With your first steps into the former Sinclair Oil Building, you’ll get a sense of Great Gatsby opulence meets Texas flair. The Sinclair, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, is where innovation, authenticity and Southern hospitality convene at the edge of Sundance Square in “Cowtown” Fort Worth, Texas.

Tech-Forward

The Sinclair proudly emerged in 2019 as the city’s first tech-forward hotel.  By tech forward, we mean intriguing amenities like an in-house podcast booth (for no extra charge) and Kohler digital showers (that means you digitally turn the shower on, select the showerhead you prefer, then enter the temperature of your liking–up to 120-degrees!). Then there’s the savvy electric touchscreen mirrors (fellow Insta influencers, take note: “makeup mirror” is an option!), and the in-room Network Presence-Sensing Technology. (A little freaky, a little cool.) There are even digital selections on the toilet!

Green Energy

Then there’s the fact that The Sinclair is the only hotel in the United States to have replaced a diesel generator and backup power source with lithium-ion battery backup. In the past, this would have interested only to the building engineers among us, I’m sure. However, this ace in the hole served them well recently. When other locations lost power during February’s winter freeze, The Sinclair stayed powered up. (Unsurprisingly, they also suddenly skyrocketed to full-capacity.)

Stunning Rooftop Views

Technology aside, there are high points about this hotel that will make your jaw drop. The first of which is the rooftop (gasp, take a moment) bar. Perched atop 16 stories, it is a marvel in lounging and entertainment. Many engagements have been made upon these rooftop stomping grounds.  The views span across the city of Fort Worth with a gorgeous shot of the historic Tarrant County Courthouse.

Whether you choose to enjoy your drink inside the glass-encompassed fishbowl that is the rooftop bar, or step outside to the rooftop terrace with the breathtaking views, you are in the hottest seats in the house in this area. (The only thing is, there aren’t many seats up here, so you’ll be firing up those gams and glutes to stand and enjoy your rooftop G&T.)

Party in the Penthouse

Just below the highest of high points (literally, just below) is the Presidential Suite. Formerly the executive office of the owner of the oil building, Richard Otto Dulaney, with his secretary a staircase below, the now Penthouse Suite is “the” place to plan your bachelor party, milestone birthday, or graduation bash.

This luxurious two-level suite features a king bedroom downstairs (15th floor) and living and dining areas–with a full kitchen and wine fridge–upstairs (16th floor). Natural light illuminates the suite with floor-to-ceiling windows around the perimeter. After guests leave, take a load off by soaking your body in the marble bathtub with (naturally!) smart fixtures.

Workout Wonderland

Exercise enthusiasts will enjoy the most lauded commercial fitness equipment: Italian-made Technogym cardio and strength machines. The 1,000 square foot fitness center is small but stacked. Whether you want a high-impact run on a treadmill (fyi, a Technogym treadmill costs more than a gently-used Prius) or a low-impact recumbent bike ride, Technogym has you covered at The Sinclair gym.

What you won’t find right now at The Sinclair is a Peloton bike. With the tailwind of the pandemic, many fitness enthusiasts purchased Pelly bikes for their homes and have come to expect them when they travel.  For the time being, you’ll have to lace up your kicks for another activity at The Sinclair. And that’s okay!  Variety is the spice of life and the “results” potion of a well-rounded workout regime!

Dining Options

If you would like to grab a bite at the hotel, there is casual dining by day and fine dining by night at The Sinclair. The lobby-level restaurant will serve you a hot cup of Italian coffee and an assortment of hot breakfast options. Enjoy a delightful list of beers, wine, and a sassy bloody Mary for the hair of the dog.

At 5pm, the lower level fine dining restaurant, Wicked Butcher, opens, and you can wet your whistle in preparation for some of the finest steaks in Cowtown.  (Mention Texas Lifestyle Magazine when making your reservation for a free appetizer through April 30, 2021.)More of that to come in our #FoodieFriday article.  As an Austinite, the ambiance of Wicked Butcher reminded me of Carve American Grille, a Perry’s Restaurant adjacent to the Yeti headquarters on Southwest Parkway.

Cowtown Meets Wine Town

As The Sinclair is open to ideas that will enable visitors to enjoy all that the DFW area has to offer, they have recently partnered with a sister Marriott Autograph Hotel in Grapevine, TX, Hotel Vin. The Sinclair and Hotel Vin have created a package that includes both hotels, the TEXRail, and a credit for F&B to dive into both hotels’ restaurants. It’s a great way to get the full experience of both Cowtown and Wine Town! Call The Sinclair for details.

Rates

A night in a standard room at The Sinclair varies, depending on the season, but you can expect to pay between $150-600 per night to hang your hat at this tech-forward Gatsby-esque beaut in Fort Worth, TX.

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Cover photo courtesy Brandon Barre

Brook Benten Jimenez, M.Ed. is an ACSM Exercise Physiologist, based out of Austin, TX.  Over the past two decades, Brook has been a college fitness director (SMU), international fitness presenter, fitness magazine writer, workout DVD star, and Executive Director of Healthy Living (The Village Dallas).  She’s now putting the finishing touches on her first book, “Sweat Like a Mother.”  Follow Brook on Instagram at @BrookBenten.