Tucked away at the heart of the City of Madison is historic downtown Madison. Once called Madison Station for the 1850s era Memphis and Charleston railway depot built there, the old town, residences, and railway tracks are still in use and thriving. Today, downtown Madison is a slice of Southern Americana with delicious food and unique shopping.
Here are a few stops and shops to keep you busy, as well as some great things to do when you're spending the day in historic downtown Madison.
A Taste of Madison
A local Madison favorite, Main Street Café offers up traditional and modern Southern cuisine for lunch, Tuesday through Saturday, in a full-service setting. Located in one of Madison’s former City Halls, you can even eat inside an old jail cell.
Old Black Bear not only serves up tasty local beer, brewed on the premises, but also Alabama Gulf seafood and Tennessee Valley meats and vegetables for lunch and dinner, Monday through Sunday. Burgers, entrees, and a kid’s menu are comfort food with a regional twist, served among décor that’s a mashup of mountain rustic and contemporary sleek.
Boutique Shopping
Looking for something special for your home? Noble Passage Interiors has furniture, accessories, home décor, and even clothing and accessories.
If vintage is more your style, Madison Station Antiques is located in one of the original buildings downtown and offers a range of vintage wares from tiny hat pins to large furniture.
Relaxation
Grab an iced tea to go at one of the cafes or a sweet treat from Zion Gourmet Popcorn and sit at one of the many sidewalk tables. Or, venture out to the shady gazebo and park benches on the lawn. Trains run about every hour, so train lovers are almost sure to see one go by.
