With the same architect as Fair Park, the Dallas Municipal Building, and Dallas Country Club, the Warwick Melrose Hotel is at the heart of Dallas—both in location and historically. “The hotel opened in 1924, as the Melrose Court apartments,” says director of catering Ashley Grunska. It was converted into a hotel in the 1950s and purchased by Paris-based hospitality brand Warwick Hotels and Resorts in 2007. “We have aspects within the hotel that tie into those Parisian roots,” Grunska says. The name of the hotel’s spa, Le Spa, is among these nods to the French.
The hotel’s architecture and design have also kept elements of its more than century-old life. “In the lobby, the floors are original to the building. In our presidential suite, when you walk into the room, there’s a wood parquet floor in the entryway as well as in the dining area, and that's all original to the building as well. So, there's a lot of things that are still here, living with that history,” says Grunska. It’s also kept the large room size leftover from the building’s previous life as an apartment complex. “While the rooms aren’t as large as a modern apartment, every King room offers a comfortable sitting area with two chairs, a dedicated workspace, and a vanity in the restroom—thoughtful touches that many hotels can’t accommodate due to limited space,” Grunska says.
The smallest rooms are 350 square feet, and the largest, the presidential suite, is roughly 1,500 square feet. The larger Deluxe and Presidential Suites maintain the original layout they would have had during their apartment days.
The Warwick is also a renowned venue for corporate, family, and wedding events during the holiday season and beyond. “Just to give you a sense of the season—we’ll have about 18 company holiday parties throughout December, plus quite a few holiday weddings and other festive gatherings,” Grunska says. Each event will showcase the hotel’s array of culinary options, prepared by experienced cooks and staff. Menu options include Greek or barbecue buffets for lunch, French pastries for breakfast, or plated dinners. “Our chefs really enjoy when guests bring new ideas—it gives them the chance to get creative, try something unexpected, and design a one-of-a-kind experience,” Grunska says.
For corporate events, the hotel can even integrate a spa treatment into the day’s planned meeting schedule. “If someone wanted to incorporate a wellness break—like offering hand massages or a moment for guests to stretch and unwind—we can absolutely accommodate experiences like that as well,” Grunska says.
The Warwick also hosts several seasonal and themed events. Last year, roughly 500 people attended its Christmas brunch on Christmas morning. “It’s a big, beautiful buffet with something for everyone,” Grunska says. “When you walk into the lobby, there’s always that big wow moment—the buffet takes center stage, and there’s a gorgeous ice sculpture for each holiday,” Grunska says. The event takes over the entire hotel including the restaurant. “We’ll have carving stations with prime rib, turkey, and all the traditional favorites, but we really expand the offerings—it takes over the entire first floor of the hotel,” Grunska says. Spa discounts and seasonal packages will be available throughout the time leading up to the holidays as well, so there truly is something for everyone.