The Adolphus, Autograph Collection

The Adolphus has a lot of history, and we had a great view from our room. The shower needed caulking, the hallway corners needed repairs, and we got washcloths on the first day but none on the second. Getting our car from valet felt risky with all the traffic, too. We arranged by phone to stay one more night and agreed to the quoted price. The next day our key wouldn't open the room. We spent more than half an hour going downstairs to get it sorted out. The young woman at the desk claimed we had hung up on her, which wasn't true. There were three of us in the room and it never happened. She was very unprofessional. Why would we hang up if we were trying to add a night? The hotel was busy, so the restaurants were hard to get into. We ended up crossing the street for breakfast. It would've been nice if the hotel had a relationship with the food hall and offered a small 10% discount. The doorman suggested we try it, so credit to him. It was extremely cold while we were there, and heated towers for people waiting for valet cars or rides, like other hotels had, would've helped. Would we come back? Probably not. It seemed like guests there for weddings or special events got better service.

The lobby is gorgeous, and the evening bar has a lively feel, but the service was nowhere near what I'd expect from a five-star hotel. Our room wasn't ready until two and a half hours after check-in. We stood around for 30 minutes while the manager avoided us, until we specifically asked for them. They did upgrade one room and give us drink tickets and vouchers, but blamed the delay on being busy because of the parade. That wasn't our problem. The rooms themselves were clean and a good size. The service elevators were out, which made going up and down a mess. We got no turndown service, it took hours to get extra pillows, and our friends got three different answers when they called about a fan. They never got one. There was only one fuzzy robe in each room, and room service brought just one set of silverware and one coffee cup. The details weren't being looked after. We ate at Rodeo Bar while waiting for our room. The food was really good, but the service was awful. The waitstaff seemed high and totally unconcerned. Breakfast room service arrived quickly, but the biscuits were cold, the cinnamon roll had cream cheese but no sugar, and the coffee was so-so. It was worse than a hotel buffet. I won't be back. Maybe the Adolphus was five-star once, but now it feels overhyped and has lost the service and attention to detail that rating calls for. Maybe they're aiming at a 20-something crowd that doesn't care as much about service. We had a truly five-star stay at the Joule and Hotel Swexan.

Carlos at the French Room was the highlight of our trip. He knew all about the champagne, tea, and every treat on the menu, and kept us laughing with his humor. Definitely ask for Carlos if you visit! The whole Dallas stay felt like princess treatment. Stephan Fitz, the Director of food and beverage, and Adele, the French Room Manager, made sure everything was just right and made the celebration feel magical. Ryan at the front desk was warm, friendly, and professional as always, and Franell the bellhop got our bags to us promptly and with a smile. At City Hall Bistro, Rito and Jenna were lovely, personable, polite, and down to earth, which made the meal feel special. Every team member went out of their way for us. The stay was beyond what I expected, and I can't wait to return.

I love coming here. The hotel is beautifully decorated, and you don't even have to leave to find a coffee shop, a few bars, a tea room, and several restaurants.