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2026 ARSL Conference Local Information

Welcome to Montgomery! 

We hope this guide helps you make the most of your time in the city. Special thanks to our Conference Committee and Experience Montgomery for sharing the local knowledge, photos, and recommendations.

Click an icon below to jump straight to a section!

Getting to Montgomery Bus Icon

Convention Center Directions & ParkingRenaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center

The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center is located in the heart of Downtown Montgomery, conveniently situated between key historical monuments and beautiful riverfront parks. From I-65 take exit 172 to downtown on Clay St. or Herron St., both merge and become Bibb Street. If coming from I-85 South, merge onto I-65 North and exit 172.

Once you arrive at the Renaissance, the entrance to the parking deck is located on Bibb Street, behind the Hotel. The main entrance of the hotel and valet parking is on Tallapoosa Street.In addition to the hotel parking, there is street parking and several additional lots. Learn more about downtown public parking here.

Getting Around Montgomery

The M: micro transit – Montgomery Transit, Montgomery's on-demand ride-sharing service. Serving the Montgomery Regional Airport, Downtown Montgomery area, Montgomery Whitewater, Maxwell AFB Visitor Center and Jackson Hospital.

The M: Micro Transit rides are $1.50

Additional public transit options can be found here. Attendees may also take advantage of the Whova conference app platform to plan rideshares and carpools with others. Stay tuned for more information on accessing Whova!

Dining in Montgomery Fork and Knife Icon

Dine-Arounds

Join fellow attendees for our most popular conference tradition! Explore Montgomery's amazing restaurant scene while building your ARSL community. Plan on joining a Dine-Around for dinner on Thursday or Friday evening. ARSL volunteers will coordinate plans, or you can suggest your own dining option! Stay tuned for more information.

Nearby Food

A note on dietary needs: most spots below can accommodate vegetarian requests, and several offer solid gluten-free or vegan options. Icons indicate what's available — but for celiac disease or a severe allergy, please call ahead, since cross-contact policies vary.

Dietary Icon Key: Vegan, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free
Bibb Street Pizza Gluten-Free Vegetarian

Wood-fired and hand-tossed pizzas, subs, and salads a short walk from the hotel.

Dietary: gluten-free crust (cauliflower/brown rice base) and vegetarian pizzas; not a dedicated GF kitchen, so flag celiac needs to staff.

A Montgomery institution since 1942 — smoky pulled pork, ribs, and fried whiting from a walk-up smoke pit on the West Side. Cash only, takeout only.

Dietary: classic Southern sides (potato salad, slaw, baked beans); limited options for vegetarian diners.
Central Vegetarian

Montgomery's top-rated fine-dining spot in a renovated 1890s warehouse — wood-fired Southern classics with global influences.

Dietary: kitchen is known for accommodating restrictions on request — reservations recommended.
Dreamland BBQ Gluten-Free Vegetarian

Legendary Alabama BBQ chain known for hickory-smoked ribs and banana pudding.

Dietary: vegetarian sides available; no dedicated GF menu, but most meats and the signature sauce are gluten-free — ask staff for the ingredient list.
D'road Cafe Gluten-Free Vegetarian

Family-run Venezuelan/Latin breakfast & lunch spot known for arepas, empanadas, and cachapas. Open Tue–Sat only.

Dietary: arepas are naturally gluten-free (corn-based); vegetarian options available.
Dreamland BBQ

Casual, counter-service seafood — fresh fried grouper, whiting, and shrimp combos. Order ahead for faster pickup.

Dietary: primarily a fried-seafood menu; ask staff about modifications for vegetarian or gluten-free needs.
Lorraine's Bakeshop Gluten-Free

Cozy small-batch bakery and coffee shop on Historic Dexter Avenue — custom cookies, cakes, and Blue Bell ice cream. A quiet option for a coffee break or working lunch.

Dietary: gluten-free treats available.
Pannie-George's
Martin's Restaurant Vegetarian

One of Montgomery's oldest restaurants (est. 1930s) — famous "meat and three" fried chicken with rotating daily sides like turnip greens and candied yams.

Dietary: many vegetarian-friendly vegetable sides; ask about prep for gluten-free needs.
Pannie-George's Vegetarian

Southern "meat and three" comfort food inside the Legacy Sites' EJI Legacy Pavilion — easy to pair with a museum visit.

Dietary: vegetable-forward plates make it easy to build a vegetarian meal (3- or 4-veggie plate options).
Plant Bae Vegan Gluten-Free Dairy-Free

Alabama's only dedicated vegan restaurant — plant-based burgers, nachos, Philly cheesesteaks, and bowls downtown.

Dietary: 100% vegan; several bowls noted GF-friendly (not celiac-level allergy safe).
Railroad Thai Vegan Gluten-Free Vegetarian

Thai and sushi in a beautifully restored historic train depot near Riverfront Park — an easy walk from the Renaissance.

