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You won’t be in the minority if you’ve never considered an Alabama weekend getaway, especially if you’re from outside the American South. We’re here to change that. Because Mobile, Alabama’s gateway to the Gulf Coast, is a weekend break heaven that’s crying out to be explored.
Nestled between Florida and Mississippi, Mobile is Alabama’s only seaport and packs a rich and important history. The first capital of French Louisiana in the 18th century, Mobile passed hands from France to Spain and then Britain before becoming part of a unified U.S. in 1813. Today, Mobile is a wonderful blend of all these cultures.

The birthplace of Mardi Gras in the U.S., the final resting place of the mighty USS Alabama and home to one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world, there really is so much to do in Mobile. Add to that a rich food scene where you can explore Alabama’s most famous foods, as well as some excellent boutique hotels, Mobile makes for the perfect Alabama weekend getaway.
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Where to stay in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is a relatively small city with a compact Downtown, which is by far the best area to stay. All the hotels we have recommended below are downtown, within walking distance of all the top sights and hot restaurants to make your Alabama weekend getaway as relaxing as possible.
Travel tip: Public transport in fairly limited, so if you haven’t brought or rented a car, the taxi fares will soon add up and outweigh the saving you make by staying further out.

The Admiral
Unequivocally our number one choice for your Alabama weekend getaway, The Admiral is Downtown Mobile’s swankiest boutique. Fresh from a recent complete refurbishment, as soon as you walk in, The Admiral smacks of quirkiness.
With dark tones everywhere from the lobby to the rooms, it’s perfect for a romantic getaway, whilst not being off-putting for solo travelers. There’s a serene pool, a cozy cocktail bar and an excellent restaurant, and sweet extras like free cookies and chocolate milk every evening.

You might expect such luxury to come with a hefty price tag, but the fact is The Admiral is one of the best hotel bargains you’ll find. In fact, it’s always cheaper than the Holiday Inn next door.
Fort Conde Inn
Sitting in the shadow of Colonial Fort Conde, built by French settlers in 1723, Fort Conde Inn is more upscale boutique than an ‘inn’. Set in Mobile’s second oldest building, the Inn comes with lavishly decorated rooms, some with views of the fort and a refined French bistro, Bistro Saint Emanuel.

Rooms are very reasonably priced; if your budget can stretch to it, a stay in their Luxury Suite will make for a night to remember. Don’t get too comfortable in the free-standing bathtub though – there’s too much to see during your Alabama weekend getaway!
Malaga Inn
The top wallet-friendly option in Downtown, Malaga Inn is just three blocks from Dauphin Street. Housed in a beautiful colonial building, Malaga Inn is a welcoming family-run hotel. Whilst the rooms may be budget pricewise, they certainly don’t feel it. They’re warm and inviting, with antique furnishings as well as all the mod-cons.
The courtyard is truly stunning and a great place to unwind on a warm evening. There’s no restaurant or bar, but with so many to choose from within a five minute walk, that’s no hardship.

How to plan the ultimate Alabama weekend getaway
Day 1
Morning: Settle in and find your bearings
No matter how far (or not) you’ve traveled, it’s always good to have a little time to freshen up and relax before setting out. Start the day with a leisurely breakfast, then head out for a wander around the Historic Downtown District to get your bearings and make a mental note of anywhere that catches your eye to revisit later in your Alabama weekend getaway.
Afternoon: Discover Mobile’s foodie hotspots
Kick off your Alabama weekend getaway with a Downtown Mobile Food Tour. Just like its culture, Mobile’s food scene is a beautiful mismatch of European, Creole and Mexican. As much as we’re all about food, there’s no way even the most dedicated foodie could sample all of Mobile’s great restaurants in one weekend. Trust me, I tried.

That’s where this excellent small group food tour comes in. You’ll get to see the best spots in town through the eyes of a local with plenty of free samples along the way. By the end, you’ll have seen a fair chunk of Downtown and have a list of restaurants you want to check out during your Alabama weekend getaway, on top of our recommendations.
Evening: Have a relaxed dinner at Loda Bier Garten
At the heart of Dauphin Street, Loda Bier Garten is an Alabama take on a German bierhaus. Informal and relaxed, it’s the ideal place for a first night dinner. In true German style, they have over 100 beers on tap. In slightly less German style, the food menu features all the stalwarts of American comfort food.

Their burgers are the stars of the show; from the chicken and waffle sandwich to The Saenger, their enormous bacon and mushroom-topped patty oozing with Swiss cheese, it isn’t hard to see why Loda claims to have the “best burgers on Dauphin Street”.
Day 2
Breakfast: Brunch on Dauphin
Kick off the second day of your Alabama weekend getaway at Mobile’s number-one brunch spot: Ruby Slipper. Modern décor and relaxed vibes go hand in hand with their massive menu, which sums Mobile cuisine up nicely. They have everything from classic eggs and pancakes to Tex-Mex-inspired Migas, the southern staple that is Shrimp & Grits and Creole style French Toast.

