The French Room restaurant at the Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas offers high tea throughout the year. But during the holiday season, their high tea is transformed into a Holiday Tea that claims to be “a haven for unforgettable holiday memories to last a lifetime.” After our recent visit, I have to agree! Adam and I had the sweetest holiday date together at the French Room Holiday Tea.
Playing Dress Up
Adam and I were able to take an afternoon off together. We ventured out on our first proper date in quite a long time – we got all gussied up and everything! I loved playing dress-up and trying on a different dress and stole until I found the one I liked. It felt like a teen movie montage. (Including the part where I still haven’t hung all the rejected clothes back up.) I even wore heels. To be honest, this was such a mistake because I’ve been exclusively a sneakers and slippers gal for two years now. Let’s just say the walk to Reunion Tower after tea gave me flashbacks to my first pair of pointe shoes. Ouch!
Thanks To My Dad!
Big thank you, of course, to my dad who happily played Uber driver and babysitter for us. He also stayed home with Andy and was the biggest help. Living far away from my parents, sister, and cousins has been unbelievably hard for me. Anytime someone visits it fills my heart with joy. There’s no other word for it! Seeing my parents with my baby is the greatest gift, and one I don’t take for granted.
Adolphus Hotel First Impression
This was our first visit to the Adolphus Hotel, and we were immediately impressed with the beautiful architecture and styling. The Adolphus looks like it belongs in New York City. The entrance is wide and airy. All the interiors are covered in dark wood, tile, and rich texture. I noticed the staff carry themselves very well. I later overheard a staff member telling a guest that everyone is given lessons when they are hired on a specific way to walk, talk, and interact with guests. That’s so interesting to me!
High Tea at the French Room
The Adolphus Hotel offers high tea year-round at their beautiful French Room. I think the French Room is the perfect setting for high tea. The decor is a creative mix of traditional furniture and modern art, with mixed metal accents and richly textured upholstery and rugs. The space manages to feel both historic and fresh, which is my favorite interior styling. During the holiday season, the French Room updates its usual high tea offerings to their Holiday Tea. The holiday tea features more Christmas-inspired treats in an even more beautiful setting. There were many beautifully decorated Christmas trees, garlands, and wreaths throughout the space.
Adam and I were impressed with the live piano music and upbeat atmosphere. The live piano music featured variations on holiday favorites that felt fun without being too cheesy or like a sing-a-long. Every guest seemed refreshed and happy to be there. The mood was light and very relaxing.
French Room Holiday Tea
Our afternoon started with a Charles de Cazanove brut rose – note that they also offer a non-alcoholic cider option. We were able to linger with our drinks for a little while before our finger sandwiches came out. I loved the pacing of the whole tea – we never felt rushed, and there was plenty of time to settle before the next course. There were five different types of finger sandwiches. My favorite was the cucumber cress.
Next, we enjoyed their Holiday Blend Pu-Erh Chai. It is truly the best tea that Adam and I have ever tried. And that’s really saying something because Adam is British – tea is kinda their thing. The Pu-Erh chai was followed by the most delicious assortment of pastries and treats. I didn’t expect much of the scones but they were easily my favorite of the desserts. The scones were served with jams and fresh double-whipped cream.
Exploring the Adolphus
After tea, Adam and I explored more of the Adolphus Hotel. We loved the giant Christmas tree in the atrium. I had to get a few photos, of course! There were also roaring fires in the many fireplaces and more velvet sofas and heavy rugs. The whole hotel lobby and guest areas felt so cozy, even in such a large space. I love the way the designers were able to make such a big space feel so homey. We can’t wait to return for another afternoon out. In particular, we want to take our mothers and my friend Imogen back for high tea when they visit.
The Bright Red Bag
Before we left, our waitress packed our take-home treats and tea into a bright red bag. Something about that bag just made me so happy. I loved walking around with it the rest of the afternoon – a bright red flash in the sea of grey that is downtown Dallas.
French Room Holiday Tea Vlog
You can see more of our visit in my latest Youtube vlog – click the image above or click HERE! And while you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. My goal is to reach 100 subscribers, and I would so appreciate it if you were one of them!
Piper says
This looks like the perfect Christmas date! And I’m loving your outfit, especially the stole! More like stole MY HEART
Erin Caracci says
Hahaha – you are too kind. It came attached to a coat from H&M and I cut it off because I liked it too much to not wear it constantly. Also, THANK YOU so much for reading my blog! Sometimes I feel like I’m shouting into the void so it’s nice to see a friendly face around here. Also also we NEED to see you and Turner on our next visit to GA. You have to meet baby Andy!