coolest pools

10 Houston hotel pools for a splashy family vacation this summer

Houston has plenty of hot patio bars and parks, but savvy visitors know one of the best ways to beat the scorching summer is by hitting up a cool pool. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite hotel spots to take a dip. Expect poolside cocktails, movie screenings, plus summer deals, promos, and more. (Don’t forget your shades, sunscreen, and wide-brimmed hats).

Marriott Marquis Houston
It’s the Texas-shaped lazy river in H-Town that we all want to navigate. This rooftop pool is perched 110 feet in the air and surrounded by Houston’s soaring downtown skyline. The Marriott Marquis Houston’s amenity deck features a full-service poolside bar and grill. Check this off as arguably the most Instagram-worthy pool in all of Houston.

Family-friendly: Yes

Cabanas: Yes

What to drink: The Refresh: a delicious cocktail perfect for poolside featuring Effen Cucumber vodka, lime, simple syrup, and soda.

How to access: Hotel customers only (registered hotel guests are given wristbands at check-in). But: book a minimum 50-minute spa treatment at the in-house Pure Spa (excluding salon treatments) and voila — access granted.

Post Oak Hotel
The Post Oak Hotel is owned by Houston’s favorite billionaire, Tilman Fertitta, so you know the pool is out of this world, like everything else on the property. (The white-and-black-accent decor truly sets this stylish and luxurious pool apart.) Our favorite feature: Order anything to eat or drink from anywhere on property — you can even order sunscreen— and it will be delivered to your poolside chair (or cabana).

Family-friendly: Yes

Cabanas: Yes

What to drink: The Post Oak Margarita: tequila, fresh lime juice, Hibiscus cordial

How to access: Hotel customers only

Hotel ZaZa Museum District
Representative of the city’s big-Texas style, the event dubbed Poolside at ZaZa is a place to see and be seen among outdoor bars and pools in Houston. With indulgent specialty cocktails and a boutique-like atmosphere, Poolside at ZaZa provides a luxurious pool retreat among H-Town’s scenesters.

Family-friendly: Yes

Cabanas: Yes (and villas)

What do drink: Splurge for bottle service (or indulge in their daily offering of adult popsicles).

How to access: Other than being a hotel guest, a day pass to use Hotel ZaZa’s pool is available for a $150 service (minimum), one hour before and three hours after any spa treatment at ZaSpa.

Four Seasons Hotel Houston
Lounge poolside at one of Houstons most old-guard, resort-style pools. Refreshing cocktails and tasty snacks are available to order at the pool deck café and due to its brand popularity, you may even find yourself lounging poolside next to a celeb or two. The saltwater pool is truly an oasis in the heart of downtown Houston and is a five-star experience across the board.

Family-friendly: Yes. Four Seasons even offers Family Movies by the Pool on Saturday nights with fresh popcorn, candy, and a veritable Willy Wonka-style buffet to keep kids entertained.

Cabanas: Yes

What to drink: Try the Strawberry Sales ($12): grapefruit vodka, strawberry, lemonade or the Cucumber Cooler ($8): cucumber, rosemary, lemonade

How to access: Hotel guests only — unless you book a 50-minute treatment at Hotel Spa, where you’ll be granted access to the pool/fitness areas

Hotel Sorella
West Houston’s Hotel Sorella (in CityCentre) reigns supreme when it comes to the westside, and boasts a rooftop, infinity pool that creates an instant oasis of relaxation. With some clever planning, you may find that you have the place all to yourself — except for the friendly bartender who’s ready to serve you.

Family-friendly: Yes

Cabanas: Yes

What to drink: Beat the heat with a Cosmologic pop tail: citrus vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice served with a house-made cranberry/orange/lime popsicle.

How to access: Hotel guests only

Hotel Granduca
Book a stay at Hotel Granduca to experience the pool at this true Italian-style getaway. Hotel Granduca’s saltwater pool — which is always set to a perfect temperature of 78 degrees — offers a picturesque escape right in the heart of Uptown. (Granduca is Houston’s only hotel to make TripAdvisor’s 2018 list of top 25 luxury hotels in America.) Nestled amidst a collection of lush greenery, the intimate and serene venue is enhanced with ornate Italian-style cabanas. Enjoy poolside dining at the hotel’s restaurant, Il Giardino.

Family-friendly: Yes

Cabanas: Yes

What to drink: The Granduca Spritz: a mix of Elderflower liqueur, lemon, and prosecco.

How to access: Hotel guests only

Hotel Alessandra
Get ready for this intimate and sophisticated rooftop getaway with one-of-a-kind panoramic downtown views. Alessandra offers a dedicated food and drink menu at the pool, making this is one of Houston’s newest and most raved-about spots.

Family-friendly: Kids are welcome, however the pool caters more to adults.

Cabanas: No

What to drink: Try the Poolside Peach poptail for ultimate refreshment.

How to Access: If you’re not a guest of the hotel, you can book a spa treatment, which provides all day access to the pool.

SPLASH at Hotel Derek
Offering everything you could want or need when it comes to luxury and poolside amenities in the Galleria area, Hotel Derek has opened their Splash Pool and Movie Wall to locals for a little “float and flick.” Revolve Kitchen + Bar’s summer menu, fruity cocktails, and local craft beers are available to attendees.

