TL;DR

Location: Central Birmingham, Alabama, in a beautifully preserved 1895 building
Style: Chic maximalism with quirky wallpapers and paintings from Lark Hotels
Atmosphere: New, exciting addition to an up-and-coming neighborhood
Vibe: Perfect for those interested in creative and boutique experiences
Check prices here

This red-brick charmer in the center of Birmingham, is the city’s most boutique-y boutique hotel.

It starts with a would-be nondescript brick building on the corner across from a mixed-use complex featuring local beers, sushi, a gym, and an event space.

It’s an interesting location, and the hotel is very clearly a new and exciting addition to an up-and-coming area.

If you go up the chain of command far enough, you’ll find that The Painted Lady comes from the boutique genius of Lark Hotels, one of our go-to small chains.

And once you see it, you can’t un-see it. The chic maximalism of the Lark brand is all over, from the variety of printed wallpapers to the quirky paintings.

The 1895 building has been beautifully preserved, but it’s most definitely renovated, of course. While the bones of the building haven’t changed much, it has a decidedly 21st-century aesthetic.

It fits well into a neighborhood packed with creative improvement projects, and is the perfect place for anyone who wants a bit more insight into what’s new and up and coming in Birmingham.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 22
Style: Chic, cute, tactfully wacky with color and pattern
Suitability: Best for couples or solo travelers, some pet-friendly
Amenities: Plush mattresses, TVs, robes, seating, some walk-in showers
See each room in detail here

Rooms are as chic and cute and tactfully wacky as you want them to be. Expect color and pattern, but also expect it to be expertly applied for an unusual yet appealing space.

If you can’t handle pinks, avoid the Corner Kings; the Queen Rooms are perhaps the best for those with minimalist preferences. They’re all neutrals and easy florals.

There’s not much for groups, and only select rooms accept pets, making this hotel best for couples or solo travelers.

Amenities are simple but effective: all with plush mattresses, beautifully curated interiors, TVs, robes, and some kind of seating. Different rooms will have walk-in showers and other small extras.

If you want all the marble and sofa beds and soaring views of the city, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

The intimacy of this type of boutique, though, is something special we always enjoy.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

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

Dining: No onsite restaurant, coffee, tea, and water provided
Facilities: Minimal, more of a guesthouse than a hotel
Purpose: Best for exploring the surrounding area rather than hotel amenities

Like many boutiques, the accommodation is more guesthouse than B&B or hotel. You should know what you’re getting into.

There is no onsite restaurant, nor anything else much in the realm of facilities. Though they do offer complimentary coffee, tea and water.

It’s a place much more for exploring the area than hanging out in the hotel.

This makes a lot of sense for a brand-new hotel, but we hope in the future they can find ways to connect guests with surrounding businesses, to make up for the lack of facilities.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Excellent central area, post-industrial charm with development projects
University: UAB campus nearby, hospital 15-minute walk
Attractions: Birmingham Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Vulcan Park and Museum 10 minutes by car

The location is excellent; they chose very well.

The immediate area has definitely got a post-industrial thing that might not appeal to everyone.

Some of the buildings have seen better days, though there are plenty of development projects that hint at good things on the horizon.

We’d say that The Painted Lady is one of the more charming of them, with its almost perfect preservation of the original building’s exterior.

The UAB campus is super close, so anyone on University business will have chosen well. The hospital is just a 15-minute walk.

If you want to get a little further out of town, the Birmingham Zoo and Botanical Gardens are just 10 minutes by car.

The famous Vulcan Park and Museum is about the same distance, and it’s a great place to see if you’re interested in the city’s history.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“The concierge was so accommodating, patient, and polite. The room was beautiful with a very comfy bed and enormous bathroom. Tastefully restored historic building….”

“A beautiful boutique hotel with a really interesting history. The suites were beautifully decorated. The bed and pillows were soft, linens were nice….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”We were unable to control the air very much. It could have been the fact it was 100 degrees outside, but the room temperature did not get below 74…..”

”The stairs were the only disadvantage that this cozy place had. This was due to us having medical problems and surgeries scheduled. The young lady helped us carry out bags up stairs and was very accommodating….”

> Read all the reviews right here