As one of the country’s hottest up-and-coming destinations, Dallas is a place where authentic Texan culture meets urban chic. We’ve built an itinerary for you that’s both fun and refined, and begins at one of SELECT’s most luxurious new hotels. Here’s how to spend a perfect day in Dallas.
Start with breakfast at Nine at the National in the Thompson Dallas. The Elvis Toast (topped with honey sesame spread and banana brulee) might speak to you, or perhaps you'd rather try the Turkish Skillet with tomato, poached eggs and feta. Either way, you're in the mood for flavors bold enough to match the city you'll soon be exploring.
Stroll over to The Taschen Library inside the nearby Joule Hotel. This small, gallery-like shop brilliantly displays books from the renowned German publishing house, and has something to satisfy every curiosity. Don't forget to look up and admire the border of mid-century modern mosaics, all rescued from old elevators in Dallas' Mercantile Tower.
Grab a drink from Weekend Coffee and wander just a few blocks over to Main Street Garden Park, an oasis of green in the heart of downtown. After enjoying your caffeine in the shade, you're off to peruse the flagship location of an American shopping mecca: Neiman Marcus. Originally opened in 1907, this is both a place to shop and a legendary piece of Dallas history to admire.
You've built up an appetite by now, so you venture north to La Ventana for some of the city's best tacos. Their menu is concise but covers all the favorites, and you wash down your barbacoa and el pastor with a frozen margarita (which, like Neiman Marcus, was invented here).
Passing through Klyde Warren - another beloved city park - you make your way to the Nasher Sculpture Center in the internationally renowned Dallas Arts District. Opened in 2003, the Nasher features hundreds of sculptural masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, Matisse, Moore, Picasso, Rodin and others. Some of the galleries are displayed in lovely outdoor gardens, so you can admire this exquisite art in the fresh air.
It's back to the Thompson Dallas to rest and recharge. You cool off with a sky high swim in the rooftop pool, then lounge with a book in the late afternoon sun.
All dressed up for an evening out, you start with drinks on Catbird's swanky patio, one of the city's newest and most popular cocktail destinations. A classic Negroni is followed by Catbird's version, and since you're starting to get a little peckish, you order the miso salmon from their menu of small plates.
After cocktail hour, you're off to dinner at a beloved Dallas institution: Nick & Sam's Steakhouse. In this dark, candlelit space you're likely to spot a celebrity or two, and since this is an old-school restaurant, you order accordingly. Soon you're dining on shrimp cocktail, wedge salad and filet mignon with a blue cheese crust, all paired with an Argentinian Malbec from their remarkably long wine list. And even though there's little chance you still have room for it, you order a slice of Nick & Sam's famously tall cake. You're in Texas, after all.
