TL;DR

Location: Peaceful Mountain Brook neighborhood of Birmingham.
Style: Relaxed boutique hotel with quirky, playful decor
Collection: Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection for reliable luxury
Amenities: Pool, spacious rooms, easy mornings and lazy afternoons
Vibe: Quirky but comfortable, with lots of shiny details
Check prices here

This Birmingham, Alabama boutique hotel offers a nice relaxing stay, but with a dash of quirk thrown in.

In the peaceful neighborhood of Mountain Brook, the Grand Bohemian is absolutely set up for lazy days.

It’s part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, so there’s a base level of luxury you can trust.

It’s like that really rich kid you went to high school with has invited everyone to his parents’ giant house while they’re out of town.

There are plenty of rooms, and the pool always looks ready for a dip.

Of course, our rich kid didn’t have masseuses, so the simile isn’t going to hold forever, but it’s a place to start.

Decor is absolutely a bit quirky, which we assume is a nod to ‘Bohemian,’ though it doesn’t totally land.

Yet it’s pretty harmless, mostly confusing colors & patterns, and a lot of very shiny elements.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 99
Style: Bold, colorful, and quirky interiors
Size: Rooms start at 350+ sq ft, with King, Queen, and Suites options
Amenities: Soaking tubs, fireplaces, plush robes, coffee/tea maker, mini fridge, working area, TV, and radio
See each room in detail here

Rooms have the same intensity as the common areas. We’re not sure where the color scheme came from, but it’s bold and determined.

It works a bit better in the smaller spaces, where the hot pink headboards are able to go well with strategically-chosen throw pillows.

Still not our first choice, but there’s a vision that seems to have been achieved.

Rooms are King Singles, Queen Doubles, and Suites. They start at 350+ square feet, meaning you don’t have to fuss too much about having enough room.

You can book a King Room with a soaking tub, especially if a bath is non-negotiable. This is probably our favorite option.

Suites have a king-sized bed, the 2-bedroom Bohemian Suite sports multiples. There’s a fireplace in the 2-bedroom, and all suites have bathtubs in some super-spacious bathrooms.

Whatever you choose, you’ll relax in a plush robe, bathe in marble, and enjoy a coffee/tea maker, mini fridge, working area, nice TV, and a radio for all our audio-only champs.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: Habitat Feed and Social offers breakfast and dinner with Southern-inspired, locally-focused dishes
Facilities: Fitness center with Peloton, outdoor pool
Spa: Poseidon Spa with massages, mani-pedis, and facials

The onsite restaurant, Habitat Feed and Social, is the spot for breakfast and dinner.

It’s a nice spot with that same slight odd Bohemian artificial flavoring of a vibe, but all the other flavors are natural.

They’ve got a locally-focused menu offering heirloom tomato caprese, Gulf Snapper, and popcorn rice, and plenty of other Southern-inspired dishes.

There’s indoor and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy every last bit of sun.

There’s a lot to keep your body happy besides food and drink. The fitness center is Peloton-stocked and spacious, the outdoor pool bright and friendly.

And, of course, you’ll want to know about the Poseidon Spa. It’s one of the best decorated spaces in the hotel, a simple mix of white furnishings and aqua and green tiling.

It’s a full-service spa with plenty of options for a pamper. You can do a simple massage or go all in on a mani-pedi-facial experience.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Transport: Car recommended for most attractions
Nearby: Birmingham Zoo and Botanical Gardens within walking distance
Drive: 10 minutes to McWane Science Center and other downtown sights
Nature: Vulcan Park 7 minutes, Oak Mountain State Park 20 minutes by car

You’ll want a car for this one, we’d say.

It’s an easy drive to most of the local attractions, but the only walking-distance spots are the Birmingham Zoo and the Botanical Gardens.

They’re both great options, but we’d hate you to miss a quick trip Downtown.

It’s a 10-minute drive to the McWane Science Center, which is one of the most central activities.

Once there, you can walk almost everywhere else, like the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Boutwell Auditorium, the Civil Rights Institute, and nearby Kelly Ingram Park.

There’s also the UAB campus, for anyone in on University business, less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

And then, if you want to get some walking in, you can easily get to the best local natural areas.

Vulcan Park is just 7 minutes by car, or head to Oak Mountain State Park if you want a full-on (but manageable) hike. It’ll take you 20 minutes to drive there.