Downtown Dallas / Convention Center

Omni Dallas Hotel

★★★★★

The Omni Dallas is one of the city's largest hotels and one of its most recognizable at night, when the exterior's LED lighting turns the tower into a moving display of color on the southwestern edge of downtown. It was built as the headquarters hotel for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, to which it is linked by a skybridge, and it is designed to handle everything at scale: hundreds of rooms and suites with big windows over the skyline and the Trinity River, a full-service spa, a pool deck, several restaurants and bars, and extensive meeting and event space. The rooms are contemporary and comfortable, with good workspaces and blackout curtains, and upper floors have dramatic views of Reunion Tower and downtown. Dining runs from casual market and coffee options to Bob's Steak and Chop House, a Dallas steakhouse institution with a branch here, and the Mokara Spa provides a proper retreat after a day on your feet. The location is especially good for sightseeing on the west side of downtown: Reunion Tower is less than a mile away, the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza are a short walk, Union Station with DART and commuter trains is close, and the Arts District and Deep Ellum are a quick ride. Packages such as the Owners Box Experience add food and drink credit and parking. It is a dependable choice for families who want space and amenities, groups, and travelers combining a conference with a few days of exploring.

The hotel opened in 2011 as part of the city's push to modernize the convention district, and it remains one of the anchors of the southern downtown. Its size gives it an energy that suits conventions and big events — the lobby can feel busy when a major meeting is in town — but the spa, pool and dining also make it a self-contained base for leisure travelers. Being on the downtown edge means you can see both the city lights and the river from many rooms.

Staying here: rates swing with the convention calendar, so prices can be very good when there is no big event in town and much higher when there is; check dates. Ask for a high floor with a skyline or Reunion Tower view. Parking is by valet at a daily fee unless included in a package. The Bob's steakhouse is popular with locals, so reserve for dinner. The convention center connection is handy in summer heat or rain.

Who it suits: families who want a pool and space, groups and conference-goers, and first-time visitors who want the Sixth Floor Museum and Reunion Tower within walking distance. It is less atmospheric than the historic hotels, and the immediate surroundings are civic rather than charming, but it is efficient, comfortable and well located for the west side of downtown.