As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. That’s especially true in Dallas-Fort Worth, where the sentiment has been taken so far as to merge two already large cities into one massive — and massively cool — metroplex. With all that space (roughly 9,300 square miles), it’s no surprise that DFW’s cosmopolitan combo delivers something for everyone, whether you’re a foodie, a culture vulture, a sports fan, or a retail junkie. Between the world-class museums, award-winning dining, and glamorous shopping, you’ll also find a bar-none hotel scene that pairs all that intrigue with just the right amount of good old-fashioned Texas twang — a winning mash-up that keeps Travel + Leisure readers coming back again and again.
How Voting Works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:
- Rooms/facilities
- Location
- Service
- Food
- Value
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
What Readers Loved
Some of the best hotels in all of Texas call DFW home, and T+L readers voted two in Fort Worth onto this year’s list of their favorites in the metroplex. Among them is Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection (No. 4), which earned top marks for its “amazing Texas and Western environment,” according to one reader, who called out the boutique property’s rustic-luxe decor and “awesome staff” as top reasons to return. Another Fort Worth gem, The Ashton (No. 2) earned praise for its VIP service. One voter remarked, “It’s a great place if you want to feel important!”
Hotels in the Big D took three spots this year. One of the most character-filled: the Joule (No. 5), which is housed in a stunning neo-Gothic building that once served as the home of Dallas National Bank. “Service at this beautiful hotel is extraordinary, and the spa is a destination in itself,” shared one reader. But it was a Dallas grand dame — Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek — that took the No. 1 spot this year. Read on to find out what impressed T+L readers most about the Big D’s most desirable place to stay.
The Winner
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek: Dallas, Texas
Courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Nestled into the trees of the tony Turtle Creek neighborhood, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is glamour writ large, set within a palatial circa-1920s manor that has hosted such high-profile guests as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Tennessee Williams. Rosewood’s transformation of the historic estate into a 142-room hotel makes for an “amazing, romantic getaway,” said one T+L reader, adding that its leafy 4.63-acre setting is an ideal place to spend “a long weekend to remember.” Voters loved the Mansion Restaurant for its elegant setting and French-inflected American cuisine, while the pool was a highlight for the resort-y vibe it adds to the property, despite being located just minutes from Downtown Dallas.
T+L Reader
Amazing, romantic getaway.
— T+L Reader
The Full List
1. Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek: Dallas, Texas
Reader Score: 95.61
2. The Ashton: Fort Worth, Texas
Reader Score: 92.58
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas: Dallas, Texas
Reader Score: 91.75
4. Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection: Fort Worth, Texas
Reader Score: 91.56
5. The Joule: Dallas, Texas
Reader Score: 90.44