Are you in need of a date night in the Magic City? As a Birmingham, Al. wedding photographer, one piece of advice I always give my couples is to prioritize time together during the busy season of engagement and beyond. Honestly, it’s important to prioritize time with your SO in every season! Here are some fun date ideas in Birmingham, AL that will allow you to enjoy each other’s company – ranging from free to fancy! 

If you give any of these dates a try, let me know by snapping a picture and tagging me on Instagram (@eleanorstenner)!

 

 

1. Have a progressive dinner at the Pizitz Food Hall downtown.

Pop-up restaurants range from Ethiopian and Japanese to Italian, so there is food to suit any fancy! They also have one rotating restaurant that stays for a few months to test out the Birmingham market before it launches its own storefront. The Pizitz is in the heart of downtown, so you’re right in the middle of the action and in walking distance to Railroad Park if you desire to take your food to-go!

The restaurants in Pizitz are changing all the time so check out their website for the latest! The possibilities are endless, and oh so yummy.

 

 

2. Take a picnic and hike at Oak Mountain State Park.

Your date ideas in Birmingham, AL don’t have to be expensive. It’s only $5 per person to get in to Oak Mountain State Park! There are multiple trails, but the best by far is hiking to the top of King’s Chair for a spectacular view. Hold hands, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy nature together while also taking some snacks or a whole meal with you!

 

 

3. Visit the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Take silly pictures of each other pretending to be a person in a painting. The museum is free and always bringing in new, interesting exhibits. During the summer, the museum also offers an event called “Art on the Rocks.” You can dress up, enjoy mingling in the outside courtyard with new friends and peruse the museum on a beautiful summer evening. This Birmingham wedding photographer is always looking for new, interesting photo locations, and this one is at the top of the list.

 

 

4. Window shop at The Summit.

Anthropologie, Altar’d State, and Kendra Scott are for the girls, and Allen Edmonds is for the guys! The Summit is a fantastic place simply to walk, eat (Shake Shack, North Italia, Village Tavern, Chopt, etc.), get dessert (Steel City Pops for the win!) and see a view of the hills from the back patio of Chuy’s.

 

 

5. Visit Hero Doughnuts.

They’ve got burgers, they’ve got a breakfast hash, they’ve got coffee … but most importantly, and per their name, they’ve got incredible doughnuts! Treat yourselves to a few doughnuts to taste test, or Lady and The Tramp-it and bite into one together! Now that’s a date night idea Birmingham, AL couples will not want to miss!

 

 

6. Have the picnic of your dreams with the help of Birmingham Picnic Company.

This Birmingham business curates picnics for couples, completely handling set-up, design, curation and tear-down. All you have to do is fill out an inquiry form and they’ll contact you to ask for all details, from colour scheme to time and location. With their large inventory of sourced items, they bring your desired colour scheme and theme into consideration and design something perfect for your picnic. If you don’t have specific requests, let them run free with their design ideas!

 

 

7. Cycle around the heart of downtown on Zyp bikes.

If you’re looking for some more active date ideas in Birmingham, AL, Zyp bikes might be perfect for you! For only $6 a day, you can rent a bike and stop at fun points throughout the city! Although Greater Birmingham is hilly, downtown is not! (you’re welcome, calf muscles) Cycle from Linn Park to Railroad Park and end the pretty route grabbing lunch or dinner on 20th Street.

 

 

8. Find treasures at an antique shop.

2nd and Charles is for the books, and Brass Bear in Valleydale will blow your mind. Wander around aimlessly or play a game together to find the weirdest items possible!

 

 

9. Catch a show at the Alabama Theatre.

Leading up to the holidays, they play Christmas movies and Birmingham goes crazy for it!! See The Grinch, It’s A Wonderful Life and other classics. The rest of the year, they bring in amazing artists for concerts. It’s an intimate yet elaborate venue that is well worth your time and will make your date feel special when you two dress up!

