It was Sunday night, and the Rodeo Bar at The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas was buzzing. I found a seat on the far side of the bar and, as one does in Texas, I ordered a Rodeo Rita and some nacho bites to start. I followed that with the Tacos de Casa with chicken and a yummy cilantro lime crema. Halfway through my margarita, I felt like my stay at The Adolphus was off to a nice start.
Photo: The Adolphus Hotel
The Historic Dallas Hotel Halved Its Room Count to Elevate Every Stay
The Adolphus Hotel opened in 1912 as the first true luxury hotel in Dallas and the tallest building west of the Mississippi — a distinction it held for 10 years. The 20-story Beaux Arts-style hotel was the vision of Adolphus Busch, a co-founder of Anheuser-Busch brewery fame. He saw the future in Dallas and decided to build a destination hotel downtown.
Sadly, Busch died without ever visiting his namesake hotel. However, I think he’d be proud to see that the original hotel has been restored and is still a destination hotel in Dallas. With its convenient downtown location and capacity to host meetings and events, during the week, The Adolphus is a favorite of business travelers. On weekends, the hotel fills with Texans who come to celebrate life events, take a staycation, and have tea in the French Room Salon.
As a local, I’ve been to The Adolphus Hotel for countless events, yet every time I step into the lobby, I still feel a sense of anticipation. For the traveler who values experiences and a hotel with modern amenities wrapped in a beautiful historical package, The Adolphus delivers exactly what you hope for — and a little more.
Inside The Adolphus Hotel
Photo: Penny Sadler
The heart of The Adolphus is the Social Lobby. As you might guess, this is a common area where people can mingle, have a drink at the bar, take a seat and work, or choose one of many comfortable chairs or sofas to relax. My favorite place was by one of the two fireplaces with Italian marble mantles, flanked on both sides by deep aqua blue sofas. When the weather turns wintery, this is one of the most popular spots in the hotel.
The Social Lobby is part of an addition to the hotel that was added in the 1980s. Adjoining it is the French Room Salon, part of the original 1912 hotel. It’s one of the prettiest spots in the hotel, with over 42 works of art, all by local artists. Walnut paneled walls and the original marble floors give you a sense of place that makes The Adolphus a Dallas icon. The eclectic but elegant room features cozy seating areas and a mix of sofas, chairs, fabrics, footstools, and accents. It’s truly a room that invites you to sit and stay.
As much as I might have liked to curl up for a nap in front of one of the fireplaces after my margarita, there are rooms and suites for that in the hotel — 407 of them, to be exact.
Rooms and suites at The Adolphus Hotel
Photo: Penny Sadler
In 2018, The Adolphus underwent a complete makeover and downsized from 1,000 rooms to the current 407. Downsizing allowed the architect to create spacious rooms that feel more like a living room than a hotel room.
Decorated in understated neutral tones, with white bedding, every room has a king-size bed or double king-size beds. Each room is slightly different, with variations in the size of closets, bathrooms, and other structural details. Decor such as drapes, tables, desks, lamps, and linens are the same throughout the various room configurations, with the exception of the Hollywood, Honeymoon, and Presidential suites.
Most rooms begin around $300 per night. Rates fluctuate depending on the day of the week, season, and availability. Executive doubles start around $400 per night.
The spa at The Adolphus Hotel
Photo: Penny Sadler
Another hotel favorite of both locals and guests is Spa Adolphus, which has a variety of massage therapies plus facials, hair, nails, and makeup services.
I had a signature massage that was so good I know I’ll be talking about it for some time to come. It included aromatherapy, hot stones, and as much or as little pressure as requested from the experienced spa therapist. The spa’s tables are state-of-the-art, and the face cradle was so cushioned and comfortable that, for the first time, I didn’t leave with the impression embedded in my face. Between the warm table and the expert treatment, I left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
The entire area is a beautiful space where you can linger as long as you like in the relaxation room that includes an outdoor terrace. I highly recommend taking advantage of the spa. The spa is on the seventh floor — aka the wellness floor — where you’ll also find the gym and outdoor pool. Changing rooms include a sink and shower, and there are lockers outside the changing room.
Dining and drinking at The Adolphus Hotel
Photo: The Adolphus Hotel
There are several dining and drinking venues at The Adolphus, including the Social Lobby, Rodeo Bar, Otto’s Coffee & Fine Foods, City Hall Bistro, the French Room and French Room Bar, and Sushi by Scratch. You can also snack and sip poolside at the rooftop Pool Adolphus, as well as order room service.
Otto’s Coffee & Fine Foods is the all-day place for coffees, pastries, packaged snacks, yogurts, and breakfast sandwiches. You’ll usually find locals hanging out at Otto’s with a hot drink and their laptops. You can also find special treats like Kate Weiser chocolates, which are not only delicious but look like works of art.
If you prefer full service for breakfast and lunch, City Hall Bistro is a good choice. The bistro serves classic breakfast items like pancakes, waffles, omelets, and avocado toast. I had a perfectly cooked ham and cheese omelet with breakfast potatoes that were crispy on the outside, just the way they should be. The name, City Hall Bistro, comes from a true story that a new Dallas city hall was to be built on the site of The Adolphus Hotel — until Adolphus Busch came along.
If possible, go to the French Room Bar with a date or your significant other. It’s a sexy room with deep blue velvet seating, a gold ceiling and light fixtures, red drapes, and a gorgeous red chinoiserie mantle over the fireplace. It opens at 5 PM for cocktails and dinner. You can order anything from tuna tartare to a burger and fries. Since I’d had tea in the French Room earlier the same day, I decided to go casual and had a burger with a glass of Au Bon Climat pinot noir.
Over the years, the French Room has acquired an almost mythical aura among locals. When it originally opened, it was the first true destination restaurant in Dallas. After the remodel, it reopened for afternoon tea only — a change Dallasites seem to have embraced as it’s always booked.
The entire experience leaves you feeling as if you’re in a bubble of genteel society from bygone times. A harp player plucked out classic tunes by The Beatles while we sipped our bubbles and tea, accompanied by savory and sweet petit fours and tarts. Be sure to book this experience in advance. If you want to dress up, you’ll feel perfectly at home, but it’s not required (however, no joggers, ripped jeans, or shorts).
Getting to The Adolphus Hotel and around Dallas
Photo: Timothy Guarderas/Shutterstock
The Adolphus is centrally located in downtown Dallas within walking distance of attractions like the Dallas Museum of Art and the Dallas World Aquarium, as well as numerous dining and entertainment options within the AT&T Discovery District. The hotel has a complimentary car service that guests can use on a first-come, first-served basis for nearby drop-offs (no pick-ups), and there’s valet parking available for a fee if you’re coming by car.
Dallas Love Field (DAL) is the closest airport at about seven miles away, while Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) is about 20 miles away. The difference in driving times to the hotel is about 10 minutes, although the cost of a taxi from DAL is about half that of DFW (the difference between roughly $25 and roughly $50). Rideshares are also available. 