The Rosewood Mansion Concierge Shares Her Pro Tips for Spending Time in Dallas

That is Concierge Confidential, a collection during which we study a metropolis’s best-kept secrets and techniques from individuals who focus on precisely that: long-serving concierges from the swankiest motels on the town.

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek opened in 1980, however its life started in 1925 as an opulent non-public property with structure influenced by the Italian Renaissance. Located on a tony strip in Uptown, the property has 128 spacious rooms and 15 even greater suites, plus a celebrated restaurant and bar. Through the years, it has housed numerous presidents, royals, heads of state, actors and musicians, so should you reserve a room or cease in for dinner, you’ll be in good firm. And do you have to want help or have a particular request, Mary Stamm might be there that will help you.

Stamm has labored at The Rosewood Mansion for 38 years, 31 of them because the resort’s head concierge. Throughout her tenure, she’s heard all of it, and he or she is aware of the town in and out. Beneath, she shares her professional ideas for having fun with your time in Dallas, from scoring good espresso and back-room tacos to visiting under-the-radar museums and driving race automobiles.

InsideHook: What’s one thing concerning the resort that most individuals in all probability don’t know?

Mary Stamm: We’re one of many few motels within the nation, and the one one in Texas, that has a relationship with Lexus. We select two automobiles every year that we will provide to friends — proper now we’ve got a LC500 coupe with an engine that roars and a hybrid SUV. Company can take a automobile wherever they like, and we’ll additionally create driving experiences, in the event that they wish to drive out into the nation or elsewhere.

Past these automobiles, what’s a novel service provided at Rosewood Mansion that you simply in all probability gained’t discover elsewhere?

Everybody right here in Texas loves margaritas, so we developed a margarita class. It’s based mostly on availability, however we will arrange a non-public class with our bartenders. It consists of cocktails, appetizers and even a margarita ebook.

What’s an important spot to get espresso within the metropolis? 

I really like Ascension Coffee, which began right here in Dallas. The unique one is on Oak Garden within the Design District and has simply gone by way of a redesign. They introduced the most costly espresso maker on the time to Dallas. I additionally love La La Land. We’ve got so many nice small and impartial espresso outlets within the metropolis.

How about breakfast?

Our breakfast at the hotel, fingers down. Breakfast is my favourite meal, and I feel ours is among the finest on the town. The juices are contemporary each morning, and the Irish bacon we use is absolutely good. It’s such an important expertise.

What’s the simplest method to get round city?

Dallas has a number of choices. We work with a automobile rental firm that may ship automobiles to the property. We even have an in-house automobile program that may take friends inside 5 miles of the resort. However Alto is a neighborhood rideshare firm that’s very nice, and Uber and Lyft are additionally out there within the metropolis. Strolling can also be a super method to get round sure areas. 

What’s a typical false impression that guests have about Dallas?

Persons are at all times stunned that there’s a lot to do right here. The procuring is unbelievable and so are the museums. It’s laborious to maintain up with the brand new eating places — each time I flip round, there’s one thing new. It’s additionally an important occasions vacation spot, with a number of sports activities and concert events.

What’s an only-in-Dallas expertise that you simply’d advocate to guests?

Going to a Cowboys sport at AT&T Stadium is known as a improbable expertise. Everybody ought to try this at the very least as soon as — even when we lose, it’s nonetheless enjoyable. You can too drive a race automobile on the Texas Motor Speedway. 

What a few must-try meals?

Positively Mexican and Tex-Mex. There are some nice cooks right here and notably some feminine cooks who’re main the way in which. The chef at Jose [Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman] was named a semi-finalist for finest chef within the latest James Beard Awards.

Revolver Taco Lounge in Deep Ellum serves tacos all day, however additionally they have an eight-course tasting menu dinner within the again room that it’s a must to reserve. The chef and his mom do the cooking. 

What’s the perfect neighborhood for strolling round and consuming/ingesting? 

There’s a portion of Decrease Greenville that’s tremendous attention-grabbing proper now, so I feel that’s a very good choice. Shoyo is a good Japanese spot. There’s an unbelievable gelato place, Botolino, and a Nick Badovinus restaurant referred to as Desert Racer with an important inside and patio house. And Carte Blanche, which does a bakery within the morning after which a tasting menu within the night.

The place’s an excellent place to get some train open air?

I really like strolling on Lakeside Drive in Highland Park. You’ll be able to park after which stroll alongside. You’ll see geese and geese and delightful houses, and cross an exquisite bridge. I additionally love the Katy Path. You’ll be able to stroll on the path and cease on the Katy Trail Ice House for a drink. I additionally love strolling by way of SMU campus.

What’s an under-the-radar cultural establishment value visiting?

My favourite is known as The Warehouse. It’s in North Dallas, and it’s the up to date artwork assortment of Cindy and Howard Rachofsky. It’s not at all times open, so it’s a must to comply with it on-line to know when you possibly can go. Additionally they have some lectures often.