3 Alabama cities where you should eat

Some globe-trotters travel seeking natural wonders, a bustling art scene, or the chance to soak up some sun. For others, the path to their vagabond hearts lies straight through their stomachs.

Looking for some of the best places to eat in Alabama? Whether it’s high-end dining, unique regional dishes, or learning about a town’s history one bite at a time, the Yellowhammer State has a smorgasbord of options. These 3 delicious destinations make for perfect foodie weekend getaways in Alabama. 

To get seafood any fresher, you’d have to swim for it. Gulf-cozy Mobile’s growing rep for fine dining and foodie finds makes it an ideal base for Alabama gourmands. 

Don’t leave without trying the Mobtown original known as West Indies Salad. The ceviche-like dish combines sweet onion and tender crabmeat drenched in oil and vinegar.

Sadly, Bayley’s Seafood, the restaurant where the dish was invented, closed last year. Lucky for us, another historic spot, Wintzell’s Oyster House, serves the delicacy along with its namesake bivalves and an award-winning seafood gumbo.

At The Hummingbird Way, it’s no surprise that local oysters, soft-shell crab, and whole flounder star on the menu: Executive Chef Jim Smith chairs the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission (and twice competed on Top Chef, but who’s counting?). For a treat-yourself experience, sign up for his 5-course tasting menu with expertly curated wine pairings.

Or splash out on a meal with a view at Dauphin’s, where the area’s first chef’s table offers a backstage kitchen pass and stunning sunsets seen from high above Mobile Bay.

Originally a Florida fave, the Mobile location of Oyster City Brewing Co. offers a welcoming atmosphere and a beer garden with live music on weekends. In addition to regular food tours through historic downtown that garner sky-high ratings, Bienville Bites Food Tour occasionally goes wild with creative options such as an ’80s-themed murder mystery experience.

The Admiral Hotel, located in the heart of the historic district, originally opened in 1940. The property has 156 guest rooms, an outdoor pool, and is located next to plenty of foodie hot spots. Rates start at $149. AAA rates starts at $134.

Nothing’s more satisfying than a heaping helping of nostalgia. And with the University of Alabama football season in full swing, now’s the time to taste Tuscaloosa at its best. 

The hickory smoke scent that wafts through town isn’t just for show. Druid City is known for its barbecue, and here, that means pork ribs. Two legendary ’cue joints vie for visitors’ attention on this front: Dreamland Bar-B-Que in Tuscaloosa and Archibald and Woodrow’s BBQ just across the river in Northport. Savvy gastronomists make time for both.

Reservations aren’t accepted at iconic breakfast and meat-and-three spot The Historic Waysider. With an interior that doubles as a museum for the hometown team, expect a line for game weekend breakfasts, along with special elephant-shaped pancakes.

If you can’t catch the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium, upgrade your game-watching experience at a restored 1903 mansion. R&R Cigars provides a well-stocked humidor, a full bar featuring hard-to-find whiskeys, and multiple lounges with big-screen TVs.

Or spend a few hours learning to whip up biscuits and homemade pastas at Cleaver & Clove’s new downtown culinary studio for a souvenir that lasts a lifetime.

Located in the heart of the action—and backed by Tide Head Coach Nick Saban—The Alamite opened last year as Tuscaloosa’s first upscale boutique hotel. Foodie bonus: There’s a rooftop bar and an on-site French-inspired steak house. Rates start at $153. AAA discounts are available.

This college town leans on the bounty of local farms and the creativity of its resident chefs to whip up a destination-worthy dining scene that’s gaining momentum all the time. 

Sampling something grown locally is imperative. Go for the brunch plates and killer seasonal cocktails at Lucy’s or sustainable seafood at the much-lauded Depot. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find refined-dining spots here that don’t tag local purveyors on the menu.

No foodie comes to Auburn without stopping at Acre, where it seems chef David Bancroft is nominated for James Beard Awards as often as he’s credited with kick-starting the town’s farm-to-table scene. Gardens and orchards on the premises plus regional ranches contribute to his stylishly Southern fare.

The hotly anticipated 1856 is a new teaching-and-fine-dining restaurant at Auburn University’s Rane Culinary Science Center. Meals take advantage of the 4,400-square-foot rooftop garden as well as the expertise of renowned chefs-in-residence Tyler and Jenn Lyne.

Unwind with a craft cocktail and live music on the gracious patio at the newly opened garden center and foodie hub Botanic. The entire compound of shops and eateries is built around a gorgeous hydroponic greenhouse and a love of nature.

The state’s first ultra-luxury accommodation, The Laurel Hotel & Spa, falls into the category of “spendy, but worth it.” Perks for the peckish include aperitivo hour, gourmet snacks in the Library Lounge, and breakfasts that guests rave about. Rates start at $429.

For cozier digs, the Auburn Bed and Breakfast at Shoofly Farm promises relaxed luxury, including epic weekend brekkies, walking trails with bucolic views, high-end in-room flourishes—did someone say soaking tub?—and impossibly cute barnyard animals. Rates start at $190. Resort fee is included in the tax.

Natural wonders are nice, but give travel pro and journalist Jessica Fender a foodie destination any day. Follow her adventures eating her way through the South and beyond at travelerbroads.com.