First Look: Ritz-Carlton Dallas Unveils Multi-Million-Dollar Renovation

One of only two 2023 Forbes Five-Star hotels in all of Texas, the Ritz-Carlton in Uptown Dallas isn't resting on its laurels. Today the hotel unveiled the results of a multi-million-dollar "reimagination"—with enhanced design touches in everything from its guest rooms and suites to its 12K-SF spa to tailor-made fragrances in the lobby.

Swanky suites with corner views of downtown. A ground-level patio in the glow of a giant, oak-fired hearth. A skylit soaking tub with sight lines for miles, and a spa’s azure-tinged whirlpool oasis. They’re just some of the refined touches in a multi-million-dollar renovation unveiled today at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Uptown Dallas.

One of only two 2023 Forbes Five-Star hotels in all of Texas—along with the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston—the Ritz-Carlton Dallas is located at 2121 McKinney Avenue just north of downtown.

The Texas-based design firm Rottet Studio aimed to incorporate details throughout the Ritz project that would exude what the hotel describes as “luxury, warmth, tradition, and monumental grandeur” while redefining “the standards of opulence.”

A corner king at the newly renovated Ritz-Carlton Dallas. [Photo: Ritz-Carlton]

The results can be seen in these images, which offer only a partial look at the Ritz’s “reimagination”—including “enhanced comforts” in all 218 guest rooms and suites and refinements to the hotel’s lobby, public areas, and corridors, as well as to The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge.

The hotel’s general manager, Andrew Davidson, said his team looks forward to “reintroducing the hotel to travelers nationwide and continuing to build a legacy as the ultimate in urban luxury.”

“It’s our pleasure to deliver memorable moments to guests by offering luxurious accommodations with modern comforts, authentic experiences, and exceptional amenities, anchored by unparalleled hospitality and personalized service,” Davidson added in a statement.

A deluxe suite living area at Ritz-Carlton Dallas. [Photo: Ritz-Carlton]

Aiming for ‘elegance and timeless allure’—right down to tailor-made fragrances that scent the air

Drawing inspiration from what it calls “Dallas’ storied past,” the hotel says its renovation “pays homage to the city’s remarkable journey of passion and grit, seamlessly blending influences of fashion, art, and botanicals.” Those influences have led to everything from “tailor-made furnishings” and florals right down to the scents one senses in the air—tailor-made fragrances exclusively available at The House of Krigler, a perfumery and artisan fragrance brand. (An all-new apothecary-style boutique in the hotel’s lobby offers a luxe blend of the Krigler aesthetic mixed with local décor, including Texan Wood and Italian light fixtures.)

The “full restoration” of the hotel’s 218 guest rooms and suites—each offering views of the city skyline—is an ode to “the Art Deco undertones of the building’s architecture, along with the historic importance of Texas’ cattle industry,” the hotel said.

So how do you upgrade what was already a Forbes Five-Star hotel?

New refinements include “bespoke pieces such as a proper writing desk and chair as well as new bathrooms and vanity areas,” the hotel said. “A color palette of rich walnut contrasted with bone colored ribbed lacquer and accents of copper and rose-gold tones” create what the Ritz calls “a milieu of individuality.”

12,000-SF spa ‘reimagined’ by Dallas-based ForrestPerkins

A Whirlpool oasis at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas spa. [Photo: Ritz-Carlton]

A signature respite within the hotel is its 12,000-square-foot spa, which was “recently reimagined” by Dallas-based design firm ForrestPerkins.

The spa’s “intricate” design elements took inspiration from the “rich and lushly manicured urban parks and gardens woven throughout the heart of Dallas,” the Ritz said. The spa renovation included upgrades to the nail spa and hair salon, elevating the men’s and women’s relaxation lounges, and reconfiguration of existing treatment rooms with the addition of two new rooms.

Women’s relaxation room in the spa at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas. [Photo: Jeff Herron for the Ritz-Carlton]

If the reimagined spa sounds like something guests won’t want to leave, they have a new reason not to: the addition of a brand-new spa dining lounge.

Fearing’s Restaurant heads up the hotel’s dining offerings

Dining room at Fearing’s at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas. [Photo: Ritz-Carlton]

The Ritz-Carlton Dallas offers three dining outlets, led by Fearing’s Restaurant, which is helmed by celebrity chef and James Beard nominee Dean Fearing.

Fearing’s offers different dining areas that convey their own unique sense of style and environment, from the open-air setting of the Sendero Room with its movable glass walls to the interactive experience in “Dean’s Kitchen” to Fearing’s Patio (below)—which has been newly renovated and bustles with city-scape views, wood-burning fireplaces, and live, acoustic music every Friday and Saturday.