Editor: The days of constant sweat are upon us. Fortunately, Dallas has an especially fine array of pools. Some are easy to find, some are ... less so. Deb Doing Dallas has a way with these things, fortunately, and she'll be leading you on a tour of pretty much every pool you hope to dip a toe in this summer. They're divided into three categories: Hotels, residential and public(ish).
The Hotel Pool requires a certain level of confidence when you are not a guest. Don't walk in with a big group, go right to the elevators, and travel minimally. You want to appear as though you are coming from your room, not the summer fun section at the Super Target. Always be friendly to whoever is in that elevator with you - they probably have a key card.
See also: -The Complete Guide to Dallas Pools: Public(ish)
The Belmont Hotel
Neighborhood: Oak Cliff.
What to wear: You are going to want to swing a little more Palm Spring. Think caftans, straw hats, and a bold print. Got some seersucker trunks? Prove it.
What to drink: Oh, any of the Champagne cocktails or that Belmontini. But sip, she does not play.
Who you will meet: Oak Cliff creatives, East Dallas residents who complain that the F.O.E. is too "hipster" and hotel guests because apparently The Belmont has gotten a lot stricter regarding pool crashers.
Pro-tip: Just get a room, you need a staycation.
Varsity Pro-tip: but keep a key as a souvenir and keep it displayed on your towel the next time you, um, visit.
Suggested Pool Toys & Accessories: You will want some smart and campy beach reading to impress all of the community organizers, artisan chefs and design mavens. Perhaps Valley of the Dolls or something from John Waters.
Tips & Tricks: Be a hotel guest, or a guest of a hotel guest. Keep your old room keys.
The Omni
Neighborhood: Downtown Dallas
What to wear: When sneaking into a closed hotel pool, go minimal. Suit, cover up, sunscreen and magazine. Hide your keys, you want to appear as though you are traveling from your room.
What to drink: Something colorful, you have a light show to compete with.
Who you will meet: Dallas staycationers, like-minded pool crashers, generous drunk conference attendees with expense accounts and company credit cards.
Suggested Pool Toys & Accessories: Don't even bring a towel, but if you insist, make sure it's white.
Tips & Tricks: You need a key card for this swimming hole, skip the front desk and tip the bell boy, he has what you need. And make a plan if you use the restroom, leave a buddy behind to open the door. Unrelated, those tacky lights from I-30 magically make something quite beautiful reflecting in the pool after sundown.
The W
Neighborhood: Victory Park
What to wear: On the Wet Deck you will want to wear the suit you feel most comfortable dancing in because those sugars at The W have put together a Sunday fete with notable DJ's every week for you to while away the last moments of your weekend. Also, lots of photographers so swipe on that lipstick and grab the good sunglasses.
What to Drink: The Cucumber Mint Martini, any cocktail with cucumbers really.
Who you will meet: Great DJ's and friends of great DJ's. And music snobs. And hotel guests who are slightly confused about the growing party.
Suggested Pool Toys & Accessories: Towel service is provided and space is limited, this is another pool where you can leave the clutter behind.
Tips & Tricks: Go a little later in the afternoon if you are the sun-worshipping type. That ball of fire hits the pool all day but the deck stays pretty shaded till after 3:30 p.m.
The Rosewood Crescent Hotel
Neighborhood: Uptown
What to wear: This is the Crescent, show a little respect; but if you can swing it, one of those cushy robes from the spa.
What to drink: Sparkling Wine. Sparkling Water. Just make sure it sparkles.
Who you will meet: Ladies who Spa.
Suggested Pool Toys & Accessories: This pool is for relaxing, those turquoise cushions are the most luxurious in town and the Crescent pool is ideal for a quiet get-away, just bring a book.
Tips & Tricks: Technically this pool is for hotel guests only, so you will need to make a confident and brisk walk to the pool, however if you are more of a rule follower any appointment made at the beloved Crescent Spa will grant you access to the pool for the day.
NYLO Southside
Neighborhood: The Cedars
What to wear: This pool hasn't been open an entire summer and is still finding its identity a bit, feel free to wade on the shallow steps in your sundress and peel it off after a few rounds for a full dip as you contemplate that view.
What to drink: The cocktail game here is improving, ask for a menu. Who you will meet: You know all those attractive professionals that hang out at Cedars Social? They can also be found across the street.
Suggested Pool Toys & Accessories: This pool is beautiful but fairly small, let's leave the clutter in the car. You will want to forfeit your floaties for the impressive view from their water.
Tips & Tricks: Make friends with a Southside Lofts resident for access to a higher rooftop pool next door.
The Poule at the Joule
Neighborhood: Downtown Dallas
What to wear: This is one of those pools where people have very good looking bathing suits that cannot get wet. I don't even have one of those bathing suits, so my suggestion is that you wear some (all of your) jewelry.
What to drink: Vodka. Or water. Beautiful people be on diets, y'all.
Who you will meet: The fashion sets are slowly taking over The Joule complex thanks to high-end and not easily duplicated offerings like Ten Over Six and TRAFFIC LA, this means they will likely take over this downtown Main Street oasis with equal flair, nudging out the bottle service crowd.
Suggested Pool Toys & Accessories: A room key.
Tips & Tricks: So this pool, ahem poule, no longer has public swimming hours and this is one of the more heavily guarded elevator doors in town. This one will require some good old fashioned Southern charm. I suggest brunching at Charlie Palmer's. This gives you plenty of time for a bartender or a waiter or the actual elevator operator to fall in love with you and escort you right on in. Don't think of it as a barrier, think of it as a challenge.
The Fairmont
Neighborhood: Downtown Dallas
What to wear: Wear some old money shit. Or, you know, whatever you'd wear in your downtime at a nice hotel.
What to drink: The bartenders at The Pyramid have a fine liquor selection but this pool calls for a bougey white wine in my professional opinion.
Who you will meet: Dallas grandpas drinking Scotch while the grandkids swim.
Suggested Pool Toys & Accessories: Again, I'd say keep these things minimal at hotels. This pool is fairly family friendly though, so you know, a water gun might be fun.
Tips & Tricks: One of my favorite views in town, the pool deck at The Fairmont has few hurdles and lets you swim in the midst of the skyline instead of gazing at it from afar. Plus it also houses the hotel's garden and beehives which lend it a fairy tale-esque population of butterflies. But it does close at 10. Look for the Dive-In Movie schedule through the Fall.
