Lily Hall

Lily Hall stands at 415 North Alcaniz Street in Old East Hill, a residential historic neighborhood a few blocks northeast of downtown Pensacola. The building began life in 1928 as Mt. Olive Baptist Church, which worshipped there until 1982. Holy Cross Metropolitan Community Church used it next, until Hurricane Ivan damaged it badly in 2004, and the empty church later landed on Pensacola’s Seven to Save list of threatened landmarks. Nashville based Stahlman Hospitality Group restored it and opened Lily Hall in February 2023.

Inside, the hotel has a little over a dozen rooms and suites, some set up like small apartments and others as classic king or queen rooms. Room names nod to local history, with the La Rua rooms looking north over a cobblestone street and the Mariana rooms taking light from two sides. Each room has a record player with a curated stack of vinyl, and the decor mixes antiques, botanical prints and bold color. Staff are on site part of the day, with an overnight concierge available by text.

Food and drink are a big part of a stay. Brother Fox, the ground floor restaurant, cooks over a wood-fired hearth with a Spanish influence and serves dinner, and reservations are recommended. Below it, Sister Hen is a small Prohibition style speakeasy for cocktails. Lily’s Parlor works as a shared library and lounge stocked with local books, and a garden terrace and outdoor dining area host events and weddings. Free on-site parking is included, pets are not allowed, and bikes are available for getting around.

The neighborhood is quiet and walkable. Downtown’s business district, Palafox Street restaurants and Seville Square are a stroll or a short bike ride away, and the bay and Hawkshaw Lagoon Memorial Park are roughly a mile to the south. Old East Hill itself has corner cafes, bungalows and oak lined streets that make for an easy evening walk after dinner.

Lily Hall suits couples, food focused travelers and small wedding or event groups who want a stay with a story behind it and a dinner reservation built in. It also works for visitors who would rather sleep in a residential neighborhood than above a busy street, while still being close to everything downtown has to offer.