Mountain Brook is known for its picturesque three villages that are the heartbeat of our small Birmingham community. Each has its own vibe and things to offer to enjoy during your time in Birmingham.
Mountain Brook Village is the biggest and includes the Grand Bohemian hotel. It is full of restaurants and shops and is across the street from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The BBG is free to all guests and includes a great walking trail, Japanese garden, gift shop and is fun to explore. The Birmingham Zoo is also extremely close by and would be great way to spend a few hours!
Mountain Brook Village favorites include Lady Bird Taco for breakfast, Gilchrist soda fountain (Louise's favorite BLT with pimento cheese and limeaid)), Brick and Tin, Rougaroux (Cajun Po-boys) and Char Bar sports bar for lunch and Olexa's for their famous vanilla cake! Dinner spots inlcude Little Betty (steak place, need a reservation), Abhi and Daniel George. For shopping Etc, Amano, Tulipano, Atelier, M Corey, Milla, Tom Beckbe, Harrisons, Table Matters and much more!
English Village is the most picturesque. Restaurant recommendations for breakfast Continental Bakery, lunch Frieda's Mexican, for dinner Vino (need a reservation) for a great lounge and cocktail Key Circle Commons (Bowery hotel lobby vibe) For shopping favorites Henhouse antiques, Le Weekend for ladies clothes and Children's Edit for children's clothes.
Liveliest village and down the street from where Louise grew up! Crestline favorites include Church Street Coffee for their breakfast scones and tree hugger granola bar, while you are there grab a famous break-up cookie for later, for lunch Taco Mama, the original Zoe's or a great burger at Porch, for dinner Slim's Pizza, Dyron's (need a reservation) or La Paz and Otey's is a great spot for a beer. Great shopping at Alkmy, Dukes, Mobley & Son's and the Pants Store.
Homewood is where The Valley Hotel is located. It is the city over from Mountain Brook and full of great shopping and dining options. For breakfast (or lunch) try Dimitri's BBQ for a full plate meal, Sam's Super Sandwiches has our favorite breakfast sandwich on a bun (closed on Sunday), Hero Donuts breakfast sandwich is incredibly good and close to the Valley Hotel. Casual lunch and dinner options include Soho Social (bar food), Little Donkey, Rodney Scott BBQ, the Battery and Lucca. For a sweet tooth option try Edgar's Bakery for their famous strawberry cake, Cookie Fix (Food Network listed it as one of the best cookie bakeries in the country), Savages old school bakery and Pastry Arts for a baby bite!
Shopping spots worth noting are for interiors At home, Three Sheets and Christopher Collection, for clothing Theodora, Effies, Shea Davis and Shaia's (men's), other notable places are Alabama Home Goods (all items made in Alabama) and Little Professor Bookstore.
Birmingham is known as a restaurant town and a treat for foodies! Several notable chefs have had restaurant acclaim here. Most notably Frank Stitt, whose restaurant Highlands won best restaurant in the country after being nominated for 9 years in a row. It sadly closed during covid but his other two restaurants are below.
Frank Stitt restaurant and Louise's favorite in Birmingham! Reservations required and they open on Resy two weeks in advance at 10:00am.
Another favorite FS restaurant! Bottega Cafe is for walk-ins and seats on a first come basis. Great spot for Friday dinner or Saturday lunch. Next door is Bottega and they only take reservations.
Great seafood and oyster restaurant. Gab's first visit to town included a meal here! Reservations required.
Little Betty Steak and Seafood is short walk from the Grand Bohemian. It has beautiful interiors and delicious cocktails, steaks and pasta.
Dyron's is located in Crestline Village and is a local favorite. Reservations are required but you can sometimes get a spot at the bar for dinner.
Beautiful interiors and upscale Asian cuisine.
Chef Chris Hastings James Beard award winning restaurant does not disappoint, Hot and Hot Fish Club is located in Pepper Place. While reservations are recommended they do take walk ins on a first come basis.
Brand new to town, Lapeer is getting a lot of praise!
If you are interested in experiencing the Downtown area restaurant scene here are a few of our favorites:
Helen
El Barrio
Le Fresca
Armour House
The Essential
There are a number of places to grab lunch and watch sports close by the hotels where everyone is staying. Most of the breweries are located downtown.
Homewood
The Battery
Soho Social
The Grocery
Mountain Brook
Char Bar
Otey's in Crestline (smaller local spot)
Breweries
Good People
Back Forty
Cahaba Brewing Company
Mountain Brook is connected by many sidewalks and trails. Jemison trail is great for a walk or run and is accessible from Mountain Brook Village. Louise's favorite run is down Mountain Brook Parkway!
Located across the street from the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook Village. The garden is free to the public and also has a three mile loop for walking and a great gift shop called Leaf and Petal.
Also very conveniently located near Mountain Brook Village.
Oddly Birmingham has the largest private motorcycle museum in the world according to Guinness World Records ! Located about 20 minutes away from town in Leeds, Alabama this is worth an excursion! At this location Barber also has one of two Porche Track Experiences in North America. It is an impressive outing if you are trying to use up a few hours during the day!
Monet to Matisse French Moderns, 1850 - 1950 is set to open at the Birmingham Museum of Art on January 30th and will run through May 24th. Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, it features more than one hundred masterworks, with almost half of those being from the BMA's permanent collection. General admission is $19.51. The museum is open from 10-5 Fridays and Saturdays and 12-5 on Sundays.