Splash and Sip

It's always happy hour at the coolest hotel pool bars in downtown Dallas

It's summertime and the livin's easy, especially when you're splashing around in a hotel pool with a cocktail in hand.

Lucky for you, downtown Dallas is home to some of the best hotel pool bars around. So grab your swimsuit and get ready for some fun in the sun at these top hotel pool bars to sip, swim, see, and be seen in downtown Dallas.

Gallery Rooftop Lounge, Canvas Hotel
Formerly known as SODA Bar, this renamed and revamped South Side watering hole comes with amazing skyline views, an infinity pool, and a menu of light bites. Guest and locals are welcome to soak up the vibes and perfect their next profile pic to an amazing backdrop of the Dallas skyline.

Pool Bar, The Joule
"Hanging out by the pool" has a whole new meaning at this neo-Gothic hotel, as the eight-foot body of water is cantilevered over the hotel's edge. That gives guests — yes, it's only open to those staying at the hotel — the sensation of swimming out over the hustle of downtown and Main Street below.

Pool and Rooftop Bar, The Adolphus
Like the rest of the newly renovated hotel, The Adolphus' pool and rooftop bar are pristine. Post up in a private cabana and enjoy craft cocktails and chef-driven, seasonal dishes all day long. Though normally only available to registered guests, the pool is open to the public each Wednesday night through September for the free Summer Cinema Series. It's also open for all on Fridays through Labor Day for Sundown on Seven, the ultimate pool party, and the Sunday Splash Down, to help stave off the "Sunday scaries."

Relativity Pool Bar, Lorenzo Hotel
First things first: The margarita is a must. At Relativity, you'll enjoy a margarita or three under the watchful gaze of Albert Einstein, the hero piece of the hotel's eclectic art collection. Bar hours vary based on the weather, and Sunday Funday pool parties are held (for adults only) periodically throughout the summer. Check the website upcoming events.

Uptown Terrace Pool Bar and Grill, Omni Dallas Hotel
Also for registered guests only — there's your excuse to finally schedule that staycation — Uptown Terrace is located on the fourth floor of the hotel and has plenty in the way of entertainment with a full bar, a heated infinity pool, and TVs. The Bar & Grill is open from 11 am-5 pm and offers seasonal menu items.

Waterproof, The Statler
Make your way to the hotel's 19th floor for panoramic views of downtown Dallas, an adult lemonade stand, frosé all day, and a sun-drenched swimming pool. Pro tips: Be sure to take a selfie with the chrome llama and arrive early. It gets busy on the weekends and seating can be limited.

Prefer your drinks dry? Check out the top hotel bars in downtown Dallas.

Don't forget to selfie with the llama at The Statler.

The Statler/Facebook

Don't forget to selfie with the llama at The Statler.

downtown bests hotels promoted cocktails

Ice Cream News

Global gourmet ice cream chain debuts in U.S. with 2 Dallas-area shops

Dumont Ice Cream

An ice cream concept from India has made its U.S. debut, right here in Texas: Called Dumont Creamery & Cafe, it's a ice cream chain founded in Hyderabad that now has two locations in the Dallas area.

Their first location was Frisco, which opened at 1951 FM 423 at the end of 2023; a second location opened in late October in Coppell at 1535 S. Belt Line Rd. #160.

Dumont was founded in 1999 by brothers Vivek and Bhashkaar, and currently has 23 locations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada listed on their website.

Bringing the concept to Texas are local franchisees and friends Sai Sashank and Tarang Tirumala, who moved to the U.S. in 2005 to attend college.

Both have successful consulting careers, but craved a taste of home.

Ice cream is the centerpiece at Dumont with more than two dozen flavors, ranging from gourmet to classics to flavors boasting global influences: from Italian-inspired sorbet to a New Zealand-inspired honey ice cream called "hokey pokey."

There is vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip — but also unique options such as cake and jam, an ice cream with a vanilla base, bites of cake, and spiced jam; and kheer, a coconut ice cream studded with dried fruits and nuts — a nod to the kheer rice pudding that's one of India's favorite desserts.

A single scoop is $4. They have cups and a cute version of waffle cones: shorter and fatter than usual, to provide a greater ratio of ice cream-to-cone.

In addition to ice cream, they have a beverage program with coffee and espresso drinks such as lattes, plus boba tea. There are also special drinks like falooda — an exotic Indian milkshake with rose syrup and vermicelli — as well as limited-edition drinks like iced kheer, a cool beverage version of that same popular rice pudding dessert.

Both locations are spacious, bright, and clean, with pale green banquettes at Frisco, and pale blue chairs and tables at Coppell. Both feature an astronaut theme with statues and framed photos and cartoons on the wall. The Coppell location also has a mural dedicated to great moments in Coppell history.