Birmingham, AL

Birmingham is one of the South’s most dynamic and fast-rising cities, a place where a world-class civil rights legacy, a James Beard Award-studded restaurant scene, nationally recognized motorsports, and some of Alabama’s most beautiful parks and botanical gardens converge in and around one of the most livable metro areas in the Southeast. Our Calico design showroom sits on Lorna Road in Hoover, at the heart of Birmingham’s most popular southern suburbs, minutes from the Riverchase Galleria and the residential communities of Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook.

Whether you’re stopping in to explore our 5,000+ designer fabrics, custom window treatments, and free design services, or making a full afternoon of it, this guide covers the best dining, boutique shopping, parks, and sightseeing Birmingham and its surrounding communities have to offer.

Where to Eat & Drink

Birmingham has emerged as one of the South’s most celebrated culinary destinations, a city that Southern Living named a ‘next great food city’, with James Beard Award-winning chefs, beloved neighborhood institutions, and a dining scene that keeps raising the bar.

• Highlands Bar & Grill  · Five Points South · ~8 miles · 2011 11th Ave S The flagship of Birmingham’s culinary renaissance and one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the American South. Chef Frank Stitt’s James Beard Award-winning restaurant has been redefining Southern fine dining since 1982, with a menu rooted in French technique and Alabama’s exceptional seasonal ingredients. A true destination dining experience.
• Hot & Hot Fish Club  · Lakeview · ~8 miles · 2180 11th Ct S Chef Chris Hastings’s James Beard Award-winning ode to the freshest Gulf seafood and Southern farm-to-table cooking, with a market-driven menu that changes to reflect what’s best each day. An annual highlight of the Birmingham dining calendar and one of the most beloved restaurants in the state.
• Davenport’s Pizza Palace  · Irondale · ~12 miles A Birmingham institution that has been making deep-dish pizza for over 60 years, beloved by generations of locals and nationally recognized as among the best pizza in the entire country. Some say it’s the best pizza you’ll find south of Chicago. The drive is worth it.
• The Rougaroux  · Mountain Brook / Forest Park A beloved Cajun-themed restaurant with two locations, the original in Forest Park and a newer Mountain Brook outpost, known for authentic New Orleans-inspired fare: gulf shrimp, Bon Secour oysters, Alabama catfish, and eggplant in a fun, lively atmosphere. One of Birmingham’s most distinctive and enjoyable dining experiences.
• Luca Lagotto  · Homewood · ~5 miles · 1722 28th Ave S An acclaimed Italian restaurant from the Pihakis Restaurant Group, serving authentic Italian cuisine with exceptional ingredients, many sourced from small Italian producers. Next door, Luca Mercato Lagotto offers fresh pasta, artisan cheeses, and specialty products rarely found outside Italy. A standout in Birmingham’s rapidly evolving Homewood dining scene.
• Full Moon Bar-B-Que  · Multiple Birmingham area locations A Birmingham institution and the city’s first choice for authentic Alabama-style barbecue, slow-smoked meats, Brunswick stew, and the beloved ‘Cheshire Moon’ pork sandwich that has been a local obsession for decades. The original location on Crestwood Boulevard remains a pilgrimage for barbecue lovers.
• Baumhart’s / Pepper Place Saturday Market  · Lakeview · ~8 miles The Market at Pepper Place is Birmingham’s premier Saturday farmers market, held from April through December at the historic Pepper Place district in Lakeview. Over 100 local vendors bring fresh produce, specialty foods, artisan goods, live music, and a genuine community gathering that captures the best of Birmingham’s food culture.

Boutique Shopping & Local Finds

From the upscale boutiques of Mountain Brook’s walkable village centers to the Riverchase Galleria and the independent shops of Homewood, the Birmingham metro offers excellent shopping at every level.

