Iconic bank building turned luxury hotel in Oklahoma City.
First National Bank now Marriott's The National OKC
An overpowering wave of nostalgia washed over me as I stepped through the doors of
The National Hotel OKC. My first job as a CPA began on the 9th floor of the First National Bank building in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This iconic building has now been refurbished into one of Marriott's newest hotels in their Autograph Collection.
Escalator to the Great Hall
Columns and Ceilings of The National OKC
The escalator brings you to the main floor, which used to be the hub of banking activity. Now the marble and stone columns, along with the murals and painted ceilings, provide a stately backdrop to a stunning center bar with comfortable seating throughout. What a fabulous place to meet for cocktails after work or to end the day after exploring Oklahoma City's downtown on the weekend.
Teller Windows at Tellers Restaurant
The ornate metal teller stations still remain—not to transact business—but instead to serve as the Tellers Restaurant's centerpiece. Located in the Great Hall, the restaurant serves delicious Mediterranean-influenced cuisine. Even on the hotel's second day, we found the staff well-versed in the menu, as well as warm, and efficient.
The hotel occupies eight floors with 146 rooms available. Our room was located on the 3rd floor down a long, somewhat narrow hallway. One side of the hallway had windows that opened to the main floor below. You could easily imagine bank executives stepping out of their offices briefly to view the activity taking place in the bank below.
Room at The National OKC
Our room was quiet and comfortable with dark navy walls. Luxury linens adorned the king bed. After showering in the beautifully tiled walk-in shower, one can snuggle up in the luxurious navy robe provided.
The renovation of The National OKC is not yet complete. Additionally, the hotel will soon open the Stock and Bond Steakhouse and the Library of Distilled Spirits (in the old vault). The upper floors will house residential units with studio, 1,2, and 3-bedrooms available.
The beautiful and energic Oklahoma City downtown has been skillfully revitalized into a destination location. The Scissortail Park, with gardens, lake, and playground, is less than a mile from The National OKC. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Bricktown, and Myriad Botanical Gardens are all a short walk away. Also, within blocks of the hotel, one can spend a quiet time of reflection at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. The site of the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building now serves as a memorial to "those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever."
It is easy to see that The National OKC will become a favored destination for business travelers and those wanting a central location from which to enjoy a weekend (or a week) of all that downtown Oklahoma City offers.
The Great Hall - Street Side
