My son and I recently returned from a short stay in Dallas. The purpose of the trip was to get away for Nicholas’ birthday weekend. We had a weekend of eating at Kura Sushi and Uchi Restaurant while getting a bit of exercise during our once daily visits to Top Golf.
One of the main reasons for the trip was to take Nicholas to Uchi, which I initially had to cancel, so I wanted a hotel close to the restaurant. Le Méridien – The Stoneleigh seemed like the obvious spot.
Booking
I booked a standard, double queen guest room for ~$220/night (taxes included) at the government/military rate. As a Platinum Elite, I am eligible for a complimentary upgrade. The two night stay earned me a total of 14,743 Marriott Bonvoy Points (6,957 base, 3,479 elite, and 4,307 Marriott Bonvoy credit card points).
Arrival
The Stoneleigh is an 11 floor, boutique hotel located in Uptown Dallas. It is within walking distance of the American Airlines Center, Uchi Japanese Restaurant, and Marriott Uptown Dallas. Due to its urban location, parking at the property is limited with valet as the only option. Valet was $42/night.
Check-In
We made our way through the uncovered walkway leading from valet and took a right turn into the lobby. The small front desk was against the far wall on the right.
My first impression was that the hotel was small. The front desk, business area, bar, and restaurant were within mere seconds of one another. I was asked for a card to cover incidentals then was offered discounted breakfast ($16 per person) or welcome points. I went with the breakfast.
I was also asked, by the person not assisting me, if I would like the key to the minibar in the room. Um, Hell and Yes…because what kind of question is that. Thank you kind sir!
We did 180 degrees from the front desk and started towards the elevators. The bar was on the right side and it was busy even though it was barely 5pm.
The two elevators were across from the bar.
Room
Nicholas handled the elevator button and go us to the tenth floor. We took a right out of the elevator and our room was down on the left.
I originally booked a room with two doubles but received an upgrade prior to arriving at the hotel. The host working the front desk told me through the Marriott app prior to our arrival about the upgrade to a junior suite.
The room, much like the rest of the hotel, had a throwback vibe to it. The room continued the quaint, compact theme of the property. The foyer of the suite included a closet to the left.
Once out of the foyer, the living part of the suite included a sofa bed, ottoman, swiveable (is that a word) flat screen, safe, and the aforementioned minibar.
The snacks on the ottoman were courtesy of Travis, whom I reached out prior to the stay. He provided them as a gift for Nicholas’ birthday.
The sleeping side of the suite included a comfortable long bed, chaise, and desk with chair. There was an information packet on the bed that continued hotel and surrounding area details.
The highlight of the suite was the bathroom. I simplified, attention to detail aesthetic was pulled off brilliantly. I really like how the brightness made everything in rhetorical area pop out.
Fitness
The fitness center was located on the basement level of the hotel. It was accessible via the elevators or the stairs of the left of the elevators. The fitness center shares the basement with executive offices. There was also a large seating area, for some reason.
The gym appeared to be a respectable hotel gym. I had hopes of making at least one trip to the treadmill during our stay but did not. I will say that my gym clothes are always packed in my luggage, whether they will get any use while traveling is another story.
Pool
The pool was near the valet walkway, just on the other side of the fence. It was closed for the season.
Dining
Perle on Maple
The restaurant was to the left when exiting the elevators and just past the bar. There was 15 tables in the main dining room and a few more tables in a room across the hall.
When we checked in, the clerk told us breakfast would be served from 0630-1030. I called down at 10am to verify and was told by a different clerk that brunch was going until 1pm. This was great so I was able to let Nicholas sleep.
We made our way to the restaurant at 1130 and there were only five other people present. The waiter, Edgar, greeted us and immediately took our drink orders while providing us menus.
Nicholas quickly decided on the Belgian Waffle and I ordered the shrimp and grits. The food arrived 15 minutes later.
The waffle would have been a hit with Nicholas if the whip was not missing from the dish. The shrimp and grits and sausage were a bit too bland for me.
I was able to take $32 off the bill due to selecting the breakfast option, instead of points at check in. The final total: $29.
Final Word
The hotel, while on the small side, really stands out in uptown Dallas. The location, decor, and price point are on par with what I would expect. The only other minor issue was the lack of self parking on the property. I understand that space is limited but it would have been nice.
Our stay was stay was solidified by the hospitality of the Stoneleigh staff. They went out of their way to make us, especially Nicholas, feel welcomed to the property. To the point that Nicholas is already asking to return to the property.
Thank you all for such a great stay, we will be seeing you again.
