The best Northport restaurants are its homegrown Southern kitchens: Catfish Charlie’s for catfish fried to order, The Front Porch for country cooking and pie, and Jake’s Juke Joint for barbecue late on weekends. Pair a meal with the Kentuck Art Center and the shops on Main Avenue in historic downtown Northport, just across the Black Warrior River from Tuscaloosa.
This guide covers where to eat, what to see and where to shop in Northport, Alabama, plus the Kentuck Festival of the Arts, which started here in 1971 and now takes place across the river. For the bigger picture, see our Tuscaloosa and Northport guide.
Northport at a glance
- Where: Tuscaloosa County, on the north bank of the Black Warrior River, directly across from downtown Tuscaloosa.
- Getting in: US 43 and US 82, with I-20/59 across the river in Tuscaloosa.
- Airport: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM), about 1 hour 10 minutes away.
- Don’t miss: The Kentuck Art Center, historic downtown Main Avenue and Lake Lurleen State Park.
- Restaurant row: Highway 43 North, plus McFarland Boulevard and Main Avenue downtown.
What are the best restaurants in Northport?
Start with catfish, country cooking or barbecue, which is what Northport does best. Every restaurant below is locally run and listed in our directory; see the full list of Northport restaurants.
Catfish Charlie’s
Catfish Charlie’s at 13971 US 43 has served the north side of the river since 2021. It is a family-run seafood counter with a short, settled menu: U.S. farm-raised catfish, hand-breaded in house and fried to order in small batches, served as a filet plate or a po’boy. Add hush puppies (there is a jalapeno version), fried green tomatoes or okra, and look for shrimp po’boys, popcorn shrimp, snow crab legs, oysters and a Low Country boil. There is outdoor seating and a veteran discount.
The Front Porch
The Front Porch at 4421 Highway 43 North has served down-home country cooking since 1996, when Bobby and Charlotte Strickland opened it in Gordo in a wooden building Bobby built himself from timber cut on the property. It moved to Northport in 2007. Order whole or filet catfish, chicken and dressing, a hand-patted burger, a ribeye plate or the chicken salad plate, with fresh vegetables cooked the way a home kitchen would. Save room for homemade pie or cake. There are separate lunch, dinner, Sunday and children’s menus and a rotation of daily specials.
Jake’s Juke Joint
Jake’s Juke Joint at 5675 US 43 bills itself with the tagline “soulful bites and southern nights.” Pulled pork is the center of the menu, served as a sandwich called The Regular with house sauces, including a white barbecue sauce. Beyond barbecue, try the Southern egg rolls, grilled pork chops, wings or a specialty burger like the Sticky Pickle. It stays open late on Friday and Saturday and takes reservations for dine-in.
More places to eat in Northport
- Blue Plate Restaurant on McFarland Boulevard serves Southern comfort food with dine-in, takeout and a drive-thru.
- Mr. G’s Italian Restaurant on McFarland Boulevard makes pizza, pasta, calzones, wings and sandwiches, mostly for takeout and online orders.
- China No. 1 on McFarland Boulevard North has a long menu of American Chinese dishes and lunch specials.
- Billy’s Sports Bar & Grill on Main Avenue brings a Birmingham sports bar that dates to 1979 to downtown Northport, with a full bar and live music.
- Sarah’s Alley Cake Co. bakes custom cakes, including wedding cakes and gluten-free options, in a small studio in an alley off 22nd Avenue, behind Billy’s. Order ahead.
Northport restaurants compared
| Restaurant | Address | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish Charlie’s | 13971 US 43 | Fried catfish and Gulf seafood | Outdoor seating, veteran discount |
| The Front Porch | 4421 Highway 43 North | Country cooking, daily specials, pie | Kids’ and Sunday menus |
| Jake’s Juke Joint | 5675 US 43 | Pulled pork with white sauce, burgers | Open late Friday and Saturday |
| Billy’s Sports Bar & Grill | 430 Main Avenue | Games on TV, live music | Full bar, downtown |
| Blue Plate Restaurant | 450 McFarland Boulevard | A quick Southern plate | Drive-thru |
What is the Kentuck Art Center?
The Kentuck Art Center is the heart of downtown Northport, a nonprofit arts campus at 503 Main Avenue spread across five repurposed buildings. Inside are eight artist studios, two gallery spaces, a classroom, the permanent collection, the Courtyard of Wonders and a Gallery Shop selling handmade work by more than 140 artists. The galleries are free.
