The Joule

"The pool at the Joule hotel in Downtown is one of the city’s coolest. It has a plexiglass front that lets swimmers look down into the street and out into the skyscrapers all around. Day passes are available starting at $50, with daybed and cabana rentals going up from there. There is poolside food and drink service in addition to the full bar." - Courtney E. Smith

"What did you notice on arrival?Set in the heart of downtown Dallas, this art-inspired hotel is filled with works from brilliant artists like Tony Tasset, Andy Warhol, Millard Sheets, and more from the moment you walk into the lobby. This may just be the most beautiful boutique hotel lobby in the city. What’s the crowd like?Art collectors, fashion buyers, and musicians. A stray attorney manages to make his way through every now and then. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.I was delighted to find that my suite had serious downtown Dallas swag. I was also impressed with how high the ceilings were and immediately made my way out to the spacious terrace that looked out at the city. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?This room had the most heavenly rainfall shower with perfect water pressure. Post-shower I threw on a robe and read the complimentary newspaper. The bed had a down comforter and pillows and the sheets were from Sferra. Swoon. What do they have for food?There are two restaurants in the hotel and both are pretty tasty. CBD Provisions is an American brasserie that serves up steaks, salads, and the very instagramable family style serving of pig head carnitas. Americano is a Southern Italian eatery that boasts one of the best patios in town. Do not skip on the Nutella doughnuts if you decide to go for brunch. On the drinks front, head downstairs to the basement Midnight Rambler for a romantic, subterranean cocktail experience, led by New York's Cuffs & Buttons bartenders Chad Solomon and Christy Pope. Latte lovers will swoon for the lobby's Weekend Coffee with beans from Victrola Coffee Roasters of Seattle. Anything stand out about other services and features?Many consider the subterranean spa here the best in town. Come an hour or so before your actual appointment to indulge in the European heat experiences. If you like to work up a sweat while on vacation, take advantage of the fitness classes offered at Vital Fitness Studio. While I am partial to the rhythm ride, my best friends swear by the flex and flow followed by poolside mimosas. Bottom line: worth it?Yes, yes, yes! This hotel gives Main Street its posh pulse and the customer service is truly on point." - Diana Oates

"The Joule is opening up the Eye (the lawn across from it’s hotel in Downtown) for a surrealist eclipse viewing experience. The Eyeboretum, a fairy-tale garden of epic scope, will be up for the Dallas Art Fair during the eclipse and folks who eat lunch at nearby restaurants Mirador, CBD Provisions, or Sassetta will be given free tickets. Guests at the Joule may buy tickets for $25." - Courtney E. Smith

"One of the most character-filled: the Joule (No. 5), which is housed in a stunning neo-Gothic building that once served as the home of Dallas National Bank. 'Service at this beautiful hotel is extraordinary, and the spa is a destination in itself,' shared one reader." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"You’d be hard pressed to find a more stylish stay downtown than The Joule. The independently owned hotel is spread out over three interconnected buildings—a classic revival-style from 1913, a former Salvation Army built in 1911, and a neo-Gothic onetime bank—which have been integrated under the direction of renowned interior designer Adam D. Tihany. His touch can also be seen in the 161 rooms and suites, each decorated with serene jewel or earth tones, contemporary furniture, hand-picked art and photography, and plenty of natural light from oversized windows. Frette bedding, glass-enclosed showers and soaking tubs, and 47-inch flat-screens equipped with Apple TV round out the comfortable digs. You’ll spy pieces from the hotel’s extensive art collection inthe public spaces, as well as the outdoor sculpture garden across the street. The block-deep lobby buzzes with an outpost of Weekend Coffee (using Victrola beans flown in weekly from Seattle), a library curated by TASCHEN, and chic boutiques like TenOverSix and Traffic LA, while the popular CBD Provisions draws a local crowd with its modern Texas fare and regional drinks list. The 8,000-square-foot subterranean spa features a vitality pool, crystal steam room, and glass-walled sauna to enjoy before or after treatments, and there’s also a fitness center with a cycling studio and group classes. Two things not to miss: the original historic bank vault in the lobby, and the much-Instagrammed rooftop pool, which cantilevers eight feet off the side of the building."