• The Riverchase Galleria  · Hoover · ~2 miles One of the largest shopping malls in the Southeast, with over 200 stores anchored by Belk, JCPenney, and Macy’s, plus a strong lineup of national retailers, restaurants, and an entertainment complex. Conveniently located just minutes from our Lorna Road showroom, an easy stop before or after your design consultation.
• Mountain Brook Villages  · Mountain Brook · ~7 miles Three distinct, walkable village centers- Crestline Village, Lane Park, and English Village- collectively make Mountain Brook one of the most charming and upscale retail destinations in Alabama. Independent boutiques, specialty shops, excellent restaurants, and a genuine small-town atmosphere set among beautiful residential streets. 
• The Summit  · Birmingham · ~6 miles Birmingham’s premier upscale open-air lifestyle center, with over 70 stores and restaurants including Anthropologie, lululemon, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Apple, and a curated lineup of national and local retailers. The Summit’s outdoor design and dining terrace make it one of the most enjoyable shopping destinations in the metro.
• Downtown Homewood  · Homewood · ~5 miles A walkable, spirited commercial district on 18th Street South with a genuine mix of independent restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, vintage stores, and neighborhood bars that feel authentically local. One of the most popular gathering spots in the Birmingham metro, especially the stretch around 18th Street South.

Arts, Culture & Sightseeing Near Birmingham

Birmingham’s cultural landscape ranges from one of America’s most powerful civil rights memorials to a motorcycle museum consistently ranked among the world’s finest, plus outstanding botanical gardens and a thriving performing arts scene.

• Birmingham Civil Rights District  · Downtown · ~10 miles One of the most important and moving historic sites in America, a constellation of landmarks including the 16th Street Baptist Church (site of the 1963 bombing), Kelly Ingram Park (where civil rights marchers faced fire hoses and police dogs), and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which houses one of the most comprehensive exhibitions on the American civil rights movement in the world. Required visiting for any trip to Birmingham.
• Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum  · Leeds · ~15 miles Widely regarded as the finest motorsports museum in the world, a stunning 144,000-square-foot facility housing over 1,600 motorcycles and more than 140 racing cars, including the world’s largest collection of Lotus race cars. The beautifully landscaped grounds also host the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and Barber Vintage Festival. 
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens  · Mountain Brook · ~7 miles · 2612 Lane Park Rd Alabama’s largest living museum, 67 acres of meticulously maintained gardens, including a Japanese garden, a conservatory, a rose garden, and miles of woodland trails. Admission is free, making it one of the finest free public attractions in the entire Southeast. The adjacent Birmingham Zoo offers a natural pairing for a full outdoor day.
• Vulcan Park & Museum  · Birmingham · ~8 miles The world’s largest cast iron statue, a 56-foot figure of Vulcan, Roman god of the forge, built for the 1904 World’s Fair and now watching over Birmingham from atop Red Mountain. The observation deck offers the finest panoramic views of Birmingham and the surrounding Appalachian foothills. The adjacent Vulcan Trail is a beautiful natural walking path along the ridge.
• Birmingham Museum of Art  · Downtown · ~10 miles · 2000 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Blvd One of the finest municipal art museums in the Southeast, with a permanent collection of over 27,000 works spanning Asian, European, American, and African art from antiquity to the present. Named among the 51 best museums in the United States. Free general admission makes this a natural anchor for a downtown Birmingham day.

Visit Calico’s Birmingham Design Shop

Our Birmingham design shop is located at 3663 Lorna Road in Hoover — on one of the Birmingham metro’s most active commercial corridors, minutes from the Riverchase Galleria, Vestavia Hills, and Mountain Brook.

We offer 5,000+ designer fabrics, trims, and wallpaper and specialize in custom window treatments, Hunter Douglas blinds and shades, custom furniture, bedding, cushions and pillows, and reupholstery services. Our fabric selection includes over 1,000 performance fabric options featuring Sunbrella, Crypton Home and Bella Dura. Our designers are available for free in-store and in-home consultations for all project sizes, from a single accent pillow to a complete home redesign.

• Address: 3663 Lorna Road, Birmingham, AL 35216
• Phone: (205) 988-5533
• Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM | Sunday: Closed
• Website: calicocorners.com