Birmingham’s Five Points South: Walk to James Beard-recognized Restaurants

Five Points South Walk

Tip: This is an approximate one-mile walk around the Five Points South dining and entertainment district. Most of the restaurants and all of the nightlife establishments in this area stay open late, but the shops normally close at 5 p.m.

History and Statues at Five Points

Start your walking tour after you have checked into The Hotel Highland at Five Points South (1023 20th St. S.; 205-933-9555), which began as an art deco-style medical office tower in the 1930s and was first renovated as a hotel in the 1980s, or stay at the historic home that is now Cobb Lane Bed and Breakfast (1309 19th St. S.; 205-918-9090). Of course, you can take this walk from any of the downtown accommodations by adjusting your starting point.

You can also start this walking tour from the Five Points South public parking deck at (2012 Magnolia Ave; 205-254-2330), as it is centrally located to the tour. As you exit the deck, you will immediately see The Storyteller fountain that features a figure of a ram wearing human clothes reading to other animals gathered in a circle. Designed by Birmingham artist Frank Fleming, this landmark is intended to convey the deeply rooted Southern tradition of storytelling in a “peaceable kingdom” setting.

Get the best photograph of "The Storyteller" by standing in front of the fountain with the church directly in background. If taken from other directions, the photo will include cars along the street that will distract from the beauty of the setting.

Look around the Five Points intersection to find the 1934 statue of Brother Bryan kneeling in prayer. James Bryan (1863-1941) conducted large evangelistic and prayer gatherings in Birmingham and across the region but is most loved and remembered for his tireless work to help the homeless, often giving the coat off his back to someone in need. His habit of calling everyone brother or sister got him the name Brother Bryan. Shortly before his death in 1941, the Brother Bryan Mission was formed to continue his work.

The Five Points intersection, for which the area is named, began as a turnaround for horse-drawn trolley cars that later were replaced by electric streetcars. This line was from downtown Birmingham to the city’s first suburb called Highlands, which is why a church, restaurant and avenue bear this name. Here, you will see the elegant Highlands United Methodist Church (1045 S. 20th St.; 205-933-8751) that has been a part of the neighborhood for more than 100 years. It remains one of the most recognizable buildings in Five Points.

"With little fanfare outside the world of devoted gourmets, white-tablecloth establishments that rival New York’s or California’s have bloomed like azaleas all over Birmingham." – The New York Times

Record Store and a Carousel Carving School

Less than one-half block from The Storyteller fountain on 11th Avenue as you walk east is one of two Five Points South record stores that will be of interest to music lovers: Renaissance Records (2020 11th Ave., S.; 205-933-8000). Look across the street from Renaissance Records and beyond the parking lot for Highlands Bar and Grill to see the back of the Hassinger Daniels Mansion, one of the few mansions left that once lined Highland Avenue. Artist Ira Chaffin has his studio and Carousel Carving School (2028 Highland Ave. S.; 205-602-9026) in this historic home.

Great Restaurants

Birmingham is home to some of the country's most celebrated restaurants. The New York Times wrote in 2006 that, “With little fanfare outside the world of devoted gourmets, white-tablecloth establishments that rival New York’s or California’s have bloomed like azaleas all over Birmingham.”

Rated one of the best restaurants in America, Highlands Bar and Grill (2011 11th Ave. S.; 205-939-1400) is located across from Renaissance Records, or just a few steps east from The Storyteller fountain. It is owned and operated by award-winning chef Frank Stitt. A signature item on the menu, which consists of a host of culinary delights, is his delicious baked grits, listed on Alabama Tourism’s popular “100 Dishes To Eat in Alabama Before You Die” brochure. Highlands Bar and Grill has been named the most outstanding restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation. Highlands’ pastry chef Dolester Miles also won the James Beard Foundation award for the nation’s most outstanding pastry chef.

Not far from Highlands Bar and Grill is another top restaurant, Hot and Hot Fish Club (2180 11th Court S.; 205-933-5474). Walk the short distance east to the corner of 11th Avenue South and Richard Arrington Boulevard. Across the street at this intersection, 11th Avenue South is ahead, but off to your left; 11th Court is ahead but slightly to your right. Walk up the hill along 11th Court for about 500 yards. Hot and Hot Fish Club will be on the left just before you reach Highland Avenue South. Hot and Hot’s chef, Chris Hastings, competed and was the winner on Food Network’s show “Iron Chef America.” In 2012, the James Beard Awards named him Best Chef in the Southeast. If you are visiting during the summer, be sure to ask for the tomato salad and pickled okra. Around the corner on Highland Avenue South is Bottega Restaurant and Café (2240 Highland Ave. S.; 205-939-1000), an Italian restaurant housed in a historic limestone building.

