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Bowie House Fort Worth
I just returned from a quick trip to Texas. Save for 2022’s MtM Diamond Group meetup in Austin, I hadn’t visited the state in almost six years. Last fall, I got the itch to come back, and another Amex Platinum hotel credit made it an easier decision. I subsequently noticed that Bowie House Fort Worth from the Auberge Resorts Collection just opened and was available via Fine Hotels & Resorts. Sold! I’m sharing my stay experience in today’s review.
Booking
Again, I booked this stay via the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts site while taking advantage of the Platinum $200 hotel credit benefit. The base room rate was $426.75 for my one-night stay and an additional $73.83 in taxes, totaling $500.58 due at booking. As of this writing, there is no additional destination fee due at the hotel. I leveraged my cash back rewards to cover the amount beyond the Amex Platinum Hotel Credit benefit. As usual, I earned 5x Membership Rewards points on this Fine Hotels & Resorts booking with my Amex Platinum.
Location
About three miles west of downtown Fort Worth, Bowie House is very convenient to a variety of museums, sights, and venues. Two of my favorite art museums, Amon Carter and Kimbell, are a five-minute or so walk away. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is across the street from the Kimbell, too, and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is less than ten minutes from the hotel. Meanwhile, Dickies Arena, a relatively new venue which hosts bigger acts, is about a 15-minute walk, just over a half mile away. Oddly, there seem to be less dining options in the area than museums, but that may not matter to you based on what the hotel offers.
Check-In
I arrived at Bowie House just before 10 am, so I didn’t have high expectations for immediate availability in the 106-room hotel. But Alexis at the front desk, who was the highlight of Bowie House service during my stay, provided one immediately. Based on the FHR booking, she upgraded me to a balcony king room. She smoothly completed check-in formalities and promptly answered a few questions about the property, the latter being a challenge for hotel employees in other instances (more on that later). After a concise, clear rundown of FHR benefits, I thanked her and was off to my room.
Room
Quite simply, the Bowie House room is my favorite in recent memory. Upon entry, I plopped my bag on the bench in the foyer. Adjacent is a large mirror and convenient tray for wallet, keys, and other personal items. The foyer’s large, bright closet offers plenty of space, two plush bathrobes, and slippers. What isn’t in the foyer is an entrance to the bathroom, an interesting design choice that I absolutely love.
The main part of the room exudes a Texan feel without going over the top. Bowie House accomplishes this with distinctive, framed art and other photography, seating, throw pillows, etc. The spacious bathroom opens up to the main part of the room on one side of the bed. The large, single vanity is located in a separate alcove from the substantial, square shower and separate powder room. The prominent lighting and Texan theming continues in the bathroom.
The bed’s plenty comfy but didn’t stand out from others. I appreciated the lighting behind the headboard and the mismatched bedside tables, one with plenty of drawer space. A long lounger sits in the corner with yet another lamp overhead, plenty for reading or enjoying coffee.
My (first) room’s balcony was anticlimactic, primarily offering a rear view of the poolside bar and still-under-construction condos directly across. But my second balcony king room provided outstanding views – more on that in a bit.
Amenities
Dining
Bowie House’s main restaurant, Bricks and Horses, provides an ample, reasonably-priced menu throughout the day and evening. I enjoyed the Texano Dip for lunch, particularly the not-humongous portion. Indeed, everything doesn’t need to be big in Texas. But my next meal, breakfast on morning two, was unsurprisingly gargantuan. I opted for eight-ounce steak and eggs, fully knowing I wouldn’t finish it. The steak and eggs were cooked medium and over-medium, respectively, just as I ordered. The roasted jalapeno topping the main may have been my favorite part of the meal, and the grilled onions underneath complemented nicely.
Bricks and Horses and the nearby bar offer plenty of local Texas draft beers and cocktails. Aptly named The Bar at Bowie House, a college buddy and I enjoyed drinks sitting in the vast lounge area. Whinny’s, still under construction, will provide food and drinks poolside.
Fitness Center
Located on the second floor, Bowie House’s fitness center offered standard cardio and Techno Gym machines plus free weights. Treadmills face floor to ceiling windows looking out to the pool area. Minor detail – everything worked in the gym, something that’s been a challenge for other hotel fitness centers I’ve recently experienced. After my workouts, I enjoyed the chilled towels and canned water from the gym fridges.
