will miss most when we leave Birmingham. This Korean spot is located in the beginning suburbs of Birmingham, on Green Springs, about twenty minutes from downtown. Don't let the strip mall location turn you off -- we recommend the King Man Do dumplings (kimchi), Kimchi Jie Gai (kinchi stew), Hot Pot Bi Bim Bap and seafood pancake. Prices look high because dishes are meant to be shared family style - we recommend one entree and an appetizer for two.
Niki's West
We put barbecue on our list because we knew some of you would want it, but Birmingham really does meat and three better. Nikki's West is one of the best. This place is huge, great for big groups. Try the fried chicken livers if they have them in. Breakfast and lunch only!
The Collins Bar
Walkable cocktails from the hotel. Tell them what you like and they will make you a custom drink. Also a great place to wait if you're on the list at El Barrio, it's right down the block. Other good food options nearby are Paramout for burgers or Shu Shop for ramen/japanese.
Birmingham Breadworks
If you like the cookies in your welcome bag go check out the rest of the selection at Birmingham Breadworks. This is a great snack or lunch option. They serve soups, salads, sandwiches and pizza on their homemade dough and breads from 11:00 - 2:00. Pastries are available all day. We recommend the almond croissant!