The Alabama Guide

Fine Dining

Chef-driven menus, carefully sourced ingredients, and special-occasion dinners. These are the independently owned fine dining restaurants worth dressing up for.

29 places

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Mentone

Elevation Bistro

Fine dining and craft cocktails atop Lookout Mountain

Catering available Craft Cocktails Fireplace Seating
$$$
Guntersville

Old Town Stock House

Elevated Southern American dining since 2015

Fine dining Full bar Reservations recommended
$$$
Foley

Local and Company Food+Drink

Upscale American dining in a historic downtown Foley building.

Historic building Private dining room Saturday Brunch
$$$
Fairhope

The Hope Farm

Farm-grown flavors and Southern hospitality

400+ bottle natural wine list Daytime cafe (The Barn) Farm-to-table menu
$$$
Fairhope

The Fairhope Inn and Restaurant

NOLA classics with a Fairhope finish

Event rentals Friday lunch tradition Housed in a working bed and breakfast
$$$
Fairhope

Little Bird

Southern soul meets coastal style

Multiple dining rooms Outdoor courtyard Raw bar and seafood tower
$$$
Fairhope

Sallie

French technique meets the Gulf Coast table

French-trained chef Garden cottage setting Private event bookings
$$$
Oxford

Garfrerick’s Cafe

Farm-grown, wood-fired dinners in the heart of Oxford.

Catering available Farm-to-table menu Private dining for up to 100 guests
$$$
Opelika

Cafe 123

Downtown Opelika's fine-dining address.

Fine dining Southern cuisine with French influence Sunday brunch
Florence

Odette

Farm-influenced dining on North Court Street

Farm-to-Table Sourcing Gift Cards Reservations via Resy
$$$
Vestavia Hills

FoodBar

Farm-to-table dinners in Heights Village

Farm-to-table Reservations recommended Takeout available
$$$
Downtown Prattville

243 South

Upscale Southern dining in a historic downtown Prattville building

Full bar Historic building Locally owned
Decatur

Simp McGhee’s

Historic Bank Street corner, upscale Cajun flavor

Dog friendly Locally owned Outdoor seating
$$$
Dothan

Bella’s Fine Dining

Fine dining in a historic downtown building

Family owned Locally owned Reservations
$$
Auburn

Hamilton’s on Magnolia

Intimate, casual dining one block from Toomer's Corner

Live music Outdoor seating
$$
Auburn

Amsterdam Cafe

Legendary cuisine in the heart of Auburn since 1991
$$$
Auburn

Ariccia Cucina Italiana

Central Italian cuisine inside The Hotel at Auburn University

Reservations
$$$
Hoover

Toujours

Gulf South and New Orleans-inspired fine dining

Reservations
$$$
Tuscaloosa

Urban Bar & Kitchen

Modern American plates and craft cocktails in a brick walled downtown dining room

Locally owned Reservations Takeout
$$$
Tuscaloosa

River

Elevated riverfront dining and weekend brunch on the Black Warrior River

Locally owned Outdoor seating Reservations
$$$
Downtown Mobile

NoJa

Mediterranean and Asian fusion fine dining on North Jackson Street

Locally owned Reservations
$$
Downtown Mobile

The Noble South

Michelin-recognized farm-to-table Southern cooking on Dauphin Street

Locally owned Outdoor seating Reservations
Montgomery

La Jolla Restaurant & Bar

Evening fine dining and a serious wine and spirits list

Locally owned Reservations
Downtown Montgomery

Central

Upscale dining built on Gulf seafood and local ingredients

Locally owned Outdoor seating Reservations
$$$
Birmingham

Bistro 218

French bistro cooking with Southern touches in downtown Birmingham

Locally owned Reservations
$$$$
Birmingham

Rêve

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

Locally owned Reservations
$$$$
Birmingham

Hot and Hot Fish Club

Chris Hastings' wood-fired Southern seafood

Locally owned Reservations
$$$
Birmingham

Chez Fonfon

Frank Stitt's classic French bistro

Locally owned Outdoor seating Reservations
$$$$
Downtown Huntsville

Cotton Row Restaurant

Fine Southern dining on the downtown square

Family owned Locally owned Reservations