The best hotels in Texas

1530 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201

When The Joule opened in 2008 inside the 1920s-era Dallas National Bank building, it kicked off a downtown revival that has welcomed a flood of new residences, restaurants and other businesses ever since. Visitors will appreciate the comfortable luxury across its 160 rooms, suites and penthouses, but there are countless reasons to get outside your room and explore the hotel. CBD Provisions and Sassetta will keep you fed with steaks, seafood and pasta, and Weekend Coffee in the lobby will ensure you’re properly caffeinated. A Taschen bookstore sells literature worthy of even the nicest coffee tables, and a glass rooftop pool juts out over Main Street, so you can wave to passersby below. The Joule is also home to Midnight Rambler, a subterranean lounge serving some of the best, most inventive cocktails in the city. So be sure to stop in for a pre-dinner drink, a nightcap or both.

2821 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219

Rosewood hotels are always a smart pick when choosing a place to stay, and the Dallas location is the brand’s first property, so you can see where it all began. Originally a private home dating back to 1925, the manor was remade into a luxury hotel and opened in 1981, keeping much of the Italian Renaissance-inspired architecture. Today the hotel is home to a famous restaurant and bar and blends Old World charm with modern amenities following a major revamp in 2021. Take a few laps in the 25-meter pool (or just sit beside it with a cocktail in hand), then treat yourself to dinner, brunch, or traditional afternoon tea service in the library.

2575 McKinnon St, Dallas, TX 75201

Dallas’s bustling Harwood District was capped off with a new crown jewel when Hôtel Swexan opened in 2023. It inhabits a 22-story tower designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, featuring 134 guest rooms and suites, a high-end steakhouse, several bars and a rooftop pool, plus a fitness center and spa when you need to recover from all those steaks and drinks. Rooms are luxurious and modern, with high ceilings and huge windows, so you can’t go wrong here. But if your budget allows, choose one of the themed suites that draws inspiration from rugged Texas environments, Japanese design or a Texas-meets-Swiss aesthetic that includes a private sauna.

1321 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75202

This Downtown Dallas icon was built by beer baron Adolphus Busch and debuted in 1912, marking the city’s first true luxury hotel. Don’t worry, it’s been updated since then, and the recently renovated property boasts 407 residential-style rooms and some of the nicest common spaces in town, starting with the lobby. From there, choose your own adventure across a bevy of concepts: Otto’s coffee shop, which is modeled after a Viennese-style café; Rodeo Bar, which serves burgers and beer; the fancy French Room bar; or Sushi by Scratch, an omakase spot tucked into an eighth-floor suite.

3700 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107

If you’ve got a rich friend with a knack for sophisticated Western design, then Bowie House should feel familiar. This Auberge Resorts property is like an urban residential retreat, teeming with Texas accents like cowhide chairs and mounted longhorns across its lobby, restaurants and 106 rooms. When you’re hungry, Bricks and Horses is the flagship restaurant, serving local dry-aged beef, and The Bar is pouring all the thirst-quenching whiskeys and cocktails you require. Book a massage at the Ash Spa to complete the luxury bingo card, and it’s easy to see why Bowie House scored two Michelin Keys less than one year after opening.

200 Mule Alley, Fort Worth, TX 76164

When most non-Texans think of Texas, they’re not imagining Austin or Dallas; they’re actually picturing Fort Worth—specifically the Stockyards, where cowboys hats, cattle and rodeos converge. The neighborhood’s epicenter is Hotel Drover, a property situated at the end of Mule Alley, which once housed horse and mule barns and is now home to restaurants, shops and a brewery. The hotel merges modern luxury with Western bona fides, evidenced by the horse paintings, animal prints and Lucchese boot shop in the lobby. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, but many of the best experiences happen outside the rooms, like at 97 West, the steakhouse and bar, or in the backyard, which is where you’ll find the pool, a Margarita-slinging patio bar and fire pits, all nestled along a creek.

3300 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107

The Crescent may not fit your stereotypical image of a cowboy hotel, but it offers everything you could want, from comfortable rooms and suites to a well-stocked lobby bar and restaurants, including the chic fine-dining spot, The Blue Room. But the biggest draw here is Texas’s first Canyon Ranch Wellness Club & Spa, a three-level facility that’s unlike your typical hotel spa. You can keep things relaxed with a massage or facial, saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools, or go all-in with wellness modalities like red-light therapy, infrared saunas and lymphatic massage rollers. Or, for fitness enthusiasts, test your VO2 max or have your gait analyzed by a performance expert before hitting the professional-level gym. 

