When I moved to Dallas a decade ago, I thought I knew what to expect from the North Texas city. Pop culture often paints it as a place with big hair and even bigger personalities—where ladies with perfect blowouts linger over lunch at Neiman Marcus, oil men wear cowboy boots to the office, and valet parking is less a luxury and more of a given. They’re not wrong, but as the metroplex continues to expand at what feels like lightning-fast speed, the Big D becomes tougher to put in a box—and experience in a single visit. That’s why, when searching for the best hotels in Dallas, you have to be strategic.
In town to cheer on America’s Football Team or Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup? You’ll want to two-step your way toward Arlington. Determined to try all the Lone Star State’s new one-star restaurants now that the Michelin Guide has come to Texas? Start your search near Uptown. Or, if you’re craving nature (yes, we have that too), head to my neck of the woods in East Dallas. White Rock Lake has sailing lessons, a nine-mile loop trail, and the beloved Dallas Arboretum. Wherever you land, this list will help you game plan and find the ideal place to hang your hat.
Our top picks:
- Best for views: Virgin Hotels Dallas
- Best for families: The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
- Best for a romantic getaway: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
FAQs:
What is the best area of Dallas to stay in?
If it’s your first visit, Downtown Dallas has the most options and easiest access to the bigger tourist attractions—but that’s only a small slice of what the Big D has to offer. For a walkable, neighborhood feel, look in Uptown or Turtle Creek. Foodies will find a high concentration of both established and up-and-coming restaurants in Oak Cliff along Bishop Avenue and the buzzy Lower Greenville area. Families often appreciate the extra amenities (think kids clubs and movie nights by the pool) offered by resort properties in the suburbs of Las Colinas and Frisco. If you have an eye for design, every hotel on this list packs a visual punch, but you’ll find both the Design District and downtown Arts District extra appealing.
What hotels in Dallas are best for people visiting for sporting events?
It depends on who you’re rooting for, as the venues are spread out. Arlington has Globe Life Field and the Texas Rangers, as well as AT&T Stadium, the home turf for the Dallas Cowboys, and where international teams will face off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. My top pick for this area is the Loews Arlington Hotel, which is within walking distance of both stadiums (and close to College Park Center, where the city’s WNBA team, the Dallas Wings, play). That said, if you don’t mind a drive and want an insider tour, the Omni PGA Frisco Resort puts you in close proximity to The Star, the Dallas Cowboys headquarters and practice facility. Frisco is also the best location for FC Dallas soccer and the annual Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney.
Fans of the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars have several solid choices thanks to the American Airlines Center’s proximity to downtown. W Dallas - Victory is as close as it gets, while a newer option, Hôtel Swexan, is a 10-minute walk from the arena.
Last, but certainly not least, if you’re in town to cheer on the Dallas Trinity FC women’s soccer team, try The Adolphus. It’s got a storied past with ties to the Anheuser-Busch legacy and is only a six-minute drive to the Cotton Bowl.
How many days should you plan to spend in Dallas?
If you plan to stick to downtown, a weekend should be enough. But set aside at least a week or more if you want to explore the surrounding neighborhoods, farther-flung suburbs, or Dallas’s sister city, Fort Worth.
How we choose the best hotels in Dallas
Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
More Dallas recommendations
Read our complete Dallas travel guide here, which includes:
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.