Fresh Design and New Restaurants Arrive at the Historic Stoneleigh Hotel
Dallas knows how to hold onto a grand old name, but The Stoneleigh now has something more useful than nostalgia. The Uptown hotel has returned with a sharper design identity and a bigger food-and-drink appeal. There’s enough historic detail to keep the refresh from feeling like a generic luxury reset. The building still carries its 1920s bones, Dorothy Draper influence, and old Dallas social-club energy. Those pieces now see new rooms, new restaurants, poolside service, and a stronger reason for locals to walk through the door.
The Stoneleigh Returns As An Autograph Collection Hotel
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The Stoneleigh has entered a new phase after a major multi-million-dollar renovation, reopening as part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection. Previously operating under the Le Méridien brand, the century-old Dallas hotel now joins a group of independent-style properties known for their distinctive design and local character. The change gives The Stoneleigh greater visibility within Marriott’s global booking system.
Fettle Gives The Interiors A Sharper Point Of View
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London-based design studio Fettle led the new look, and the interiors take inspiration from the hotel’s existing design, especially the bold Dorothy Draper influence that helped define the property decades ago. This means the pattern, color, marble, wood, and graphic detail are all intentional.
The Guest Rooms Trade Plain Luxury For Character
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The hotel now has 176 guest rooms and suites, with spaces designed around midcentury details, wool carpeting, graphic patterns, and richer textures. Hotel renovations can easily turn historic rooms into polished boxes with nice lamps. The Stoneleigh appears to be aiming for a more residential feel, using tailored furnishings and visual details to connect the rooms to the building’s older personality. The bathrooms add another layer, with details such as Venetian glass sconces and custom wallcoverings.
The Eleventh Floor Carries The Hotel’s Most Interesting History
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The 11th floor gives the renovation real weight. The Stoneleigh’s 72 suites on that level now create a more apartment-style experience, but the floor also has pieces of the hotel’s old private-world glamour. It once included Colonel Harry Stewart’s Draper-designed penthouse spaces, and the update keeps attention on the original Music Room, Dining Room, and Library. The Music Room stands out with restored 500-year-old wood paneling from London’s Charterhouse School and a crystal chandelier by Fettle.
The Signature Suites Lean Into Dallas Drama
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The Stoneleigh’s specialty suites deliver the redesign’s most theatrical aspects. The Draper Suite has been described as a New York apartment, with a canopy bed dressed in Oscar de la Renta fabric. The Presidential Suite also carries its own celebrity footnote, with past associations including Elvis Presley and Audrey Hepburn. These details help explain why The Stoneleigh has lasted in Dallas memory. The refreshed suites give the property a place to show off its design confidence.
Lions Den Turns Dinner Into The Big New Draw
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Chef Michael White’s Dallas debut gives The Stoneleigh one of its best new reasons to visit. Lions Den is framed as a modern Italian supper club, which aligns with the hotel’s effort to revive its social center role. The menu is coastal Italian, with seafood-forward dishes and house-made pastas at the center. Reported dishes include Dover sole with brown butter and lemon, veal chop finished with Marsala, and steak presented in multiple forms.
Bar Leonessa Works From Morning To Night
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Bar Leonessa gives the hotel a more flexible food-and-drink engine. By day, it serves espresso, European-style pastries, and seasonal bites. Later, it shifts into a cocktail lounge with small plates and a more dressed-up mood. The all-day service works for a hotel trying to pull in both guests and Dallas locals. Someone can stop in for coffee without committing to dinner, then come back for cocktails and shareable dishes. The concept also makes the property active beyond check-in hours.
The Pool Adds A Leisure Angle To The Relaunch
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The Stoneleigh’s outdoor pool and terrace play a stronger role in the overall experience, with daybeds, loungers, umbrellas, and food from White’s team. The menu reportedly includes lobster rolls, mini corn dogs, seasonal bites, frozen cocktails, chilled wines, and zero-proof options. It’s a clever mix because it keeps the mood relaxed.
Events Get A More Polished Historic Backdrop
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Event spaces help explain why the renovation has broader value than a room refresh. The hotel has 5,700 square feet of event venues, including the Grand Salon, Terrace Ballroom, courtyard, terrace, and Music Room. The lineup provides weddings, galas, business events, and private dinners with a setting more personal than a standard ballroom floor.
The Uptown Location Still Does Heavy Lifting
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The renovation works partly because The Stoneleigh is already in a useful part of Dallas. Its Maple Avenue address places it in Uptown, with access to nearby parks, arts venues, restaurants, and the central city. Nearby spots such as Katy Trail, Reverchon Park, Klyde Warren Park, the Dallas Museum of Art, Meyerson Symphony Center, and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science give guests a practical base.