Birmingham hotels

In the early 20th century, downtown Birmingham’s 20th Street and First Avenue North was dubbed the “heaviest corner on earth”. It’s known for housing some of the most glamorous buildings in the American South, and that is exactly where you’ll find the iconic 16-storey Elyton Hotel.

Dating back to 1909, this is one of the best hotels in Birmingham, especially for architecture lovers. It’s also conveniently located within walking distance of all the downtown attractions.

Despite being based in a glam old-world building and featuring 111 guestrooms, the hotel feels like a curated boutique gem. I highly recommend splurging on one of the six suites if you can – the Big Alice suite on the 15th floor comes with a giant desk and floor-to-ceiling windows. I particularly loved visiting Moonshine, the hotel’s late-night rooftop bar – come for the views and cocktails and stay for the wood-fired pizzas.

If you love spending time in the great outdoors, Hyatt Place is one of the best hotels in Birmingham to access nature. Oak Mountain State Park is less than a 10-minute drive away, and this is where you can enjoy everything from hiking and mountain biking to archery and horse riding.

The hotel offers various rooms, all with wet bars and sofa beds. Traveling with two friends (and our dogs), we had connecting adjoining rooms on a high floor, which worked perfectly for us. Even though the hotel has various dining options, the famous Moe’s Original BBQ is less than half a mile from the property, so we brought back some of their catfish platters with coleslaw and cornbread.

I also appreciated the well-equipped gym and the small outdoor pool, especially since Birmingham has such great weather pretty much all year round.

Overlooking all of downtown, this neo-gothic Art Deco-inspired building is now home to The Kelly, as locals call it. One of the best hotels in Birmingham for location, it's within walking distance of all the city’s main attractions, as well as the Pepper Place Farmers Market and Prevail Coffee with their excellent pour over.

The Kelly has fewer than 100 rooms and suites, meaning it still feels personable. My top pick is the City View suite, where you can get a great night’s sleep thanks to being on a high floor and the suite’s blackout curtains (Birmingham has some wild nightlife, trust me).

The hotel also offers Southern-style dining at Calico Kitchen, where many locals come for cocktails and tapas bites after work. I highly recommend going for a walk to track down all the secret artworks scattered around the hotel – their collection is wonderfully eclectic.

If you’re looking for a minimally-designed hotel that feels more like a relaxed stay at someone’s apartment, the Mint House is the spot for you. Your entire stay is managed from the smart Mint app, which includes contactless check-in, smart locks, and extra services for a fee, like their Tesla rental program or the ‘stock-your-groceries-before-arrival’ service.

As a digital nomad, I found this to be one of the best hotels in Birmingham. The Spiral Staircase Loft room with its fully-equipped kitchen is perfect for longer stays. With friends coming and going, there was plenty of space to spread out, do some laundry, cook a few meals together, and work at the little table with plenty of laptop plug points.

And since it's right downtown in the Five Points area, walking to the Railway Park Foundation or picking up some additional snacks at Publix was a breeze.

You’ll find this nature-inspired boutique resort nestled just outside of downtown. One of the best hotels in Birmingham, the Grand Bohemian Hotel is a zen paradise. I loved being able to meander across the street to explore the city’s zoo and botanical gardens.

With 96 rooms and two suites, all botanical-inspired in their design, the property feels like a small resort, with a pool, gorgeous spa and leafy gardens to explore. Habitat Feed and Social is their fun rooftop farm-to-table restaurant, serving zany Southern cuisine.

I highly recommend signing up for their interactive cooking class, where I learned how to make a true Southern spread with fried green tomatoes, classic Johnny Cakes and, of course, a berry cobbler for dessert. If you want to learn about wine blending and making your own, they also offer classes that can help with that.

The Valley Hotel is one of the best hotels in Birmingham if you’re looking to be close to all the city’s main attractions. Downtown Birmingham is just a 10-minute drive away, while the zoo is within five minutes’ drive. The botanical gardens, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Samford University are also nearby.

The boutique property has a large selection of rooms and suites to choose from, all of which are elegantly decorated. My favorite is The Cumberland Suite, which comes with a balcony with city views. As I was traveling with friends and we needed more space, we connected it to make a two-bedroom suite with the Queen room next door.

Ironwood, the hotel’s on-site dining option, is where to indulge in Southern comfort food – don’t miss the orange cake for dessert.

Those looking for a bigger resort-style stay with all the fancy amenities plus world-class golf should make a beeline for the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa. This is one of the best hotels in Birmingham for luxury lovers, with indoor and outdoor pools, a hair salon, tennis courts, a spa and even bike rentals for exploring the nearby hills.

An easy 20-minute drive from downtown Birmingham, many of the rooms and suites have balconies overlooking the lush greenery. I used my stay here as a kind of retreat and indulged in spa treatments, booked a pool cabana and stayed in their Wellness Suite, which comes with a big bathtub and healthy in-room dining options.

If you’re after some sultry live music and a spot to meet fellow travelers, head to the hotel’s JT’s Lounge for craft cocktails and to peruse their cigar menu.

Located within strolling distance of Five Points South, Birmingham’s hip entertainment area, the Hilton Birmingham Downtown at UAB is one of the best hotels in Birmingham for those looking to enjoy the city’s nightlife scene.

The hotel offers an array of rooms and suites with a big focus on accessibility, and all come with gorgeous city views. The hotel’s restaurant, The LAB Bar & Kitchen, serves up excellent Southern comfort food like waffles and classic shrimp and grits. After a fun night out at 88, a karaoke bar on nearby Magnolia Avenue, late-night room service to my corner King room was just what I needed.

Since I drove into town, I also appreciated that I was able to plug in my EV for free via the hotel’s valet service. Don’t miss the outdoor pool overlooking the city – it's a great spot for drinks and to meet new people.

Surrounded by trees and hills, the Courtyard by Marriott is one of the best hotels in Birmingham if you’re looking for a more peaceful stay. It’s less than five miles from downtown (and right next to Samford University), but feels like a quiet retreat outside of the city’s hustle and bustle.

In fact, I joined the Shades Valley Greenway Eastern trailhead (across from the hotel at Brookwood Village parking area) and walked for miles along the tranquil river with my dog. The rooms and suites here are oversized and overlook the seasonal pool, plus they have ample desk space if you need to work while you’re in town.

On property you’ll find an all-American bistro as well as a 24-hour market. I highly recommend going to the Another Broken Egg Cafe in the nearby Mountain Brook area for a Southern-style brunch followed by a spot of window shopping.

Located in the historic Five Points South neighborhood, the Tree House hotel is a great spot for anyone looking for somewhere unique and quirky to stay. They have just seven rooms, all with fun names like the Bird House and Yin Yang Room, and a shared co-working family room.

Set in an updated Victorian mansion, this is one of the best hotels in Birmingham if you’re looking to connect with locals and want to feel part of the community.

Staying here feels like going for a sleepover at a bohemian friend’s house – a happy respite from normal life. During my stay I joined a yoga class, went for a group run up Vulcan’s Hill, and hung out with the hotel dog. If you’re planning a group trip, the house can be fully rented out and they can even organize karaoke, food spreads or other fun activities for your crew.