Old Meets New at The National Hotel in Oklahoma City

The art of reinvention is as old as history itself. While most hotels have been purpose-built to welcome overnight guests, transforming pre-existing structures into hotels is a trend. Case in point is The National Hotel, Autograph Collection at First National Center in Oklahoma City. Built during The Great Depression as the First National Bank, it quickly became a regional icon thanks to its Grande Dame style and vanguard design.

Following a meticulous renovation, The National Hotel re-opened in 2022 as an upscale hotel. Exclusive condos, restaurants and high-end retail shops give overnight guests a taste of local life. The hotel maintains authentic details, keeping a connection to its roots while combining contemporary touches. The past is palpable, but the vibe is anything but stale.

Plenty of Panache

The Great Hall sits at the heart of the hotel, home to its centerpiece Lobby Bar. Monumental in size, towering columns and opulent marble add architectural fireworks, with an Art Deco skylight thrown in for good measure. It’s stately yet inviting, so it’s no surprise that hotel guests and locals alike are attracted to it like bees to honey, meeting for cocktails or simply soaking in the atmosphere.

It’s the perfect marriage of one foot in history and one foot in the now. Original details are quietly revealed over time, including signage for safe deposit boxes, antique drinking fountains and a vintage mail chute. Four murals painted by Edgar Spier Cameron each depict a significant event in Oklahoma’s history. These old-school touches mesh with fashionable wallpaper, cheeky animal print area rugs and funky furniture, including chic swivel chairs with pleated upholstery in saturated jewel tones like ruby and emerald.

Luxurious Guest Rooms

The 146 guest rooms catch the eye with customized tufted headboards, barn doors and brass lighting fixtures polished to a golden gleam. Furniture adds texture, with crushed-velvet chairs and elegant curved sofas with contrasting piping blending with modern amenities including speedy Wi-Fi, USB charging ports and Smart televisions.

Beekman 1802 brand skin care products and spacious walk-in showers take bathrooms to the next level.

Culinary Catnip

Pack your appetite and sample what’s cooking at the three onsite restaurants.

Sit in a restored original teller booth at Tellers as you feast on authentic interpretations of regional Italian cuisine. Enjoy a forkful of Roman specialty cacio e pepe, spaghetti coated with a silky emulsion of pecorino cheese and showered with freshly-ground black pepper. The taste is so authentic, I dare you to close your eyes and not think you’re at a trattoria with a view of the Spanish Steps. If pizza is your jam, the Diavolo has spicy pepperoni, provolone and pecorino cheeses, finished with a luscious drizzle of honey.

This is cattle country, and The National defers to its agricultural roots at Stock & Bond. The menu is pure Americana, including an Instagram-worthy seafood tower, retro wedge salad and juicy cuts of steak such as ribeye and New York strip. A bounty of classic steakhouse sides, from creamed spinach to roasted brussel sprouts, don’t disappoint. American distillers are celebrated with an extensive selection of whiskeys and bourbons. Desserts are decadent–think sky-high chocolate layer cake with edible gold leaf–so leave your diet at the state line.

For something sweet, the Gilded Acorn is a patisserie helmed by Oklahoma City’s James Beard award-winning Chef Andrew Black. Floral wallpaper and bistro-style tables look lifted from the set of Emily in Paris. Croissants are a buttery morning treat and afternoon tea is fit for royalty, complete with fabulous pastries and dainty finger sandwiches.

Potent Potables

 The Library of Distilled Spirits is located in what was once the bank vault. Today, it pays homage to the culture of craft cocktails with over 1,500 unique expressions of distilled spirits waiting to be sampled. The curated collection is documented in the Library’s Encyclopedia, which highlights the history and process of making liquor, from fermentation through distillation.

Shop Till You Drop

High-end retail shops are located on the lower level. The gift shop Plenty Mercantile champions sustainable products. Much of the merchandise is made in Oklahoma, from candied jalapenos to a print of hometown cowboy Will Rogers, adding sense of place. It’s made for browsing, with welcoming owners and staff who invite you to look with no pressure to purchase.

Famed Texas bootmaker Lucchese has a branch here. They’ve made handcrafted boots from premium leather for U.S. Presidents and country music stars since 1883. If money’s no object, have a custom boot fitting. They make fine Western apparel and bags too.

Oklahoma City Is More Than OK

Think Oklahoma City might not merit exploration? Think again. An art museum filled with Dale Chihuly’s whimsical blown glass, a top-notch botanical garden and the poignant Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum sit just steps from the hotel.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art contains one of the world’s largest collections of Dale Chihuly glass. The collection includes glass baskets and Ikebana flowers. A fine collection of American art features works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Roy Lichtenstein and Ellsworth Kelly.

Myriad Botanical Gardens occupies a green escape in the heart of downtown. Outdoor plantings join its futuristic, cylinder-shaped conservatory, complete with a waterfall, reflecting pool and overlook terraces. Orchids, a bromeliad terrace and a root wall rank amount its most striking natural features.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum serves as a powerful reminder of the tragedy that struck this city on April 19, 1995. On that fateful day, 168 people were killed during a bomb blast in what was the Federal Building. Highlights include the Field of Empty Chairs, 168 hand-crafted chairs, one for each victim, and a Survivor’s Wall, a moving tribute to the resilience of the over 600 people who survived the deadly blast.