Downtown Dallas / Main Street Garden

The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton

★★★★★

The Statler is the mid-century counterpart to the Adolphus a few blocks away. When it opened in 1956 as the Statler Hilton, its sleek cantilevered design, curved facade and modern conveniences made it a national sensation, promoted as America's first modern hotel, and for years it was the place where Dallas went to be seen. After decades of decline and closure, a $255 million redevelopment brought the building back in 2017 as a mixed-use landmark of hotel rooms, apartments, restaurants and event spaces, and it now operates in Hilton's Curio Collection and as a member of Historic Hotels of America. The design celebrates the building's era — terrazzo, globe lights, bold color and retro furniture — without feeling like a theme park. Rooms are bright and modern, many with balconies, and suites include a large presidential option for celebrations. Downstairs, OverEasy serves all-day comfort food, Bourbon and Banter is the hotel's cocktail lounge, and there are further bar spaces for nights out. The rooftop pool, with loungers and a gazebo, is a draw in the long Texas summer, and there is a fire-pit garden for cooler evenings. The location on Commerce Street faces Main Street Garden, a pleasant downtown park, with the Adolphus, the Arts District and Klyde Warren Park walkable and Deep Ellum about fifteen minutes east on foot. For travelers who want design, history and energy without five-star prices, it is the best value in downtown Dallas.

The original Statler was a showcase of postwar optimism, packed with conveniences that were novel for the time, and a building whose engineering — a slim tower with cantilevered floors — was celebrated in architecture magazines. Its later decades were less kind, and it sat empty for years before its rescue. The redevelopment kept the distinctive tower and curved facade while rebuilding everything inside, and it now anchors a part of downtown that has filled with restaurants and residents.

Staying here: rooms are well equipped, with good showers and plenty of light; balcony rooms are worth requesting. The bars attract locals, especially on weekends, so the public spaces can be busy and loud at night. The rooftop pool is the summer hangout. There is a fitness center, plenty of event space for weddings and meetings, and valet parking at a daily fee. DART light rail stops are a short walk away, connecting to the airport routes.

Who it suits: couples and friends on a city break, design fans, and business travelers who want something more characterful than a chain tower. It is not a quiet hideaway, and rooms facing busy streets pick up some city noise. As a base for walking downtown, the Arts District and Deep Ellum, it is excellent, and it pairs nicely with dinner at the Adolphus's grander rooms nearby.