Groups heading to Alabama can count on all manner of Southern comfort, including hospitality, cozy accommodations, meeting space that encourages productivity and, of course, some of the most delicious food and beverages in the country.
The menu here in the “Heart of Dixie” features everything from Gulf-caught crab cakes and oysters to decadent desserts and an impressive wine list.
Following are some great ideas for groups interested in adding a culinary experience to the meeting itinerary.
Seafood Straight From the Gulf Coast in Alabama
From “flip-flop fine dining” to casual open-air restaurants, the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach specialize in seafood straight from the Gulf of Mexico and land fare made with locally sourced ingredients.
According to Beth Gendler, vice president of sales for Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, several area restaurateurs own multiple eateries, making it possible for groups to arrange dine-arounds at, among others, the Hangout, Picnic Beach, Fisher’s Upstairs and Fisher’s Dockside, Playa, and BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets.
Several high-end restaurants, she added, offer wine-pairing dinners that can be arranged for groups.
FoodBar Mixologist, Birmingham
“Popular full-service convention property, Perdido Beach Resort, is home to Voyagers, a white tablecloth fine-dining experience with breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico,” Gendler said.
There are group-friendly restaurants in Mobile, too, including Dauphin’s, which is perched atop downtown’s historic Trustmark Building and features 365-degree views of the city.
Bienville Bites Food Tour facilitates an exploration of Mobile that includes tasty bites at Wintzell’s Oyster House and Three Georges Candy & The Nuthouse.
“You’ll do this while learning about our historic, charming city,” according to Tara Zieman, marketing and communications manager for Visit Mobile. “It’s perfect for groups.”
Alabama's River Heritage Region Hosts Farm-to-Table Draws
Auburn-Opelika is quickly becoming a food lover’s paradise, according to Cat Bobo, communications specialist for the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau.
“With a heavy agricultural influence, thanks to Auburn University, the area excels in locally grown, farm-to-table edible delicacies unlike anything else in the Southeast,” she said.
Amsterdam Cafe, which offers private dining space featuring exposed brick walls lined with art, is a classic choice that’s ideal for large groups. And The Depot, an American seafood brasserie, serves Southern-inspired dishes and handcrafted cocktails in a charming and elegant space.
John Emerald Distilling Co., offers group tours and tastings of its whiskey, gin, vodka and rum.
Cooking With C.C. Fridlin, Huntsville
“We had a group of 60 networking professionals attend a happy-hour function there,” Bobo said. “Throughout the evening, smaller groups were taken in the back for tours at their convenience. It’s a very cool experience to taste and see craft liquor being made.”
Alabama's Metro Region Offers Cooking Education
Boozy pursuits are available to groups meeting in Birmingham as well, including cocktails at FoodBar, a mixology class at Tavern On 1st, one of the city’s newest pubs that specializes in craft cocktails, and a sightseeing/brewery tour with Birmingham Pedal Tours.
According to Vickie S. Ashford, director of travel media for the Greater Birmingham CVB, the pedal-powered trolleys offer a fun eco-friendly way for groups to tour the Magic City and pop into several local pubs.
Cooking classes can also be arranged during a meeting in Birmingham.
Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook, Autograph Collection, offers classes during which participants learn knife skills, how to prepare pasta and seafood, and how to plate desserts, as well as wine-blending classes including wine-tasting and creating a custom bottle.
Fishers at Orange Beach, Gulf Shores
Jefferson State Community College Culinary & Hospitality Institute offers cooking classes taught by Chef Joseph Mitchell.
“Chef Mitchell, along with advanced students, prepare a delicious lunch for the group,” Ashford said. “Next, the group is challenged to prepare their very own desserts.”
In Tuscaloosa, there are two standout opportunities for groups interested in culinary creations.
“The University of Alabama’s ‘Bama Dining’ hosts an incredible Crimson Kitchen series that is a huge hit with groups,” said Barrett Elder, marketing and communications manager for Visit Tuscaloosa. “Then head to Alabama’s only Peterbrooke Chocolatier and create your own candy bar exactly the way you’ve always wanted it.”
Noteworthy eateries with private event space in Tuscaloosa include the newly opened Half Shell Oyster House, known for local Gulf oysters and Gulf Coast seafood with a New Orleans flair, as well as 301 Bistro, Bar and Beer Garden, transformed from Tuscaloosa’s old train station and now serving American food and drinks.
