The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa

The Battle House is the grande dame of downtown Mobile. The first hotel on this corner of Royal Street opened in 1852, on the same site where Andrew Jackson set up his headquarters during the War of 1812. A fire destroyed the original building in 1905, and the hotel that stands today was rebuilt in steel and concrete and reopened in 1908.

After closing in the 1970s, the building sat empty for decades until the Retirement Systems of Alabama restored it and reopened it in 2007 as a Renaissance hotel, alongside the new RSA Battle House Tower next door. It holds AAA Four Diamond status and is part of Historic Hotels of America. The lobby, with its domed glass ceiling, is one of the most photographed rooms in the state.

Rooms and Amenities

There are 238 rooms, split between the historic building and the lower floors of the adjoining tower. Ask which side you are booking: the historic building has the classic character, while the tower rooms have a more modern feel.

• Spa: a 10,000 square foot full-service spa with massages, facials, body scrubs and salon services.
• Pool: an outdoor pool and whirlpool.
• Fitness: a fitness center with Peloton bikes.
• Historic spaces: the restored Crystal Ballroom and the Trellis Room, where the 1908 glass ceilings are almost entirely original.
• Meetings: about 27,000 square feet of meeting space across 16 venues.

Dining

The Trellis Room is the hotel’s fine dining room, serving Italian cuisine under the original glass ceiling. Royal Street Tavern is the lounge, with live piano, and Joe Cain Cafe is the casual option for comfort food. Downtown restaurants along Dauphin Street are also a short walk away.

Location

The hotel is on North Royal Street in Mobile’s central business district, at the heart of the downtown historic area. You can walk to the bars and restaurants on Dauphin Street, and the monthly Art Walk takes over downtown on the second Friday. The Mobile Cruise Terminal is nearby, which makes the hotel a common pre-cruise stay, and USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is a short drive across the river.

• Mobile Regional Airport: about 14 miles
• Pensacola International Airport: about 57 miles

During Mardi Gras season, downtown Mobile fills up fast, so book well ahead if you are coming for Carnival.

Good to Know Before You Book

Check-in is at 4 p.m. and checkout is at 11 a.m. Parking is valet only, with a daily fee, and oversized vehicles such as RVs and trailers cannot be valeted. Pets are welcome, up to two per room, for a nightly fee. Wi-Fi is complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy members.

If the history is what draws you, request a room in the original building and spend some time in the lobby looking at the four portraits of the monarchs and the president who represent Mobile’s French, British, Spanish and American eras.