A First Look at Thompson Hotel Dallas — A Restored George Dahl Tower and a Destination Rooftop Bar

The Thompson Dallas luxury hotel in the former First National Bank Tower in downtown Dallas is finally opening. Thompson Dallas debuts November 14 with 219 rooms, 52 suites and two restaurants, in the recently restored, historic building on Akard Street.

The National building, designed by George Dahl in 1965 (Neiman Marcus, the Art Deco structures at Fair Park ),  was acquired and redeveloped by Todd Interests (Three Hundred Pearl, East Quarter, 44 North Ervay, One Dallas Center) and underwent a $460 million restoration, which included the careful preservation of 17,555 hand-cut exterior marble panels that were sourced from the same quarry as the marble used for the Parthenon,  and the original wood panels with brass that line the walls on the ninth floor.

The glamorous interiors were designed by Dallas-based Todd Interiors,  architecture and design by Merriman Anderson Architects, with landscape design by SWA Group. Thompson Dallas is part of the largest adaptive reuse project in the history of Texas.

More than $2 million in art and original furnishings have been procured from PAD London, Frieze London, and international galleries, including David Yarrow photography, paintings by Dallas artists David Bates and JD Miller, Raul Maura sculpture, and furniture designed by Ad Hoc, Barlas Baylar and Herve Langlais. The fourth floor National Ballroom offers 14,000 square feet of space with floor-to-ceiling windows and private suites. There are also two acres of indoor-outdoor space featuring a spa, fitness center, and resort-style pool.

Guest rooms, which include two penthouses and 52 suites, are about 700 square feet each with dark blue walls, walnut and brass headboards,  Frette robes, Sferra linens and custom duvets, and DS & Durga Bowmakers bathroom amenities.

Thompson Dallas features two restaurants: Nine at The National, a casual spot serving breakfast and lunch, and a tenth floor restaurant and rooftop bar concept called Catbird. Leading the culinary program is Jeramie Robison (Uchi, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek) and director of restaurants, bars, and events Jonathan Geffrard (Hillstone Restaurant Group).

Unique additions at Thompson Dallas are the Tondeo Hair Lounge by Derek Ortiz and The Botanical Mix, a floral design studio and workshop housed within the lobby. The new hotel will be accompanied by The National Residences, with 324 luxury high-rise apartments.

Thompson Dallas is now accepting reservations.