Le Méridien Dallas, The Stoneleigh
Hotel · Uptown
2927 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
Highlights
Historic Art Deco hotel with posh steakhouse & 24/7 fitness.
Historic Art Deco hotel with posh steakhouse & 24/7 fitness.
"This century-old hotel has a ground-floor pool that can be quite a scene. This spot is probably more geared towards adults, although some hotel guests with kids can be seen floating by. Food and drinks from the hotel bar are available, with dishes like deviled eggs, tuna nachos, and chicken sandwiches. All the classic cocktails are available, along with summer favorites. Get a day pass to join in the fun." - Courtney E. Smith
"A century-old landmark that opened in October 1923, I pop up to the 11th floor of the Stoneleigh Hotel to see rooms that recreate Dorothy Draper’s original 1920s decor—recreated in 2008—including spaces designed in an English manor home style with art deco flair; the 12th-floor penthouse purchased in 1934 is still a rentable suite. Over the years many celebrities have stayed here, including Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Audrey Hepburn, LeAnn Rimes, Oliver Stone, Judy Garland, Frank Lloyd Wright, Lauren Bacall, Tom Cruise, Carol Channing, Yoko Ono, and Dan Aykroyd. After touring the historic rooms I head down to the ground-floor dining room to try chef Esayas Estifanos’s baby back ribs, which use a rub with spices from South Asia and Africa and deliver a noticeable kick. The hotel also hosts exclusive speakeasy events (tickets required) on July 18 and August 15 featuring bites, cocktails, and live entertainment." - Courtney E. Smith
"A $36 million renovation restored this historic celebrity hideaway to its Art Deco splendor, and a stay provides a respite from Dallas’s typical obsession with the new and brassy. The management team behind the transformation of the Mansion on Turtle Creek wisely decided to keep the residential floor plan for the 176 guest rooms and just in time for the property to celebrate its centennial in 2023. The accommodations feel grand in scale, are decorated in a palette of teal with cinnamon, and have high ceilings, commissioned Texas artwork, and sizable tubs. In the 1930s, Dorothy Draper designed the original owner’s twelfth-floor Penthouse residence, which was transformed by the current head of her eponymous firm into a dramatic Presidential Suite; the assemblage of rooms retains many of the original details, including the secret passageways and balconies." - Diana Oates
"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?There is an almost endless lineup of flashy, new buildings in Dallas's Uptown neighborhood, but this hotel has history here, standing with quiet confidence since 1923, and the crowd is sophisticated without being stuffy. What's the backstory?A member of Marriot's Distinctive Premium Collection brand category, the Stoneleigh Court hotel was said to be the tallest hotel west of the Mississippi River when it opened. In 1934, Col. Harry E. Stewart was so taken by the hotel that he purchased it, expanded it, renovated, and even moved into it. His 7,200 square foot penthouse was the first in the state of Texas. Today, his penthouse features eight meticulously renovated rooms. Tell us all about your room.I stayed in the junior suite and while it had a modern feel it did not lack personality. The bed and the duvet were both pillow top, and the bathroom had a luxurious marble finish. If you can swing it, the penthouses are the rooms to see. They were renovated in 2016 in modern baroque style by Studio 11 Design. Is there a charge for wi-fi?If you aren't a member of the Marriott rewards program there's a fee for in-room wi-fi. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?Perle on Maple is a cozy bistro just inside the hotel and is manned by executive chef Wade Burch who takes pride in sourcing Texas ingredients. The farm to table menu rotates seasonally, and recent standouts include Waygu short rib ravioli with truffle butter and trumpet mushrooms and a sweet potato gnocchi cooked in a sage brown butter and topped with pancetta, toasted pumpkin seeds, and pecorino. Locals and travelers alike find themselves at The Stoneleigh and Perle on Maple on Wednesday for half price bottles of wine. Any other features you loved? I actually really enjoyed the online booking process. There's a drop down menu titled "choose your features," which asks your preferences on everything from how high of a floor you wish to stay on to whether you want extra pillows. There's also an option to request a crib, which was very convenient for me since I was traveling with my four-month-old. What type of travelers will you find here?Marriott Mavens. Its members travel well and travel often, but rarely splurge. That said, they expect and seek out quality hotels with personality and luxury touches that go above and beyond that of your everyday chain hotel. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?This hotel is conveniently located in the middle of Uptown, which makes it walkable to upscale restaurants and bars and meetings in the area. The hotel fits in despite being the oldest in the area, and its recent renovation makes it relevant again. It's also quite near the Katy Trail, a great stretch for walking and running. Is there anything you'd change?Would love free wi-fi. Is that too much to ask in 2020?" - Diana Oates
"Wrapping up its centennial celebration, Le Meridien at the Stoneleigh is hosting a final pop-up speakeasy in its historic 11th-floor Library Bar on Thursday, August 17; admission is limited and, if selected, includes valet parking, dinner, two cocktails from a 1920s-inspired menu, live entertainment, and full access to the 11th-floor library bar plus the hotel’s storied living and dining rooms and corridors, and attendees will also be entered for a chance to win two tickets to The Stoneleigh Hotel’s Centennial Gala on October 26, 2023. If you’re curious about the hotel’s past, notable guests over the last 100 years include Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Frank Lloyd Wright, Lauren Bacall, Tom Cruise, Yoko Ono, and Dan Aykroyd." - Courtney E. Smith