- Hours: Tuesday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday noon to 4 p.m.; closed Sunday, and the shop is closed Monday.
- Art Night: A free, family-friendly evening on the first Thursday of select months, from 5 to 8 p.m., with artist demonstrations, live music, hands-on activities and open studios.
- Across the river: Kentuck at Queen City, at 1901 Jack Warner Parkway in Tuscaloosa, has a gallery and gift shop open Thursday through Sunday.
Check the Kentuck hours and locations page before you go, since hours can change around the festival.
When is the Kentuck Festival of the Arts?
The 55th Kentuck Festival of the Arts is October 17 and 18, 2026, at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa. Kentuck began in 1971 to celebrate Northport’s centennial and grew its famous fall festival here over five decades before moving it across the river in 2024. Today it draws more than 15,000 visitors. General admission is $15 a day or $25 for the weekend, children 12 and under are free, and a free shuttle runs from University Mall. Pets are not allowed. Visit the art center in Northport the same weekend to see artists at work in their studios. Our list of Alabama fall festivals for 2026 has more events that month.
What are the best things to do in Northport?
Spend an afternoon on Main Avenue, then head to the lake. Northport is small enough to see in a few hours.
- Walk historic downtown: Brick storefronts line Main Avenue, with Kentuck, antique shops and Billy’s within a few blocks.
- Northport Heritage Museum: Covers the town’s local history.
- Lake Lurleen State Park: About 9 miles northwest in Coker, with a 250-acre lake, a beach, boat rentals and more than 23 miles of trails. See our Tuscaloosa outdoors guide.
- Dickens Downtown: Northport’s free Victorian-themed holiday evening fills downtown each December with a procession, a tree lighting, carriage rides and shopping.
Where should you shop in Northport?
- Adams Antiques & the Potager at 424 Main Avenue has anchored downtown since 1976, with European antiques from gilded mirrors to carved oak buffets.
- Still Fired Up on McFarland Boulevard is a paint-your-own pottery studio, a hands-on nod to Northport’s pottery tradition.
- Ervin’s Work and Western, at Highway 69 and Highway 82, has outfitted West Alabama with boots and work clothes since Ervin and Polly Koon opened it in 1964.
- Crimson Pride Fishing and Hunting on U.S. Highway 43 sells gear for the river and the woods.
If you would rather paint than buy, Canvas and Crafts Studio across the river on Paul W. Bryant Drive runs instructor-led canvas classes for all skill levels.
Is Northport a good place to stay on football weekends?
It can be, if you want the calmer side of the river. Northport is a few minutes’ drive from downtown Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama campus, and its restaurants on Highway 43 are far easier on game day than spots near the stadium. Allow extra time to cross the river before and after the game. Our guide to where to stay near Bryant-Denny compares every area, and our list of the best restaurants in Tuscaloosa covers the other side of the river.
An afternoon in Northport
- Lunch: Country cooking at The Front Porch or catfish at Catfish Charlie’s.
- Early afternoon: The Kentuck Art Center’s galleries, studios and gallery shop on Main Avenue.
- Mid-afternoon: Browse Adams Antiques & the Potager, then paint a piece at Still Fired Up.
- Evening: Barbecue at Jake’s Juke Joint, or a game and live music at Billy’s on Main Avenue.
See every business in town in our Northport area guide.
FAQ
What is Northport, Alabama known for?
Northport is best known for its historic downtown on Main Avenue and the Kentuck Art Center, which supports working artists with studios, galleries and classes. It is also the birthplace of the Kentuck Festival of the Arts, held across the river in Tuscaloosa since 2024.
What are the best restaurants in Northport, AL?
Catfish Charlie’s for catfish fried to order, The Front Porch for country cooking and homemade pie, and Jake’s Juke Joint for barbecue with a white sauce option are our top picks. All three are on US 43.
Is the Kentuck Festival still in Northport?
No. The festival started in Northport in 1971 but moved across the river to Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa in 2024. The Kentuck Art Center remains on Main Avenue in downtown Northport.
Is the Kentuck Art Center free?
Yes. Kentuck’s galleries are free to visit. The Northport campus is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and its Art Night events on select first Thursdays are free too.
How far is Northport from Tuscaloosa?
Northport sits directly across the Black Warrior River from downtown Tuscaloosa, a few minutes’ drive on US 43 or US 82. The University of Alabama campus is only a few minutes farther.