Poolside Cocktails
Dip and sip at the 5 most refreshing Dallas pool bars
It may feel like the scorching Texas summer will never end, but that just means you have plenty of time to scope out the best pools in the Dallas. Correction: scope out the best pools with the best summer cocktails. Grab some sunscreen and a sexy swimsuit and get ready to take a dip at one of these pools, drink in hand.
Belmont Hotel
The pool may be modest at this storied Oak Cliff motor court, but that's part of its retro charm. An inventive drink menu from "liquid architect" Kyle Hilla — developed for the hotel's Lobby Bar and next-door restaurant Smoke — means you can feel extra fancy poolside with a Gin & Jam (housemade jam, lemon, New Amsterdam gin, and champagne).
Hotel ZaZa
The neon sign declaring “It’s party time!” sets the stage, while the live DJ keeps energy high poolside at this boutique hotel in Uptown. The cocktails have cheeky names like Sorry, Not Sorry (made with Hendrick’s gin, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and muddled rosemary) and Jamaican Me Thirsty (Ron Zacapa rum, canton ginger, lime juice, guava puree, orgeat syrup, basil, and simple syrup), but it's the Cash Me Poolside (Stoli Elite vodka, lemon and orange stevia, and edible gold flake) that truly nods to this moment in pop culture.
JadeWaters at Hilton Anatole
The use of this resort pool is exclusively for hotel guests, but the price of a staycation is worth it for the 630-foot lazy river, slides, splash zones, cabanas, and swim-up bar. That swim-up bar is key, because it means you don't even have to get out of the pool to refresh your Caribbean Colada.
Sisu
This Uptown resort calls itself “Dallas' original pool party,” and it's with good reason: Sisu parties are not for the faint of heart. Its Sunday afternoon Aqua soirees will remind you of your college days, only with more grown-up cocktails like the maple-bacon Manhattan. After a dive in the pool, try a few flavors of hookah — that counts as a sip too.
Soda Bar at Nylo Dallas South Side
This staycation spot's pool turns 21-and-up after 9 pm, but its bar starts pouring at 3 pm. Order a Cucumber Refresher, made with orange juice and St. Germain, and take in the sweeping view of Dallas' skyline from the infinity pool.