Auburn Hotels|Auburn, Alabama, United States

The Laurel Hotel and Spa

Name: The Laurel Hotel and Spa
Telephone: 833-950-1819

A campus getaway that earns high marks

VERIFIED LUXURY

Learn How We Inspect

Auburn University may be better known for football than formal hospitality, but with the polished Laurel Hotel & Spa, that may soon change. A centerpiece of the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center on Auburn University’s campus, The Laurel joins a culinary lab, wine appreciation classes, a microbrewery and other entities under one roof to create elevated education programs and experiences for the next generation of hospitality stars. Through a unique partnership with the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management, the Alabama hotel offers students first-hand experience at the front desk, back of house and everywhere in between — all without the guest ever noticing.

Things start off impressively at check-in from the hardwood-floored and neutral-toned Library. The scene inside the 26 spacious accommodations, which range from 421-square-foot King rooms to 766-square-foot suites, is equally appealing. The full-service spa is another standout amenity. Still, the most memorable aspect of the hotel may be a culinary program that pairs aspiring cooks with veteran chefs who take up residency at the signature restaurant, thus ensuring that every meal students, visiting loved ones or those in town for the big game have is unforgettable.

Our Inspector's Highlights

The Laurel Hotel & Spa’s rooms have a sophisticated but unstuffy vibe. The velvet chairs, gold coffee tables and massive area rugs would have been right at home in the study of a stylish professor.
Bathrooms keep an opulent air with marble-framed tubs, rainforest showers and fragrant Bvlgari toiletries.
Suites are equipped with wet bars that come fully stocked with all the tools (a drink cooler, a cocktail mixing kit) and tipples (full bottles of Hendrick’s Gin and 1800 Tequila for purchase) you’ll need.
The spa consists of serene treatment rooms, a salt room and a eucalyptus steam room. When you need to cool off, head up to the rooftop pool for a tranquil escape that comes with tantalizing views of town.
If you’re planning a visit to Auburn University, there isn’t a more convenient home base than The Laurel. Your room is just a short walk from Samford Hall, Toomer’s Corner, Jordan-Hare Stadium and most of the school’s other major landmarks.

The Restaurants

A fully integrated teaching restaurant, 1856 is a dining experience unlike any you’ve ever had. Students from the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management help the front and back of house run smoothly while a rooftop garden maintained by the university’s horticulture program ensures that only the freshest ingredients are used.
The culinary program at 1856 is overseen by a rotating lineup of esteemed chefs. The restaurant has been under the gastronomic guidance of James Beard winner Joël Antunes, five-time James Beard nominee Ford Fry and inventive chef Tyler Lyne.
Walt’s on the Roof may lure you with its spectacular looks across campus, but it’ll hook you with a revolving menu of small bites and seasonal cocktails.
The rooftop is also the scene for a robust lineup of weekly epicurean events. Toast with Towers & Tinis on Tuesdays, join in on the Oyster Hour fun on Wednesdays and don’t miss Bourbon & Bites on Thursdays.
On the building’s ground floor, you’ll find Thrive Coffee Roastery & Café, a great place to kick off your day or stop for an afternoon pick-me-up. And when it comes to lunch and dinner, Hey Day Market is a quaint food hall with everything from Mexican and Malaysian street noodles to pizza and poke bowls.

Amenities