Date night in Birmingham: dinner at Hot and Hot Fish Club, OvenBird, Bottega or Automatic Seafood, then a show at the Alabama Theatre, the Lyric or the BJCC.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Restaurants and venues are listed from their own websites, linked inline, with hours as posted that day. This is a directory, not a ranking.

For a dinner-and-a-show night, Birmingham has two easy pairings: Pepper Place, where Hot and Hot Fish Club and OvenBird are a short walk apart in a district where you can carry a drink between stops, and downtown, where the Alabama Theatre and the Lyric book concerts and films. On Highland Avenue, Bottega has a dining room and a café.

Reservations

Dinner

Restaurant Address Notes from its site
Hot and Hot Fish Club 2901 2nd Ave. S., Suite 110 Chris Hastings’ restaurant at Pepper Place; online reservations
OvenBird 2810 Third Ave. S. Live-fire cooking, shareable plates; Michelin Bib Gourmand (2025)
Bottega 2240 Highland Ave. S. Dining room Tuesday to Saturday, 5 to 9:30 p.m.; reservations recommended. Café 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., no reservations
Automatic Seafood and Oysters 2824 5th Ave. S. Reservations through Resy
The Essential 2215 First Ave. N. All-day bistro, house-made pasta, natural wines; dinner 5 to 9 p.m. on weekends
  • OvenBird describes itself as a live-fire kitchen inspired by Spain, Portugal and the American South, according to the Pepper Place directory.
  • Bottega calls its menu “the American South meets the Italian countryside.”
  • The Essential also houses Paul & Tina’s, a cocktail bar, according to The Essential.

A show

  • Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N.: concerts, comedy and films; “the Showplace of the South since 1927.” Booked for winter: A Motown Christmas (Dec. 7), the Holiday Film Series (Dec. 11-22), FLO (Feb. 5) and Drew & Ellie Holcomb (Feb. 10), according to its events calendar.
  • The Lyric Theatre, downtown: restored and run by the nonprofit Birmingham Landmarks Inc., with acoustics built to resemble “the bell of a trumpet,” according to the Lyric.
  • BJCC: an arena, concert hall and theater in the Uptown Entertainment District; Alabama Ballet’s Nutcracker plays the concert hall Dec. 12-22 (Alabama Ballet).
  • Live music: Iron City, Saturn and WorkPlay; see live music and nightlife.

Wine and a walk

Pepper Place is a designated entertainment district: drinks bought at participating businesses, in approved district cups, can be carried within the district, according to its FAQ. The district also has Balance Wine, a wine shop with monthly subscriptions, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at 219 29th St. S. for dessert, according to the Pepper Place directory.

Late and seasonal

  • Glow Wild adults-only night at the Birmingham Zoo: Thursday, Dec. 3, during the lantern festival; see our holiday lights guide.
  • Valentine with Vulcan: a 21-and-older dinner on Red Mountain that sold out in 2026; see Valentine’s Day in Birmingham.
  • Rosé in the Roses at the Botanical Gardens in early May; see Mother’s Day.

What this means for you

  • Book ahead at the restaurants that take reservations, especially on Friday and Saturday.
  • Park once at Pepper Place: parking is free, and dinner, dessert and drinks are on foot.

Related: brunch, free things to do and New Year’s Eve.

Frequently asked questions

Which Birmingham restaurants take reservations for date night?

Hot and Hot Fish Club and Automatic Seafood and Oysters take reservations online, and Bottega recommends reservations for its dining room, open Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

What is OvenBird?

A live-fire restaurant at 2810 Third Ave. S. in Pepper Place, inspired by Spain, Portugal and the American South, with shareable plates; it received a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025.

Where can we see a show on a date in Birmingham?

The Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., the restored Lyric Theatre downtown and the BJCC’s concert hall and theater all book concerts and performances; check each venue’s calendar.

Is there an adults-only night at the Birmingham Zoo?

Yes, during Glow Wild. The 2026 adults-only (18 and older) lantern night is Thursday, Dec. 3.