Graduate Hotels has planted its flag in the Lone Star State with the opening of Graduate Dallas, the brand’s first Texas outpost.
Housed in the former Hotel Lumen, the 93-room property sits in Highland Park—just steps from Southern Methodist University (SMU)—with a signature restaurant, outdoor pool and terrace, and flexible event space.
Channeling Texas warmth
Designed and developed by AJ Capital Partners, the Nashville-based firm behind the Graduate brand, the hotel reimagines its midcentury shell with richly layered interiors that nod to Texas ranch life and SMU’s collegiate legacy. Cowhide ottomans, tanned leather seating, shearling accents, and handwoven textiles fill the public spaces, contrasting the building’s clean, geometric lines.
A welcoming, street-facing layout connects the hotel to the surrounding community, anchored by a lively lobby lounge. Local details abound, from the reception desk carved with galloping mustangs to a massive vintage postcard mural of nearby Exall Lake. Star-shaped pendant lights, native greenery, and a communal table with a coffee counter foster both social connection and quiet retreat.
Tex-Mex at Graduate Dallas
Los Charros Tex-Mex Smokehouse, the hotel’s restaurant, pays tribute to Texas barbecue and Mexican culinary traditions.
Reclaimed wood and corrugated steel create a rustic-industrial backdrop for standout design details like saddle stools, bolo-tie light fixtures, and a bold ceiling mural inspired by handwoven rugs. Named after Mexico’s horsemen, the eatery channels cowboy-chic spirit in flavor and form.
A collegiate stay
Upstairs, guestrooms balance Americana flair and collegiate whimsy with a red, white, and blue palette, grass cloth walls, and navy-striped beds. Playful embroidered pillows nod to SMU, while bluebonnet-upholstered chairs and ceramic lamps add texture.
The original tiled bathrooms remain, now updated with bold blue accents and custom horse-print wallpaper.
“Bringing a Graduate to Texas—particularly in the heart of Highland Park, one of Dallas’ most storied neighborhoods—has been a longtime goal,” says Ben Weprin, Graduate Hotels founder and CEO and founder of AJ Capital Partners. “This is a community full of character, tradition, and creative energy, and we’re honored to bring this project to life in a way that reflects all of that through design, storytelling, and the nostalgic traditions that live on at SMU.”
Hilton acquired Graduate Hotels in 2024 for $210 million.
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