Back near the Five Points South fountain, you will find other restaurants that are listed on The Year of Alabama Food website. You can enjoy burgers at Chez Fonfon (2007 11th Ave. S.; 205-939-3221), Thai at Surin West (1918 11th Ave. S.; 205-324-1928), and Asian and seafood at Ocean (1218 20th St. S.; 205-933-0999). A popular spot for barbecue is Jim ‘n Nick’s (1908 11th Ave. S.; 205-320-1060), one of several locations of the Alabama-based barbecue chain. Nick Pihakis, Jim ‘N Nick’s founder, has been repeatedly named a semifinalist in the James Beard Awards Outstanding Restaurateur category.

Walk west from "The Storyteller" fountain on 11th Avenue South, and you will see some boutique shops across the street. Continue west on that block and you will pass Surin West and Jim ‘n Nick’s and end up at an intersection where you will find the more than 120-year-old Southside Baptist Church (1016 19th Street South; 205-933-8381) with its impressive 25 curved marble steps and six stately columns.

Also at this intersection on 11th Avenue South is the natural grocery and café, Golden Temple Health Foods (1901 11th Ave. S.; 205-933-6333). Located in the same building as Golden Temple is the Birmingham Festival Theatre (1901 ½ 11th Ave. S.; 205-933-2383), where plays have been performed since the 1970s. The theater is on the second floor of the building. You enter by going around the corner to the side of the building next to the post office. You will be on 19th Street and at this point walking uphill enough to make a street-level entrance to the upper floor. From the theater, continue walking up the hill on 19th Street South to find St. Mary’s-On-the-Highlands Episcopal Church (1910 12th Ave. S.; 205-933-1140), established in 1887.

Interesting Cobb Lane

Southside has its own cobblestone street, Cobb Lane. To find it from St. Mary’s-On-the-Highands, walk east on 12th Avenue South one block to 20th Alley, turn right and walk one more block. Look for the brick-lined lane ahead and slightly to your right. This is Cobb Lane, a street narrow and short enough to make it fun to walk while discovering several local establishments. 

If you checked into The Hotel Highland or parked at the Five Points parking deck, it is a short walk back. Walk to 13th Street and turn right, walk two short blocks to 20th Street South and turn left. Walk two blocks north on 20th Street South to reach the five-point intersection and your beginning point.

Music and More

On your way back along 20th Street South, you will walk by several establishments that routinely have live music: Courtyard Oyster Bar and Grill Southside (2015 Highland Ave. S.; 205-558-4995) and Dave’s Pub (1128 20th St. S.; 205-933-4030).

Once you have decided to experience this road trip for yourself, call ahead to the key destinations you wish to visit to make sure they will be open during the time of your visit.

Nearby Attraction

You are only a three-minute drive up the hill to Red Mountain and Vulcan Park and Museum (1701 Valley View Dr.; 205-933-1409). The view of Birmingham from this park is spectacular and even better if you go up to the pedestal on which the statue to the Roman god of fire and forge, Vulcan, stands. Vulcan is the largest cast iron statue in the world. A tour in the park’s museum will explain Birmingham’s past iron and steel history.

Other notable nearby attractions include peaceful serenity at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens (2612 Lane Park Rd.; 205-414-3950), the historic Alabama Theatre (1817 3rd Ave N.; 205-252-2262) and the restored Lyric Theatre (1800 3rd Ave N.; 205-252-2262) where you may take in a show, the family-friendly McWane Science Center (200 19th St. N.; 205-714-8300), and the pinnacle of Birmingham-area Civil Rights sites, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (1530 6th Ave N.; 205-251-9402) and Kelly Ingram Park (500 17th St. N.; 205-458-8000). 

Many other historic and interesting places to visit are included in the “Taking It to the Streets, Downtown” walking tour.

Other James Beard Recognized Restaurants

For more dining experiences in the Birmingham area recognized by the James Beard Awards, visit Ollie Irene in nearby Mountain Brook (75 Church St., Mountain Brook; 205-769-6034) named a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2012. At Birmingham’s Pepper Place in the Lakeview District, you’ll find Bettola (2901 Second Ave. S.; 205-731-6499), for which Chef James Lewis was named a semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast. Or experience an “American Classic” in Bessemer at The Bright Star (304 19th St. N., Bessemer; 205-426-1861). Opened in 1907, the Greek-style, Southern restaurant was honored with this title by the James Beard Foundation in 2010.

Parking in Birmingham

The Birmingham Parking Authority (205-321-7050) operates 10 parking garages and two surface lots downtown, including the one at Five Points South. Some facilities will require that you have payment in quarters to exit late in the evening when attendants are off duty. There is also metered street parking.

The Magic City Connector serves Downtown Birmingham, City Hall, Art Museum, Linn Park, UAN, and Five Points South. The trolley runs every 20 minutes Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM and every 30 minutes on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM. There are other trolley circle routes that operate in Birmingham. Go to the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for complete tourist information (2200 9th Ave. N.; 205-458-8000). MaxCityTransit.org details fares and routes. Passes may be purchased at Central Station (1735 Morris Ave.; 205-521-0101).