In a milestone moment for Alabama’s culinary scene, 11 Greater Birmingham restaurants have been recognized in the first-ever MICHELIN Guide American South, unveiled during a ceremony in Greenville, South Carolina. The announcement marks a defining achievement for the city’s vibrant dining community and further cements Birmingham’s place among the South’s top culinary destinations.
Four Birmingham favorites earned the prestigious Bib Gourmand distinction, Bayonet, La Fête, OvenBird and Pizza Grace, celebrating exceptional dining at an outstanding value. Meanwhile, Pardis Stitt, co-owner and operator of Bottega, received the coveted MICHELIN Outstanding Service Award, one of only a few individual honors presented across the region.
“To have 11 of our restaurants receive MICHELIN recognition reinforces what locals have known all along — that Birmingham’s food scene rivals any city in the country,” said Dan Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB). “This will introduce the Greater Birmingham Region to a new audience of travelers and food lovers, driving meaningful economic impact and reinforcing our reputation as a vibrant, world-class destination.”
Williams attended the ceremony in Greenville to celebrate alongside Alabama’s honorees, marking another proud chapter for the city known as the “Dinner Table of the South.”
This recognition comes on the heels of national spotlights from The New York Times, Southern Living and Food & Wine, and Birmingham’s growing list of more than 60 James Beard Award winners and nominees. It also follows the success of the 2025 Southbound Food Festival, recently named the No. 3 Best New Festival in the U.S. by USA Today, another testament to the city’s flourishing food culture.
Whether it’s world-class service at Bottega, wood-fired creations at OvenBird, or inventive plates at Bayonet and La Fête, Birmingham’s restaurants continue to draw visitors eager to experience the magic of Southern hospitality and culinary innovation.
Congratulations to all of Alabama’s MICHELIN Guide honorees — and especially to the chefs, restaurateurs and teams who make Birmingham’s dining scene one of the nation’s most exciting to explore.
Greater Birmingham’s 2025 MICHELIN Guide Honorees:
Bib Gourmand –
– Bayonet
– La Fête
– OvenBird
– Pizza Grace
MICHELIN Outstanding Service Award –
– Pardis Stitt, Bottega
Recommended Restaurants –
– Automatic Seafood & Oysters
– Bottega
– Chez Fonfon
– Current Charcoal Grill
– Helen
– Hot and Hot Fish Club
– Rêve
Read MICHELIN’s official American South announcement here.
