Alabama Travel Itinerary for Foodies: Mobile, Marion, Montgomery, Auburn and Birmingham
Entrepreneur Donetta Bethune runs Brenda’s Bar-B-QPit with her family, who have over the decades fed Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. in Montgomery, Alabama.
If you're craving bold flavors, rich culture, and a side of Southern hospitality, it's time to take your taste buds on the ultimate Alabama Food Road Trip. From buttery Gulf Coast oysters in Mobile to mouthwatering BBQ in Tuscaloosa and award-winning restaurants in Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama is one of the South’s top food destinations. See where Darley Newman recommends you eat, stay and chefs to meet along your Alabama road trip itinerary.
Day 1: Arrive in Mobile — Coastal Charm & Creole Flavor
When you think about Alabama food, great BBQ, seafood and fried green tomatoes may come to mind, but I’m about to show you that cuisine in Alabama encompasses so much more.
Stay:
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa
A luxurious historic hotel with stunning Beaux-Arts architecture and the famous Whispering Arch, this is a top place to stay in Mobile, Alabama.
Eat:
Las Floriditas — Hidden in a bank vault, this speakeasy pays homage to Havana with daiquiris and Cuban bites.
The Noble South — A modern take on “meat and three,” serving farm-fresh catfish, heirloom cornbread, and Southern classics.
Do:
Stroll downtown Mobile. Capture local musicians or sip cocktails with Bob Baumhower and soak up the French, Spanish, and Creole roots of the city.
Day 2: Mobile Continued — Beignets, Cheese, & Historic Eats
Eat:
Mo’Bay Beignet Co. — Taste French-inspired beignets topped with homemade buttercream syrup.
The Cheese Cottage — Indulge in artisan cheeses in a converted gas station on St. Louis Street.
Squid Ink Eats & Drinks — Chef Panini Pete serves dishes inspired by Mobile’s layered history, like paella fritters and the Cadillac Burger.
Do:
Visit Fort Conde to understand Mobile’s French founding.
Explore the city’s cultural landmarks and architectural beauty.
Day 3: Birmingham — From Markets to Michelin-Level Dining
Eat:
The Market at Pepper Place — Explore Alabama’s best farmer’s market.
Automatic Seafood & Oysters — Sample chef-crafted seafood straight from the Gulf and say hello to Chef Adam Evans.
Bottega or Chez Fonfon — Experience Southern-Italian fusion in a Frank Stitt dining room.
The Bright Star (Bessemer) — Alabama’s oldest family-run restaurant, serving up historic seafood favorites like snapper throats. This restaurant is outside of Birmingham, but well worth the drive for these snapper throats, the pies and football history. It’s also been nominated for a James Beard Award!
Stay:
The Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham
Day 4: Tuscaloosa — Game Day Food & Southern Roots
Eat:
Thomas Rib Shack — Try oxtail, chitlins, catfish, and ribs in this family-run BBQ joint.
Dreamland Bar-B-Que — A Tuscaloosa institution with hickory-smoked ribs and vinegar-based sauce.
Druid City Brewing Company — Sip local brews, play retro games, and experience this community hub.
Stay:
Hotel Capstone, Tuscaloosa
Day 5: Marion — Soulful Stories & Biscuit Wisdom
Do:
Make biscuits with Chef Scott Peacock at Reverie Mansion — a James Beard winner and Southern food philosopher.
Tour BDA Farm — Learn about regenerative agriculture on 6,000+ acres in Alabama’s Black Belt.
Eat:
Enjoy a farm-fresh lunch with pasture-raised meats and eggs from BDA Farm.
Day 6: Montgomery — Hot Dogs, Vegan Eats & Rooftop Dining
Eat:
Chris’ Hot Dogs — A 100-year-old legend loved by MLK, Hank Williams, and presidents alike.
Plant Bae — Vegan soul food done right with cauliflower wings and meatless mac & cheese.
Ravello — Sip creative cocktails and enjoy handmade pastas on a rooftop with views of Montgomery’s historic core.
Brenda’s Bar-B-Que Pit — Taste Alabama BBQ with roots in the Civil Rights Movement.
Do:
Stop by Hilltop Public House for a lavender latte in Montgomery’s Cottage Hill neighborhood.
Stay:
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa
Day 7: Auburn — Future of Food & a Taste of Tradition
Do & Eat:
Tour the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center — Watch students train in hospitality through hands-on restaurants, a hotel, brewery, and coffee lab and try what they make and serve. There’s an onsite hotel and spa if you want to stay right at Auburn University.
Dine at 1856 Culinary Residence — Enjoy dishes made by students with locally-sourced ingredients.
Grab a lemonade at Toomer’s Drugs — A sweet Auburn tradition since 1896.
Optional: Lunch or Dinner at Acre — Celebrate Southern cuisine with chef Bancroft’s butcher block and Gulf seafood.
