A Dallas landmark, The Stoneleigh hotel launches anew with a transformation to honor its historic heritage and serve up some modern luxury in Uptown. With fully-reimagined interiors by award-winning design studio Fettle alongside a new culinary and cocktail program helmed by James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael White, the hotel is certainly in its reinvention era. The Stoneleigh debuts within Marriott’s Autograph Collection, joining a curated global portfolio of independent hotels noted for elevated hospitality.
“The Stoneleigh has always represented more than a destination; it has served as a preeminent stage for the culture, conversation, and community of Dallas,” Shai Zelering, Managing Partner and Global Head of Hospitality at Brookfield’s Real Estate Group said in Wednesday’s press release. “This renaissance honors the hotel’s storied legacy while reimagining it for the culturally curious. Through bold design, celebrated culinary artistry, and social enclaves meticulously crafted for connection, we are reintroducing an icon that honors its past while defining the future of Uptown luxury.”
A new culinary vision
Marking his Dallas debut, Chef White brings his culinary vision to The Stoneleigh. Renowned for his legacy of five simultaneous Michelin stars and New York Times stars, White’s epicurean concepts include Lions Den and Bar Leonessa. The focus will be on his signature coastal Italian style with a seafood-forward menu as well as classic dishes.
Inspired by the hotel’s namesake venue, Lions Den is a modern Italian supper club rooted in The Stoneleigh’s history. Capturing the maximalist sensibilty of interior designer Dorothy Draper, the Lions Den presents an environment of warmth and intimacy from its dining room to the terrace.
House-made pastas remain the soul of the menu and featured dishes include a Porterhouse presented as both a delicate tartare di manzo and a prime grilled striploin; Dover sole bathed in brown butter and lemon; Marsala-finished veal chop and more.
The restaurant will also offer breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch menus.
Bar Leonessa is an elevated lounge featuring a theatrical cocktail program of reimagined classics with dramatic tableside pours from a custom beverage cart. The evening menu offers curated small plates alongside the chef’s signature grilled octopus with eggplant
caponata, garganelli with prosciutto, peas, and truffle butter, and oysters topped with caviar — along with shareable desserts.
By day, the café welcomes guests and locals for espresso, European-style pastries and seasonal bites in the lounge or on the adjoining terrace.
The stay
The hotel features 176 guestrooms and suites ranging from 300 to 1,000 square feet, including the Draper Suite and the sprawling Penthouse complemented by tailored furnishings, natural light and nods to mid-century design. Furnishings — including lacquered burl bar cabinets, sculptural upholstered headboards, and 1930s-inspired seating — are paired with a curated art collection by California-based artist Jack Lewis. In the bathrooms, guests can refresh amid Venetian glass sconces by Sogni di Cristallo and bespoke wallcoverings.
The Stoneleigh’s 72 suites on the 11th floor introduce a more expansive, apartment-style experience. Once home to the Colonel’s private, Draper-designed penthouse is now a collection of accommodations alongside the original Music Room, Dining Room and Library. The double-height Music Room features restored 500-year-old wood paneling from London’s Charterhouse School and a crystal chandelier by Fettle.
Wellness and outdoor retreat
The ground-level pool is surrounded by daybeds, loungers and umbrellas with the poolside experience including a menu by Chef White of Americana favorites. From lobster rolls to elevated mini corn dogs, bites are complemented by a curated beverage portfolio of artisanal frozen cocktails, spritzes and a chilled selection of wines and zero-proof elixirs.
Amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center outfitted with advanced performance and strength-training equipment.
In the beginning
Designed by architect Frank J. Woerner, The Stoneleigh was created to stand as the tallest building west of the Mississippi. The project ultimately triumphed in 1923 as a first-of-its-kind landmark in Dallas and served as the social epicenter for the city’s cultural elite.
A decade later, American designer Dorothy Draper was invited to reimagine its interiors. She introduced a bold, maximalist fantasy of color, pattern and fabulous grandeur.
The Stoneleigh is located at 2927 Maple Ave.
–From staff reports