GunRunner Boutique Hotel

While the hotel looks nice and trendy that’s about as far as it goes. My wife and I arrived and went to the bar to check in. The barman told us our room name and referred us to the e-mail we had been sent in order to get into it. He then went back to serving drinks and we were left to carry our suitcases up two flights of stairs to our room. The hotel car park was full so we asked where we could park and we were told we could park on the meters outside as ‘they weren’t checked’. We later found there was an additional car park which we used.||In the room there were two coat hangers on an open rail, no cupboards and no drawers - not a particular problem for us as we were only staying one night but seems a bit spartan. In the bathroom there was nowhere to hang any towels. ||It seems to me it’s about style rather than customer comfort or service. Definitely wouldn’t use again.

If you stay at the GunRunner, double-check that you have all of your belongings when you check-out. If you accidentally leave something behind, it will NOT be returned. My husband and I stayed there this spring. We were visiting my son and his family who live in the area. The hotel where we usually stay was sold-out so we found the GunRunner. A few hours after we checked out and hit the road, my husband realized he left his small travel bag of electronics and chargers behind. I immediately called the hotel and over the course of several weeks I talked to them on the phone, via email, voicemail, and used their contact form. I explained to them exactly where the bag was, what it looked like, and that it was a sentimental bag that we really wanted back. During one call I was told that it was found and that they would call me back so that it could be returned. No one ever called back. I kept contacting them. I then received an email from the GM stating that in fact they had not found it and that he had personally talked to the staff. According to the “Find My” app, someone is enjoying our items and probably trashed the bag that we really wanted returned.

The GunRunner is a well-curated stylish space, that comes across as more (albeit well-appointed) VRBO than Boutique Hotel. From our perspective we would have provided more stars if marketing/website was more straight-forward regarding the experience. Just a few notes for those looking for upscale lodging in the Florence area. 1/ There is no check-in, check out, valet or luggage help at The Gunrunner. Not saying this is bad -- folks should just be aware. 2/ Rooms are a two-story walk-up. 3/You're sorta on your own to figure everything out and if there is a problem -- tough luck. Not a big deal, but we had an issue with ceiling fan). We were greeted warmly by the Bartender on our first night though. 4/ Rooms are large and very minimalist. Bed, one chair, one nightstand). No clothes storage except two hanger rack. 5/ Rooms circle around the lounge/bar area and have thin walls. However, on weekends there is a very reasonable last call (about 10:00pm). Still, folks tend to hang out for a long while after that outside 6/ No towel racks, bar soap or maid service. 7/The bar/lounge area is truly outstanding; it's a showcase. Well-styled, organic and with a strong point of view. Cocktails lean to expensive side (but with strong pours). Just our experience, but mixologists were perhaps still learning their trade. We had to ask for Cherries in Old Fashioned and Olives in Martinis (and were told the bar did not have any). 8/Service is not good or bad -- just not provided. If you're looking for an upscale experience in Quad-Cities, GunRunner is a good choice for an over-nighter or a secret rendezvous. Definitely visit the bar as the owners have great taste. It is fantastic for before dinner drinks. If one values service, there may be other choices to consider in Florence area for either a traditional or bespoke hotel.

The layout of the hotel is different but fun. The rooms are off the bar on the 2nd floor. The bar closes early enough to not affect your sleep. It's easy to walk to restaurants and bars downtown. Parking is adjacent to the building. We stayed in the Sam Philips room, which has themed decor and very comfortable furniture. It has a loft feel. There was a Keurig coffeepot. What makes this a 3* reviews was the lack of sound proofing. We could hear everything next door: sneezes, TVs etc. Also the bathroom wall is not a full wall, so every sound in the bathroom could be heard in the main room.

Hotel and rooms are well designed, and the bar is great...but some critical things are in disrepair. We stayed in the Muscle Shoals Sound room for a night despite broken/sagging bed and a loud/broken HVAC. The following day, the hotel was unable to repair these things, so we moved to the Smithsonia room...also very nice. Unfortunately, the HVAC in this room was broken as well and was flashing an error code the moment we checked in. Both rooms also had very poor sound insulation. Net net, we couldnt sleep. The hotel comped our room - as they should. This place could easily be one of the best hotel experiences around if they would tend to some important deferred maintenance.

