How to Spend a Sunday Night in Birmingham, Alabama

“Sunday night in Birmingham” reads an entry in my Google search history.

Michael and I were visiting the city for a single night as part of a very quick road trip through the Yellowhammer State, and our visit just so happened to fall on Sunday. With a visit to Scottsboro and Huntsville already under our belt, we were really looking forward to Birmingham as our next destination – particularly for the food.

Known as the “Pittsburgh of the South” because of the steel industry (an exciting thought, having already enjoyed a visit to the real Pittsburgh), Birmingham is home to so many exciting theatres (like Alabama and the Lyric), attractions and institutions (such as the Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and Sloss Furnaces), and renowned restaurants (Highlands Bar and Grill, Chez Fonfon, Cafe Dupont, OvenBird, to name a few).

The only problem?

They are all closed on Sunday evenings (that is if they even opened at all on Sunday), and many are closed on Monday as well, so we were out of luck the following morning.

Left to (searching) our own devices, we spent a few minutes planning our Sunday night out and our Monday morning. Though we missed all the aforementioned spots Birmingham is known for, I’m happy to say that left the city satisfied that we’d gotten a good taste of what the city has to offer:

SUNDAY NIGHT IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Post Office Pies

After taking a quick walk around chilly downtown Birmingham, we headed to the popular pizza joint Post Office Pies (open seven days a week). Housed in (you guessed it!) a former post office, this Avondale spot feels like a true neighborhood establishment. [Edit: The Avondale location closed in February 2024, however, the Mountain Brook location remains open].

Pro tip: Topping prices add up quickly, so unless you just want a cheese pie, it’s best to order the Supreme and max out your number of toppings.

→Post Office Pies // 270 Rele St, Mountain Brook, AL 35223

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Big Spoon Creamery

The menu at Big Spoon Creamery rotates monthly, but no matter what’s on offer, it’s bound to be delicious! The prices are a tad steep (our single cone rang up at over nine dollars), so it’s worth sharing a cone or a cup if you’re comfortable with your travel partner(s). At the end of the day, though, the quality is what matters.

→Big Spoon Creamery // Multiple Locations

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The Collins Bar

Though we were initially disappointed that Church Night at Lou’s Pub had ended by the time we arrived, in retrospect, ending our night at The Collins Bar was the best decision we made all day. There are no cocktail menus – you simply tell the bartender what you like (or don’t like) to drink (e.g. “something bright and floral, not whiskey”) and they’ll go and whip up something creative for you.

[Edit: The Collins Bar is no longer open on Sundays]

→The Collins Bar // 2125 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

WHAT TO DO ON MONDAY MORNING IN BIRMINGHAM

Urban Standard (now closed)

Urban Standard was recommended by a colleague, and it really was a great place to hang out in the previous evening’s clothes while we waited to shower at our hotel (more on that later). The space is light-filled and eclectic, and a good place to curl up with a book (or your laptop, if you must).

→Urban Standard // Now Closed

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Revelator Coffee Company

This wasn’t our first rodeo. We’ve visited two locations of Revelator Coffee Company on previous trips to Nashville and Atlanta, and know that they know their coffee. You can’t not get the pour-over as a way to get the very most out of your Revelator experience (unless you’re Michael, who always gets a cappuccino).

[Edit: Revelator’s Birmingham location has closed]

→Revelator Coffee Company // now closed

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Saw’s Soul Kitchen

We waffled about where to eat for lunch, but I think we would have kicked ourselves if we missed out on Saw’s Soul Kitchen. It’s teeny-tiny, so there’s a chance you may not get a table after you order at the counter (take it to go and eat in the car, if you must – I promise I won’t judge you); you can also ask to share an empty seat at someone else’s table, too.

Whatever you do, be sure to get the wings. They’re expensive, but some of the best I’ve ever had. We shared a sampler platter and added a side, and it was plenty of food for the two of us.

→Saw's Soul Kitchen // Multiple Locations

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Hero Doughnuts

We skipped the dessert at Saw’s because we knew we’d stop by Hero Doughnuts on our way south to Montgomery. This place came recommended by a friend of a friend, and it couldn’t have been better. The selection is best early in the day, and things were already running out by the time we arrived.

We commiserated along with the staff about the fact that they were out of pistachio doughnuts, and by some form of magic they were able to locate one for us. I’m still dreaming of that doughnut!

→Hero Doughnuts // Multiple Locations

WHERE TO STAY IN BIRMINGHAM

Redmont Hotel

All of my research indicated that the Redmont was the place to stay in Birmingham, so we splurged on a room for our one-night stay (we spent around $100 per night over the course of our Alabama road trip and this hotel ran us nearly $200).

I appreciated the historical touches throughout the hotel, and I’m sure the rooftop bar would have been a lovely place to relax if tornadoes hadn’t torn through the state earlier that day. But the biggest disappointment for us was the handling of a lack of hot water in the hotel. We weren’t told that the water heating system had been knocked out until after completing check-in and handing the car keys over to the valet, and it didn’t return to the hotel until 11 a.m. the following morning (check-out is at noon).

This occurrence definitely tainted our stay, but even if things had gone smoothly I’m still not sure I’d recommend it at the price, but if the hotel is running a special it might be worth your time. Just know that the rooms are quite small and the lobby area isn’t really large enough to much spend time relaxing in.

→Redmont Hotel // 2101 5th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

FINAL THOUGHTS ON SPENDING SUNDAY NIGHT IN BIRMINGHAM

Sundays in the South are particularly tough days for travel. Many shops, attractions, and restaurants close for the day, leaving visitors with a limited opportunity to explore and support local. While this guide is a testament to the fact that you can still enjoy a worthwhile visit to Birmingham on a Sunday, I for one hope to return on a different day to broaden my itinerary.

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Questions for you

What are Sunday nights like in your hometown? Are they slow, or are they just like any other night?

Are you a local to Birmingham? What else would you add to this Sunday night list?