Dietary: extensive vegetarian/vegan tofu & vegetable dishes; ask about sauce substitutions (e.g., Pad Thai) for GF.
SaZa Vegetarian

Lively, "extreme peasant cuisine" Italian spot known for wood-fired pizza (40 toppings) and family recipes like Rigatoni Bolognese.

Dietary: vegetarian options on the menu; GF and vegetarian choices are more limited — call ahead.

Nearby Drinks & Nightlife

Alley BAR

Dynamic downtown bar and entertainment venue with a mix of modern and historic décor — and the city's only frozen shot room.

Bar Attico

Rooftop bar with skyline views, craft cocktails, and a lively downtown atmosphere.

Baristas and Barristers

Cozy coffee shop in a historic downtown home, with backyard seating and occasional live DJ sets.
Baristas and Barristers
Common Bond Brewers

Common Bond Brewers

Downtown taproom brewing craft beer, right next door to Bibb Street Pizza.

Hilltop Public House

Neighborhood coffee shop and bar in historic Cottage Hill, just up the hill from downtown.

Prevail Union

Beloved independent coffee shop on Dexter Avenue in the historic Kress building.

Exploring Montgomery Compass Icon

Distances and walk/drive times below are approximate from the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, ordered closest to furthest.

Within Walking Distance

Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) 0.1 mi · 2 min walk

The nonprofit law office founded by Bryan Stevenson in 1989 that created the Legacy Sites. EJI provides legal representation to people on death row and challenges racial bias in the criminal legal system.

Note: not a public tour site, but worth knowing about as the organization behind the Legacy Museum and Memorial.
Hank Williams Museum 0.15 mi · 3 min walk

The most complete collection of Hank Williams Sr. memorabilia anywhere — his 1952 Baby Blue Cadillac, stage suits, guitars, and personal effects, housed in Montgomery's historic Union Station building.

Mon–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat 10am–4pm, Sun 1pm–4pm.
Riverfront Park 0.2 mi · 5 min walk

A scenic stretch along the Alabama River anchored by the Riverwalk Amphitheater, the historic Union Station Train Shed, and the Harriott II Riverboat.

Tip: good for a break between sessions — splash pad, walking paths, and historical markers included.
The Legacy Sites 0.2 mi · 5 min walk

The Equal Justice Initiative's museum, memorial, and monument complex documenting the history of slavery, lynching, segregation, and mass incarceration in America. One ticket covers the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, and Montgomery Square.

Tip: Plan 3–5 hours for the museum alone if you can; same-day re-admission is included.
The Legacy Sites
Rosa Parks Museum and Library 0.4 mi · 8 min walk

Located at the site of Rosa Parks' 1955 bus stop arrest, this Troy University museum uses immersive exhibits (including a time-travel bus experience) to tell the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Note: last admission is one hour before closing.
Riverfront Park
Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library 0.5 mi · 10 min walk

Montgomery's central public library branch, named for a librarian and civil rights advocate who publicly supported the bus boycott in the 1950s.
The Mothers of Gynecology Museum 0.5 mi · 10 min walk

A monument and museum by artist Michelle Browder honoring Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy, the enslaved women subjected to experimental surgery that shaped modern gynecology.
Civil Rights Memorial Center 1.0 mi · 15 min walk

Designed by Maya Lin (also known for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial), this Southern Poverty Law Center site honors the 40 people killed during the civil rights movement (1954–1968). The outdoor memorial plaza is open 24/7; the indoor center has exhibits and a small admission fee.
Montgomery Curb Market ~1.0 mi · ~20 min walk

A working farmers market since 1927 (at this location since 1947) — 30+ vendors selling local produce, baked goods, plants, teas, and handmade crafts like candles and soaps. Fun early-morning stop before sessions start.

Tue, Thu & Sat, 5am–2pm, year-round.

A Short Drive Away

Find transportation options here.

Montgomery Whitewater ~1 mi · ~5 min drive

A 120-acre outdoor adventure park on the Alabama River with an Olympic-standard whitewater course — rafting, kayaking, a ropes/zipline course, and Eddy's Restaurant & Bar overlooking the channels. Free to walk around and watch even if you skip the water.

Fun option: a good group outing for an evening after sessions — check their site for current hours and rates.
Dexter Parsonage Museum 1.3 mi · ~5 min drive

The restored 1912 home where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family lived from 1954–1960 during the Montgomery Bus Boycott; the home was bombed in 1956 and still bears the scars. Guided tours walk through the rooms where the Montgomery Improvement Association was formed.

Fri–Sat 10am–4pm.
The Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum 1.9 mi · ~7 min drive

The only museum in the world dedicated to F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, housed in the Cloverdale home where the couple lived together for the last time in 1931–32. Features letters, photos, and Zelda's own paintings.

Thu–Sun 10am–3pm.
Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum ~5 mi · ~15 min drive

A family-friendly zoo and adjoining wildlife learning museum with animals from Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

Open daily 9:30am–4:30pm (last entry 3:30pm).
Montgomery Zoo