The Alabama Guide

Downtown Birmingham, AL

Downtown Birmingham, home to the Civil Rights District, Railroad Park, historic theaters and a growing restaurant scene.

26 places This weekend in Birmingham

Plan your Downtown Birmingham trip

By the Alabama Guide editors Updated How We Choose Places

Downtown Birmingham is where the city’s story is easiest to see. The Civil Rights District, with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park and the 16th Street Baptist Church, is an essential stop. A few blocks away, the Alabama Theatre and the Lyric anchor the theater district, and the Birmingham Museum of Art is free to visit. Railroad Park offers lawns, ponds and city views next to Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons. In between, restored storefronts and loft buildings hold locally owned restaurants and cocktail bars.

Food & Drink in Downtown Birmingham

See all 20 Food & Drink in Downtown Birmingham →
Bistro 218 $$$
Fine Dining Downtown Birmingham

Bistro 218

French bistro cooking with Southern touches in downtown Birmingham

Locally owned Reservations
Rêve $$$$
Fine Dining Downtown Birmingham

Rêve

Birmingham's only tasting-menu restaurant, led by chef Jacob M. Stull

Locally owned Reservations
The Essential $$
Burgers & Casual Downtown Birmingham

The Essential

Smashburgers, barbecue, and weekend brunch in downtown Birmingham since 2018

Locally owned Outdoor seating Takeout

Things to Do in Downtown Birmingham

See all 6 Things to Do in Downtown Birmingham →
Birmingham Museum of Art
Attractions & Museums Downtown Birmingham

Birmingham Museum of Art

Downtown art museum with global collections and a sculpture garden

Cafe on site Event rentals Free admission
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Attractions & Museums Downtown Birmingham

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Museum and research center on Birmingham's civil rights history

Free parking Gift shop Guided tours
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Attractions & Museums Downtown Birmingham

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Jazz museum and performance hall in the historic Carver Theatre

Classes and Workshops Guided tours Historic building

Every place in Downtown Birmingham

What are you looking for?
Food & Drink Things to Do
Birmingham Museum of Art
Attractions & Museums Downtown Birmingham

Birmingham Museum of Art

Downtown art museum with global collections and a sculpture garden

Cafe on site Event rentals Free admission
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Attractions & Museums Downtown Birmingham

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Museum and research center on Birmingham's civil rights history

Free parking Gift shop Guided tours
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Attractions & Museums Downtown Birmingham

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Jazz museum and performance hall in the historic Carver Theatre

Classes and Workshops Guided tours Historic building
The Lyric Theatre
Arts & Entertainment Downtown Birmingham

The Lyric Theatre

Restored 1914 vaudeville house hosting concerts, comedy and theater

Event rentals Historic building Live performances
Red Mountain Theatre
Arts & Entertainment Downtown Birmingham

Red Mountain Theatre

Musical theater company and arts education campus in Parkside

Classes and Workshops Event rentals Kid friendly
Bistro 218 $$$
Fine Dining Downtown Birmingham

Bistro 218

French bistro cooking with Southern touches in downtown Birmingham

Locally owned Reservations
Rêve $$$$
Fine Dining Downtown Birmingham

Rêve

Birmingham's only tasting-menu restaurant, led by chef Jacob M. Stull

Locally owned Reservations
The Essential $$
Burgers & Casual Downtown Birmingham

The Essential

Smashburgers, barbecue, and weekend brunch in downtown Birmingham since 2018

Locally owned Outdoor seating Takeout
Gus’s Hot Dogs $
Burgers & Casual Downtown Birmingham

Gus’s Hot Dogs

Downtown Birmingham's hot dog stand since 1947, now owned by Lee Pantazis

Family owned Locally owned Takeout
Johin’na $$$
Asian Downtown Birmingham

Johin’na

Robata, sushi, and omakase from sisters Ashley Jackson and Amber Diamond in downtown Birmingham

Family owned Locally owned Reservations
EastWest $$
Asian Downtown Birmingham

EastWest

American dishes reworked through Asian technique on downtown Birmingham's 2nd Avenue North

Locally owned Takeout
Salud Taqueria $
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Salud Taqueria

Regional Mexican street food and weekend birria in downtown Birmingham

Locally owned Open late Takeout
Uptown Cantina $$
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Uptown Cantina

Wood-fired Fresh-Mex and margaritas in downtown Birmingham

Locally owned Takeout
Trattoria Zaza $$
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Trattoria Zaza

All-day Italian trattoria on 20th Street North serving pizza, pasta, and weekend brunch

Dog friendly Family owned Kid friendly
Lé Fresca $$$
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Lé Fresca

Fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza rooted in Northern Italy's Lake Garda region

Locally owned Reservations Takeout
Bocca Ristorante $$$
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Bocca Ristorante

Northern Italian dining in a downtown Birmingham loft from owners Tom and Christy Saab

Family owned Locally owned Reservations
Helen $$$
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Helen

Contemporary Southern cooking over hardwood coals in downtown Birmingham

Locally owned Open late Reservations
Green Acres Cafe $
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Green Acres Cafe

Family-run soul food cafe on Birmingham's Historic 4th Avenue since 1990

Family owned Locally owned Takeout
Bayonet $$$
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

Bayonet

Downtown raw bar and coastal kitchen from chefs Rob and Emily McDaniel

Locally owned Open late Reservations
Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema
Arts & Entertainment Downtown Birmingham

Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema

Downtown Birmingham's independent art house cinema

Reservations Wheelchair accessible
Edgar’s Bakery
Bakeries Downtown Birmingham

Edgar’s Bakery

Family-owned Birmingham bakery since 1998

Family owned Locally owned Takeout
Bandit Bakery
Bakeries Downtown Birmingham

Bandit Bakery

Small-batch French pastry downtown since 2013

Locally owned Takeout
Golden Age Wine $$$
Bars & Nightlife Downtown Birmingham

Golden Age Wine

Downtown natural wine shop with a garden bar

Locally owned Takeout
Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar $$
Bars & Nightlife Downtown Birmingham

Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar

Underground agave bar in an 1881 cellar

Locally owned Open late
Adiós $$
Bars & Nightlife Downtown Birmingham

Adiós

Downtown cocktails rooted in Mexican heritage

Locally owned Open late
El Barrio $$
Food & Drink Downtown Birmingham

El Barrio

Multi-regional Mexican cooking, downtown Birmingham

Locally owned Takeout

Upcoming events in Downtown Birmingham

All Downtown Birmingham events →

Christmas Village Festival

Nov 4 (+4 more) · BJCC Exhibition Halls · 10:00 AM · From $17
Holiday & Seasonal

Alabama Ballet: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

Dec 12 (+5 more) · BJCC Concert Hall · 1:30 PM
Arts & Theater

Birmingham Bowl

Dec 29 · Protective Stadium
Holiday & Seasonal

Sidewalk Film Festival

Aug 23 (+6 more) · Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema
Arts & Theater

From the journal

Stories from Downtown Birmingham

All Downtown Birmingham stories →

Stories, guides and local picks from around Downtown Birmingham.

Plan Your Trip
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Near Downtown Birmingham

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