Yes. Birmingham has 11 restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide, and none of them has a star. Four hold a Bib Gourmand and seven are Recommended. Alabama has 15 in all, so Birmingham holds most of the state's list.
The list below is the first MICHELIN Guide American South, announced on 3 November 2025. The next one comes out on the evening of 21 October 2026, and we will update this page that night.
Birmingham restaurants with a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand
A Bib Gourmand is MICHELIN's mark for good food at a fair price.
- Bayonet, in the Berry Building at 2015 2nd Avenue North. A raw bar and seafood room that works with Gulf fishermen. It opened in 2025 from Rob and Emily McDaniel.
- La Fête, at 2018 Morris Avenue. A bistro open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday, with weekend brunch. Chef Kristen Hall was a James Beard Best Chef: South semifinalist in January 2026.
- OvenBird, at 2810 Third Avenue South in Pepper Place. Chris Hastings' casual sister to Hot and Hot. It opened in October 2015.
- Pizza Grace, at 2212 Morris Avenue, Suite 105. A pizzeria from Geri-Martha and Ryan O'Hara, named James Beard semifinalists in January 2026. Closed Mondays.
Birmingham restaurants the MICHELIN Guide Recommends
Recommended means MICHELIN's inspectors liked the food. It is a step below a Bib Gourmand, and it is not a star.
- Automatic Seafood & Oysters, at 2824 5th Avenue South in Lakeview. Gulf seafood from Adam Evans, who won James Beard Best Chef: South in 2022. It opened in April 2019 in the old Automatic Sprinkler Corporation building.
- Bottega, at 2240 Highland Avenue South. Frank Stitt's Italian room. The dining room opened in 1988 and the Café two years later. The Café takes no reservations.
- Chez Fonfon, at 2007 11th Avenue South. A bistro since 2000, known for steak frites, from the same group as Bottega.
- Current Charcoal Grill, at 1625 2nd Avenue South. A binchotan charcoal grill from Adam Evans and Luke Joseph, near Railroad Park.
- Helen, at 2013 2nd Avenue North. Contemporary Southern food grilled over hardwood coals, in a 1920s shotgun-style building. It is named for Rob McDaniel's grandmother.
- Hot and Hot Fish Club, at 2901 2nd Avenue South, Suite 110. Chris and Idie Hastings have run it since 1994, with a chef's counter and an open kitchen.
- Rêve, in the Pizitz building at 1821 2nd Avenue North, Suite 176. Jacob Stull cooks six- and ten-course tasting menus. It began as a pop-up in April 2024 and reopened in June 2026 after a renovation. It did not close for good.
A Birmingham MICHELIN award for service
Pardis Stitt, co-owner of Bottega, won the MICHELIN Outstanding Service Award in the same selection.
Birmingham MICHELIN mix-ups: sister restaurants hold different marks
Three pairs of Birmingham restaurants share owners or a chef. Each room holds its own entry, and the marks do not match.
- Bayonet and Helen are next-door neighbors with the same owners, Rob and Emily McDaniel. Bayonet is a Bib Gourmand. Helen is Recommended.
- OvenBird and Hot and Hot Fish Club are both Hastings rooms. OvenBird is a Bib Gourmand. Hot and Hot is Recommended.
- Automatic Seafood & Oysters and Current Charcoal Grill share chef Adam Evans. Each is Recommended on its own entry.
Birmingham restaurants people call "Michelin" that are not
- A James Beard award is not a MICHELIN mark. Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot won James Beard Best Chef: South in 2012. That is a different honor.
- Highlands Bar & Grill won the James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award in 2018. It is not in the MICHELIN Guide, and it has been closed since March 2020.
- A Bib Gourmand is not a star. It marks good food at a fair price.
- Recommended is not a star either.
- A sister restaurant does not share the mark. Look up the room you plan to visit.
Sources for the selection: the MICHELIN Guide American South 2025 selection, revealed on 3 November 2025, as reported by In Birmingham (7 November 2025), Bham Now (4 November 2025) and Business Alabama. Each restaurant's own website supplies its address and details.