The newly opened Battery II is quickly becoming a premier destination to showcase the magic of Birmingham. Southern hospitality shines through its anchor establishments — The Painted Lady Hotel and Bygones Bar. Located directly across from The Battery on the corner of 22nd Street South and 2nd Avenue South, Battery II has revitalized the century-old Eyer-Raden Building into the next must-visit spot to add to your Magic City bucket list.
Visitors and locals alike can experience the legend and lore of Birmingham through one of the Automotive Historic District’s oldest buildings. Take a look inside!
The Painted Lady: An Ode to a Bold and Boisterous Legend
With a name as intriguing as the woman it honors, The Painted Lady Hotel embraces the fabled past of the historic building it calls home. “Originally a boarding house, it famously served as the site of Louise Wooster’s brothel, steeped in drama, elegance, and rumor,” Miro tells us. Though the goings on at the Eyer-Raden building may have been cloaked in impropriety, Louise had already become a local legend during the cholera epidemic of 1873. She tended to the sick as others fled the city in droves.
Miro says the hotel embraces the building’s past “with reverence and theatrical flair, preserving original flourishes while layering in modern touches.” He adds, “The Painted Lady Hotel offers guests a front-row seat to the soul of downtown’s revival: one story, one cocktail, one velvet couch at a time.”
The Painted Lady celebrates the unconventional, captivating, and undeniably Birmingham spirit Louise Wooster embodied, evidenced in the thoughtful details of the boutique hotel’s interior design. The Birmingham-based architecture and design firm Fifth Dimension led the transformation, beautifully intertwining boldness and sensitivity into every thread. “You’ll find accent walls that echo the building’s original floral wallpaper and art pieces that juxtapose historic sensibility with modern rebellion,” says Weston Markwell of Fifth Dimension Designs. “The Pink Room, for instance, channels nostalgia while feeling unapologetically fresh.”
Each of the 22 rooms and suites is uniquely designed to ensure a one-of-a-kind stay. Its location downtown puts anything you need within a short walk away. Of course, The Battery is right across the street, so you’re set for dining options with Wasabi Juan’s, Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken, and Birmingham District Brewing Co. right outside your door. It’s also just a few blocks to Iron City Birmingham. Plus, just downstairs and adjacent to the hotel is Bygones Bar, a new cocktail bar that is already becoming an instant classic.
Bygones Bar: A Classy Joint
From the moment the doorman welcomes you into Bygones Cocktail Bar, you’ll feel like you’ve entered an old, familiar haunt — welcomed like family, despite it having just opened a few months ago. There’s a cozy, warm ambiance radiating from the original exposed brick, wrap-around bar, velvety plush booths, and intimate date-night tables. You and yours may even feel like the only people in the world, despite the crowd that will inevitably turn up to experience a signature Bygones libation (or two).
The inviting, comfortable-yet-elevated ambiance and the rustic elegance of the space are no accident. They are the intentional work of Bygones Bar owners, Michael Tobey and Phillip Crowe. After working in Birmingham’s bar scene for several years, the pair bonded over a shared vision for their own bar, where every decision, detail, and drink would promote a sense of belonging.
While the vibe at Bygones is undeniable, the drinks are where the real magic happens. The passionate mixologists have curated a menu rich in Southern flavor and steeped in local lore. Ask the bartenders the story behind The Midnight Voice, and enjoy the espresso martini made with Chilton County blackberries.
What’s Next?
Plans for Battery II go well beyond the hotel and bar. The site also offers over 18,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space for future tenants. Stay tuned!
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