Treat yourself to a luxurious stay—and meal—at this Fort Worth gem.
Fort Worth , Texas , gets its byname Cowtown for the obvious reason : its long history with cowboy and cattle . Historically speaking , the urban center has been a hub of Texas Longhorn cows trading and still champions its Western heritage . If you ’re a meat lover , like myself , you ’ll want to check in and never check out ofHotel Drover , an Autograph Collection hotel posit in the core of the 130 - year - honest-to-god Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District . The hotel is a nod to the OG herder , a name for a cowpuncher or cowgirl who enthral oxen by foot .
Staying in the Stockyards is what most visitor call up of when they visualise Texas cowboy country , but most the great unwashed do n’t realize that Fort Worth is a charming , unsophisticated city of its own that ’s often overlooked by its neighborDallas . All the esthetics and rustic Western vibe aside , there ’s a destiny of Texas meat to be consumed both in and out of the hotel;you’re in cows country , after all . The hotel ’s hacienda - style grounds transport you to the countryside even though downtown is a Lucy Stone ’s throw .
According to Rich Pettitt , whose resume include some of the most notable BBQ joints in the country ( he ’s currently atZavala ’s Barbecue ) , Fort Worth has one of the most exciting BBQ scenes in all of Texas so it ’s wise to project a reformist ’ cue journeying while in town . We paint a picture renting a car for the daytime to peruse around . ( After eating at countless BBQ speckle , the AC will be a treat . ) Pettitt ’s can’t - miss agenda includesSmoke - A - Holics BBQ , Dayne ’s Craft Barbecue , andPanther City BBQ . For more off - the - beaten - route options , visitGoldee ’s Barbecueand Zavala ’s , where you ’ll need to blockade by for the brisket alone .
Photo courtesy of Hotel Drover
After eat your way through Fort Worth , it ’s meter for some serious R&R , which is n’t hard to achieve in a luxuriousSpa King Terrace Suite . Kick off your kick and indulge in the bronze soak tub , equip with Los Poblanos artisan bath products that ’ll have you tranquil in no time . Once pruned , a power forty winks in the cloud - corresponding bottom — or a sitting on the balcony , which overlooks Mule Alley , in a Chadsworth & Haig gown and Topo Chico in hand — is in gild .
Once rejuvenate , Veranda Bar , an outdoor oasis , will suffice for a pre - dinner craft cocktail ( the Cucumber Mint Mule is as refreshing as it voice ) . You ’ll need the greens to refuel for a meat - centric feast by way of Chef Grant Morgan . At97 West Kitchen & Bar , he espouse a mix of classic spread fare and Texas cuisine with a splash of Southern . And , yes , it ’s nuzzle within Hotel Drover , so Irish exiting to bed once your food coma sets in is just stair away . The meat are standout here and locally sourced from position like HeartBrand Beef and Rosewood Wagyu . The sweet - tea - marinated fried green Lycopersicon esculentum and the 12 - ounce Akaushi American Wagyu strip steak with Irish potato hash will have you drool . The Texas Tomahawk , 34 snow leopard of delicious Texas ranch meat , is worldly and best for sharing with creamy Texas laughingstock Malva sylvestris guts and brussels sprout . Whatever you do , do n’t bury the sauces ( Texas hot sauce hollandaise and roast garlic demi FTW ) .
If you ’re just sick of barbecue and meaty steaks ( these are fighting words in these percentage ! ) , there ’s a grilled Brassica oleracea botrytis steak that ’ll have you take in . Unique to the spot , unlike most hotel restaurants , is that meat is butchered in - house and steaks are hand cut . It ’s like being at your neighborhood blunderer . Dessert is optional at this detail , but the Mexican loot pudding is deserving the kilogram calorie .
Head straight for the pool spot - dinner party . Hotel Drover ’s puddle is heated and dump out in chandeliers ; plus , there ’s a red-hot tub that will help oneself you detox after eating the day away . The kernel perspire are material , after all .
Day two : If you ’re not begging and pleading for a green juice and giant salad yet , Chef Morgan has an entire eating plan carved out with more barbecue . “ Within walking space , we haveRiscky ’s BBQ , Cooper ’s Old Time Pit BBQ , andH3 Ranch , ” say Morgan . “ It ’s not BBQ , but we ’re delirious for Chef Tim Love ’s newest concept opening on Mule Alley — Caterina ’s , an upscale , intimate , Italian - American eating place , ” he bring . take the air it off atJohn Wayne : An American Experience , an exhibit with a glance into the life of John Wayne . If timing work out , find out outCowtown Coliseumfor a literal - deal rodeo . Non - kernel - eating activities also admit shopping at Lucchese ( a custom boot shop ) , King Ranch Saddle Shop , Ariat ( wear , boot , and more ) , Wrangler , Flea Style ( vintage , unique , and hand-crafted goods ) , and then some .
fundamentally , when you check into Hotel Dover it ’s like check into a capricious westerly world , where everything ’s at your fingertips ( give or take a few far-famed BBQ joints worth the cause ) .
The Spa King Terrace Suite at Hotel Drover|Photo courtesy of Hotel Drover
97 West Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Drover|Photo courtesy of Hotel Drover