On top of their great brunch menu, the cocktail list is not to be sniffed at. If you want a true Ruby Slippers experience, wash your breakfast down with a flight of Mimosas. A sign on the wall tells you that “you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning“. If you enjoy your weekends like I do, this certainly feels more like an instruction than observation.
Morning: Discover Mobile’s maritime heritage
Quite possibly Mobile’s most famous attraction, you can’t miss a visit to the namesake USS Alabama during your Alabama weekend getaway. Permanently moored a couple of miles outside Downtown at the claw of Mobile-Tensaw Delta, the Alabama was launched in 1942.

She served the U.S. Navy throughout the Second World War, seeing action in Europe and right across the Pacific. When the war drew to a close, USS Alabama remained stationed off Tokyo to assist in the repatriation of military personnel who had served in Japan.
Her berth is part of the 100-acre USS Alabama Memorial Park which also houses an impressive collection of aircraft, memorials and a submarine, USS Drum. There’s nothing I hate more on a weekend getaway than waiting in lines. I always recommend to save time when you arrive by booking your tickets in advance.
Afternoon: Explore Downtown Mobile’s museums
Back in Downtown, the History Museum of Mobile is the perfect place to learn about the city’s past. It has an impressive collection of artefacts from long before Mobile became Mobile and even more from the 300 years since its founding.

A highlight is the Aaron & Sarah Friedman Miniature Gallery which displays eight miniature houses, two of which are direct copies of real Mobile houses. Aaron Friedman built them as gifts for his wife and seven granddaughters, but they’ve since become local treasures.
Once you’ve explored the History Museum, make a trip to the newest addition to their exhibits. Clotilda: The Exhibition is showcased in the Africatown Heritage House. Africatown, three miles north of Downtown, was formed by a group of West African men in 1860 who had been enslaved and brought to the U.S. on the Clotilda slave ship.
Evening: Dinner with a view
A homage to Mobile’s French origins, Dauphin’s is one of the city’s top restaurants, in every sense of the word. Occupying the 34th floor of the Trustmark Building, dinner comes with a sweeping panorama of the whole city from 424 feet above ground.

The menu is a modern take on classic French Creole dishes. Their Gulf shrimp chowder is the perfect start to any meal here, the shrimp fresh from the waters in front of your eyes. Entrée highlights include succulent steaks, seafood platters and, for the more adventurous, dolphin fillet with shrimp sauce. Their signatures – Banana Dock’s Chicken and Rasta Pasta – will take your Alabama weekend getaway to a whole other level.
If you’re keen to tick off more of Alabama’s unique culinary experiences, don’t miss our ultimate guide to the traditional foods of Alabama.
Day 3
Morning: Get out on the Delta
When you’re this close to the second largest river delta in the U.S., it would be wrong to pass up the opportunity to hit the water. Alabama’s largest wetland, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta covers over 300-square miles.

Getting up-close-and-personal with the 126 species of fish, 46 mammals, 69 reptiles and 300 birds which call the delta home is the perfect way to kick off the final day of your Alabama weekend getaway. In my opinion, this wildlife kayak tour is suited to everyone from novice kayakers to the most experienced.
With an hour on the water, you’ll get the chance to learn more about this diverse ecosystem with commentary from a knowledgeable guide.
Lunch: A taste of Latin America
Back on dry land, head for Dauphin Street to refuel at local favorite Rooster’s. No matter what time of day you arrive, you can guarantee they’ll be busy. Rooster’s is Mobile’s go-to lunch spot for every occasion, including an Alabama weekend getaway!

The menu packs all the flavors of Latin America. The Caribbean-style Jerk Burger is my favorite, closely followed by Hawaiian-inspired Mahi Mahi. If a light lunch is your style, try the chicken tortilla soup or one of their paleo salads. No matter what you order, you can’t go wrong at one of our favorite restaurants in Mobile!
Afternoon: Mardi Gras
For most people, myself included, until I took an Alabama weekend getaway in Mobile, Mardi Gras means New Orleans. The Big Easy might be Mardi Gras capital now, but the first Mardi Gras in the U.S. took place here in Mobile, in 1703.
The city’s French founders brought this ancient tradition with them, and every year since then, Mobile has celebrated in style.

Travel tip: Mardi Gras is the perfect time for an Alabama weekend getaway.
In 2025, Mardi Gras will fall on March 4, although the celebrations kick off on February 14th, with events every weekend in the run up to the big day.
The origins of the festival are celebrated at Mobile Carnival Museum. You’ll find hundreds of props, elaborate outfits and masks from previous years, as well as informative exhibits and films on the festival’s history. You’ll definitely want to save time by purchasing a skip-the-line ticket before you go.

Evening: Frights & cocktails to recover
For your final evening in Mobile, take a tour to discover the city’s dark side. We love this quirky ghost walk which leads you through the Downtown Historic District’s cobbled streets. You’ll be guided past eerie churches and mysterious houses, as you listen to some spine-chilling tales from Mobile history.
To get over the shock, wind up your Alabama weekend getaway at The Haberdasher. Mobile’s favorite cocktail bar, ‘The Hab’ is famous for their handcrafted cocktails and craft beer. If you’re not still full from lunch, their menu is full of incredibly cheap comfort food. For a unique fusion of southern and Korean flavors, try their delicious Shrimp Gochujang.
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