Places in Birmingham that feel like Nashville—karaoke, hot chicken + more

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While Nashville is a less than three-hour drive north of downtown Birmingham, you might still find yourself at home on a weeknight longing for karaoke, line dancing and the bright lights of Broadway Street.

Luckily, there are a few places in Birmingham that give you a similar experience. For our live music and dancing lovers, our low-key nature fans and those of us who love good ‘ole Nashville Hot Chicken, we’ve got just the thing.

Keep reading for seven local places that rival the honkey-tonk vibes of the Music City.

For the foodies: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

Nothing screams Nashville like hot chicken, and we’re lucky to have our own Hattie B’s Hot Chicken right here in Birmingham.  

Founders Nick Bishop Sr. and Nick Bishop Jr. introduced hot chicken to the menu at their Franklin, Tennessee restaurant, Bishop’s Meat & 3, and began experimenting with their own spice blend. The dish quickly gained popularity, leading them to offer a variety of heat levels by 2011. This success sparked the idea to open their own hot chicken shop. 

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken opened in the summer of 2012, right off Broadway in Midtown Nashville. 

Now, with locations across five states (we’re one of the lucky ones!), Hattie B’s is holding true to their Nashville roots—and I can’t get enough.  

For the life of the party: Neon Moon + Brown Derby

Sure, Broadway Street is cool. But I’d much rather be the regular belting out a tune at a Birmingham karaoke bar.

At Neon Moon on 2nd Avenue North in downtown Birmingham, the words “less honkin, more tonkin” welcome you into the space where you can dance and sing your heart out with no judgement.

Same for Avondale’s Brown Derby bar, too. We love our karaoke nights in this little honkey tonk spot.

For the live music fans: The Fennec

It’s hard to beat Nashville’s Music Row and the eclectic venues it offers for all music lovers. But here in Birmingham, we have our fair share of live music venues, and when I think of a jack-of-all-trades spot for music, parties and sports, I think of The Fennec.

For the nature lovers: Oak Mountain State Park

[L: Oak Mountain State Park (Bham Now), R: “Radnor Lake. Nashville, TN. 4.14” by markbwavy is licensed under CC BY 2.0]

Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville is a 1,368-acre park with wildlife and 7.75 miles of trails. When you’re looking for a nature-filled escape just a short drive from downtown Birmingham, we have something even better than Radnor: Oak Mountain State Park.

It’s famous for good reason, boasting 11,861 acres, 100 miles of walking and hiking trails and a gorgeous lake.

For a fan of the classics: Alabama Theatre + Lyric Theatre

Nashville is known as Music City because of its long music history, many recording studios and iconic venues like the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium.

But, Birmingham’s theatre district can certainly hold its own. The Alabama and Lyric Theatres each date back to the early 1900s—designed with close seats to maximize the acoustics. To this day, both theatres bring a classic yet eccentric feel to downtown Birmingham.

Try it for yourself: Visit Hattie B’s Hot Chicken in Lakeview, and let us know where you’re headed on your Nashville adventure in Birmingham.

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