Five Alabama hotels earn recognition in the 2026 Michelin Guide

Alabama’s hospitality scene is earning a place on the international stage. Five hotels across the state have been included in the 2026 Michelin Guide hotel selection, highlighting the range of stays that make Alabama worth exploring, from historic downtown landmarks to design-forward boutique properties.

The Michelin Guide introduced its Key distinction for hotels in 2024. Similar to the Guide’s restaurant stars, Michelin Keys recognize hotels that offer exceptional guest experiences, with distinctions ranging from One Key for a very special stay to Three Keys for an extraordinary one. Inspectors evaluate properties anonymously, considering the experience they offer travelers.

This year’s Alabama selection includes five properties in four cities: Mobile, Auburn, Birmingham, and Florence. Each offers its own perspective on Southern hospitality.

The Admiral Hotel | Mobile

A landmark in downtown Mobile, The Admiral Hotel has welcomed guests since 1940, when it became the city’s first fully air-conditioned hotel. Today, the 156-room boutique property pairs its historic identity with contemporary accommodations in the heart of the city.

The hotel’s dining and gathering spaces are part of the experience, too. Le Moyne’s Chophouse, the hotel’s restaurant, joins its café and cocktail bar in giving guests places to settle in without leaving the property.

The Michelin Guide highlights the hotel’s memorable rooms and suites, along with its food and beverage offerings, recognizing the way The Admiral brings together historic character and modern hospitality.

The Laurel Hotel & Spa | Auburn

In Auburn, The Laurel Hotel & Spa offers a distinctive take on luxury hospitality in a college town best known for its university and game-day traditions. Opened in 2022, the property combines upscale accommodations with a spa and a strong emphasis on culinary and hospitality education.

The hotel’s partnership with Auburn University’s Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management gives students opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, bringing professional hospitality experience into an academic setting.

That connection between education and guest experience stood out to Michelin Guide inspectors, who noted the hotel’s commitment to preparing the next generation of hoteliers and chefs. For visitors coming to Auburn for football, campus events, or a weekend away, The Laurel offers a stay that extends beyond the typical college-town hotel.

The Painted Lady | Birmingham

Birmingham’s The Painted Lady brings new life to a historic building with a colorful past. The 19th-century sandstone-brick structure was once associated with Louise C. Wooster, a former madam who later became known for her work as a cholera nurse.

Today, the boutique hotel’s 22 rooms balance the building’s preserved historic architecture with vivid colors, modern furnishings, and bold graphic details. The result is a property that acknowledges its past while establishing a personality of its own.

The Michelin Guide draws attention to that contrast, highlighting the hotel’s distinctive interiors and the way contemporary design complements the building’s history.

Elyton Hotel | Birmingham

Also in downtown Birmingham, the Elyton Hotel occupies the former Empire Building, a prominent tower designed in the Classical Revival style. The building’s architectural presence reflects an earlier era of the city’s growth, while its current use brings that history into a contemporary hospitality setting.

The hotel features 117 rooms and suites, with the Michelin Guide noting their natural light and spacious feel. Its downtown location also places guests within reach of Birmingham’s restaurants, cultural attractions, and historic districts.

For travelers looking to explore the city on foot, the Elyton offers a central base in a building that remains part of Birmingham’s architectural story.

GunRunner Boutique Hotel | Florence

In Florence, the GunRunner Boutique Hotel draws on the Shoals’ distinctive musical, artistic, and cultural heritage. Its 10 suites each reflect elements of the region’s identity, from the legacy of Muscle Shoals recording studios to the work of fashion designer Billy Reid and the area’s more unusual historical characters.

Seven of the suites feature balconies overlooking downtown Florence, while details such as walk-in showers and Peacock Alley bedding add to the comfort of the stay.

The Michelin Guide highlights the hotel’s connection to the Shoals, where music, design, and local history have long shaped the region’s character. GunRunner offers visitors a way to experience that identity through a stay that feels rooted in its surroundings.

A Closer Look at Alabama Hospitality

Together, these five properties illustrate the variety of experiences available to travelers across Alabama. From Mobile’s historic downtown to Auburn’s university-centered hospitality, Birmingham’s architectural landmarks, and Florence’s creative spirit, each hotel offers a different reason to make the state a destination.

Their inclusion in the 2026 Michelin Guide hotel selection brings wider attention to the people and places shaping Alabama’s hospitality industry—and gives travelers a few more places to consider for their next in-state getaway.

And next week, SoulGrown will be in Nashville for the Michelin Guide ceremony, where the spotlight turns to the region’s culinary scene. Stay tuned as we follow the announcements and discover which Alabama restaurants earn a place in the guide.

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