The Ashton

"What were your first impressions?Soul seeps through all 39 of the well-appointed guest rooms in this beautiful boutique hotel in a renovated building on the National Register of Historic Places. It's located next to the bustling, modern Sundance Square—a welcome change of pace, especially when compared with the wedding parties and convention crews that compose the guest roster at the Omni. For a city as exciting as Fort Worth, it's shocking that the Ashton is one of only a handful of boutique options. When you arrived, how easy was it to get into your room?Guests are able to enjoy free keyless hotel room entry via smartphone when they download the OpenKey app—which we humbly submit should be a thing at all hotels. It's so much more convenient than your classic plastic key card. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The whole feel is an understated throwback that echoes the 1915 date the building went up. Wingback chairs sit next to a comfortable king bed with down pillows overlooking Main Street below. Any standouts among the food offerings?Saturday afternoon tea at the Ashton is an essential for Fort Worth visitors. The seasonal menu features a selection of fine English teas, soups, scones, sandwiches, and more—we love the white chocolate and apricot scone, especially when paired with a cup of orange blossom oolong. Are there other essential activities to fit into a stay at the Ashton?The innkeeper hosts a complimentary wine hour on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. Bottom line: Worth it, and why?Yes. It's intimate and charming and you cannot pick a better location in town." - Diana Oates