W Dallas

The pool

• 16th-floor WET Deck infinity pool
• Downtown skyline
• Full bar
• Day passes from $40

Why it's on the list

The 16th-floor WET Deck puts an infinity edge and a glass wall between you and the skyline, so you can swim right up to the view. A full bar, and the Victory Park energy below.

The stay

W Dallas is the party pick — the WET Deck and the W's usual high-energy, see-and-be-seen scene, set in Victory Park right next to the American Airlines Center. That location is the whole point: it's built for game nights, concerts, and going out, and it's a genuinely great base if that's your trip — less so if you want quiet, since the neighborhood empties out between events. At $$$ it's fair for the brand and the address; come for the energy, not for a restful downtown stay.