The Admiral Hotel, Mobile Downtown — Hotel in Mobile

I'm a Mobile native that moved away and was staying with my GF for a short visit. I stayed for 4 nights at the beginning of October 2024 & I'm conflicted about the Admiral Hotel.

I'll start with the good. The hotel is very nice. It was newly renovated just a couple of months before. The lobby is very clean and classy. The staff are very cordial and you always see someone cleaning in the common areas. I think the hotel is in the best spot downtown. It's the perfect walking distance from just about everything. The room was clean and quiet. A little smaller than expected, but it does look exactly like the pictures. The adjacent parking lot was only $10/day. Never had a problem getting a space. The parking lot is covered in cameras so we felt secure. The hotel was quiet and rarely did we hear anything through the walls during the stay. Which is saying something as our room was near the elevator. My GF and I like to play chess. They have two ornate public chessboard tables in the lobby which we played on every morning over coffee.

Now for the bad. We were initially given the wrong room number on arrival by the front desk. Just a little frustrating after an 11-hour drive. My room had a small locked closet the produced a constant sound of running/dripping. The sound is too inconsistent for it to fade into the background. We thought it would be temporary, but it continued the entire stay. If you are a light sleeper or want silence in your room, this would probably drive you mad. You will get some reprieve from the water sound because, when the air conditioner activates, it sounds like fighter jet taking off and will drown out all other sounds. Once again, this will wake light sleepers. On the 2nd day of my stay the door to our room suddenly opened as I was getting out of the shower. Thank goodness I had the inside metal latch to catch it, or the staff member at the door would have been staring at my genitals. They said they didn't knock because they thought the room was vacant and were here to prepare it for the next guest. Hence I then had to go take time to confirm my reservation at the counter. The pool is smaller than it looks. I can imagine it being a problem when the weather is warmer. The 1pm late checkout they advertise if you book through the hotel is not guaranteed and likely won't happen when the hotel is near capacity. The price could stand to be lower. I've stay in fancier hotels in the heart of Dallas, TX for a lower price. There were a lot of other tiny fees tacked on when I checked out as well. Small amounts, but I wish I had known about them upfront when booking. As well as an unexpected $150 deposit that was charged to my card upfront (though it was later refunded).

Maybe my experience was an outlier? I think some really good experiences and really bad average out to a 3-star rating. I honestly enjoyed my stay, but I have far more patience than most others. If you know your tolerance is high or you just need simple place to sleep, this might...

The Admiral Hotel, Mobile, AL…. A heartfelt review that is so well deserved.

Stepping into The Admiral Hotel feels like stepping into a warm embrace. From the very moment I arrived, it was clear that this hotel is more than just a place to stay—it’s a sanctuary of southern hospitality and timeless charm.

Deavon in valet went above and beyond to ensure every part of our arrival was seamless. Whether it was keeping our car close, assisting with luggage, or offering a friendly smile, he made us feel cared for at every turn. Ashlaund and Vernon at the front desk were some of the most accommodating people I’ve ever encountered in my travels—attentive, kind, and genuinely invested in making our stay perfect. And Shawna, the hotel greeter and concierge, was an absolute ray of sunshine. Seeing her each day felt like reuniting with a dear friend. Over the course of just two days, they all began to feel like family.

The design of The Admiral is simply breathtaking—a perfect blend of Victorian elegance and modern sophistication. Every detail, every corner of the hotel reflects the thought and passion of its new owners. As someone who has been visiting The Admiral since childhood, I can confidently say that this recent transformation is nothing short of remarkable.

The grand entrance invites you into a space filled with beauty and warmth. The aroma that greets you as you walk in immediately soothes your soul, while the lounge feels like a romantic retreat, radiating chill vibes that make you want to linger for hours. Throughout the lobby, you’ll find cozy nooks perfect for reading, playing games, or simply savoring the stunning ambiance.

I made a last-minute booking, traveling from 30-A to Mobile to reconnect with friends, and found myself unexpectedly homesick. But this hotel? It healed my heart. It wrapped me in a sense of comfort and nostalgia while offering a refreshed and inspiring take on the spaces I’ve loved for so long.

To the visionary who restored The Admiral: You’ve created a masterpiece. Your attention to detail, respect for the building’s history, and passion for hospitality shine through in every aspect of this experience. You deserve every ounce of praise for breathing new life into this treasure.

I wouldn’t change a single thing about The Admiral Hotel. My mind is blown, and my heart is full. I will return to Mobile, not just to visit friends, but to experience the magic of this hotel again and...

Absolutely horrible hotel and experience.

When I tried booking through a wedding block rate they only had double bed rooms left. I asked if they could give me the same discount just not in the same area/block for a smaller room. They said no. So I was stuck booking online after that call paying the same rate for the smaller room as it was for the discounted double bed room. For ~$194 a night you would think they’d have free parking or free valet service. NOPE. Pay 27.50 per night for valet service that’s only available between 6am to 10pm. Huge ripoff. They are going through renovations - would have been nice to know before booking because that means zero amenities. What this also means is that your room is hobbled together and smells like a mixture of mold and cat pee. The smell was so terrible we had to go get air spray but that did nothing for the quality of air which is obviously dubious with the remodel dust in the air. I can feel my lungs are now worse than they were before staying at this horrible hotel. Did I mention this place is hobbled together? Oh yeah, the shower doesn’t have a door or a permanently installed curtain. You get a curtain rod that falls down in the middle of your shower because the tile it’s against isn’t going to keep it from slipping when it gets wet. See photos. Carpet is barely put together, no handles on the bathroom door, holes in the wall. Cockroaches coming out of the sink. Must I say more? Worse than all of this is that you have to choose when booking to either book lower fee with no option of cancellation/refund or pay more for the OPTION of cancellation/refund. Obviously this was the wedding’s suggested hotel so it wasn’t a second thought to pay more when it was the hotel of choice. Had this ridiculous business scam practice not been a thing we would have left after the first ten minutes due to the air quality and mold. Literally we immediately left the hotel because we could barely breathe. Almost forgot, good luck sleeping! This place is the loudest hotel room I’ve ever been in. The air conditioning alone sounds like a jet engine and then the walls keep no noise out. Their renovation people must start overnight too because what in the world is all the noise?!?! Absolutely absurd.

Honestly such a huge waste of money. Had zero comfort and wouldn’t recommend this hotel to even a...