El Royale—a new Tex-Mex restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama—is the debut hospitality venture from Mobley & Partners, a creative trio comprising photographer Miller Mobley, hospitality expert Sol Andrews, and developer Carter Hughes.
Inspired by the richly layered Tex-Mex institutions of midcentury Texas and California, El Royale reinterprets the genre through a romantic, cinematic lens. Crafted by the group’s in-house studio, the interior design marries the charm of a European café with the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age.
“El Royale is not just one thing—it’s dynamic, soulful, and intentionally eclectic,” says Miller Mobley, CEO and creative director of Mobley & Partners.
Behind the design of El Royale
Guests are welcomed into a space where cherry-red leather banquettes and graphic checkered tablecloths nod to the past, while hand-finished millwork by local artisans lends warmth and tactile depth.
Towering palms sprout from tiled planter walls, and dense greenery wraps the dining room in a garden-like embrace. Amber lighting and mirrored accents punctuate the space, layering in intimacy and an understated theatricality.
“The outdoor garden leans into effortless European restraint, with crushed limestone, collected furniture pieces, and a lush variety of plantings,” Mobley adds. “Inside, we aimed to transport: Neo-Gothic, Dutch, and French influences mingle with romantic lighting and storied finishes. To channel a sense of revelry, we introduced red neon accents that wash the bar in a warm, cinematic glow. El Royale invites you to linger a little longer.”
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