Thompson Dallas

Rooms and decor

Picture a 52-story skyscraper from the 1960s that was once the headquarters of First National Bank — a tower that sat empty in the middle of the city for a while, then one day was gutted and brought back to life as one of the coolest landmarks in Downtown Dallas. That's The National, home to Thompson Dallas, which opened in 2021 under the Thompson by Hyatt brand known for luxury boutique design and a tasteful, cool atmosphere. What makes it special is how cleverly it plays the old bank tower's bones: high open ceilings, mid-century modernist lines, luxe materials like marble and brass, set against contemporary art and bold design furniture in dark, serious tones that read rich without shouting. The roughly 219 rooms and suites are styled the same way, with big windows that pull in the city skyline — the higher the floor, the wider the horizon. A lot of reviews agree the hotel is so good-looking you want to pull out a camera at every turn, from the lobby to the corridors. The overall mood feels like staying in a building with a story: old, but retold in a contemporary design language that lands just right.

Food and amenities

The feature everyone mentions first is the rooftop pool and the deck that opens onto a panoramic Dallas skyline view. Picture sliding into the water while the city's edge stretches out, and at sunset the golden light washing across the towers — it's one of the most romantic and coolest corners of the hotel, good both for a Texas-style cool-off and an evening drink. Then there's the food, where Thompson Dallas goes all in: inside the building is a celebrity-chef restaurant and bar with sharp design that draws guests and locals alike. Each spot has its own mood, from a polished dining room to a stylish cocktail bar made for a relaxed evening. Add a spa designed for a calm, luxe atmosphere with a range of treatments, and a full fitness center for anyone who doesn't want to drop their workout routine. Tying it all together is service in the Thompson by Hyatt style that reviews call warm but attentive — luxury without the stiffness, for people who want care without it feeling too formal.

Location and getting there

Location is another of the hotel's strengths. It sits in the heart of the Downtown / Main Street District on N Akard Street, the core of the city, so step outside and you're among skyscrapers, historic buildings and the shops of the inner city. The handy part is the DART Akard Station, just about a 3-minute walk away, which lets you hop on the train anywhere in town without needing a car. From here you can walk to the Dallas Arts District — the largest museum and theater district in the country — and reach the AT&T Discovery District with its giant screen and restaurants, Klyde Warren Park, or Reunion Tower, the city's glowing-ball landmark, all within a walk or a short ride. It suits anyone who wants to be dead-center and sightsee car-free. For those flying in, DFW airport is about 25 to 35 minutes away by car. In short, if you want to wake up in the middle of Downtown, walk to the train and the city's main arts and culture district, this location delivers.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing to know is the mood of the neighborhood: Downtown Dallas is mainly an office and business district, lively on weekday afternoons but quieter than you'd expect after dark or on weekends, when the surrounding streets can feel empty. If you want a buzzing run of restaurants and bars right out the door, the Uptown area next over feels more alive — though the hotel's own in-house restaurant and bar help make up for it. The second is price and fees: room rates here sit at the high end for a luxury boutique, and there's usually a daily valet parking charge plus other fees on top, so if you're on a budget or don't want a surprise at checkout, confirm the full total and what's included when you book. The last thing is that because this is a renovation of an old skyscraper, some floor plans and elevators carry quirks of the original building, and room types vary quite a bit in size and view — some rooms get a full skyline, others a more limited one — so choose your room type at booking to match what you're expecting.

Our take

After our team sat and read through a stack of real reviews, Thompson Dallas is a hotel that sells modern luxury with a story in a way that feels genuinely distinctive: the chance to stay inside the historic National skyscraper brought back to life, sharp Thompson by Hyatt design that reviewers can't stop praising, a rooftop pool with a skyline view, and a celebrity-chef restaurant in the heart of Downtown. If the trip in your head is a room with cool design and the city filling the windows, waking up to walk to DART and the Dallas Arts District, then closing the day with a cocktail in a stylish bar and a swim watching the sunset on the rooftop, this is about as good a fit as it gets — especially for couples, design lovers and travelers who want a stay unlike any other, with business guests covered by the central location too. But if you're set on a lively, walkable nightlife scene, or budget is your main concern, you'll want to weigh the quiet of Downtown outside work hours and the higher rates with added fees. Overall we give it 8.9/10, best for couples and design lovers after stylish modern luxury in the heart of Dallas.