Alabama's Mountain Region Allows for Group Menu Exploration
Located in northernmost Alabama are Huntsville and Florence, which both have several culinary options awaiting groups.
In Huntsville, according to Kristen Pepper, marketing manager for the Huntsville/Madison County CVB, small groups can book a Cooking with C.C. class with local chef and culinary instructor, C.C. Fridlin.
A Dine & Dash trolley tour that escorts groups to four popular local restaurants is also a hit here.
Among downtown Huntsville’s favorite group-friendly places for a bite is Church Street Purveyor, which pairs its dishes with wine or bourbon, and
Domaine South, a newly renovated wine bar that serves an assortment of charcuterie, cheese and bread.
Group-friendly restaurants in downtown Florence include Big Bad Breakfast, which just opened this year with a separate area for groups as well as a room with bowling, darts, billiards and a bar, and Odette Alabama, a restaurant/bar.
“The bartender at Odette Alabama is a certified mixologist and would be great doing demonstrations and talking about how he came up with drinks,” said Suzie Shoemaker, manager, sport/event sales for Florence/Lauderdale Tourism.
At Alabama Chanin, which is where Natalie Chanin, a women’s clothier, has her workshop, groups can visit The Factory, a cafe with a menu including sandwiches, sides and sweets.
Alabama CVB Contact Information
Auburn & Opelika Tourism Bureau
334.887.8747
Florence/Lauderdale Tourism
256.740.4141
Greater Birmingham CVB
205.458.8000
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
251.974.1510
Huntsville/Madison County CVB
256.551.2230
Montgomery Area COC/CVB
334.261.1100
Visit Tuscaloosa
205.391.9200
Visit Mobile
251.208.2000
Click over to Page 2 for Alabama's brewery lineup and the latest and greatest in hotels.
PageBreakAlbama Brewery Highlights
Alabama also has an impressive lineup of breweries where groups could share a pint after the meeting. Following are six standout options.
1. Big Beach Brewing Company, the only microbrewery in Gulf Shores, is a popular hangout for locals and visitors alike. Considered a “coastal chic” venue, it features indoor/outdoor space for laidback private events.
2. Red Clay Brewing Company in Opelika opened in 2015 and offers tours and tastings of rotating seasonal brews, including IPAs and ciders. The on-site taproom, with 3,000 square feet of space, is available for group events.
3. Common Bond Brewers opened in downtown Montgomery earlier this year nearby the convention center. With ample seating and an outdoor area for games, plus an on-site taproom that’s available for private events, Common Bond is a great place to bring groups.
4. Tuscaloosa is a college town and therefore offers plenty of watering holes where groups could share a drink after a day of meetings, including at Black Warrior Brewing Co. Brewery tours can be arranged, and there is a second floor room available for rent.
5. The Downtown Huntsville Craft Beer Trail includes several group-friendly stops, including Yellowhammer Brewing. At the back of the brewery is the Lost Highway Bierhall, an inviting space for private events with an indoor hall, a covered patio and biergarten.
6. Florence-based Singin’ River Brewing Co. also welcomes groups. Tours and tastings can be arranged, and there is an on-site event space for receptions.
Hotel and Event Venue Openings and Upgrades in Alabama
Auburn
The 202-room Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National, which has over 15,000 square feet of meeting space, opened a spa in November 2018.
The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center is on track to open in August 2019. It will include a multipurpose venue seating approximately 1,200 guests and conference spaces.
Birmingham
After completing a $10.5 million renovation in September, the former Hilton Perimeter Park is now open as the DoubleTree by Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park. The hotel has 10,000 square feet of event space, including a ballroom.
SmoothRock Conference Center, a multiuse luxury event facility, opened earlier this year with multiple areas to accommodate both corporate and social events for five to 100 people.
Gulf Shores
The 350-room Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel designed to meet LEED Gold and SITES Platinum certifications, opened in October with 40,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space, including seven conference rooms and a beach-view ballroom totaling more than 12,000 square feet.
Construction on a 229-room mixed-use Embassy Suites by Hilton with 12,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 7,800-square-foot ballroom, as well as a spa, rooftop pool and restaurant, is expected to begin in early 2019 with a target opening of summer 2021.
Mobile
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear completed a $35 million transformation in August and rebranded to Autograph Collection Hotels. The project included renovating the resort’s 405 guest rooms, meeting and conference spaces, spa and golf course.
