If you haven’t been to Birmingham, Alabama yet, you’re missing one of the South’s coolest surprises. This city has reinvented itself into a mix of history, flavor, and serious charm—where old ironworks meet rooftop bars, and biscuit shops are basically religion.
In this First-Timer’s Guide to Birmingham, I’m sharing everything that makes the Magic City shine—from its warm Southern hospitality and creative food scene to its revitalized downtown and deep historic roots you can still feel everywhere. On my first trip, I fell hard for its energy, its food (truly some of the best in the South), and the way every neighborhood feels like its own little world.
Birmingham is easy to reach by car via I-65, I-20, or I-459, or by plane into BHM (about 10–15 minutes from downtown). The city is very drivable—though you’ll find scooters and ride-shares downtown, you’ll want a car for exploring neighborhoods like Mountain Brook, Homewood, Avondale, and Five Points South. Local tip: parking downtown is easy and often free on weekends.
If you want a deeper dive, check out my full Best Places to Stay in Birmingham guide. Here are my top recommendations for first-timers:
Luxury: Grand Bohemian Hotel – Artsy, elegant, and steps from the Botanical Gardens.
Resort: Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa – Golf, spa, and sunset bagpipes (yes, bagpipes).
Downtown Chic: Elyton Hotel – Walkable, rooftop cocktails at Moon Shine, and a stylish vibe.
Mid-Range Comfort: Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel – Stylish, reliable, and connected to Riverchase Galleria for easy dining and shopping.
OvenBird (Pepper Place)
This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Birmingham—our must-visit every single trip. Tucked into the Pepper Place district under string lights, it’s cozy, warm, and all about live-fire cooking. Sit inside for a moody, romantic vibe or on the patio near the fire pit for the full experience. Order the beef fat candle (it’s famous for a reason)—let it melt into the broth and dip your bread while it’s still warm. The flavor is rich, salty, and unforgettable. Pair it with their seasonal salad or burrata small plate, and if you want to watch the action, grab a bar seat near the open kitchen.
Park in the Pepper Place lot behind the restaurant and take a post-dinner stroll under the lights—it’s picture perfect. For full details and photos, see my blog on OvenBird Birmingham AL.
Hot and Hot Fish Club (Pepper Place)
Upscale, elegant, and built on local ingredients from James Beard Award–winning Chef Chris Hastings. Think seasonal seafood, fresh Gulf flavors, and Southern fine dining that feels special but not stuffy. Learn more in my Top 5 Places to Eat Dinner in Birmingham guide.
Umami (Five Points South)
Stylish Asian fusion with sushi, ramen, bao buns, and cocktails that mix lychee and yuzu. Perfect for date night or a group dinner. Reserve early—this one fills up fast. See more dinner picks in my Top 5 Dinner Spots in Birmingham.
Vino (English Village)
Romantic twinkle-light patio, Mediterranean and Italian plates, and a fantastic wine list. Great for a date night or after shopping the nearby boutiques.
Hattie B’s (Southside)
Spicy Nashville-style fried chicken that’s crunchy, juicy, and cooked to your perfect heat level. Go “medium” if you like a kick without tears. Don’t skip the banana pudding!
Alabama Biscuit Company (Cahaba Heights)
Homey, farm-fresh, and full of Southern soul. Everything’s made with sprouted grains and local ingredients. Don’t miss the brown black pepper gravy, the bacon du jour, or the sweet-meets-savory Apple Bis-Cake. For more of my favorite morning eats, check out my Birmingham Brunch Guide: Where to Eat Late and Love It.
Maple Street Biscuit Company (Five Points South)
Warm community vibe and the best biscuit sandwiches in town. Try The Squawking Goat, The Sticky Maple, or The Five and Dime, and order a hash brown cake on the side!
Front Porch (Crestline Village)
Relaxed patio and modern Southern comfort food done right—shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and great cocktails. Close to Ross Bridge if you’re staying nearby. More casual mid-day picks in my Top 5 Places to Eat Lunch in Birmingham.
Chop N Fresh (Lane Parke)
Quick, customizable salads and bowls with real flavor. My go-tos: Strawberry Bae and Mexican Elote Bowl—and then a scoop of Jeni’s Ice Cream next door.
Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q (Southside Original)
A Birmingham staple for decades—slow-smoked meats, creamy mac and cheese, and those famous cheese biscuits everyone fights over.
Wasabi Joes Food Truck
A funky local favorite with creative sushi rolls like the Cowboy Roll (steak, avocado, cream cheese, sesame) and Rick Roll (spicy tuna, steak, Doritos). Grab extra unagi sauce and thank me later.
A 67-acre oasis next to Mountain Brook Village and the Zoo—completely free to visit year-round. Walk through 30 themed gardens (start at the Japanese Garden entrance), and pop inside for the art gallery, gift shop, and one of the largest horticultural libraries in the U.S.
Birmingham’s most beloved Saturday tradition. Local produce, baked goods, live music, and artisan crafts fill this historic Dr Pepper bottling district every weekend from spring through fall. Don’t miss FarmStand by Stone Hollow Farmstead and a stop at Jeni’s Ice Cream afterward. If you love local markets, check out my Birmingham Farmers Markets You Have to Visit.
