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If Cirque Du Soleil and Willy Wonka got married and had a baby, that baby would look a lot like The Grand Bohemian hotel chain. I was fortunate enough to stay at the Grand Bohemian Birmingham. The GB hotels are part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The Grand Bohemian properties are operated by the Kessler Collection. They are distinguished by their very unique personality. Most have art collections. They remind me a bit of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio properties. A while back I wrote about my stay at the Karol Hotel in Clearwater, Florida. In case you missed it, you can read that article and see the stunning photos here.
The seven Grand Bohemian hotels around the country are part of the Kessler Collection and have unique architecture, colorful décor, gourmet food and awesome art collections. In particular, the Birmingham location uses purple (my favorite color) as a major accent color and has a full-on art gallery housed in a separate building that adjoins the hotel. In short, I thought that I had died and gone to Heaven.
The Birmingham location is in Mountain Brook, a neighborhood about 15 minutes from downtown Birmingham where visitors will find civil rights sites, a couple of museums and delicious restaurants. The hotel is also across the street from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which is adjacent to the Birmingham Zoo. I walked to the gardens and it took me less than 5 minutes.
I know everyone has different tastes and that’s why Marriott manages so many different brands; to ensure that there is something for everyone. Marriott’s partnership with the Kessler Collection is brilliant. For me, the Grand Bohemian is like a theme park for adult art lovers who then get to sleep overnight inside the park.
The hotel is a four-story building with a Tudor and flagstone exterior in keeping with the entire business district of Mountain Brook. While we did not stay in a suite this time, we did have a “soaking tub room,” which is 30 square feet larger and features a deep and luxurious bathtub. The marble appointed bathroom (with separate shower) alone is enough to make a guest feel like they are being treated to something special.
Valet parking is available for $30/day, but self-parking is free of charge. We self-parked and never had a problem finding a space. In fact, we parked right along the curb outside our second- floor room.
Habitat Feed & Social is the onsite restaurant which features more funky décor (what I imagine Prince’s living room might have looked like) and a rooftop patio. Their menu is inspired by their location and the seasons. The namesake of the Kessler Collection, Richard Kessler, is a wine enthusiast, so visitors will find a unique wine and cocktail selection. As if all this isn’t enough for foodies, the property also offers cooking classes in their onsite cooking school for between $119-$149/person (depending on the class) or group wine blending classes with a sommelier.
I only had the opportunity to eat breakfast at the restaurant, but I will say that I was pleased. The portion was substantial, and I am a big fan of their fruit cup. I know that sounds like a small thing, but it’s not and here’s why. Most places give you mostly boring melons and throw in a berry or two if you’re lucky. I was given some melon, yes, but my side order of fruit also included huge blackberries and kiwi berries. I know. I thought the same thing: “What the heck is that?” Well, kiwi berries are mini kiwis minus the fuzzy skin. They are delicious! When my husband requested sauteed potatoes as his breakfast side, he received bite-sized chunks of sauteed white potatoes, purple fingerling potatoes, and sweet potatoes. It was colorful and more flavorful than your run-of-the-mill breakfast offering.
Note for my Event Planner Colleagues
The Grand Bohemian Birmingham has nine meeting spaces totaling 15,000 square feet of space. The largest ballroom can seat over 350 guests for a banquet. One evening during our stay, we saw a group having a small social hour on the grassy lawn between the pool and the art gallery. They also had cocktail tables set up inside the art gallery for use after the gallery closed to the public. It is also common for groups to arrange private dining options at Habitat Feed & Social as well as team building opportunities through the cooking and wine blending classes. What a wonderful after-work experience that would be for attendees!
As for tech needs, I was able to work online and connect to people overseas via the hotel wifi with no problem. The one thing to be aware of is that there is no business center. I was offered the huge tree trunk table in the lobby for my 4:30 a.m. work session. However, outlets under the table (in the floor) had locked covers and the night staff didn’t seem to know how to open them. They were kind enough to allow me to use an empty board room instead since at 4:30am I wasn’t conflicting with any other reservations. I was desperate and grateful for their flexibility.
Last, but not least, have I mentioned their art collection? Yes, I know that I have, but it bears repeating. Since I’ve been an art lover my whole life and used to work for a Cultural Affairs department, it is in my DNA to pay attention to this aspect. Walking to breakfast or down the hall for ice or to the car always took longer than expected because I got completely distracted by the art. This isn’t cold, colorless, corporate art. This is bold strokes, rich colors, ornate frames, and muses who stare into your soul.
If Willy Wonka opened a hotel, it would be similar to the Grand Bohemian Birmingham and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it. A stay here is a fantastical adventure that pulls you away from the outside world and somehow makes you feel enriched. I suspect that this is exactly what Mr. Kessler had in mind. Well done, sir.
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