48 Hours in Birmingham
Home to 7 James Beard award-winners, the world’s largest motorcycle collection, and the most comprehensive selection of Wedgwood outside of England, Birmingham boasts a surprising wealth of cultural and culinary delights. And, for being the largest city in Alabama, Birmingham also offers an ample dose of small-town charm. Perhaps it’s the Southern hospitality — Birmingham is the quintessential Southern city, after all — but, either way, there are plenty of reasons to visit. To help you plan that visit, we’ve highlighted our favorites for a thoroughly local 48 hours in Birmingham.
STAY
The John Hand Club & Hotel (17 20th St N) is Birmingham’s premiere city club and hotel housed in the historic John Hand building. Expect understated luxuries and the highest level of hospitality for a sophisticated stay.
Stay 42nd is a 1925-period apartment in historic Forest Park lovingly restored by Birmingham artist Mckenzie Dove. The luxury stay boasts stunning interiors and a great location (five minutes from Downtown, Crestline Village, and English Village), making it a local favorite for creatives.
Read the Birmingham Lodging Guide to discover additional local stays…
DO //
Fuel up for the day at a locally-owned café, Continental Bakery (1909 Cahaba Rd | @continental_bakery), or fan-favorite donut spot, Hero’s. Born out of a Birmingham-based trailer, Hero’s now has multiple locations, including two in and around Birmingham.
Explore over the mountain neighborhoods to discover Birmingham’s wealth of architectural interest and history. We recommend setting aside time to peruse the villages – Editor Rebecca Stewart’s favorite is English Village – to enjoy Birmingham’s rich boutique and culinary scenes. Browse our Neighborhood Guide…
Visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 67+ verdant acres nestled in Mountain Brook. Free and open to the public 5 days a week, Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a picturesque destination with regular programming, a library, gallery, café, and garden shop.
SHOP //
For the interior design-minded Birmingham is a veritable wealth of home and garden inspiration, offering dozens of design-centric boutiques. Prioritize the following: Christopher Collection (2913 Linden Ave, @christophercollection), Design Supply (2817 2nd Ave S, @designsupplyshop), Details by Liz Hand Woods (2732 Cahaba Rd, @lizhandwoods), Henhouse Antiques (1900 Cahaba Rd, @henhouseantiques), Hibiscus House (3113 5th Alley S, @hibiscus.house), and Paige Albright Orientals (2814 Petticoat Ln, @paorientals)
In search of interesting gifts and goods to remember your stay or treat your host? Browse our favorite home and gift stores, including ALKMY (17 Dexter Ave, @shopalkmy), A’mano (281 Rele St | @amano_bham), General + Shoppe (3813 Clairmont Ave, @generalbham), and Home with Hechart (2003 Cahaba Rd, @homewithhechart).
Add to your wardrobe courtesy of Birmingham’s many boutiques, our top picks for womenswear and accessories are The Atelier (1915 Cahaba Rd, @theatelierbhm), Le Weekend (1917 Cahaba Rd, @leweekendstudio), Etc… (2726 Cahaba Rd, @shopetcjewelry), and Tulipano (230 Rele St, @tulipanoboutique). For littles, we love Swaddle Baby & Kids (2825 18th St, @swaddlehomewood).
To learn more about each store and discover additional spots to shop, browse our Shopping Guide to Birmingham…
DRINK & DINE //
Red or White (3916 Clairmont Ave, @redorwhitebham) is a neighborhood wine bar with sommelier-approved sips and excellent bites.
General (3813 Clairmont Ave, @generalbham) is a neighborhood café-meets-general store that makes for a darling spot lunch. Order a pastry to enjoy while browsing their wares.
Hot & Hot Fish Club (2901 2nd Avenue South, @hotandhotfishclub) is a James Beard Award-Winning restaurant beloved for farm-to-table fare with Southern, French, and California-style influences. Peruse our Dining Guide and Sips Guide to discover more local favorites.
Peruse our Dining Guide and Sips Guide to discover more local favorites.
Follow along on Instagram for the latest local happenings and when you visit one of our local favorites, tell them Scout sent you!
