The Elyton Hotel

The Elyton Hotel occupies the Empire Building, a 16-story tower completed in 1909 at the corner of 20th Street and 1st Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. That intersection earned the nickname “the Heaviest Corner on Earth” in the early 1900s, when four of the tallest buildings in the South went up on its four corners. A historical marker on the sidewalk outside the hotel tells the story.

After sitting empty for years, the building was restored and reopened as a hotel in the summer of 2017, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The name honors Elyton, the town that predated Birmingham. With 111 rooms and six suites, it has the scale and personality of a boutique hotel, and it holds a AAA Four Diamond rating.

Rooms and Amenities

Rooms blend the building’s early 20th century bones with modern furnishings, and the upper floors look out over the downtown grid. Practical amenities include:

• Concierge and 24-hour front desk: helpful for dinner reservations and theater nights.
• The Iron Room: an on-site fitness center (a fee applies).
• Event space: the hotel hosts weddings and social events.
• Wi-Fi: complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy members.

Dining

The Yard is the ground-floor restaurant, serving progressive Southern food in a space that draws plenty of locals as well as guests. Up top, Moon Shine is the rooftop lounge, with small plates, cocktails and views across the city skyline. It is one of the better places downtown to start or end an evening, so expect it to be busy on warm weekend nights. Room service is also available.

Location

The Elyton sits in the heart of downtown, close to the Theatre District, where the historic Alabama Theatre and Lyric Theatre host films, concerts and shows. Railroad Park and Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons, are a short walk south, and the McWane Science Center is nearby for families. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and 16th Street Baptist Church are a short drive or a longer walk away. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is about 5.3 miles from the hotel. There is no airport shuttle, though the hotel can arrange sedan service.

Good to Know Before You Book

• Parking: parking is valet only. Valet runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday through Thursday it operates from early morning to late evening, so tell the desk if you need your car outside those hours.
• Pets: up to two pets are allowed, each under 50 pounds, with a non-refundable fee per stay.
• Next door: a separate Fairfield Inn shares the development in the neighboring former Alagasco Building, so double-check you are booking the Elyton itself.
• Rooftop timing: Moon Shine is popular, so head up earlier in the evening if you want a seat with a view.

For travelers who want a hotel with real history in the middle of downtown, the Elyton is an easy recommendation.

Photo: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.