THE ADOLPHUS HOTEL

1321 Commerce Street, Dallas adolphus.com

I may have just discovered my new favourite city hotel. The Adolphus in Dallas is super-cool, with interiors designed by local design firm Swoon The Studio.

The firm have completely re-imagined this 107-year-old grande dame of a hotel, and it now makes you want to linger in the lobby, around the fireplace, or in the bars and restaurants. Guests can have drinks at The French Room Bar, which feels part luxury and part dark and moody – the complete opposite interior aesthetic to The French Room itself, which feels like it came direct from Paris.

The lovely hotel originally opened in 1912, and is part of the Autograph Collection. Otto’s café at the front of the hotel is perfect for a coffee or a quick bite to eat, or you can simply take your time reading local magazines, or nip across to the Commerce Goods + Supply Store for a mix of local arts, crafts, books and fashion.

The Brass Tacks Barber Shop in the lobby feels and looks like a barber shop direct from the ’50s – offering classic cuts and close shaves. Tattooed hipsters do the job – and with my barber’s name being Dallas, I had to ask what his siblings were called. In case you were wondering, no, they aren’t other Texan cities. But Dallas did the job (how can you go wrong with a number one?), and I promised to mention their website: brasstacksbarbershop. com, so there you go, Dallas.

Rooms are a descent size, with a separate lounge and study, and wonderful urban views of apartment buildings and skyscrapers. This downtown hotel is in an excellent location, and is part of the buzz growing in downtown Dallas. Just along the road is the original Neiman Marcus department store, full of wonderful art, and other hotels like The Joule and the renovated Statler Hotel are also part of this vibrant regeneration going on in this area.