Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

At 100 years old, the original estate that stands at the heart of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is as stunning and swoon-worthy as ever. Ornate tiling and a rusty pink stucco exterior draws visitors into what is now one of Dallas’s most treasured resorts. Originally built as a 16th century Italian renaissance estate, the property changed hands multiple times until it was introduced to Caroline Rose Hunt, an heiress and philanthropist, who turned it into the first Rosewood Hotel & Resort. Having maintained most of the home’s original opulence, including a marble-floored cantilevered staircase and a 16th century stone fireplace, the hotelier added another building to complement the home and create 142 guest rooms, opening the resort in 1981. 

Today, the cushy oasis still serves as one of the most luxurious stays in the city and has hosted dignitaries and celebrities, from the Dalai Lama to Prince. 

A stay here starts with gazing up into the lobby cupola to take in the ornate detailing, or greeting one of the resort’s resident cats, Duncan and Andie. Inside the residential-style rooms, elements hark to the mansion’s original design with wood detailing, library shelving, and black-and-white photography of details from around the estate. Meanwhile, products from Diptyque, in-room espresso machines, and Tempur-Pedic beds make for max rejuvenation. For a splurge, consider the Turtle Creek suite, a 1,350 square-foot one-bedroom abode outfitted with a baby grand piano that includes complimentary butler service. 

Outside, a private, narrow pool sits to one side of the resort, where rentable cabanas and fruity cocktails, like a prickly pear mojito, await. There’s also a spacious fitness center with Peloton equipment and steam and sauna rooms that’s open 24 hours. 

Visiting The Mansion Restaurant is a must—whether you’re staying at the resort or not. Now led by executive chef Charles Olalia, the restaurant has been helmed by notable chefs throughout the years, including Dean Fearing and John Tesar. Olalia, Filipino by birth, took over in 2024 and puts a French spin, as well as his own personal touch, on dishes like caviar and lobster lumpia and salt and pepper fried quail. The main dining room occupies what was once the living room of the estate and the veranda, now glassed in, is just the spot for a breakfast of green chilaquiles. The original home’s silver vault, set below the Mansion Bar, is now a wine cellar and private dining space, where you can take in an exclusive meal surrounded by thousands of historic bottles. 

While you’re at the restaurant, peek inside the Library, just off the main dining room to get a glimpse of an intricate stained glass window featuring the coat of arms of British Barons who were present at the signing of the Magna Carta—or better yet, stay for the Heritage Afternoon Tea, offered weekend afternoons, for a classic tea service, where the bites arrive in retrofitted birdcages and Five Mountains heirloom organic teas are on the menu. During the fall and spring, visit the Mansion’s Champagne Terrace, a lush oasis behind the restaurant, where you can enjoy frosty bottles of Perrier-Jouët and light bites under draping trees and twinkling lights. 

After dinner, a nightcap at The Mansion Bar is a must—it’s set in the heart of the original home with a hunt-club-like atmosphere and draws locals and hotel guests for its sexy setting, occasional live music, and signature cocktails like the pecan old fashioned. It’s just the spot to toast your stay—and the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek’s luxe, historic charm.