The Thompson Hotel Opens With Two Luxe New Restaurants in Downtown Dallas

A brand new luxury hotel in Downtown Dallas has announced the two restaurants that will occupy its top floors.

The first, called Nine, is billed as a vibrant daytime spot and is already open on the ninth floor of the historic National building at 205 North Akard Street. The second spot is called Catbird, not to be confused with acclaimed Nashville restaurant the Catbird Seat, and will open on the building’s tenth floor on November 27. Both restaurants are part of the Thompson Hotel, whose owners undertook a $460-million restoration of the George Dahl-designed landmark building.

The kitchens — and the decor — of both restaurants come with an impressive list of droppable names. Jonathon Geffrard, a 12-year veteran of Hillstone Restaurant Group, is now the director of restaurants, bars, and events for Thompson Dallas, Executive chef and Jeramie Robison previously worked at Uchi. Chef de cuisine is is Preston Paine, who was most recently the chef de partie at Eleven Madison Park in New York City, a three-Michelin-star restaurant. Plus, decor at Nine includes art by Damien Hirst, and the walls at Catbird are covered in ultra-expensive de Gournay hand-painted wallpaper.

As far as the food is concerned, both Nine and Catbird will serve modern European cuisine, with Nine focusing on healthy fare like sourdough pancakes, lemony chicken orzo soup and fresh fish. Catbird will offer sharable plates like wagyu beef in a pho-like broth, creamy shishito pepper dip, and braised rutabaga skewers, served alongside classic cocktails. Catbird eventually hopes to add tableside cocktail service as well.

The rooftop lounge will also give guests a view of Downtown Dallas with casual patio seating and firepits. There’s also, apparently, a mysterious third restaurant in the works for the hotel, called 49th Floor, that will be helmed by an as-yet-unannounced chef who hails from a restaurant with two Michelin stars.

Nine will be open daily from 7 a.m.to 2 p.m. Catbird will be open for dinner daily, from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, until 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and until 12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.