Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook, Autograph Collection

Every Kessler Collection hotel embodies its particular location, and the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook is no exception, reflecting the colors and textures of the neighboring botanical gardens in Mountain Brook, an upscale suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. As the city’s first luxury boutique hotel, the Grand Bohemian offers 100 posh guest rooms and suites, as well as more than 12,000 square feet of event space. The largest of seven rooms, a 6,000-square-foot ballroom with Austrian-crystal chandeliers and hand-painted walls, seats up to 350.

But the hotel also gives groups one-of-a-kind spaces and experiences. The 2,600-square-foot Grand Bohemian Gallery can accommodate welcome receptions and cocktail hours among its 100-plus pieces of art. For more hands-on groups, the cooking school’s demonstrations and lessons not only help participants make amazing meals, they also encourage bonding and team building. And wine-blending classes let attendees learn about and taste different varietals and then create a custom souvenir — their own wine blend.

The unique touches continue beyond group activities to Habitat Feed & Social, a lively rooftop restaurant and bar that features views of the gardens; regional specialties such as Gulf Coast shrimp, diver scallops, and Alabama lamb; and an open terrace with two fire pits, illuminated ottomans, and oversized chairs like something out of a Tim Burton fantasy. Other amenities include a fitness center, a pool, and Poseidon Spa for pampering and rejuvenation.