 

 

10. Read at the Library in the Forest.

Located in Vestavia, Library in the Forest is tucked away in the woods and provides a calm atmosphere to read and hang out! They have trails outside, so you could take your reading out there, too!

 

 

11. Watch some baseball at Regions Field.

There’s nothing quite like a summer night at the baseball stadium. Baseball is for hotdogs, peanuts, fireworks and not reallllly watching the game and flirting instead! Give it a try, even if baseball isn’t your thing.

 

 

12. Explore The Villages of Mountain Brook.

Over in English Village, you can dine at the fancy Vino, grab a baguette and coffee Continental Bakery, pretend to be French at Chez Lulu, or drive up to Crest Road for a phenomenal view of the city skyline. This area is totally underrated!

Recently, Mountain Brook Village has exploded with tons of new restaurants and cute shops including Sons Donuts, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Basecoat Nail Spa, and Ladybird Taco! The area isn’t quite finished developing yet, so I can’t wait to see what they add next!

Lastly, Crestline Village is home to some of this Birmingham wedding photographer’s favorites such as Real & Rosemary, Crestline Bagel Company, Slim’s Pizzeria and Craft’s on Church Street!

 

 

13. Download In Birmingham App.

Literally shake your phone, and this Birmingham-specific app picks what you could do! It’s a life-saver on a Friday night when you’re stumped for ideas. Or you could just read this blog post 😉

 

 

14. Go mural hunting!

Bham Now provides a list of all the Birmingham murals. There are so many unique artistic embellishments throughout the city, so it’s a fun activity to take selfies together as you find these gems.

 

 

15. Watch a movie at Avondale Park.

Every summer, families and young professionals sit in the outside amphitheater to watch classic movies. Grab a bite to eat at Saw’s, Post Office Pies or MELT before the movie starts and join all of Birmingham for a family-friendly movie (except you’ll be on a date, so leave the kids behind!).

 

 

16. Take a stroll around the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

This is the perfect place to take a romantic walk surrounded by a variety of beautiful plants and flowers. Each individual garden offers unique scenery that changes with every season, and it has cute little hideaway spots. 

 

 

17. Challenge yourselves with Breakout Games.

These escape rooms will not only challenge your mind but will challenge you and your significant other to work together! Beat the time and try to break out of the game as quickly as possible, and put your significant other to the test.

 

 

18. Walk along the Birmingham Rotary Trail.

This trail begins at the iconic 20th Street that runs from Homewood to Linn Park, and it’s a beautiful walk full of plants, art and special features that make this a unique part of the city. Take a picture by the sign together and stroll – or roller skate (because why not?!) – slowly!

 

 

19. Date day at The McWane Center.

Channel your inner child at the innovative and interactive kids museum across from the Pizitz Food Hall. It’s so much to be a kid again and why not do it with the person you’re crushing on?! Their competitive streak might just come out, and it could be the most fun you have in a long time!

 

 

20. Grab a sweet treat at Cookie Fix.

If you haven’t eaten at Cookie Fix, you’re about to have the best cookie of your life. They are fluffy, dense and full of interesting ingredients and combinations. Grab it to go and eat it at the Vulcan.

 

21. Bar hop, but focus on the appetizers

Birmingham has some of the coolest, classiest bars in town! And they make some great food, too. Check out Key Circle Commons in English Village for a crisp drink, and shockingly good hot ham & cheese sandwich. Downtown, you can stop by Bar La Fête and snack on a gorgeous charcuterie plate. One of my personal favorites is Juniper, a fairly new addition outside Forest Park. They’ve got both an exciting, adventurous cocktail menu, and a food menu that will keep you coming back for more!

 

 

And there you have it! 21 awesome date ideas in Birmingham, Al. to pick from the next time you and your special someone are looking for something to do in the Magic City. I like to update this blog frequently with fun, new date night spots, so check back in every once in a while for some more inspiration!