Right in the heart of Birmingham's downtown lies this bright, festive restaurant. With polished wood and a giant, colorful mural adorning the wall, the atmosphere is comfortable and friendly. The menu features dishes inspired from all over Mexico, from of course tacos to dishes like short rib quesadillas, grilled chorizo meatloaf or enchiladas. At the bar, fill up on something from their impressive wine list, one of their four different margaritas or another one of their unique, signature cocktails.
The Avondale Brewing Company has made it a mission to combine the quirky and fascinating history of Avondale with the art of brewing craft beer. All of the beers are named after important locations or events in the history of the area, like the Battle Field IPA or the Spring Street Saison. The brewery offers tours several times a week which include some Avondale Brewing swag, and a beer or four tasters and a pint glass or taster glasses in addition to the actual tour itself. The brewery also hosts special events and live music from time to time.
Bottega offers an eclectic menu of Italian-inspired dishes in a very stylish setting. The building resembles a Roman civic structure, with faux archways and a decorative concrete facade. The decor is Art Deco in style, and the furnishings are elegant and tasteful. The menu features a wide array of appetizers and entrees that change daily. Though many of the dishes are Italian-inspired, they also make good use of local ingredients. The dessert menu and the wine lists are extensive to suit all palates.
Voted by newspaper readers a favorite place to meet friends after work, The Garage Cafe has a delightful split personality. By day, visit the cafe and enjoy courtyard seating with eclectic and antique decorations for sale. At night, the club scene emerges, often with live rock, soul or blues music. Enjoy the cafe's delicious sandwiches with multiple helpings of their famous Bloody Mary, concocted with eight different spices.
41st Street Pub & Aircraft Sales may have a funny name, but it is a great neighborhood bar offering all kinds of great features to its guests. The full bar features all your favorite classic cocktails (they make a killer Moscow Mule), brews and even gluten-free beer. They show Auburn and Alabama games, but otherwise they keep the TVs off. For entertainment, they encourage you to take advantage of their shuffleboard tables, board games and cozy seating areas perfect for lively conversations with friends. They don't serve food, but they allow you to bring in your own so you can have exactly what you want. As for the aircraft sales, there is a bulletin board where people can post their small aircrafts for sale.
Catch local and touring bands at this small club located two blocks north of the Five Points West entertainment district. Zydeco also serves up some of the city's best bar food (Creole and Cajun) along with cocktails and draft beer. You can also enjoy the upstairs patio, pool tables and video games. Zydeco's got the perfect venue trifecta: games, food, and live bands.
Jazzi's on 3rd is a spot that celebrates homegrown jazz talent as well as the history of the Birmingham jazz scene. Jazzi's has sporadic hours, so depending on when guests arrive, they may be greeted with light appetizers and cocktails as well as a jazz troupe on stage or it may be closed altogether. The music ranges from improvisational to traditional hard-bop, so check the schedule or if you prefer, you can rent the entire place for a private event or party.
Platinum of Birmingham is considered to be one of the best entertainment complexes in Birmingham, with 14,000 square feet of total entertainment catering to everyone's senses. A live, in-house DJ spinning the latest beats on the radio charts and the wonderful sound system is an acoustic treat. The facility also has three bars serving a variety of liquid refreshers and spirits and also an open-air patio. Besides the regular events held here, this place also organizes private functions and corporate events.
With just this location and another in Las Vegas, celebrity chef Todd English presents a mishmash of dishes that range from classic sliders and chicken wings to lobster rolls and Ahi tuna wontons. One look at the menu and you will see many familiar items like fish & chips, French dips, Reuben sandwiches and burgers, but chef Todd amplifies them with his own particular flair. Just as with his location in Vegas, this space exudes modern elegance with a tinge of nostalgia in the tin ceilings and open bay window seating, and it is far more convivial than pretentious.
Paramount bar in downtown Birmingham serves pub food and craft cocktails and beer—including some made by local and state breweries—in a retro-arcade atmosphere. Although Paramount is not quite a sports bar, locals come for the sporty atmosphere, the solid drinks and food menu highlighted by a generous selection of hot dogs and burgers, and the games. Under the dim lights there are two basketball shooting cages, a foosball table, pool tables, skee ball, and several retro arcade games.
Located in downtown Birmingham, Good People Brewing Company was established by a group of beer-lovers in 2008. They sold their very first keg on an auspicious day, July 4, which has favored the growth of this brewery. Good People Brewing Company has been rated as one of the finest beer makers in southern United States. Amongst their ales sold year-round, the Snake Handler and IPA come highly recommended. Visitors can participate in a tour around the brewery and get enlightened on the brewing process.