Alabama’s rankings in ‘South’s Best 2024’ by Southern Living

The votes are in – and Alabama took home quite a few top honors when more than 20,000 people voted cities, restaurants and even dive bars in our state as the ‘South’s Best’ of 2024. Let’s dive right in!

#5 Best City on the Rise: Huntsville

Huntsville is the 5th best ‘City on the Rise’ and it’s easy to see why. The Rocket City has exploded with growth over the last few years, it’s now bigger than both Birmingham and Montgomery! New additions like the Orion Ampitheater and the growth of UAH are keeping the city’s atmosphere fresh and exciting. We can keep you updated on all-things-Huntsville over at Hville Blast.

Best Small Town in Alabama: Gulf Shores/Orange Beach

Orange Beach and Gulf Shores actually got two nods from Southern Living readers: Best Small Town in Alabama and Best Waterfront Town in Alabama. And it’s easy to see why! Whether you plan on spring break by the sea, or watching a concert at The Wharf, there’s so much to do – and love – about this adorable beachfront town.

Best new restaurant in Alabama: 1856 in Auburn

Named after the year Auburn University was founded, 1856 is a culinary experience just off campus there. It’s staffed by students at the university’s hospitality school. They learn all the ins-and-outs of becoming a chef, and we get the benefit of eating the delicious dishes!

• Address: 205 S College St, Auburn, AL 36830
• Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 11AM-2PM, 5:30PM-9PM | Closed Sunday & Monday
• More info: Website | Facebook

Best Local Treasures: Banana Pudding from Dreamland BBQ

Mobile gets a quasi-award, with Dreamland BBQ’s banana pudding taking home an honorable mention for Best Local Treasures. The original location is off Old Shell Road here in the Port City. And, from someone who’s lived here awhile, the banana pudding deserves all the accolades and more.

• Address: 3314 Old Shell Rd, Mobile, AL 36607 (although there are other locations)
• Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 10AM-9PM | Friday & Saturday: 10AM-10PM
• More info: Website | Facebook

Best Local Treasures: Flora-Bama Dive Bar

If you love dive bars and holes-in-the-wall, Flora-Bama needs to be at the top of your list when visiting Orange Beach. And readers with Southern Living echo my sentiment, voting it the best dive bar in the state. Now’s a good time to plan a visit, the Interstate Mullet Toss is in April!

• Address: 17401 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507 (we know, we know…it’s on the state line though!)
• Hours: 9AM-2:30AM daily
• More info: Website | Facebook

Best BBQ in Alabama: Big Bob Gibson’s

Best barbecue is a huge honor in the South, we love our barbecue! But winning this distinction wasn’t difficult for Big Bob Gibson’s – they’ve been in the game for almost a century, even inventing a now-famous white BBQ sauce. If you can’t make it to their Decatur store, they also ship BBQ nationwide!

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q

• Address: 1715 6th Ave SE, Decatur, AL 35601
• Hours: 9:30AM-8:30PM daily
• More info: Website | Facebook

Did the Southern Living voters miss your top pick in Alabama? We want to know! Tag us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn. And make sure you subscribe to our newsletter before you go, we’ll bring more like this straight to your inbox.