6 top hotels in Alabama for a cozy getaway

Once the happy chaos of the holidays is in the rearview mirror, you’ll have the ideal opportunity to book a little “me time.” There’s nothing like letting room service do the dishes for a change, amirite?

Across Alabama, chic new hotels, classic inns, and cozy cabins beckon travelers to kick up their feet and relax. They offer sky-high views, top-notch culinary indulgences, unique amenities (campfire on the beach, anyone?), and—most importantly—the chance to unwind and recharge. Check out these 6 top Alabama accommodations and check into your new favorite staycation destination. 

The Alamite’s debut brings 2 new dining concepts to the City of Champions, as well. Aged rib eye and filet mignon anchor the menu at French-inspired steakhouse Forté. Small plates, including fresh sushi and wood-fired pizzas, are the name of the game at Roll Call Rooftop Bar, along with craft cocktails and views of Bryant-Denny Stadium. From $199 per night.

Not to be outdone by a cross-state rival, the new Laurel Hotel & Spa, which opened last August across from Auburn University’s iconic Samford Hall, pulls out all the stops.

The on-site day spa has a salt room. There’s a heated infinity rooftop pool. Within its 26 rooms and suites, you’ll find soaking tubs and remote-control blackout curtains. Add in touches like a daily aperitivo hour and indulgent evening chocolates in the guests-only Library, and you’ll be requesting a late checkout in no time. 

“This is the first ultra-luxury hotel in the state of Alabama. It’s a highly personalized experience,” said General Manager Josh Head. 

The entire compound, which includes restaurant 1856 and other dining venues, pairs students in Auburn University’s hospitality management program with hotel leadership, master sommeliers, and others to learn the ins and outs of running high-end properties. 

“It is a teaching hotel, and that is so much of why we’re here,” Head says. “We’re grateful to Auburn University for entrusting us with this asset.” From $348 per night.

For a quaint getaway, head to the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains, where the 1888-built Hotel Finial greets guests with 5 specialty suites and 56 exterior hotel rooms. 

 “Hotel” may be in the name, but this Queen Anne Victorian in Anniston serves up all the charms of an inn, with colorful stained-glass transoms, elegantly wainscoted common areas, and a southern grits bar that headlines the included full breakfast. 

In warmer months, lounge by the pool. This time of year, you’re better off diving into history on the 10-stop Anniston Civil Rights Trail, which includes part of the federally designated Freedom Riders National Monument. Or get back to nature trekking through nearby Cheaha State Park or pedaling along the Chief Ladiga bike trail. From $129 per night.

Four sizeable rooms each come with their own bath, spa robes, and high-end linens. Guests in the Sourwood Suite can soak in the scenery from inside a clawfoot tub surrounded by picture windows. Those who can be tempted to leave their rooms can go antiquing in the sleepy town of Mentone or walk the cascades and canyon rims of nearby DeSoto State Park. 

Either way, start the day with scratch-made gourmet brekkies that guests rave about. A 2-course morning menu might include cornmeal crepes with blackberry compote or grit fritters with baked eggs and sausage—ingredients locally sourced and organic, whenever possible. From $190 per night.

If you prefer waterfront to waterfalls, head south to the idyllic coastal burg of Fairhope, where this gracious, family-run gem perches on a bluff overlooking the largest private beach in town. Catch one of Jubilee Suites’ epic sunsets from your private balcony, at the nightly firepit gatherings out back, or from your very own campfire at the shoreline. 

Designed with privacy in mind, 7 one- and two-bedroom suites offer conveniences like private entrances, full kitchens, and—yes—spa robes. Thoughtful touches are management’s specialty. “We give everybody a little extra something,” says Christy Wells-Fritz, experience manager. “Flowers in the rooms, candies on the bed—everything we can think of.”

Drink in water views with the robust breakfast (included) before heading out for the day. Jubilee Suites is nestled in a quiet neighborhood less than a mile from Fairhope’s downtown, famed for its stylish boutiques, thriving food scene, and Instagrammable, well, everything. Or brave Mobile Bay with on-site kayaks, paddle boards, and more. Private yoga and fitness classes are also available by request. From $230 per night.

Rise above it all—13 stories, to be exact—at one of Magic City’s newest and most stylish properties, set in the historic Protective Life headquarters among downtown Birmingham’s iconic architecture. 

Splashy art on the lobby walls gives off delightfully edgier vibes than the usual hotel decor. And it’s hard for any manmade masterpiece to compete with the superlative views of First Avenue and beyond framed by the rooms’ picture windows. 

Guests will also find rooms spacious and well appointed, a delightful array of craft cocktails at the lobby bar, and a new executive chef at the helm of the on-site Calico Kitchen restaurant. From $137 per night.

There are few things that travel columnist and guide author Jessica Fender swoons harder for than a soaking tub and turndown service. Follow her adventures throughout the South and beyond at travelerbroads.com.