The Redmont, opened in 1925, is the oldest operating hotel in Birmingham and a handsome example of the city's early boom years. The 14-story building at 5th Avenue North and 21st Street has been restored carefully and is now a boutique hotel — but the bar and lobby are open to non-guests and make a good starting point for a downtown evening.
The rooftop bar offers views toward Red Mountain and Vulcan Park. Even if you're not staying here, the building is worth a look: the lobby retains its original terrazzo floors, coffered ceilings, and brass fittings. The Redmont is a reminder of how prosperous Birmingham was in the 1920s before the Depression and the collapse of the steel industry.