Best Downtown Hotels to Stay in Dallas
Downtown Dallas has the right mix for a city stay: museums, a rooftop pool or two, and hotels that range from a boutique design hotel to a five-star landmark. The Adolphus sits in the Arts and Financial Districts, The Joule has a downtown address and an outdoor pool, and Mint House Dallas Downtown gives you a kitchenette within reach of the Dallas World Aquarium and the Sixth Floor Museum. SpringHill Suites by Marriott in the West End and Holiday Inn Express in the Historic District cover the practical end, while Canvas Hotel and the Renaissance add rooftop pools. I compare them by district, facilities and guest scores.
Dallas combines museums and historic districts downtown with hotels that range from boutique design to five-star landmarks.
Seven downtown Dallas hotels, from boutique to landmark
Downtown Dallas is not one block but several districts: the Arts and Financial Districts, the West End, the Historic District and Market Center. Each hotel below describes its own position in its listing, and I use those descriptions rather than guessing at walking times. I note which ones have a rooftop pool, a kitchenette or a hot breakfast, so you can match the hotel to the kind of trip you are planning.
The Adolphus, Autograph Collection and The Joule Dallas are the two five-star addresses. The Adolphus is a luxury hotel in the Arts and Financial Districts with on-site dining, a rooftop pool with a bar, a modern fitness floor and elegant rooms with dark wood furnishings and French-inspired details, most with city views. The Joule Dallas, in the city centre, has contemporary rooms with a minibar, an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre and an on-site restaurant. The Joule scores 8.8 across 164 reviews and The Adolphus 8.5 across 240. Both accept pets, and I would pick either for a special downtown weekend.
Mint House Dallas Downtown by Kasa and SpringHill Suites by Marriott Dallas Downtown / West End both score 8.8 from large review pools. Mint House has rooms with kitchenettes, many with city views, and it provides easy access to the Dallas World Aquarium, the Dallas Holocaust Museum and the Sixth Floor Museum. SpringHill Suites sits in the historic West End with spacious suites that include a microwave and a mini-refrigerator, a hot breakfast buffet daily and a position near the aquarium and the American Airlines Center. I would choose Mint House for a longer stay and SpringHill for a family or a game night.
Canvas Hotel Dallas and the Renaissance Dallas Hotel are the two with rooftop pools. Canvas is a four-star boutique hotel less than a mile from the city centre, with polished concrete floors, custom furnishings, large picture windows, a shuttle service and pet-friendly rooms. The Renaissance, in the Market Center area, has a heated rooftop pool, a hot tub, a full-service spa, a modern American restaurant and rooms with panoramic downtown views. Canvas scores 8.7 from 627 reviews and the Renaissance 8.7 from 78. I would choose Canvas for design and the Renaissance for spa and family facilities.
Holiday Inn Express Dallas Downtown by IHG is the most practical option. It stands in the Historic District, a short walk from the John F. Kennedy Memorial, with free WiFi, a full hot breakfast, a gym and a business center, and it describes itself as family-friendly. Its guest score of 7.9 from 442 reviews is the lowest of the seven, but the hotel suits travelers who prefer a simple base and a free breakfast to a rooftop pool or a kitchenette. I would book it for a short sightseeing trip on a budget-conscious plan.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were booking one downtown Dallas hotel for a couple, I would choose The Joule Dallas for its city-centre address, outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness centre. For a stay built around museums, I would pick Mint House Dallas Downtown by Kasa, with the Sixth Floor Museum and the Dallas World Aquarium close at hand and a kitchenette in the room. For families on a simple plan, I recommend Holiday Inn Express in the Historic District for its free hot breakfast.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Dallas Richardson/University Area
Dallas
400 reviews
Modern suites with an outdoor pool and fireplace near downtown attractions
Check availabilityWhy guests love itSofa beds in the rooms are the detail that matters for families here, since children get their own sleeping space without a second room. The outdoor pool covers warm afternoons, and the outdoor fireplace gives the evening a place to sit together. Free WiFi and flat-screen TVs handle downtime, and a bar and fitness center are on site. Guests rate it 9.5 out of 10 from 400 reviews, a strong score for the area.
