Built in 1912 by beer tycoon Adolphus Busch, the Adolphus is a showcase for European grandeur purchased with American money. Today the hotel is a Dallas institution whose over-the-top baroque décor is the essence of its charm. Rich wood paneling, Louis XV chairs and soft lighting give the lobby its European flavor – you might expect Scarlett O’Hara (or Leonardo DiCaprio) to descend the grand staircase. Guest rooms offer leather chaise lounges, four-poster beds and antique cherry furnishings. Picture the bedrooms depicted in Robert Altman’s Gosford Park for a visual cue. Hailed by Zagat as the top hotel restaurant in the country, the French Room looks like Napoleon III’s dining room and feels like a Fifth Avenue standout. Try the pan-seared duck breast with sugar-cured plantains and green apple calvados sauce. If you have a prior engagement for supper, don’t miss afternoon tea – very authentic and very British.