Birmingham

General shop + café in the Forest Park neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama

There’s no place like home.

There’s no place like home. As a native from Birmingham, I love my home city and the people and places in it. Birmingham has grown up a lot in the last decade and the food scene there is really taking off. I honestly can’t keep track of all the new spots that open, but here’s my tried and true places for a visit to Birmingham, Alabama.

EAT

• Chez Fon Fon - This is my first stop whenever I’m home. Acclaimed Chef' Frank Stitt’s french bistro is always a crowd pleaser. What to order: Everyone loves the burger here, but I always stick to the Steak Tartare, Escargot, and the Steak frites usually accompanied by a bottle of Crémant. Beef on beef!

• The Essential - This restaurant on the cobblestones of Morris Avenue is quaint and the food is always good. What to order: The mushroom toast is a must! 

• Automatic - The first time I had Automatic, it blew my mind. The seafood is top notch and the chef was recently awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the South. 

• Bottega - Bottega has been a Birmingham staple for decades and it never disappoints. Favorite Drink: The Orange Thing. This is a must for first timers and is a standard order for regulars.

• Hero Doughnuts - This doughnut shop has two locations in Birmingham and has set the bar high for doughnut standards. The real star is the breakfast sandwich. To quote my fiancé who been in NYC the past 10 years, the breakfast sandwich is “By far the best breakfast sandwich” he’s had. What to order: The breakfast sandwich with a sausage patty and a blueberry cake doughnut.

• Saw’s Soul Kitchen - Whenever I have an out of towner in Birmingham for the first time, my go-to barbecue recommendation is always Saw’s Soul Kitchen. Saw’s has several locations throughout Bham, but the Soul Kitchen really hits home for me. What to order: The pork and greens over grits topped with crispy onions. Chef’s kiss.

• ***NOTE: Birmingham is a foodie town so recommendations should be made well in advance at restaurants before visiting.

DRINK

• Juniper Bar - This new-ish gin bar in Birmingham is an Insta worthy destination, but with top notch drinks to match. All around, 10/10 would recommend Juniper Bar for drinks out in Birmingham. Pro tip: There’s happy hour from 4-6pm with ridiculously good prices on wines and discounts on gin drinks. 

• Golden Age Wine - Golden Age is the only place (that I’m aware of) with natural wines in Birmingham. The vibes, playlist, and wines are all very well curated. You can find me here for any Bham visits with a glass of Pét-nat.

• Trim Tab Brewery - There’s lots of good craft beer in Birmingham but Trim Tab hits all the home runs. Some of the most creative and all around tasty brews come from Trim Tab and it’s a must visit place to try the Birmingham craft beer scene.

SHOP

• Design Supply - This home goods store located in Pepper Place might as well be in New York but fortunately for all those in Birmingham, it's right in the heart of dixie. From curated local art, furniture, and one-of-a-kind decor pieces, Design Supply is the shop to visit for design lovers in Birmingham, Alabama.

• basic. - The name may be basic, but it’s anything but. This shop located on 2nd Avenue is a home for slow fashion, with unique pieces you’ll have in your closet for a lifetime. What exactly is slow fashion? Follow basic on Instagram to learn more about their mission to only supply brands that are sustainable and ethical.  

• General - General is a café and unique goods store located in the charming neighborhood of Forrest Park. Try leaving without buying something, I dare you.