Dallas, Texas - The Fairmont Hotel and Downtown Guide

From the Big Apple to the Big D, this Lady is bringing you an insider peak at my favorite hotel in Dallas, Texas along with tips for enjoying the best of downtown. It does not get any bigger or better than a weekend in downtown Dallas y’all. As one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, there is an incredible buzz and energy around the city of Dallas that can be felt by everyone – even a Yankee like me. Jetting down south to the Lone Star State, I opted to stay with one of my favorite luxury hotel brands with a property in Dallas – the elegant Fairmont Dallas. Perfectly located in the heart of the downtown Dallas Arts District, I was surrounded by a wide variety of fine dining options, shopping, as well as arts and entertainment during my short but sweet weekend trip.

From the rooms, to the stellar concierge services, and convenient location, Fairmont Dallas takes the cake and should be your go-to choice when it comes to both business and pleasure in Dallas. Follow along for my insider recap of 48 hours well-spent in Dallas.

The Fairmont Dallas

Just a quick 20 minute ride from Love Field Airport, an elegant entrance and welcoming staff greeted me at the Fairmont Dallas. Setting the tone for nonstop sweet southern hospitality, I was gifted with a gigantic chocolate treat shaped like the state of Texas. They aren’t kidding around when they say everything is bigger in Texas. Both kid and pet friendly, the hotel offers standard rooms, larger suites, an on-site bar and restaurant, gym facilities, and yes of course, a beautiful terrace pool with skyline views. Upon check-in I was impressed by my one-bedroom suite which boasted a comfortable lounge room loaded with southern hospitality (fruits, a cheese spread, juices and only the finest bubbly). Following a champagne toast and quick freshen-up with the Fairmont exclusive Le Labo bath products, I was ready for a fun-filled day.

Exploring Downtown Dallas

New to the big city and not sure where to start, I was thrilled to rely on the help of the Fairmont concierge services. Prior to my stay, the lead Fairmont Dallas concierge attendant (Whitney), took charge in making recommendations, reservations and suggestions not to be missed during my brief stay in Dallas. As if this hotel could not be more convenient, the Fairmont Dallas provides its guests with luxury car service to nearby attractions and destinations. The Fairmont Escalade rolled up and I was on my way to the first stop of the day – a makeover at the flagship Neiman Marcus store. I met Christina (sweetest gal ever), a sales representative with Tom Ford, and enjoyed trying new products that she introduced to me during my makeup tutorial. Falling in love with the tobacco vanille perfume and an ivory foundation stick, I did not leave empty handed.

Feeling beautiful after my makeover with Neiman’s, I continued the shopping fun at Dallas’ premiere luxury department store – Forty Five Ten. This is a chic destination, as well as a lunch/coffee hot-spot for Dallas’ biggest fashionistas. From there, I stumbled upon a gigantic eye-ball towering 30 feet over me. Just around the corner from the luxury shops and striking artwork, my eyeball caught a glimpse of another interesting attraction. I noticed a glass bottom pool projecting out of the side of a historic tower. Curious about this unique pool design, I asked around and quickly learned that this pool set the scene for the premiere cocktail scene to be seen in town – the Joule Hotel’s rooftop pool bar.

Eat, Drink + Play

It is easy to leave the state of Texas a few pounds heavier. I sure did. The variety and quality of places to dine in Dallas is quite impressive. You can enjoy everything from a fancy steak to more casual savory southern bites. But no trip to Texas is complete without a taste of traditional Tex-Mex cuisine. With many options to choose from, the Fairmont Dallas provided recommendations and took care of all the reservations. Starting with a taste of the south, I made my way over to The Rustic where we enjoyed specialty appetizers (house-made pimento cheese queso) and Texas brewed beer – ask for the Blood and Honey, it’s delicious. Get a taste of the “Drunk Chick” which is a beer can game hen served with a side of jalapeno spoon bread. My absolute favorite part about The Rustic was the atmosphere – it is a giant beer garden style venue with awesome live music and entertainment. Another place to try for gourmet Mexican is Javier’s. This legendary local favorite even features a smokey cigar bar. I had the pleasure of meeting Javier myself, and dang, he is a total sweetheart, ladies. For more traditional Tex-Mex favorites, venture up to Frisco and try La Hacienda Ranch. This place screams “Texas” and prepares some of the best sizzling fajitas not only in the state of Texas, but perhaps the world.

As for drinks, if you are looking for a romantic ambiance with a view of the sunset against a city skyline, then try The Soda Bar. For more casual beer drinking and ball watching, then HG Supply is the place for you. My favorite cocktail experience on this trip was the incredible speakeasy bar the Fairmont Dallas sent us to. Following a map drawn by hand (thanks, Whitney), we discovered this perfectly secretive and sexy bar. The best part? This particular bar does not even have a menu. No menu, no problem. The bartenders ask you how you like your like your cocktail – sweet, salty, strong or smokey. From there, they shake-up your very own cocktail concoction. Set in a dark library-esque space with great music and dramatic faux fireplaces, I enjoyed every last drop of the “Ladyhattan Cocktail” prepared by my new friends at this swanky joint. Since many of you have asked about this secret bar, I will give you just one little hint and tell you that it’s located within Henry’s Majestic and the strict bouncer’s name starts with the letter E.

For a full list of all my favorite restaurants, bars and things you must-do in Dallas, scroll on down to the bottom of this post. A big Texas thank you to the Fairmont Dallas and its awesome staff for making my weekend stay absolutely perfect. From the detailed itinerary prepared by the concierge attendants, to the comfy plush beds and dramatic terrace-top pool, I could not think of a better place to stay for both business and pleasure when visiting Dallas! For any questions or additional tips on travel to Dallas, Texas, please contact [email protected]. Until the next sweet escape, my friends!