Sneak peek into 8 of the best bathrooms in Birmingham

Birmingham's best bathrooms include one at Zoe's in Forest Park
“Through the Liking Glass,” by Delaine Derry Green. Part of the monthly “Tour de Loo” contest held by Naked Art. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

What are the best bathrooms in Birmingham? Yes, we wonder about strange things here at Bham Now. But we love art, and we love local businesses, so it only made sense to check out the art scene in local loos.

1. Crestwood Pharmacy and Soda Fountain

Birmingham's best bathrooms include Peter Thomas Wilm's art at Crestwood Pharmacy and Soda Fountain
Peter Thomas Wilm is a wizard with a Sharpie. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

Our adventure began at Crestwood Pharmacy and Soda Fountain. A visit to the facilities revealed walls covered in the wonderful world of Peter Thomas Wilm. Imagine, if you will, the entire room covered in the most exquisite sharpie art. To get the full effect, you need to see it yourself. In case you need any further encouragement, Crestwood Pharmacy and Soda Fountain has incredible milkshakes. Need I say more?

2. Tropicaleo in Avondale

Birmingham's best bathrooms include Tropicaleo in Avondale
From the bathroom at Tropicaleo. Photo by Lauren Bedford for Bham Now

Next, we reached out to other folks on the Bham Now team. Because who else has pictures of cool bathrooms at the ready? Lauren Bedford reached back almost immediately with this fun snap from the baño at Tropicaleo.

If you haven’t been to Tropicaleo yet, you need to know: Birmingham loves Tropicaleo. Cubanos, fried plantains, vegan offerings . . . and that’s just a tiny taste of the food. They’ve got art, music, film, and activism as well. Oh, and drinks.

3. Slag Heap Brewing Company in Trussville

Birmingham's best bathrooms include Slag Heap Brewing Co in Trussville
The coolest women’s restroom around at Slag Heap Brewing Co. in Trussville. Photo by Patience Itson for Bham Now

Speaking of drinks, Bham Now’s Patience Itson had this to say after heading to the ladies’ room at the grand opening of Slag Heap Brewing Co. in Trussville: “Offering a retro-boutique vibe, it’s like a teenager’s dream bedroom out of a 1980s Molly Ringwald movie.”

As the Psychedelic Furs said back in the ’80s, “isn’t she pretty in pink.”

4. The Marble Ring in Avondale

Birmingham's best bathrooms include The Marble Ring in Avondale
Mirror, mirror on the wall of the women’s restroom at The Marble Ring. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

Rumor has it that The Marble Ring has cool bathrooms, so we went to see for ourselves. Rumor has it right, don’t you think?

marbleringdetail 1 Sneak peek into 8 of the best bathrooms in Birmingham
This is what very fancy phones used to look like, a long time ago. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

5. Naked Art Gallery in Forest Park

Birmingham's best bathrooms include Naked Art in Forest Park
Detail from “Den of Bridezilla” by Sarah Heath. Photo by Leo Swain for Bham Now

Next we went to Naked Art Gallery, because in addition to showcasing local artist’s work for over 20 years, they also have a cool bathroom. In fact, they’ve been hosting a monthly “Tour de Loo” competition, in which local artists turn the bathrooms at Naked Art, Shoppe (next door), and Zoë’s (across the street) into installations. The winner gets a $300 prize, thanks to sponsor Will Brooks.

“Den of Bridezilla,” by Sarah Heath, was my kid’s favorite by far. Pictures hardly do it justice. Imagine walking into a dimly-lit cave made entirely of recycled wedding dresses, complete with stalactites and stalagmites. Crazy-sounding, right? Absolutely incredible to behold.

6. Shoppe in Forest Park

Birmingham's best bathrooms include Shoppe in Forest Park
“Bloom” by Celeste Laborde Houma at Shoppe. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

From Naked Art it’s a short walk on a path to next-door neighbor Shoppe. Their current installation is called “Bloom,” by Celeste Laborde Houma, and it’s so pretty. So many lovely details . . .

Birmingham's best bathrooms include Shoppe in Forest Park
The sink at Shoppe. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

7. Zoë’s in Forest Park

Zoe's in Forest Park is home to one of the best bathrooms in Birmingham
“Through the Liking Glass,” by Delaine Derry Green. Part of the monthly “Tour de Loo” contest held by Naked Art. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

Across the street, Delaine Derry Green’s “Through the Liking Glass” installation made us laugh as we talked about how easy it is for people to get sucked into our phones.

8. Rojo in Southside

Birmingham's best bathrooms include Rojo in Southside
Monkey on the wall at Rojo. Photo by Sharron Swain for Bham Now

Finally, we ended up at Rojo, which was on pretty much everyone’s list of cool bathrooms in the ‘Ham. Once we were there, we could see why. They put a lot of thought and effort into the décor, and it shows.


So tell us, Birmingham, what best bathrooms did we miss? Which ones are your favorites? Tell us or post your own pictures in the comments below.

Sharron Swain
Sharron Swain

Writer, Interviewer + Adventurer | Telling stories to make a difference

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