Cahaba Heights - Birmingham, AL Area Guide

Cahaba Heights was originally named Merkle after engineer W.A. Merkle, who constructed and supervised a pumping station designated to the area in 1887. The area’s location along the Cahaba River made it an ideal source of water.

Eventually, a community began to form, and the first school was opened in 1906. By then, settlers had moved upland and renamed the community New Merkle. Principal E.A. Hollis suggested that the community be named Cahaba Heights in 1953. It was not until 2002, that community residents voted to annex into the city of Vestavia Hills.

No museums or art galleries in Cahaba Heights.

Mudtown Eat and Drink ranks as a popular neighborhood restaurant. This fun eatery claims its name after the Mudtown Indians that once inhabited the area. You cannot visit this restaurant without trying the “World Famous” Fried Green Tomatoes, served with house-made corn relish and a savory white sauce. Other popular menu items include the Charleston Shrimp and Grits, Spicy Bayou Burger and Jamaica Smokehouse Press sandwich. They also have a nice selection of martinis and other adult beverages.

For an upscale-dining venue, experience Satterfield’s. From the atmosphere to the presentation of each dish, elegant details make this hot spot stand out. The menu changes daily, but on it you find courses from across the globe with Southern influences. These include the roasted sweet potato-and-ginger soup and the white-wine-braised Mississippi rabbit. The grilled Duroc pork porterhouse comes with smoked Gouda McEwen and Sons grits, bacon-braised collard greens, and ham-hock broth. They host live music weekly on Wednesday nights and have an impressive wine menu.

The Olive Branch serves as a Mediterranean cuisine option in Cahaba Heights. Its modest appearance contributes to the welcoming feel, and it comes equipped with a deck and umbrellas for outdoor dining. Menu items include gyros, kabobs, Tabbouleh and falafels. The baked kibbeh sandwich stands out as a restaurant favorite, featuring baked kibbeh in a pita pouch with lettuce, tomatoes and yogurt.

No nightclubs exist in Cahaba Heights, so many residents head to downtown Birmingham, which awaits about 20 minutes away, for a varied selection of bars and dance clubs.

Cahaba Heights has a few different methods of transportation. A lot of people travel via automobile but public transportation remains a popular option. The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority services this community. One-way fares cost $1.25, or you can purchase a day-pass for $3. Interstate 459 borders the neighborhood, making traveling via highways conveniently accessible.

No bicycle lanes exist in Cahaba Heights, and few sidewalks line the streets, making it less than ideal for pedestrian safety. You can, however, call to arrange for a taxi.

McCallum Park provides the main neighborhood park for area residents and has a wide variety of amenities. Many park-goers love this family friendly park because of the picnic facilities, walking and jogging trails, and pavilions that make it perfect for an afternoon family outing. This park welcomes pets to enjoy the green space with the family but encourages owners to keep their pets on a leash and under control. While requiring registration for groups of 25 or more, this park hosts events as well.

For the sports-minded park-goer, visit the Cahaba Heights athletic fields located behind Vestavia Hills Elementary, encompassing a large cluster of three youth baseball fields and a multipurpose field. The multipurpose field uses range from soccer to flag football and lacrosse.

Wald Park provides a nearby recreational facility for Cahaba Residents to visit and expel energy. It comes equipped with five baseball fields, a swimming pool and a track. This family friendly park provides its goers with picnic areas and a community playground, as well. The skate park rates as another fun feature of Wald Park. They have a civic center and senior lodge where a variety of programs and events occur year-round. The pavilions located on the facility can also be rented by the hour for a fee.

The cost of living in Cahaba Heights tends to be a little higher than the cost of living in the city of Birmingham. The average rent for a one-bedroom unit asked in Cahaba Heights comes in at about $936 compared to $743 being the average rent asked in the rest of the city.

You can grab a beer at a nearby bar such as Mugshots Grill and Bar for $3 to $4. Gas in this neighborhood sits generally lower than the national average by about 5 percent.

Cahaba Heights does not have any malls or boutiques directly in the neighborhood, but residents enjoy shopping options within close proximity. The Cahaba Village Plaza provides a neighborhood multipurpose shopping facility. It houses stores and services including Mountain High Outfitters, FedEx, Kinko’s, Massage Envy, and a few eateries and beauty services. It also has a Whole Foods grocery store.

Riverchase Galleria remains the premiere shopping venue in the area located about 20 minutes away from Cahaba Heights. With over 200 stores and services to choose from, your shopping itinerary can be completed. Stores such as Aldo, Loft, Foot Locker and Forever 21 occupy this mall, and anchor stores include Macy’s, Sears and JC Penney. You also have a few dining options including Bonefish Grill and J. Alexander’s.

For a less busy and more local shopping experience, visit The Summit, located about 1 mile away in Birmingham. It has a 16-theater movie complex, so the mall serves as centralized area where you can enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment.

Aside from the Whole Foods in Cahaba Village Plaza, you can also do your grocery shopping at Publix and Winn-Dixie, which both have locations in the neighborhood. Murphrees Market serves as the fresh-produce market in Cahaba Heights.