My husband and I went for our anniversary and the stay was no good at all! Pieces of the furniture fell apart and we got no sleep at all because of the noise. We tried to talk to someone when we left but there was no one around. Just not a good experience at all.

The Jake Paul v. Mike Tyson fight of “hotels.” They want your money, of course, with none of the responsibility of caretaking their customers. No one is available when you need to change rooms in the middle of the night because the mattress needs to be replaced and you’re in pain. The kids at the bar are kind enough to get you to your room, but if you’d like a coffee before leaving, there isn’t a second pod available. God forbid any hospitality is shown you as a guest & you can enjoy perusing all of last night’s takeaway trash at the bar - McDonald’s trash? Check. Taco Bell trash? Check. in hopes of finding any sign you were ever considered by this dark den of over-hype - do they keep the second cup of coffee in a vault? Where does the water from your weak shower go after it waters the floor? Why are the flowers dead, not dried? Why didn’t they put 2 cups of coffee per guest in the room? Why does a smoke alarm flash in your eyes all night? How did they get “best of” anything?? So uncomfortable I was ready to roll before 6 a.m. Artists with warehouses are being belittled by this simulacrum. And I had a chance to speak with an owner. She thinks your spine is worth less than her mattress (!) and has no regard for the employees who work in the dark for her. Choose elsewhere - the hotel attached to the BBB is where we’ll nap next time. And I highly recommend The Oliver in Oxford from this journey for a professional recovery from the likes of this…whatever…it isn’t…

We stayed at the Gun Runner for two nights in the Frank Lloyd Wright Room. Great natural light, but it could use more lamps at night. Our bar tender on Sunday night, Jason, was great at his job and very customer centric. Our room was spacious. This is a repuropsed building made into a hotel. The walls are thin and all rooms open into the common area and bar, so expect voices and music until at least 9pm. No elevator, so also expect to carry your gear up the wide staircase. Note regarding attractions in the area: Most places are closed Sunday and Monday.

Love this bar !! Soooo cute. Such an adorable concept all around. The front desk (which is at the bar also) showed me one of their vacant rooms when I was in visiting from Nashville. Their style is impeccable, the details everywhere are perfection. The holiday drinks were so delicious, and I could not believe this wasn't listed as a bar on Yelp! Wayyy better than any other bar nearby!

Such a beautifully detailed boutique hotel with a fabulous bar and an amazing rooftop bar with incredible views.

Absolutely incredible hotel! The staff is very friendly, the room was nice and cold on a hot Summer day, and the bar atmosphere was great. Excellent drink selection and the band was great on Friday night. It was the perfect we can get away for me and my partner and we cannot wait to come back. This will be our new stay in Florence from now on!

Can't speak to the hotel but the downstairs bar called last call at 9:30 on a Friday night !! Coming from out of town this is very disappointing and this was on a First Friday in Florence ....

Never in the small town south did I expect to find such an Instagram-worthy, historical, mysterious little inn! We found our way in and up the stairs to the bar which was also the check-in desk. Our stay was in the Sam Phillips suite, which had Memphis and Elvis decor, and some really fantastic hardware including a ceiling lamp made from a drum. The building has been a thrift store as well as a Cadillac dealership, remnants of which you can see in the car lift behind the bar. This hotel definitely feels like the rest of Florence, Alabama- too cool, yet small enough to be very approachable, even for the nervous traveler. Our bartenders throughout the weekend were wonderful and patient with the many guest and non-guest customers, and mixed good specialty cocktails. The bed was very comfortable, and blackout curtains allowed us to sleep in. Within walking distance of great shops and restaurants (see Odette and Big Bad Breakfast), but a block or two off the main road, the Gunrunner is convenient, too. During our stay they mentioned they were working on a rooftop bar and seating area, so if you are booking for the future ask about that as well!