Spa and Other Amenities
Ash, Bowie House’s spa, is across from the fitness center, and guests have free access to the large locker rooms adjacent. Beyond spa reception, the men’s locker room holds a sauna, steam room, multiple showers, lockers, and a separate dressing area. Amidst all the spa merch, the perky receptionist offered open spa appointments later in the day, but I politely declined. You can imagine what prices were like. The pool and surrounding area, pictured at the top, are still receiving finishing touches as of this writing, and will hopefully open on time in March.
Not what I technically consider an “amenity,” I’d like to give a special shout-out to the huge lobby, lounge, and bar. This common area is one of my favorite hotel spaces I can remember. Thoughtfully designed, guests can relax in a variety of settings. The Mulberry Room off the main area gives guests a library vibe where they can work or maybe take a call. Multiple fireplaces lit each room throughout my stay. The Billet Room is basically a fancy game room with billiards, card games, and yes, more lounging. In all, Bowie House provides guests a variety of options for feeling right at home.
Bowie House Fort Worth Service
The Good
Okay, I’ll cover the positives first. The care and attention to detail of Bowie House’s front desk agents are impeccable. After the seamless check-in, I received a text message from Alexis asking about my room. I mentioned I liked it, but the limited balcony view was a bit disappointing. She promptly offered me a new balcony room (same layout, different view) on the opposite side of the hotel one floor higher. I took her up on the offer, and switching rooms was easier than I expected. At checkout, Alexis and I chatted a bit about my stay, and she seemed to actually care. She easily applied my FHR property credit, and I checked out with a zero folio.
The Bad
Beyond that, Bowie House’s uneven service oozed everywhere during my stay. On multiple occasions, the wait staff was extremely slow to come to my table upon my arrival. During my first lunch, I asked the waiter what beers were available. The look on his face and pause he took revealed he was completeley stumped. He returned a few minutes later and fumbled the beer names, comically pronouncing “pilsner” without the “L.” After he mentioned an IPA, I asked it’s name. He couldn’t answer. Still wanting to know but uninterested in another wait, I just said the IPA would be fine.
Just after 4 pm with my college buddy, we settled in at the bar area for what Bowie House prominently touts as the “House Social.” Here’s how their website describes it:
Gather ‘round daily from 4-6PM at The Bar at Bowie House for cocktails and crisps. Enjoy a special menu of over-the-top cocktails and a Texas-sized plate of our signature potato crisps, guaranteed to cure all that ails you.
I asked a waiter what the drink specials were. Much like the guy at lunch, this bar staffer was stupefied. He said something along the lines of, “I’m not aware of any, but I can check,” in a tone seemingly doubting that such specials even existed. Indeed, he returned and answered, “we don’t have any, what special did you see?” Dude, that’s what I’m asking you, I thought to myself. I referred to the Bowie House website. Still, I got nothing from him. Just wanting to be done, we ordered two Wise Acre drafts.
After a delightful piece of hummingbird cake later that night, the nice-enough waiter delivered an erroneous bill with a substantially higher price than what was on the menu. I pointed out the discrepancy, and he quickly adjusted it. No big deal, but it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Finally, in perhaps the most repeated, awkward interchanges, inattentive valet workers tardily grabbed the hotel doors in hamfisted attempts to hold them for me after I had already opened them myself. I actually prefer opening doors myself, anyway, but I found this silly charade irksome.
Bowie House Fort Worth – Conclusion
Bowie House Fort Worth is an absolutely gorgeous property which is clearly still working out the kinks. On multiple occasions, workers cited new employees are still learning. That’s somewhat understandable, but what isn’t is a guest accepting less than optimal service levels at a property with all-in nightly rates often starting around $500. I’ve encountered more competent, knowledgeable waitstaff at Hilton Garden Inn restaurants, which are satisfying enough.
Looking back, I wanted to enjoy the new car smell of the hotel, and I shouldn’t be surprised at a few of the service oversights at such a nascent property. Nevertheless, there were clearly high standards in the design and build of this hotel, and I encourage Bowie House to apply the same to their staff. Perhaps they’ll figure it out, but I doubt I’ll be back to determine that.
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Were you there when Ribbee’s was open? Ribbee’s opened March 7, 2024. A reason to come back?
CJH,
Nope. We shall see!
I live 100 miles south of Ft. Worth and I have yet to make it to Ribbee’s or Goldee’s.