New Art Deco-Inspired Cocktail Lounge To Open in Uptown Dallas This Fall — A First Look at Marlowe

We had thought most nightlife was long gone in Uptown, but a new design-forward cocktail lounge concept will be taking over the former Theory space on McKinney Avenue this September. The neighborhood is having a bit of a comeback at the moment, after so many bars, dance clubs, and restaurants have closed over the last few years. Marlowe will open at 2912 McKinney Avenue.

Meant to take guests from early evening bites and cocktails to post-dinner drinks, or late-night bites, the new lounge hopes to “meet guests wherever the evening takes them,” according to a press release.

“Marlowe started with one question I’ve carried throughout my career: how should a guest feel the moment they walk through the door?” says Marlowe Partner Alon Abramov. “We’ve approached every decision through that lens. The lighting, music, design, cocktails, service, and energy of the room all have to work together. We’re not interested in creating the biggest room — we want to create one of the most memorable, and a place people feel connected to enough to return to again and again.”

Interiors Inspired by Cinematic Storytelling and Art Deco Influence

Designed by Duncan Design Group (who also did Theory and Taylor Sheridan’s Cattlemen’s Club in Fort Worth), Marlowe’s interiors “draw inspiration from cinematic storytelling and Art Deco influence, creating a richly layered environment defined by texture, depth, and light.”

Think an illuminated grand arch entry, wood-vaulted ceilings, sculpted alcoves, tiered seating, marble and antique mirror-clad bar installations with backlit shelving, jewel-toned materials, antique brass detailing, plush banquettes, and velvet seating. “At the center of the room, a velvet-draped stage framed by sweeping curved walls serves as a focal point for performance-driven moments, with layered seating arranged to maintain sightlines throughout the room.”

Outside, an enclosed glass-and-brass patio will feature a “birdcage-inspired structure of repeating arches, golden framework, and soft amber lighting [that] creates a jewel-box effect after dark.”

The Team Behind Marlowe

Led by Abramov, the Marlowe team also consists of Thomas Menaitreau, Operating Partner & General Manager. Menaitreau has held leadership positions at acclaimed and Michelin-recognized restaurants including Fiola and Bresca in Washington, D.C., and Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas. Most recently the bar team lead at Delilah, Kyle Buckelew will be Beverage Director at Marlowe, which will feature a cocktail program that will “draw from seasonal ingredients, global influences, and unexpected flavor combinations that encourage discovery without sacrificing drinkability.”

Food, Drinks, and Music

One of the cocktails on Marlowe’s menu will be an Espresso Martini with salted caramel vodka, dulce de leche, espresso, and Demerara syrup. As for the cuisine, the food menu will have zero seed oils and include dishes like charred Matagorda pearl oysters and beef skewers.

Music is also an important aspect of the new spot. The team brings on Garrett Swain, also known as DJ Zillamatic, as Music Programming Director. Apparently, sound/music will “respond naturally” to the room and the occasion. We’ll have to see what that means in person.

“Dallas is a city where ambitious ideas can flourish while genuine hospitality and relationships still matter,” states Abramov. “That balance is a big part of what inspired Marlowe. We want this to become a place that feels woven into the fabric of the city — a place people return to not only because of what they experienced, but because of how they felt while they were here.”