Best Luxury Hotels in Dallas

The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek feels like a Tuscan villa -- the hotel is pink stucco, the roof is terra cotta, and beautiful fountains, tile mosaics, and trellis plants surround the pool. The property is lavish, with a grand lobby and large, upscale rooms with patios -- but it's a bit farther from the restaurants and galleries in Uptown Dallas than the Rosewood Crescent.

The Joule is one of the coolest -- and most luxurious -- hotels in Downtown Dallas. It's located in a historic building dating back to the 1920s, and its decor is a mix of old and new -- funky furniture and patterned rugs are juxtaposed against dark wood paneling and antique touches in the lobby (including two giant cogged wheels), and the hotel has an extensive art collection, including works by Andy Warhol. There is a popular lounge downstairs and the bathroom walls are made of frosted glass (though a curtain can be pulled across), so this hotel may not be the best pick for families, but all can enjoy the cantilevered pool which juts out over Main Street.

This elegant, 191-room hotel is housed in a beautiful historic building in hopping Uptown, close to art galleries and great nightlife. It has a lovely outdoor pool, a huge, impressive fitness center, and an acclaimed 22,000-square-foot day spa. Big rooms come with high-tech amenities, but the slightly bland decor is unimpressive (especially for a hotel of this caliber), and there’s a fee for Internet access. The famous Japanese restaurant Nobu is located in the lobby, and the members-only Crescent Club offers stunning views.

A glamorous, ultra-hip hangout, the 153-room Hotel ZaZa is a cool alternative to the luxurious but sometimes stuffy hotels in Uptown Dallas. Guests and locals mingle at the gourmet restaurant, Dragonfly, and at Poolside, the site of outdoor cocktail parties year-round. Rooms have a similar trendy vibe, with animal print accents and black-and-white Old Hollywood photographs.

One of Dallas' grand dames, the 422-room Adolphus features a large, elegant lobby and one of the city's finest restaurants, The French Room. Some find the opulent decor (crystal chandeliers, velvet furniture, dark wood paneling, heavy drapes) to be a bit stuffy, but the rooms are large and bright (if somewhat plain at times). The Adolphus was opened in 1912, and its convenient downtown location has made it a popular hotel choice throughout the years. Many celebrities have stayed there, too, including Queen Elizabeth and Donald Trump.