Quantcast
Facebook/The Ashton Hotel

A luxe Fort Worth boutique hotel is among the best in the state this year, according to US News and & World Report. The publication collects its information through hotel ratings, customer reviews, and industry award analysis.

The Ashton Hotellands at No. 24 on the prestigious list for 2023. It is joined by three other Dallas-Fort Worth hotels: The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (No. 2), Ritz-Carlton, Dallas (No. 6), and Thompson Dallas (No. 25). The list looks a bit different than it did last year, when seven local lodgings made the cut.

Of Fort Worth's storied Ashton, US News writes, "Located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, The Ashton Hotel proves that sometimes luxury looks better in a smaller size. This petite boutique has only 39 guest rooms, but it feels rather spacious, according to recent visitors who held functions in one of the property's three event spaces. Although a historical hotel, modern amenities include premium down pillows and bathrooms with separate showers and tubs. The downside to this property is that there is no restaurant on-site, only breakfast is served. And because it is older, it lacks amenities typically seen in other hotels, including a pool, a spa and a fitness center. The best thing about the hotel though, according to recent visitors, is the location. The Ashton Hotel is within walking distance of the Fort Worth Convention Center and two blocks away from Sundance Square."

Despite not having a dedicated restaurant, the Ashton does serve an elegant Afternoon Tea on limited days.

Tea at the AshtonThe Ashton serves a traditional English tea on certain days.Facebook/The Ashton Hotel

Houston’s only double five-star hotel and spa, The Post Oak Hotel, was awarded the No. 1 spot on the US News list. The hotel is known for its “tropical sanctuary” pool, nine restaurants and bars, and ultra-modern room amenities and decor.

“This prestigious list evaluates the top hotels from around the globe, and it is an honor to be included,” said Steven Chou, general manager at The Post Oak Hotel, in a statement.

Dallas' famed Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek takes No. 2 with its elegant decor, proximity to nearby parks, and acclaimed restaurant. It's up from No. 6 in 2022.

"This five-star hotel gets rave reviews, with many recent travelers saying the staff go above and beyond to anticipate guests' needs," US News says. "What's more, the hotel completed a large renovation in fall 2020, bringing the pricey property's design, rooms and suites, and public spaces up to the same vaulted level of service that impresses past travelers."

Uptown's swanky Ritz-Carlton, Dallas lands at No. 6 (up from last year's ranking of No. 7).

"Located near the Museum of Art, the Dallas edition of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton brand goes beyond just offering many of the amenities you'd expect from a five-star hotel," says US News. "For instance, this hotel boasts not just a pool, but a saline-treated rooftop pool; and not just facials and massages, but a 12,000-square-foot spa.

Rounding out the top 25 is the Thompson Dallas.

Other top hotels in Texas from the US News and & World Report hail from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth.

The full list of the top 25 best hotels in Texas include:

  1. The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
  2. Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek – Dallas
  3. Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection – Austin
  4. Hotel Emma – San Antonio
  5. Four Seasons Hotel – Houston
  6. The Ritz-Carlton – Dallas
  7. Thompson San Antonio Riverwalk
  8. The Driskill – Austin
  9. Fairmont Austin
  10. Four Seasons Hotel – Austin
  11. JW Marriott Houston Downtown
  12. Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa – San Antonio
  13. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
  14. The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
  15. The St. Regis Houston
  16. Austin Proper Hotel & Residences
  17. Miraval Austin
  18. Lake Austin Spa Resort
  19. La Cantera Resort & Spa – San Antonio
  20. Hotel Granduca Austin
  21. Mokara Hotel & Spa – San Antonio
  22. Hotel Granduca Houston
  23. Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa – Austin
  24. The Ashton Hotel – Fort Worth
  25. Thompson Dallas
Ad Placement 300x100
Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

Tasty restaurant news tops this week's 5 most-read Fort Worth stories

This week's hot headlines

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that listhere.

1. Fat tacos, crispy pepperoni pizza, and more Fort Worth restaurant news. We have lots of tasty restaurant dish in Fort Worth right now, including a new pizzeria, a new AYCE pizza buffet, and new limited-edition tacos. There's more than one fried chicken offering, and at least two pumpkin specials. Here's what's happening in Fort Worth restaurant news.

2. Restaurant bullish on burgers and bourbon cocktails comes to Grapevine. A better burger concept from South Carolina is taking a crack at Texas: Bohemian Bull, a small chain founded in Charleston in 2013, has opened its first Texas location in Grapevine, featuring burgers and a full bar with 24 craft beer taps.

3. Award-winning Mexican restaurant hits the jackpot at new Denton location. A DFW restaurant that's earned national acclaim has opened in Denton: El Rincón del Maiz, previously of Garland, is now located at 1431 E. McKinney St. in Denton where it's winning over locals with its Tex-Mex classics and vegan dishes.

4. Fort Worth Symphony Opening Night Celebration ushers in new season with grace and gusto. Thunder crashed and lightning crackled outside, but a freak Friday night thunderstorm couldn’t dampen spirits at the Fort Worth Symphony Opening Night Concert and Celebration on September 8.

5. Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 9 best bars to watch college football. Three weeks into the season and college football is on fire. Here are nine of the best bars to visit for some college football-watching in Fort Worth right now - a mix of old favorites and a few new surprises.

Mr Gatti's Pizza returns to home turf Fort Worth with new location

Pizza News

A Fort Worth-based pizzeria concept has opened a location in Fort Worth: Mr Gatti's Pizza has opened a restaurant off Camp Bowie at 2812 Horne St. #100, a space previously occupied by Helen's Hot Chicken, where they're open with pizza, pizza rolls, and their signature ranch dressing.

The location is a franchise owned by Kirk Jefferies, who also owns and operates franchises of Jason’s Deli and Chicken Express. This is his first Mr Gatti’s, but he has more locations planned.

“When people talk about Mr Gatti's Pizza, you can see a spark in their eyes. We love being able to bring that 'excitement' and combine it with our passion for pizza,” Jefferies says in a release. “Mr Gatti's Pizza has been satisfying cravings for over 50 years. It truly is an honor to be a part of this legacy brand that people cherish."

Menu favorites from about a dozen pizza options include The Sampler, The Deluxe with sausage, pepperoni, & smoked provolone, and BBQ chicken. A basic 12-inch cheese pizza with one topping is $12.

There are lunch specials from 10:30 am-3 pm including pepperoni rolls and salad for $10; 8 wings and salad for $13; and a medium pizza with 2 salads for $15.

The chain was first founded in Stephenville, Texas as The Pizza Place, in September 1964. In 1969, founder James Eure moved to Austin and opened the first Mr Gatti’s Pizza, named for his wife's maiden name.

They have a major presence in South Texas but only two in the DFW area: Plano and Allen.

There was a location that opened in Fort Worth in 2016, at 3280 W. Seventh St. in Museum Place, which at the time, was the first to use the Mr. Gatti’s name; the chain had been going by "Gatti's." So many name changes! It closed in 2018. There was also a location in North Richland Hills which opened in 2016 and closed in early 2019; and a location in Richardson that closed in 2018.

Back in the day they had a big buffet as well as a big game room, two features for which many longtime fans are nostalgic. But this location is just about the pizza.

There are now more than 70 locations in states across the Southeast, including Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.