1300 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010

Four Seasons hotels are reliable, no matter the destination. And that holds true in Houston. This downtown property has all the trappings you’d expect from the brand, including comfortable rooms and a luxurious spa, but we’re especially enamored with the bars, restaurants and activities on site. Sip meticulously made cocktails at Bandista—the hidden speakeasy bar is one of the better drinking experiences in town—then enjoy dinner at Richard Sandoval’s pan-Latin steakhouse, Toro Toro. Keep the night going at the Topgolf Swing Suite simulators located inside Bayou and Bottle on the ground floor. If golf’s not your game, you can also play football, soccer, baseball, hockey and—we bet you didn’t see this one coming—zombie dodgeball.

1600 W Loop S, Houston, TX 77027

This 38-story hotel exudes luxury from the moment guests walk in the door, with an atrium lobby anchored by a massive Swarovski crystal chandelier and a museum-worthy art collection. The luxury continues in the rooms and suites, which are spacious, modern and offer sport marble bathrooms with soaking tubs. The hotel boasts several restaurants and bars, so you can bounce between options including a Parisian-inspired patisserie, a steakhouse and a seafood restaurant. The 20,000-square-foot spa is the only Forbes five-star-rated spa in Texas, so book a massage or facial, then try one of the anti-aging treatments to see if you can turn back the clock a few years. 

1717 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019

Thompson Houston opened its doors in early 2024 and still has that shiny glean and new hotel smell. Its 172 guestrooms, including 34 suites, have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of downtown and Buffalo Bayou Park, and a residential feel courtesy of custom furnishings and spacious bathrooms. Multiple dining concepts keep guests well-fed, with options ranging from a coffee shop and an open-air bar to a French-style brasserie and a Mexican steakhouse. There’s an infinity pool lined by cabanas, and an entire floor is dedicated to the full-service spa, with indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, treatment rooms, saunas and a 24-hour fitness center. When you’re ready to leave the cozy confines of the property, the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park is just outside, so you can explore its ample green space and trails.

701 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002

A fixture in the Houston Theater District, The Lancaster debuted in 1926 and is still one of the city’s best boutique hotels. The regular guest rooms get the job done, but if you can swing a suite, you’ll appreciate the extra space and the complimentary room service breakfast each morning. Take advantage of the location and catch a live show at one of the many nearby performance venues while you’re in town. And if you’re staying over the weekend, reserve a spot at afternoon tea to indulge in a menu of tea sandwiches, desserts and fresh scones with housemade jam and lemon curd. 

136 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215

A brewery closure is rarely something to celebrate, but the shuttering of the Pearl Brewhouse gave way to Hotel Emma and the Pearl District that now houses some of San Antonio’s most beloved bars and restaurants. The 146-room riverfront hotel blends old with modern across a good-looking space of dark woods, bronze accents and textiles curated by Roman and Williams, the design team behind New York’s Ace Hotel and High Line Hotel. Supper restaurant and Sternewirth bar provide craveable food and drinks, but guests are also a quick walk from the district’s dozen-plus restaurants and a food hall, so there’s always plenty to eat within reach. All of the above, plus the friendly service and the relaxing spa, are why Hotel Emma earned two Michelin keys in 2024.

16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256

Located about 30 minutes from downtown but still within city limits, La Cantera is a ranch-inspired resort situated on 550 acres of The Texas Hill Country. The property has 496 rooms, including 34 boutique-style villas and an adults-only floor, so there’s an option for everyone. Take a dip in one of the five pools, dig into venison and wine at Signature restaurant, relax at the 25,000-square-foot destination spa and book a round at the 18-hole championship golf course to tee it up among some of the best views in the Hill Country.

23808 Resort Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78261

Another fine choice for Hill Country stays, JW Marriott San Antonio is a sprawling property that’s a vacation in itself, with 1,002 rooms and the types of amenities you might find in Mexico or Hawaii. The 600-acre grounds are home to a nine-acre water park, including several pools and a 1,100-foot lazy river, so kids and adults can slide, float and enjoy themselves. The outdoor fun continues at the TPC San Antonio golf complex, which has two championship courses and is home to the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open. When you’re hungry, choose from eight restaurants, ranging from steaks to pizza and Tex Mex cuisine.

115 Lexington Ave, San Antonio, TX 78205

Opened in 2021 along a prime stretch of downtown San Antonio’s prized River Walk, the 20-story Thompson San Antonio has become a popular gathering place for visitors and locals alike. Its 166 rooms put guests close to the San Antonio Museum of Art, the historic Alamo and the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, but there’s plenty to do on hotel grounds. For starters, book a dinner at Landrace for a deep-dive into Texas-sourced meat and produce, then get a second-dinner (or drinks) at The Moon’s Daughters, a rooftop lounge with live music, cocktails and panoramic views of the city. Leave some time to laze about the pool or to avail yourself of the spa’s eucalyptus steam room and saunas.