10 New Dallas/Fort Worth Venues for 2019 Fall Meetings and Events

Live By Loews—Arlington, a 14-story, 300-guestroom sports resort, opened in August. For events, the property can accommodate as many as 1,000 guests in spaces including the 14,194-square-foot Arlington Ballroom and seven additional indoor and outdoor function areas that total more than 35,000 square feet. Other spaces and services include breakout rooms, a green room, a dedicated event planner office, on-site audiovisual services from PSAV, and customized event landing pages. The resort, which features amenities like an infinity pool, a private rooftop terrace, Cut & Bourbon restaurant, and the Arlington Clover Club outdoor lounge, is located minutes from the soon-to-open Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers), AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), and Six Flags Over Texas amusement park.

As of September, the Historic West End is home to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. The state-of-the-art museum is dedicated to teaching visitors about the history of the Holocaust, advancing human rights, and combating prejudice. Spanning 55,000 square feet, the facility includes several areas available for events. The 3,000-square-foot lobby seats 177 or fits 210 guests cocktail style; the 4,000-square-foot courtyard holds 280 for receptions; the 2,200-square-foot outdoor terrace holds 280 for cocktail-style events; two 40-seat classrooms can be combined to seat 100; and a theater includes 250 built-in seats. Catering is provided by Food Glorious Food.

Punch Bowl Social opened a 12,500-square-foot outpost in Fort Worth in July. With design details like neon signs, bright colors, and eye-catching light fixtures, the fun-focused space melds modern and western decor and features classic arcade games, foosball, darts, and board games. The menu includes creative dishes like cocoa-dusted carnitas tacos, cauliflower nachos, and falafel burgers, along with fruity cocktails, canned and bottled beer, wine, and house-made sodas. In total, the venue can host as many as 600 guests. Smaller groups can reserve private spaces such as the Punch Lounge, which accommodates 150 and includes access to the Bonzini karaoke lounge, eight mini bowling lanes, and the Holiday Lodge; the indoor-outdoor Social Lounge, which fits 100 guests and features shuffleboard, ping pong, and a photo booth; Bonzini, with room for 30; the 30-seat Social Mini Bowling Lounge; the 20-seat Holiday Lodge; and the V.I.P. Mini Bowling area with room for 15.

Australia’s popular Italian concept 400 Gradi opened its first U.S. location in September in Downtown Dallas. Measuring 5,000 square feet, the restaurant seats 125 guests inside and 45 on a patio, and a private dining room can accommodate 46 seated guests or 70 for cocktail-style events. The menu includes dishes like margherita pizza, tagliatelle with meat ragu, zucchini flowers stuffed with salted cod, and branzino with braised fennel and leeks, and the kitchen uses specially formulated water designed to replicate Italian water to add an extra level of authenticity to the menu. Audiovisual capabilities and Wi-Fi are available.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth’s Cultural District celebrates and honors women whose lives exemplify the spirit of the American West. In March, the museum unveiled a $5.5 million renovation to its second-floor galleries, which now include the Kit Moncrief Galleries and the interactive “It’s Never Just a Horse” exhibition with items like a saddle used on Game of Thrones and the suit worn by Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman. For events, planners can reserve areas including the Rotunda, Hall of Fame, Exhibit Galleries, and Film Lounge. In total, the 33,000-square-foot museum can accommodate as many as 140 for seated dinners or 250 for receptions.

The Glass Cactus event space at Gaylord Texan Resort unveiled a $7 million renovation in June. The upscale lakeside venue now features new decor, flexible seating, multiple bars, catering stations, built-in audiovisual capabilities, an expansive stage, a two-story outdoor deck, and a V.I.P. lounge. While the 43,000-square-foot venue can accommodate as many as 1,500 guests for cocktail-style events, 830 theater style, 465 classroom style, or 450 for banquets, its scalable design can be customized for smaller groups.

Asian Mint opened its fourth Dallas-area location in October in the Richardson space formerly occupied by sister concept EnjoyMint. Offering modern decor, clean lines, and bright pops of color, the 2,800-square-foot restaurant seats 75 inside and 25 on the patio. The menu features healthily prepared Thai classics like fried rice, pad Thai, curries, and stir fry, along with house-made desserts and a full-service bar. Nearly every dish can be prepared vegetarian or vegan.

Doubletree Dallas—Campbell Centre debuted the 1,250-square-foot Topgolf Swing Suite in September. The immersive offering includes two simulator bays that accommodate as many as 16 guests in total and are equipped with massive screens and a selection of interactive virtual games and challenges like golf (of course), hockey, baseball, and zombie dodgeball. An adjacent lounge area fits as many as 36 guests. Planners can partake in catering from the hotel’s on-site outlet, 82fifty Restaurant and Bar.

In August, East Dallas welcomed Top Round, a California-based quick-serve concept. The 2,800-square-foot restaurant seats 60 inside and as many as 70 on two outdoor patios that can accommodate live music and entertainment. With a nostalgic look reminiscent of a 1950s diner, the casual restaurant serves its take on American classics like slow-cooked roast beef, fried chicken brined in buttermilk and pickle juice, chili cheese fries, and banana cream pie. Patrons can also enjoy hyper-local draft and canned beer, wine, and cocktails.

Husband-wife team Dino and Megan Santonicola opened Partenope Ristorante in September in the historic Titche-Goettinger Building in Downtown Dallas. The venue embraces the culture of Naples, Italy, with an open kitchen, a pizza oven adorned with hand-painted tiles, and an overall inviting atmosphere. Guests can choose from a menu that includes options like pizza with mozzarella, whipped ricotta, sliced lemon, mint, and zucchini; house-made fusilli with cherry tomatoes, pesto, and pistachios; and beef and pork meatballs. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant seats 100 in the dining room, 12 at the bar, and 20 in a private dining room.