The Grand Hotel Birmingham: Forbes review

It’s tucked away on Birmingham’s Colmore Row overlooking the grounds of St. Phillips Cathedral The Grand Hotel Birminghama sublime, heritage-listed hotel dating from 1879 that has hosted countless notables, from Winston Churchill to Charlie Chaplin.

Stroll through the stately iron-barred double doors, climb the gold-lined marble steps as you tiptoe over cool stone tiles and enter The Grand’s magnificent lobby, decorated with antique granite columns, towering oxidized mirrors and orbital pendant lights ceiling is decorated with glass hanging on a tray.

Walk around olive velvet sofas and black marble coffee tables sheltered by lush devil’s ivy planted in mosaic stone pots, and slip under a retro arched entrance that opens right into a wide reception area.

Monochrome film portraits and Gothic silver lamps line the cream partitions with round oak tables, a black vintage Art Nouveau mailbox, and a copper vase crammed with yellow Easter lilies, eucalyptus, and twisted branches that curl toward an Art Deco stained glass ceiling.

A forest green ribbed iron reception desk stands in front of a geometrical glass wall with echeverias in weathered stone pots and mid-century brass lamps.

Gray-mottled double-door elevators with arched oak frames whiz as much as the spacious two-story penthouse suite, which spans 1,350 square feet and costs $2,500 per night.

As you walk past a protracted Bronx oak reception table set on black titanium legs with potted eucalyptus, you climb a vintage oak staircase that encompasses a black round wire mesh chandelier and a big floppy disk portrait collage.

French double doors lead right into a spacious front room with chevron herringbone wool rugs, gold lava bowls and orange Murano glass lamps on oak stumps alongside library chairs in brushed Regency velvet and stitched cotton.

Studded leather espresso wrap chairs surround a big oak banquet table with dried orange blossoms in stone pots and a four-tiered fluted glass chandelier above.

While dahlias and daisies stand in glass bulb vases on long Italian marble coffee tables, the proper place to sip an Americano while listening to the crackle of flames out of your white stone fireplace.

As the moonlight shines in, you’ll be able to curl up in your golden velvet corner sofa, snuggle deep into camel linen-quilted cushions and revel in breathtaking panoramic views, or play a game of foosball with a freshly made pomegranate martini in hand to accompany your Dark oak liqueur is ready in a cabinet with single malt whiskeys, pink copper cocktail shakers and potted terrariums.

Before you dive in Tolkien Novel while sinking right into a peach velvet armchair with a copper lever-arm floor lamp that proves a sturdy reading companion.

Downstairs, modern pastel artwork by Charles Pedone and dark oak cabinets line the master suite partitions with fern pots, geometric marble vases, glass bubble tea lights, brass tea strainers, and a vintage bust of Beethoven.

A wicker sofa in peach and cream tones sits on licorice oak floors in front of a magnolia granite fireplace with a mid-century ball chandelier on the ceiling. Charcoal herringbone wool throws drape over a thin-framed four-poster bed guarded by obsidian nightstands with rustic metal cage doors.

Stretch out like a starfish and you will discover vibrant roses and dahlias in a mint ceramic vase on a black granite coffee table surrounded by plush burnt orange sofa chairs.

Sliding glass doors lead into a luxurious bathroom with geometric zebra floors, twining sword ferns in fluted stone pots, a deep soaking tub, cozy cotton robes, Carrara marble countertops illuminated by satin nickel wall lanterns, and a walk-in shower stall in cream tile.

Zigzag honey rugs flow right into a dressing room with floor-to-ceiling built-in oak cabinetry and an Art Nouveau espresso pointy stool in front of an oak dressing table with a Hollywood vanity mirror.

In the basement of The greatUp a dove-gray stone staircase with a regal wool runner held up by baroque golden brass rods, you come across the retro American diner. Isaacs.

The Art Deco stained glass double doors open to disclose this Emerald City A suburb swathed in forest green with black-and-white honeycomb mosaic tiles, fresh corn plants in bronze-trimmed pots, monochrome shots of New York City, cone-shaped brass sconces, and a gold glass ball chandelier hanging from a ceiling decorated with French rosettes.

Small, cozy alcoves sit behind velvet curtains, while an oak grand piano with a vintage brass gramophone marks the doorway to an elevated dining area clad in vinyl floral lattice wallpaper with brass half-moon floor lamps, olive leather Chesterfield sofas and gold pleated wall art .

Enjoy spicy margaritas and cherry bakewell sours at a bar fabricated from ridged Black Storm marble with forest green gleaming tiles and chrome dome lamps while savoring homemade nachos, baby back ribs, and seafood platters with rock oysters, red shrimp, fried crab, and tuna tataki.

On the subsequent floor, walk through arched oak doors into The Grand’s sumptuous cocktail bar and afternoon tea room. Madeleine.

Utopian gold snowflake globe chandeliers dangle from an espresso-colored coffered ceiling decorated with gold rosettes, while copper antique mirrors decorated with dried cherry blossoms decorate the partitions.

Danish magenta velvet high-back armchairs with pink tassels float around mocha marble tables and cream leather armless lounge chairs on damask-orange rugs with navy velvet swivel tub chairs and echeveria in weathered stone pots.

While burnt orange marble columns support the big Georgian windows and laser-cut bronze sconces adorn the espresso oak paneled partitions.

Antique red leather stools surround a camel suede bar with black marble and Edwardian brass lamps, where you’ll be able to enjoy a glass of Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut or admire pencil-drawn portraits and monochrome film stills of Birmingham’s old bullring.

Cozy up on peach velvet Chesterfield sofas next to a Scandinavian fireplace with espresso inlay, nibbling on chicken, lemon and thyme sandwiches, smoked salmon tarts and Valrhona gianduja petit tart with hazelnut financier and soft caramel, topped off with an Earl Gray compote scone with whipped Rodda’s clotted cream.

Chic retro style at its best.