For more than a century, holidays at The Adolphus have embodied luxury. Nestled in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this hotel with unparalleled local history has treated guests to elegant accommodations and extraordinary service.
Opened in October 1912, the project was driven by Anheuser-Busch co-founder Adolphus Busch.
“He viewed Dallas then much the way we see it today: dynamic, energetic, and progressive—with a pioneering spirit,” says Sam Tucker, Area Director of Sales and Marketing at The Adolphus. “He recognized it would grow into a major hub for commerce, business, and travel.”
At one time the hotel’s lobby was a famous dinner theater, operating from the 1930s until the 1960s. It featured the Ice Capades with Olympic skater and choreographer Dot Franey and was accompanied by an orchestra. “It housed a radio station, liquor store, pharmacy, and a bakery that produced more baked goods than any other commercial enterprise in Dallas,” Tucker explains.
Today, The Adolphus remains a global gem, recognized with impressive honors including the AAA Four Diamond Award, as well as U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hotels in the U.S.
This season, the hotel’s holiday festivities start December 2 with a number of exciting opportunities to enjoy The Adolphus in all her lavish splendor, including the Great Tree Lighting ceremony. The next morning there is a ballroom children’s breakfast with Santa before the annual Dallas Christmas Parade just down the street, which was started by the hotel in 1987.
A Winter Village transforms the rooftop into a themed wonderland with six holiday cabins bedecked in whimsical décor and offering holiday menus. “Sample new culinary offerings at City Hall Bistro or book a session in the luxurious Spa Adolphus,” Tucker suggests. “Our 1912 Body Experience is a perfect way to wind down around the stress that can accompany the commotion of the holidays.”
One of the most revered traditions in town returns to the grand hotel: Holiday tea in the elegant French Room is a lovely seasonal ritual that continues through January 8.
Served with pastries and special menus, the time-honored tradition of tea at The French Room is a refined experience. “It’s the only restaurant in Texas to maintain an AAA Five Diamond Award for 25 consecutive years,” Tucker says.
Additionally, the hotel is presenting a limited-time, dinner-only series in the French Room this year called Be Our Guest Chef. “These pop-up style, ticketed dinners feature celebrity chefs and elevated menus in the state’s most beloved dining room,” Tucker adds.
A special holiday tea service will take place on December 23 and Christmas Eve featuring the holiday tea menu complemented by Victorian carolers, photos around the Great Tree, and a gift.
And the spirit of the hotel’s original mission lives on. In a telegram to the President of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, dated March 9, 1911, Adolphus Busch wrote: “I sincerely hope that this new palace will be a source of pride and pleasure to all concerned and may be another step in the movement for a greater Dallas.”
“I think that really says it all,” Tucker says. “We feel certain Mr. Busch would be immensely proud we are carrying on this great tradition of Texas hospitality in his name.”