A great place to get away. There are many adventures that lay await near this area. My wife and I opted to go hiking and enjoy some of the local amenities. The hotel is fantastic. It is has a small number of rooms to choose from and are an experience within themselves. There is also a rooftop that can be explored. If you are looking for something a little different then I would highly recommend it.

Mixed feelings about this hotel: on the positive side, the room was incredible. We stayed in the Frank Lloyd Suite and was beautiful, comfortable and very unique (in a good way). On the bad side: nowhere on the hotel website (that I saw) or in any third party reviews did I see that the hotel was not accessible for disabled people. The only access to the hotel is up two flights of stairs. I use a cane and it was very difficult. We were not even to bring up some of our bags because it was just too difficult to get them up the stairs. Parking is EXTREMELY limited. If the lot is full, good luck finding a street spot. Finally, having the common area and bar right outside your door is a great convenience, but be prepared to listen to the entertainment and other guests in the area most of the evening. That said, I would still recommend this hotel. Definitely worth seeing. Just know what you're getting into.

This was our second time to stay at the Gunrunner and how fun it was! We attended a bourbon tasting catered by Odette restaurant that was in the bar area then spent the night in the Frank Lloyd Wright room just steps away. We met the owner and his wife and the manager and his wife and they are dedicated to customer satisfaction. And oh yeah, the BED!!!!!!! Super comfortable!!!

Fantastic Experience! If your looking for an out of the norm place to hang your hat temporarily, this is it! Walking distance to all the shops and nightlife in downtown Florence. Just a few blocks from Wilson park. Beautiful rooms and a rooftop overlook. I'm a huge fan and I hope you will be too! We had a great time! Visit the website for all the details!

Beautiful bar and hotel. Staff is giving very mean high school girl vibes but that can make mean drink.

Pros: unique, great themes for each room that reflect the local community, beautiful bar area, limited number of rooms, dark wood/hipster/eclectic decor, beautiful balconies, nice proximity to the coffee shop below and the downtown area, very nice people when you call on the phone for help Cons: Muscle Shoals room: freezing no matter how high the heat was because of the drafty windows, the curtains are falling off the rods a bit in the middle and don't close all the way so they can't block out all the light from the huge windows which means light from outside when you try to go to sleep and waking up very early from the sun, the pullout couch had crumbs and dust on it and we didn't have any sheets for the pullout bed, the floor rug was stained, the bed sinks in on the sides so best to sleep in the middle, there is a hole in the wall where you turn on the water in the bathroom sink, the music note towel holders are not secure, there is ring around the tub inside the tub, the bathroom walls don't go to the ceiling so light bothers everyone in the room, the walls don't block sound from the next room or the bar area. Had to ask people at midnight to stop singing and playing guitar right outside our room because we couldn't sleep. Could hear every word of the conversations in the next room and then unfortunately some intimate sounds I really wish we had t heard Lion's Den: no convenient outlets to plug in a phone to charge near the beds, drawers don't work in the one table between the beds Overall: I really love the hotel and want it to be as good as it can be but it needs some work

Very cute hotel, awesome complimentary toiletries, however the walls seem paper thin, the first night we were lucky and didn't have anyone in the adjacent room, the second night we did and you can literally hear every single sound. Beautifully decorated, awesome bar staff with great drink specials.

If 1/2 stars were an option, I would actually opt for 4.5. the deduction of 1/2 star is due to the parking situation and the lack of clear signage to help guests first understand where they are going. The cost of the rooms may make it difficult to justify longer-term stays, but they are certainly comfortable and modern. Bluetooth-enabled speaker for audio playback, white noise generator, mini fridge, keyless entry, etc. Stayed in the Muscle Shoals themed room. Its walls are adorned with various pictures and artifacts from the Muscle Shoals music scene. It's an awesome room with a lot to look at, and has a large balcony overlooking Tennessee Street. The rooms open to the inside bar area, and any after hours shenanigans can be somewhat disruptive due to the layout. The building is within easy walking distance from many restaurants and bars, as well as a nice park. It also contains a coffee shop that does come in handy from a location perspective, but more on that in a different review. The bar here is a standout attraction. Many craft drinks to be had at somewhat of a premium but well worth it. The young lady behind the bar has many good ideas for this attraction long-term so I am hoping she is able to follow through. She was polite and engaging and clearly interested in her craft. I would absolutely return and recommend to anyone traveling to/through the Florence/Muscle Shoals area.

