Feeling like getting out of your house for the weekend but not feeling like driving or flying to get somewhere? Try a staycation at some of Birmingham’s finest hotels! You can bunk up somewhere that distinctly does not resemble the four walls of your home – which, we’re willing to guess, you’ve seen enough of in the last year – while still enjoying the comfort of the Magic City. Take a look at some of our favorites.
Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa
4000 Grand Avenue, Birmingham | 205-916-7677
In terms of a Birmingham staycation, it’s hard to top Ross Bridge: There is a full-service spa, there is golf, there is an indoor and an outdoor pool, and there is even a bagpiper who will serenade you at sundown. (Plus, the structure itself looks like an actual Scottish castle.) Also on the property are restaurants like Brock’s, JT’s Lounge, and The Clubhouse Restaurant, so you won’t need to leave the property for anything.
Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook
2655 Lane Park Road, Birmingham | 205-414-0505
Whereas Ross Bridge is set off in its own little world, the Grand Bohemian is deep in the heart of Mountain Brook, steps away from fine dining, shopping, and attractions like the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Birmingham Zoo. Inside the Grand Bohemian you’ll find stunning works of art at the hotel’s art gallery, an onsite spa, an outdoor pool, and a rooftop restaurant and bar, which features not only farm-to-table cuisine, but also cooking classes and wine blending classes.
Redmont Hotel Birmingham
2101 Fifth Avenue North, Birmingham | 205-957-6828
Speaking of rooftop bars, The Redmont is home to one of the best in the city – and the highest rooftop bar in the state of Alabama! After an in-room spa treatment, scurry up to The Roof for a locally-inspired cocktail while looking at the Birmingham skyline at sunset, then head down to the restaurant off of the hotel’s lobby for dinner. The Redmont is the oldest-running hotel in Birmingham and first opened its doors in 1925 – and you can still feel the 1920s vibe in the hotel today. Not to mention, nestled in the heart of downtown, The Redmont is blocks away from Birmingham attractions that should be on any Birmingham bucket list, like visiting the theater district or the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Elyton Hotel
1928 First Avenue North, Birmingham | 205-731-3600
Also downtown is the rich-with-history Elyton Hotel, home to the former Empire Building, built in 1909 and one of the best-known architecture landmarks in the Southeastern United States. Even the name “Elyton” is a reference to history, named after one of Birmingham’s earliest entrepreneurs, who (fun fact!) named our city Elyton over 50 years before it became known as Birmingham in 1871. The Elyton is within walking distance of everything the Financial District has to offer, from galleries to shops to food, food, and more food. The hotel is home to a rooftop bar of its own, Moon Shine, and its own restaurant, The Yard.
Valley Hotel Homewood
2727 18th Street South, Homewood | 205-354-0171
If you’re looking for one of Birmingham’s newest and hippest hotels, give the Valley Hotel in downtown Homewood a try. It’s within walking distance of downtown Homewood’s charming boutiques and storefronts, and the hotel is home to two onsite restaurants: Bistro Café, an upscale breakfast bistro, and Ironwood, which boasts elevated comfort food on its menu.
The Westin Birmingham
2221 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North, Birmingham | 205-307-3600
If you’re catching a show at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center down the street (the hotel is connected to the BJCC, if you didn’t know!), make it a night away from home and stay at The Westin, within a short walking distance of the concert venue. While you’re there, check out the hotel’s 24-hour WestinWORKOUT fitness center and state of the art gym (including Peloton bikes and a heated rooftop pool!), and, for dinner before the show, try Todd English P.U.B., located inside the hotel, or any of the many options located in the nearby Uptown District.
