The National, Autograph Collection
Hotel · Oklahoma City ·
Historic bank turned hotel, Italian restaurant, and cocktail bar
Information
120 N Robinson Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Get directions
Historic bank turned hotel, Italian restaurant, and cocktail bar
120 N Robinson Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Get directions
"Housed in the former 1932 First National Center, this landmark hotel preserves historic bank features—marble floors, old teller stations, and four 1931 murals—while functioning as a modern hospitality venue; its food and beverage outlets, including a popular post-dinner bar inspired by the building’s banking past, draw both locals and guests." - Anne Roderique-Jones Anne Roderique-Jones Anne Roderique-Jones is the head of content for ShermansTravel Media, where she has worked for nearly a decade. She is a former Self.com columnist and a contributor to Architectural Digest. Her writing has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, Travel + Leisure, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Why book? Take a trip back in time to nearly a century ago in Oklahoma City with a stay at The National, Autograph Collection, in the restored First National Building—once a bank. Set the scene Located just a few minutes walk from the Myriad Botanical Gardens and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, The National opened April 12, 2022, The new hotel is catering to business travelers and those interested in historic stays. The Great Hall bar attracts visitors and locals alike conducting business as they sip cocktails and take in the awe-inspiring history of the building. Though the hotel lacks a spa and pool it has a fitness center, and the opulent bar sets the stage for business deals waiting to be completed. The backstory The First National Center, which originally opened in 1931 as an iconic bank and landmark monument, stands at 32-stories high. The National, operated by Coury Hospitality, comprises the first eight floors of the historic building and features 146 guest rooms, including 16 suites and a Presidential Suite. The First National Center is on the Historic Register and was once the largest building in Oklahoma. Its restoration is part of the First National Center project and includes repairs to murals, decorative painted ceilings, stone columns, cast stone, metal finishes, vault doors, and safes. The rooms The opulent President Suite is 900 square feet with one and a half baths, perfect for hosting groups or as a bridal suite. The King and Queen guest rooms echo the building's Art Deco style and have high headboards, Beekman 1802 Fresh Air bath amenities, smart televisions with casting options, slow-close barn doors, USB charging ports, and complimentary Wi-Fi. One feature that was new to me was the single-press elevator function; a keyboard style floor selection on the outside of the elevator, which saves touching surfaces inside the elevator, limiting the spread of germs. Food and drink Be prepared to wait and enjoy the scene, both of the building and people-watching as service at Tellers and the Great Hall can take a bit. But it’s well worth the wait when the food and beverage arrives. Tellers serves interpretations of regional Italian cuisine, featuring traditional methods of Italian cooking and seasonal ingredients for house-made pastas, oven-charred Neapolitan pizzas, and locally sourced vegetables and steaks cooked over a wood burning grill. The wine list is extensive, and the setting is the historic First National Bank gallery amongst the original (restored) teller booths. The neighborhood/area The National is located in Oklahoma City’s downtown business district. Surrounded by banks and other institutions, it can feel empty during the weekends save for visitors to the must-see Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, dedicated to the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing. What sets The National apart from other nearby hotels is the historical nature of the building and the story that shines through details, like the original murals, metal finishes, and bank-vault doors. The service Because it's just opening, the hotel and food and beverage scene is still getting its footing. The buzz-worthy Great Hall is evocative of Europeean all-day bars. The grandeur of this architectural masterpiece is the perfect setting to enjoy espressos paired with fresh baked pastries, or craft European cocktails such as Italian Aperitivos and Spanish Gintonicos, complemented by antipasti and Neapolitan pizzas from Tellers. Accessibility Accessible areas are located throughout the hotel, including in the fitness center, registration desk, restaurant and lounges and other areas. There are accessible guest rooms that include hearing accessible visual alarms and strobe lights. Anything left to mention? The Library of Distilled Spirits, housing over 1,500 unique expressions of distilled spirits in the building's iconic bank fault, will open in May 2022. Additional storefronts will line the first floor of the First National Building. Residences fill the additional floors of the building at First National." - Kristi Eaton
"The National occupies the first eight floors of the 32-story First National Center, a 1931 Art Deco bank building that once ranked as Oklahoma's tallest. The restoration preserved original teller booths, vault doors, painted ceilings, and stone columns throughout its 146 rooms. The Great Hall bar operates in the former banking hall, drawing business travelers and locals conducting deals over cocktails. Tellers restaurant serves regional Italian cooking among restored teller booths, with house-made pastas and wood-grilled steaks. Rooms reiterate the building's Art Deco origins with high headboards and period details. No spa or pool, just architectural pedigree." - Tablet Hotels
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