A 19-acre downtown green space with skyline views, ponds, paths, and public events all year long. It’s the city’s “front lawn” and connects directly to Regions Field and the Parkside dining district.
Once an active blast furnace, now a National Historic Landmark and cultural event space. Explore towering iron structures and rusted machinery that built “The Magic City.” Bonus: visit in October for Sloss Fright Furnace, one of the South’s best haunted attractions. Visit their website for all the latest information.
Historic, lively, and full of restaurants and nightlife. Grab brunch at Original Pancake House, sushi at Umami, or barbecue at Jim ’N Nick’s.
A trio of charming villages—English Village for boutiques and Vino, Mountain Brook Village for cafés and the Grand Bohemian rooftop, and Lane Parke for polished shopping and dining like Chop N Fresh.
The Summit: Open-air shopping with Saks, Anthropologie, and great dining.
The Shops of Grand River (Leeds): Outlets plus Buc-ee’s and Bass Pro Shops nearby—perfect paired with a Barber Motorsports day trip.
Spring (March–May): Mild weather, blooming gardens, and outdoor festivals.
Fall (September–November): Festival season—Barber Vintage Festival, Magic City Classic, and fall foliage.
Summer: Hot but full of rooftop drinks and concerts.
Winter: Quieter and affordable, with mild temps.
Birmingham surprised me in the best way—the food, the people, and the creative energy make it one of the South’s most underrated cities. Whether you’re here for the history, the hot chicken, or the rooftop views, you’ll leave wanting to come back (and probably with a new biscuit obsession).
Only have a day? Check out my guide: 24 Hours in Birmingham: This Is the Essentials
Planning a weekend? See my blog on: Spend a Weekend in Birmingham
Want to see it all? Learn more in my post about: Spend a Week in Birmingham
@peacefulsidesocial is what happens when someone builds exactly the restaurant a mountain town deserves. Made-from-scratch food. Craft beer brewed on site. A kids’ play area outside, & mountain views from the patio. ⛰️
It’s casual in the best way, the kind of place where you sit down for lunch and suddenly it’s two hours later and you don’t care.
@cityoftownsend | 📍Townsend, TN
I walked through the gates and immediately understood why people fly back to Curaçao just for this place. 🌴
23 rooms. Private beach. A Balinese-inspired resort built stone by stone by the owners themselves. Buddha statues next to conch shells. Candles lit everywhere at night. Beachfront dining that eats like fine dining but feels like you’re just having dinner on the sand.
It’s currently the #1 resort in the Caribbean and after spending time there, I get it completely.
Full review linked in bio
#travelling #curaçao #visitcuraçao #luxuryresort #travelvlog
I walked down to the beach and immediately noticed how calm the water was. 🐚
It sits in a small cove, so there’s really no waves pushing in. You just walk right in without thinking about it. I grabbed my snorkel (they actually rent them for free at the resort, which I didn’t expect) and went out near the pier and stayed way longer than I planned, because the water was that clear.
Honest caveat: if you need a lot of energy and activity at a beach, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and you’re mostly just... sitting there. Which for me was exactly the point.☀️
Full Baoase review linked in bio. 🔗
#curaçao #travel #luxuryresort #privatebeach #visitcuraçao
Dinner at Baoase in Curaçao isn’t just a restaurant, you’re walking into a full resort setting where everything feels intentional. The table is right by the water, the food is French-inspired with tropical and Asian flavors woven in, and the whole thing moves slowly in the best way. We sat there for hours and didn’t want it to end.
✨ Culinary Beach Restaurant, oceanside tables, candlelit ambiance
✨ French-inspired menu with tropical and Asian influences
✨ Service that’s attentive without being over the top
✨ The kind of dinner you’re still thinking about days later
Fair warning: this isn’t a casual grab-a-table kind of spot. You’re making a reservation, thinking through your outfit, and blocking off the whole evening and it’s worth every bit of that.
If you’re celebrating something or just want one dinner that feels a little extra, this is where to do it. Full Baoase resort review linked in bio. 🔗
Curaçao has the beaches everyone talks about, and then it has these. The spots that made this trip actually feel like mine weren’t on any resort map. I found them by renting a car, asking locals, and just following what looked good.
✨ Playa Lagun: a calm little cove where the water does all the work
✨ Playa Kalki: rocky entry, but the snorkeling right off shore is worth it
✨ Playa Jeremi: no rentals, no crowds, no setup. Just the beach
✨ Fort Nassau: watched the sun go down over Willemstad and stayed for dinner
✨ Hofi Cas Cora: breakfast on an actual farm and the freshest food of the whole trip
✨ Willemstad Street Party: I had no idea Thursday nights turned into that. Just followed the music.
✨ Playa Forti: cliff jumping and amazing food, talk about dinner and a show!
Honest caveat: if you need everything planned and structured, a few of these will feel a little too unpolished. But if you like the kind of trip where the best parts are the ones you stumble into, this is exactly that.
All 7 spots with full details are linked in bio. ☀️
#curaçao #hiddengems #travel #travelguide #whattodoincuracao
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
