A Short Stay in Birmingham, AL: Civil Rights Sites and Standout Restaurants
The 16th Street Baptist Church
My team’s partnership with Birmingham City Schools will bring me back to Birmingham several times over the next few years as we work together to support wellbeing for students and staff. On my first visit, I only had a short window to explore, but the city immediately gave me plenty of reasons to return: powerful Civil Rights history, meaningful museums and monuments, and a food scene I’m already eager to keep exploring. This post is a first pass at Birmingham, part work trip, part short-stay guide, and definitely the beginning of a longer list of places to visit and meals to try.
Where to eat
Dinner at La Fête was divine. Great service at the bar, perfect cocktails, and outstanding food - we had the mussels frites, fish in papillote, and gorgeous caviar deviled eggs.
Helen offered an equally delicious dinner for a group of us, with the biscuits and ‘corn ribs’ highlights for the meal.
Right next door to Helen is Bayonet, a great spot for drinks and appetizers - a Michelin Bib Gourmand and one of The New York Times Best 50 Restaurants.
After dinner wine in an outdoor courtyard setting is also on the block with Helen and Bayonet at the Golden Age Wine Garden.
We catered our learning session with educators with Jim’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q (a chain with restaurants across Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida) and it was outstanding - definitely a hit with all of our participants. This is sure to be a great place to grab lunch or takeout for a picnic.
Where to stay
The Kelly Birmingham, a Tapestry Collection Hilton property is centrally located (within a short walk of all the restaurants recommended above), has a welcoming lobby and great breakfast menu, and large rooms with well-appointed bathrooms.
The Elyton, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, is one of the pricier places to stay downtown, and offers great service, historic touches, and a rooftop bar with great views.
Things to do
Visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the 16th Street Baptist Church across the street, and the installations commemorating the civil rights history of the city in the adjacent park.
Visit the Birmingham Museum of Modern Art. Even if you don’t have time to go in, the sculptures surrounding the building are worth a walk over to the museum.
Next time:
Places to see: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, McWane Science Center, The Southern Museum of Flight, Barber Vintage Motorsports
Restaurants to visit: Chez Fonfon, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Bottega
