The Joule

Since opening in 2008 in a gorgeous neo-Gothic structure dating from the 1920s, the Joule has become the centerpiece of downtown Dallas’s rebirth with its vibrant design scheme and convivial Italian restaurant.

• The central location near Dallas’ best attractions
• The cool, eclectic décor courtesy of Adam Tihany
• The buzzy rooftop pool that is cantilevered out over the street

Travelers who prefer contemporary design to old-world luxury should consider booking a room at this Adam Tihany–designed property. Tihany’s witty touch—this is the man, after all, who transformed the dining room of New York’s original Le Cirque into a bona fide circus tent—is unmistakable from the moment guests arrive in the intimate lobby, where a myriad of textures and materials coexist. Chocolate-leather armchairs, purple-velvet fauteuils, coffee tables laden with design books and dark-wood-paneled walls create a cozy ambiance; the check-in desk at the back of the long room is all but hidden behind two gigantic rotating iron gears, manifestations of the hotel’s motion motif—its name, joule, is a unit of energy—and perhaps also a reference to the nineteen-story building’s original function, as home to the Dallas National Bank in the 1920s.

The interiors of the 129 guest rooms are equally rich, with deep red, chocolate and blue color schemes, lacquered wood furniture (all made in Italy), high ceilings and large bathrooms with dramatic dark-tiled showers. At first glance, it’s all about contemporary design, but Tihany’s concern with function is evident in smart touches, like the tiny individual reading lamps that fold out of the headboard of the king-size beds and the soothing three-level lighting system in the bathrooms. Of course, there are LCD televisions and Wi-Fi throughout.

The architect’s most dramatic concept is the cantilevered plunge pool on the 10th floor, with fabulous views of the downtown area and beyond, as well as daybeds and bar service (it’s open to hotel guests only). Joule owner Tim Headington, who makes his money from oil but prefers to talk about art, film and the downtown revival, says he was skeptical when Tihany came up with the concept of a pool jutting out over the street (passersby are known to stare up), but now considers the 10th floor among his favorite areas in the hotel.

The Joule is ideally sited. It is close to the Arts District, where the excellent Dallas Art Museum and Nasher Sculpture Center are located, and within walking distance of the Sixth-Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza—decades after President Kennedy’s assassination, Dallas is still discussing and debating the tragic event. Headington himself watched the motorcade with his father while standing on Main Street, directly opposite the building that he has transformed into the city’s chicest boutique hotel.

During the week, the Joule attracts mainly business travelers, who appreciate its close proximity to the financial district. Weekends draw couples who explore the Arts District and its highly rated restaurants. Shoppers will appreciate the Neiman Marcus flagship located on the same block; guest-room telephones even have a direct line to a personal shopper there.