At a Glance
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas is an elegant, polished retreat in the heart of Uptown with an excellent restaurant and spacious spa.
Indagare Loves
- The popular restaurant, Fearing’s
- The sleek accommodations
- The expansive spa that offers Prada facials
Review
The exterior of the 21-story Ritz-Carlton limestone tower has been described as institutional, but the interior design and the friendly service create a warm ambiance. The refreshingly contemporary flower arrangements on the huge table in the lobby (banish all thoughts of the overstuffed bouquets normally found in such common areas) set the tone for the well-executed décor, enlivened by an impressive modern-art collection.
Most important, the Ritz designers excelled at managing space: the soaring lobby, with its dark-wood columns and gold-and-green color scheme, has lots of cozy sitting nooks, giving it a serene vibe. And the 218 guest rooms, spread across seven stories, are large (the smallest measures 425 square feet), with spacious bathrooms and, in most, walk-in closets. The furnishings are sleek but comfortable, striking the right balance between contemporary and comfy. As at many Ritz-Carlton properties, there’s a Club Floor, and rooms in this section of the hotel come with all-day access to a lounge stocked with haute snacks and innovative nibbles.
Food and drink figure prominently in the rest of the hotel too: the gift shop includes a small gelateria, and every evening complimentary guacamole, tortilla chips and mini-margaritas are served in the lobby lounge. For its signature restaurant, the property’s splashy Fearing’s, which occupies the first level of the Ritz, has been extremely popular since it opened with both visitors and, especially, locals. During the day the restaurant draws a ladies-who-lunch clientele; at night, the city’s young partygoers flock to the adjacent Rattlesnake Bar.
The Ritz has a beautiful 12,000-square-foot spa, with state-of-the-art facilities and 12 treatment rooms offering everything from Prada facials to Dean’s Margarita Salt Glow (a buffing lemon verbena salt exfoliation treatment). There’s also a fitness center and exercise studio (where Pilates and yoga classes are offered), as well as a lovely small pool area on a private terrace above the city. Dallas is not a walking city, so the hotel offers complimentary car service anywhere within five miles, which is a nice perk, especially since most of the best restaurants are within that radius.
Who Should Stay
Those who want the newest, most luxurious option in town and business travelers who like the convenience of a club floor.
Written by Simone Girner