Hotel ZaZa Dallas

From the outside, Hotel Zaza looks a bit like an upscale twist on an extended-stay hotel, with a plain peachy-beige facade livened up with ample archways and faux colonnades. Inside, the feel quickly gets a lot less chain-like. The lobby has a hodgepodge of decorative features such as tall red-and-black patterned drapes, multicolored photos of traditionally attired tribal people from around the world, and Mother of Pearl inlay chairs. Some of the hallways have framed fashion photos and the occasional sculpture. Most love the quirkiness and trendiness of the interiors, but they may not be to everyone's tastes. Those seeking something more traditional and formal might prefer the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek or Rosewood Crescent Hotel. The hotel gets a good mix of business travelers and tourists, and it's just large and well-equipped enough to be a reasonable choice for medium and largish functions. Those looking for a sceney vibe will likely appreciate the happening bar and pool scenes. 

Hotel ZaZa is on the edge of the West Village, an area with lots of higher-end boutiques and excellent nightlife. There are plenty of attractions within the immediate vicinity, including Robert E. Lee Park, with running and biking trails, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the American Airlines Center, home to the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, all of which are under a four-minute drive from the hotel. It's a five-minute drive to Kalita Humphreys Theater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and getting to the West Village or art-gallery-lined McKinney Avenue takes about five minutes by car. It's a five- minute drive to the Dallas Aquarium (or 11 minutes via public transportation), while getting to Dallas Zoo takes eight minutes by car, without traffic. It's a14-minute drive to Texas Love Field Airport, while getting to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport takes about 25 minutes by road.

Hotel Zaza offers mix of rooms, suites, and Bungalows, most of which have their own look and feel. Each of the one- and two-bedroom Magnificent Seven Suites and the Concept Suites has its own unusual decor features, with geographically rooted themes such as Africa, the West Indies, and -- naturally -- Texas, plus other fun themes such as Medusa, Erotica, Zen, and even a swinging-60s-themed Shag-A-Delic Suite. There are also plenty of regular, theme-free rooms across three room types: Superior, Deluxe Parlor, and Premium Balcony; these tend to have similar decor, with dark, neutral decor and retro throwbacks such as cubist framed prints. 

With the exception of a few themed decor touches, bathrooms are relatively consistent across room categories, with marble vanities, large walk-in showers, and CO Bigelow toiletries. All rooms come with, at a minimum, flat-screen TVs, safes, iPod docks, air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and well-stocked minibars, while some also have balconies. 

Hotel Zaza has a good selection of features for an upscale property. Features include a restaurant, Dragonfly, which serves an a la carte breakfast menu every morning (for a fee), plus salads, pastas, burgers, and meat-based dishes at lunch and dinner. The gourmet American fare and sometimes buzzy bar scene draw locals as well as guests. Room service is also available. 

The small seasonal pool next to the lobby has fountain features and lots of plush bench and lounge chair seating. On weekends, it's a happening spot, with DJ performances; patrons move into the heated, tented Poolside lounge in cooler weather. The spa, Zaspa, offers massages, scrubs, and facials, plus a fitness center with a decent selection of cardio and weight-training equipment, including free weights, kettle balls, and weight machines. Business features include a business center with couple of computers and printers plus a variety of meeting spaces, including a ballroom, for weddings and events. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.