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Dallas
67 reviews
Historic mansion in Uptown Dallas with a pool and fine dining
Check availabilityWhy guests love itRosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is a restored historic mansion in Uptown Dallas that still welcomes families: the pool gives children a break, the Mansion Restaurant serves modern American cuisine by the fireplace from breakfast to dinner, and a local transfer service helps with outings around the city. Rooms have minibars and flat-screen TVs, parents can enjoy a cocktail at the Mansion Bar, and pets are welcome too.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Dallas Downtown / West End
Dallas
944 reviews
Spacious suites in the historic West End, close to downtown attractions
Check availabilityWhy guests love itSpacious suites with a microwave and a mini-refrigerator give families room to spread out at this SpringHill Suites in the historic West End. A hot breakfast buffet is served every day, which simplifies mornings before sightseeing. The Dallas World Aquarium is nearby, an easy outing with children, and the American Airlines Center is close for a game or a concert. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
The Joule Dallas
Dallas
164 reviews
Downtown Dallas luxury with a pool, spa, and pet-friendly rooms
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe outdoor pool is the main family draw at The Joule, a welcome break in the Dallas heat after a morning downtown. Its city center location keeps much of downtown within reach, and the on-site restaurant saves a search for dinner. The overall mood is romantic and adult, with a minibar, spa and wellness facilities and a 24-hour fitness center, so I would suggest it to families with older children. Pets are welcome. An 8.8 score from 164 reviews is reassuring.
Mint House Dallas Downtown By Kasa
Dallas
1,135 reviews
Modern downtown Dallas stays with kitchenettes and city views
Check availabilityWhy guests love itKitchenettes are the main reason I would suggest Mint House Dallas Downtown to families: preparing breakfast or a simple dinner in the room takes pressure off a city trip. The Dallas World Aquarium is close by and makes an easy first outing with children, while the Sixth Floor Museum and the Dallas Holocaust Museum suit older kids and teenagers. Many rooms have city views. An 8.8 score from more than 1,130 reviews is strong.
Canvas Hotel Dallas
Dallas
627 reviews
Urban boutique hotel with a luxurious rooftop pool near downtown Dallas
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe rooftop pool is the family highlight at Canvas Hotel Dallas, a boutique address less than a mile from the city center. Rooms have an urban style with polished concrete floors, custom furnishings and large picture windows, which older children may enjoy more than a standard chain room. A shuttle service helps families get around without a car, and pets are accepted. Meeting facilities also make it workable when a parent mixes business with a family trip.
Renaissance Dallas Hotel
Dallas
78 reviews
Rooftop pool and spa with panoramic views of downtown Dallas
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would pick the Renaissance Dallas for a stay where the rooftop pool is the main event. It is heated and has sweeping views of the Dallas skyline, and a hot tub, a full-service spa and wellness center and a fitness center sit alongside. Rooms have large windows onto the city, and a restaurant serves modern American cuisine. Guests rate it 8.7, based on 78 reviews, in the Market Center area.
The Adolphus, Autograph Collection
Dallas
240 reviews
Luxury downtown hotel with a rooftop pool and French-inspired elegance
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe rooftop pool with its bar is the highlight for families at The Adolphus, a welcome break after a day downtown between the Arts and Financial Districts. Most rooms have city views, with dark wood furnishings and French-inspired details that older children may find more memorable than a standard chain room. Parents can use the modern fitness floor and spa and wellness facilities, meals are possible on site, and pets are accepted.
Holiday Inn Express - Dallas Downtown by IHG
Dallas
442 reviews
Family-friendly downtown hotel with spa facilities and free breakfast
Check availabilityWhy guests love itA full hot breakfast is included at this Holiday Inn Express in the Historic District, which saves families time and effort before a day in downtown Dallas. The John F. Kennedy Memorial is a short walk away, a quiet stop for older children learning about the city's history. Free WiFi, a gym and spa and wellness facilities round out the stay, and the hotel describes itself as family-friendly.
Local tips
- 1Choose the district first: Arts and Financial, West End, Historic District and Market Center each feel different.
- 2Pick The Adolphus or the Renaissance Dallas Hotel if a rooftop pool is the priority.
- 3Choose Mint House Dallas Downtown by Kasa for a kitchenette and easy access to the Dallas World Aquarium and the Sixth Floor Museum.
- 4Book SpringHill Suites by Marriott in the West End for a daily hot breakfast buffet and spacious suites.
- 5Remember that Canvas Hotel Dallas is less than a mile from the city centre and offers a shuttle service.
- 6Bring a pet to The Adolphus, The Joule or Canvas Hotel, which all list pet-friendly accommodation.