Family-friendly: Yes

Cabanas: No

What to drink: Tap & Pour is a pop-up craft beer bar serving more than 20 rotating Texas craft beers on tap, such as a locally brewed 8th Wonder seasonal beer.

How to access: Hotel customers only, except for the summertime series Float & Flick, which is open to public for $20 per person (July 6, August 3, and September 7).

The Woodlands Resort
Travelers seeking a lush, green oasis this summer will find it, and then some, in this family-friendly escape. The resort offers the spectacular Forest Oasis: Lazy River & Waterpark, which is perfect for kids (and adults) of all ages. The ideal place to spend a hot afternoon, it features a 30-foot Tower with a double-helix waterslide, as well as a 1,005-foot lazy river that weaves through the forest.

Family-Friendly: Yes

Cabanas: Yes: four new luxury cabanas are available to rent, offering guests their own personal lap of luxury. Each cabana provides shaded seating for up to six in roomy, chic and private space with contemporary interiors complemented by modern conveniences, like cable TV and complimentary Wi-Fi.

What to drink: Try the Frozé All Day: Elk Cove Vineyards rosé, fresh lemon, and strawberry puree, topped with a New Amsterdam Red Berry floater

How to access: Resort guests only

Market Square Tower
When it opened, Market Square Tower’s pool quickly went viral with its heart-stopping views. Get ready to be the envy of all your Instagram followers by taking a dip in this luxury downtown Houston apartment’s clear-bottom pool that hangs 500-feet above downtown Houston.

Family-friendly: Yes

How to access: Locals need to move in or become besties with a resident — as only residents and their guests get to enjoy this stunning beauty.

Chill out at the Hotel Alessandra.

Photo by Shannon O’Hara

Chill out at the Hotel Alessandra.

vacation hotels

Hotel News

Dallas developer to open boutique Hotel Dax in Addison

Courtesy rendering

Hotel DAX

There's a new hotel coming to Addison from a well known Dallas developer: Called Hotel Dax, it'll open at 14315 Midway Rd. at the northwest corner of Spring Valley Road, and it's from Centurion American Development Group, the owner of the Statler hotel in downtown Dallas.

According to a release, Hotel Dax will open in early 2026 as a lifestyle-focused property that will function as a destination for travelers, meeting planners, and a social hub for locals.

The property was previously the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which was built in 1984 but closed during the pandemic.

Renovations include nearly 32,000 square feet of meeting space, four dining and beverage venues, a resort-style pool, a Top Golf Swing Suite, and design-forward interiors by Dallas-based Merriman Anderson Architects.

A second phase of development is planned for 2027, which will include the reenvisioning and renovation of the hotel’s 426 guest rooms and suites, marking continued significant capital investment in the property. Guest rooms at opening will already feature contemporary design and upscale finishes, but the 2027 renovation will be an improvement.

The name references the Dallas Addison Exchange, acknowledging the area's role as a business and cultural center since the town's incorporation in 1953. Centurion American previously transformed and renovated The Statler, a historic downtown Dallas hotel, into a luxury destination that reopened in 2017, and now brings that same vision for elevated hospitality to Addison.

Addison — with more restaurants per capita than any city in the U.S., corporate headquarters, and entertainment district — has vibrant energy that attracted Centurion American.

“Addison has always been at the crossroads of business and hospitality, and Hotel Dax will celebrate that history,” says Centurion American CEO Mehrdad Moayedi in a statement. “There is such a high demand for quality meeting space and first-class hotel accommodations that this property can fulfill. We look forward to being an active part of the Addison community.”

Since 1990, Centurion American has developed well over 200,000 single-family lots in dozens of premier communities across North Texas. In addition to its extensive residential footprint, Centurion has expanded its portfolio to include a wide range of commercial, mixed-use, and multifamily projects that further enhance the communities it creates.

Dining concepts
Hotel Dax will feature four separately branded venues designed to attract neighborhood traffic alongside hotel guests:

Top Brass is an American bistro anchoring the property with a menu built on bold flavors and elevated comfort food. The restaurant balances polish with personality, delivering Southern hospitality without the formality, in a space designed for genuine connection and memorable meals.
Bar Dax is a social hub where guests and locals can gather at communal tables for wine, cocktails and shareable plates. The space features large big screens for catching games, curated happy hour experiences, and an inviting atmosphere built for lingering well into the night.
Outdoor Pool Lounge serves as a destination, whether guests are swimming or simply gathering at the bar. The landscaped venue will be open to locals and available for private events, creating a resort-style amenity in the heart of Addison's business district.
Brewed, operated by the locally acclaimed coffee brand, will offer specialty coffee and a grab-and-go market for both hotel guests and neighborhood residents.

Design and amenities
The hotel will feature a resort-style pool, a 5,000-square-foot 24-hour fitness center with dedicated space for classes and wellness programming, a Hertz service desk, and a Top Golf Swing Suite.

The property will also offer events and experiences designed for hotel guests and local residents to reinforce its role as a community gathering place.

A courtesy shuttle will provide access to the new DART Silver Line, connecting guests to destinations across North Texas including DFW International Airport.

Management
Centurion American selected Dallas-based Dreamscape Hospitality to manage the property, drawing on the company's track record in lifestyle and boutique hotel management. The hotel will participate in Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's loyalty program, providing guests with access to the brand's global network of properties and benefits.

hotels openings