The Best Places to Drink and Stay in Birmingham
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The best places to drink and stay in Birmingham, according to the experts: the James Beard Awards, the Spirited Awards, and Wildsam have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Continental Drift comes out on top.
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Red Lion Lounge and Elyton Hotel hold the next two places. The Spirited Awards show up on more of this list than any other guide, with the James Beard Awards next.
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The awards
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · Eric Bennett
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Top 10 Nominee · U.S. Bartender of the Year · Eric Bennett
Why #1, not #2
Both places show 80. This one's exact Score is 80.1 and the next is 80.0, so it ranks first. We round what you see, but we rank on the exact number.
- #1 Continental Drift (this place) 80.1
- #2 Red Lion Lounge 80.0
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The awards
- Wildsam The 50 Most Essential Bars in America
Why #2, not #1
Both places show 80. This one's exact Score is 80.0 and the one above is 80.1, so it ranks second. We round what you see, but we rank on the exact number.
- #1 Continental Drift 80.1
- #2 Red Lion Lounge (this place) 80.0
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A classical-revival tower that locals know as part of Birmingham's "Heaviest Corner on Earth," the Elyton is a hotel with actual bones, its 117 rooms running tall and light in a building that was turning heads long before the neighborhood caught up. The arts district hums outside; inside, things stay polished without feeling stiff. The Yard handles brunch and bistro duty downstairs for when you don't feel like venturing far.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Hotels
- Michelin Guide Selected Hotels
A Tie
Two places have the exact same Score, so they share #3. We don't pick a winner we can't back up.
- #3 Elyton Hotel (this place) 73.005
- #3 The Painted Lady 73.005
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The name comes not from the exterior (handsome sandstone brick, as it happens) but from Louise C. Wooster, a former tenant who went from madam to cholera nurse and apparently left an impression. This boutique hotel packs 22 rooms with vivid color, bold graphics, and modern furniture tucked inside well-preserved historic bones. Public spaces are minimal, but downtown Birmingham's restaurants and the UAB medical district are both a short walk away.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Hotels
- Michelin Guide Selected Hotels
A Tie
Two places have the exact same Score, so they share #3. We don't pick a winner we can't back up.
- #3 Elyton Hotel 73.005
- #3 The Painted Lady (this place) 73.005
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The awards
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service · Jose Medina Camacho
- Spirited Awards Spirited Awards: 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. Central
- Spirited Awards Spirited Awards: 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. Central
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service · Jose Medina Camacho
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. Central
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. Central
Why #5, not #3
Both places show 73. This one's exact Score is 72.7 and the one above is 73.0, so it ranks second. We round what you see, but we rank on the exact number.
- #3 The Painted Lady 73.0
- #5 Adiós Bar (this place) 72.7
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The awards
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. Central
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The awards
- Difford's Guide Difford's Guide: Difford's Guide
- Difford's Guide Difford's Guide