Top Historic Hotels in Dallas
Take a closer look at the hotels with a long history in Dallas.
Dallas has no limit of hotels to rest one's head. For those looking for swanky, modern digs, the W Hotel has got you covered. Couples looking for a romantic getaway will not go wrong with Hotel ZaZa's themed rooms and bungalows. But for history buffs looking for hotels steeped in the old-world grandeur of yesteryear, Dallas has five historic hotels left over from the last century.
The Adolphus Hotel
It only makes sense to start a list of best historic hotel with the grand dame of Dallas' historic hotels - The Adolphus Hotel. In the early 1900s city founders teamed up with St. Louis beer mogul Adolphus Busch to build a luxury hotel meant to attract high-class guests to Dallas. Almost 100 years later the hotel still stands as one of the city's most luxurious places to get some shut eye. The 422-room hotel is a maze of crystal chandeliers, velvet furniture, dark wood paneling, and heavy Flemish tapestries. One of the city's finest restaurants, The French Room, continues the lavishness with its domed ceiling painted with frescoes, hand-blown Italian Murano Glass chandeliers, honed marble floor and gilded Louis XVI style chairs.
If you are able to tear yourself away from all the 20th-century opulence there is plenty to do nearby. The hotel is snuggled among other historic buildings near several entertainment districts, the Arts District and the flagship Neiman Marcus store.
The Joule
While The Adolphus Hotel takes the prize for most opulent historic hotel, The Joule wins for the coolest historic hotel in Downtown Dallas. Originally constructed in 1927 as the Dallas National Bank Building, the hotel's artwork steals the show. The revolving art installations start on the hotel's front lawn with Tony Tasset's three-story eyeball sculpture, continue in the lobby with Roger Hiorns' crystal-covered engine, and carry on through every nook and cranny of the hotel with extensive artwork includes pieces from Andy Warhol, Richard Phillips, Tony Cragg, and Adam Fuss. If that is not enough art for you, the hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Arts District.
What might be the coolest aspect of the hotel is the pool. The rooftop pool on the 10th floor juts out 8-feet over the edge of the building giving swimmers a bird's eye view of Main Street.
Magnolia Hotel
When the 29-story Magnolia Petroleum Company opened its doors in 1929 it surpassed The Adolphus as Dallas' tallest building. In fact, the building, which is now the Magnolia Hotel, was the city's first skyscraper. It held the title as the tallest building in Dallas until Gables Republic Towers came along in 1954 and knocked it off its pedestal.
In 1934 Magnolia Petroleum placed a red neon Pegasus on top of the building. The Pegasus still lights up the sky and eventually became the symbol of Dallas. Offices of former oil tycoons have been refashioned into a pet-friendly, chic boutique hotel.
History buffs are a 10-minute walk from the Sixth Floor Museum, Old Red Museum and Pioneer Plaza.
Warwick Melrose
For almost a century this upscale hotel in the Oak Lawn neighborhood has been blending Southern hospitality with European grandeur. Construction crews built the Warwick atop what was once farmland in 1924. An architect whose work included the Dallas Municipal Building, Dallas Country Club and the Fair Park Coliseum designed the stately red-brick hotel.
The hotel's grand interior with its chandeliers, columns, and regal bronze fabrics is a far cry from the nearby techno-filled dance clubs. Transport yourself back to the Jazz Age as you sip a craft cocktail at the hotel's piano bar.
![people walking around and enjoying a sunny day in the Dallas Arts District](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=69912ca86ee93a79d5d1cc1a8820ea05 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=1eb9028670927685a6fb909752a0124b 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=3ff177e6e8ad2686a1770c425fef2ee1 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=e4a6211046eacac346fadd63e750c77f 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=ab2499ad02bb9e21ea166d48ed0d2598 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=a7bd9b6ec2119df69726deaa634027de 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=c3a1035bdbbb00950a4d8158a77586f7 1902w)
![](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Polar-Bear-Room-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=88d06986f66e17edd37de44eab8cce79 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Polar-Bear-Room-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=b18b40fca889f0b206403b9f8246192a 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Polar-Bear-Room-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=416962d963a2a1f3615c5c098cc2c9cd 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Polar-Bear-Room-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=cee4a5d2851a282db86a2618c4f89b81 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Polar-Bear-Room-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=222ceef7959a2e5065de2c738861b9b0 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Polar-Bear-Room-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=8303039ed1f0530b20c2c02e9af66168 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Polar-Bear-Room-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=ed535191a9fe5b4864f01dfea75c100e 1920w)
![view of the rooftop pool from inside of a wood and white fabric cabana](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/events/Eclipse/Hotel-Swexan-Pool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=947905a6668bb9f611e1075c9d8e681d 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/events/Eclipse/Hotel-Swexan-Pool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=1bf4bdbb3046ed472f3ddc4c4ccc4769 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/events/Eclipse/Hotel-Swexan-Pool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=9c8e1f58ed8c4c6df60a43f825bfc7de 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/events/Eclipse/Hotel-Swexan-Pool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=e241f8324d03416f449a4d5b7ac3233c 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/events/Eclipse/Hotel-Swexan-Pool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=cb005bfc6e7f63975514bea71a876f45 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/events/Eclipse/Hotel-Swexan-Pool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=ce60b1c289981befa429088b34846ffd 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/events/Eclipse/Hotel-Swexan-Pool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=20c9d99fd8c051b652a849166f4c8eb0 1920w)
![curved exterior of Renaissance Dallas Hotel illuminated at dusk](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/places/hotels/Renaissance-Dallas-Hotel-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=d7ccb0906de944afd87225c46334fe1c 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/places/hotels/Renaissance-Dallas-Hotel-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=b6aaa09e69e94550364f9034ac5aeef9 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/places/hotels/Renaissance-Dallas-Hotel-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=79c9a8230568b0d4616af97e4592a011 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/places/hotels/Renaissance-Dallas-Hotel-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=84f6e7355ab7753feafd20a380a0d6b6 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/places/hotels/Renaissance-Dallas-Hotel-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=4d0da2a80ddbd9bfa2ba7b7e3377f64e 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/places/hotels/Renaissance-Dallas-Hotel-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=7c08af0509b305c4fe9ece4fcc0b281c 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/places/hotels/Renaissance-Dallas-Hotel-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=275ab6b01cec0910e16bbd678fb43073 1920w)
![](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/Virgin-Hotel-Pool-Club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=a2d0651ee4a6a92101f592b400281b6a 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/Virgin-Hotel-Pool-Club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=966dec04d44ae421ace80217b69515ab 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/Virgin-Hotel-Pool-Club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=1d4ac8cb9faee307e120b3fe3b76832e 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/Virgin-Hotel-Pool-Club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=08ed3434032e0c242d5bdf13bcc67e2d 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/Virgin-Hotel-Pool-Club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=db279cb31bd758b75b80f9fa0ed3245d 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/Virgin-Hotel-Pool-Club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=655748dad572f508ad0ad50975c70138 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/Virgin-Hotel-Pool-Club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=765e37e84b43b00b1600980a3ea285e2 1920w)