For one of the coolest nights out in Tuscaloosa this football season, you should check out Roll Call, the indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant in The Alamite hotel in downtown Tuscaloosa, which happens to be co-owned by Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.
The Alamite, part of Marriot Bonvoy’s Tribute Portfolio, opened in September 2022 and is situated at 2321 6th Street, right across the street from Five Bar and Vitola Fine Cigars. Nick and Terry Saban represent one of a handful of local families who own the hotel.
The hotel has 112 guestrooms, meeting spaces, a fitness center and two restaurants, including Forte: Cuts & Cocktails: A brasserie-meets-steakhouse vibe with Executive Chef Jacob Stull.
Roll Call, which opened about a month after the hotel did, serves hand-crafted cocktails, local and craft beers, artisanal wines, plus a small plate menu also from Jacob Stull including fresh sushi, wood-fired pizzas, sliders lobster tacos, a charcuterie board and a new fried chicken sandwich. Read the full menu.
Take at the photos in the gallery above or below, and keep reading for more on Roll Call.
Including the outside patio, Roll Call covers roughly 2,500-square-feet.
The flora and fauna interior design is all inspired by Alabama, intentionally hyper-local with a mission to become stewards to the community and incorporate everything they love about Tuscaloosa. Even the hotel and rooftop bar’s wallpaper features a diagonal stripe reflecting the Alabama state flag (the guest room doorhanger have stripes that are red when no service is needed, and when flipped they are turquoise when requesting service).
The experience is designed for both first-time visitors in Tuscaloosa as well as regulars coming for their 10th trip in town, a lively mix of locals and guests to enjoy the elevated view as well as the elevated bar bites and cocktails from the kitchen and wrap-around bar operated by a staff of 15.
With an influx of Alabama fans as well as Texas Longhorns and other opposing fan bases like LSU and Tennessee coming to T-Town this year, Roll Call wants to play a big role in making a strong impression as the city’s cultural footprint continues to grow.
“It’s a lot of fun to kind of show off our city to visitors,” said Blair Plott, who is part of The Alamite’s ownership group. “I’m really excited to have people from some of the bigger towns in Texas who think they’re probably coming to this tiny little college town. But I feel like Tuscaloosa’s really a vibrant city with a lot of arts and entertainment, and it’s fun to bring people here and let them actually experience that.”
“Everybody enjoys having the blend of outdoors and indoors. It’s nice to be able to offer that and offer a view of Bryant-Denny Stadium as well as our wonderful downtown landscape,” Plott also said. “We do live in a city that has great weather for the majority of the year, so it’s nice to be able to offer the outdoors to people when they’re dining or just coming up for a beer.”
In a 2022 statement, Saban said he and his wife Terry are excited to be part of The Alamite ownership group.
“Not only will this investment benefit our local economy, but it also represents a new standard for design and comfort in downtown Tuscaloosa,” Saban said in the
A charcuterie order (assortment of regional-cured meats, cheese, jam, pickles, nuts, crispy flat bread crackers), a cold beverage and a sunset view from a downtown rooftop is as good as it will get this season. Read the full menu.
statement when the hotel opened last year.
Los Angeles-based firm Avenue Interior Design contributed to the hotel’s look, which co-founder Andrea DeRosa said was aimed at bringing “an inventive, artistic and educated personality to this boutique property while maintaining components of Southern hospitality throughout.”
Plott also emphasized the hotel almost exclusively features artwork from Southern women, many based in Tuscaloosa, throughout the space including Roll Call.
Roll Call is located at 2321 6th Street in downtown Tuscaloosa. The rooftop space is open Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until midnight, Sunday from 5-10 p.m., and Monday from 5 p.m. until midnight. They are closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Learn more.