Stayed here for 1 night while passing through on way back to Texas. Florence is a quiet, quaint little town. The Gunrunner hotel is very much a boutique hotel walking distance from Main Street. The room was large and very comfortable. We thoroughly enjoyed the bar! And, they will bring you breakfast/coffee to your room from the coffee shop downstairs. Would definitely stay again!

Loved this place! Great atmosphere, awesome bar, and the cocktails the bartender made were excellent! Definitely will go back!

this bar was great with an awesome happy hour. no longer. the menu has changed. happy hour is barely a deal anymore. I was here for 10 mins tonight before the bartender even acknowledged me. he was also rude. it was half off margaritas tonight and he charged us full price and then argued with us about it until reading it in the menu. but didn't apologize. then basically threw the receipt at me. I came to this place regularly. I won't be back.

Super cool place! Lovely rooms and the staff is so friendly! Great happy hour specials!

Just stayed here for a few nights with a wedding party and the staff was awesome, rooms were beautiful, beds super comfortable, and the bar was great. Can't say thanks enough for the great time and cool vibe. Planning on staying here again whenever we visit Florence.

My best friend and I stayed at the Gunrunner for four nights while in town attending a workshop. It's a lovely town and we were hoping for something unique in our hotel. I really wanted to love this place, but there were just too many issues. Upon entering, we climbed the stairs (no elevator) to the beautiful upstairs bar area which features a large open space with several seating areas. The rooms are arranged around the edges of this space. So your room opens directly to the bar. Our room was large and airy with wood floors and high ceilings. It was clean and the beds were very comfy. On Wednesday and Thursday, there were only a few other guests. While it was quiet at the bar, we could hear the other people around us so much that we weren't sure that the walls went all the way to the ceilings! Then, Friday and Saturday nights the bar was noisy and boisterous. While it was posted that last call was 9:30, there were people enjoying themselves all night long, until well after midnight. So it was not a peaceful place to rest. Also making it difficult was the fact that the room was utterly freezing! We turned the heat up every night, but it didn't help. Maybe it was the high ceilings or giant windows, but it always felt drafty and I shivered under the bed's coverlet. But the noise and cold were not the only things that interfered with a good night's sleep. There was a blinking smoke detector that caused the whole room to light up! Also we had to put a towel by the door to stop the light from shining in. If these issues don't worry you, know that there isn't any housekeeping! When we returned the first night to our room not made up, we looked more closely into the website and there is a reference to this. I'm just not sure that it is an invasion to my privacy to make the bed and provide clean towels. We had to send an email request for new towels. It took two emails and then we discovered that housekeeping is also the bartender. She was pretty busy I guess but managed to get some towels and an extra coverlet out. However she just stacked them by the bar and we had to carry them to the room. It's really too much to pay for if there's no amenities, we might as well have rented an air bnb. My final issue with our stay concerns parking. There is a free parking lot, but on both weekend nights we couldn't find a space. So while it is true that this is an eclectic space with cool decor and a funky vibe, it's not a comfortable hotel. Sent from my iPhone Sent from my iPhone

This is an amazing hotel. If you have a wedding or just passing through this is the place to stay. Staff is very accommodating to the customers needs. Rooms are individually and beautifully decorated in themes from the surrounding area. Book now!

Enjoyed the bar and now you can order food from any restaurant in town and have it delivered right to the gunrunners bar! Very cool and relaxing

Fabulous place in downtown Florence. The finest bar the city has to offer. The staff is so fun and friendly. A must stop place.