Review of Hotel Zaza, by Ken Scrudato

Dallas is home to some terribly posh five-star hotels, but Hotel Zaza is the first attempt at turning the old-money city on to the pleasures of 21st Century cool. And despite the corny moniker conception (everything from, erm…Z to A!), the design of the Zaza exudes a more knowing hip than one might expect down here in the oil belt. Despite the odd, pale-yellow villa-esque façade (which makes it look like it belongs in Montreux of Monte Carlo), the small but dramatic lobby is done up in a hip African-Asian hybrid style (someone's been shopping in ABC Carpet & Home's Spirit East department). The elevators are intentionally dark inside, which is supposed to be sexy, but ends up just being strange; the Helmut Newton photos lining the hallways, however, are a dead sexy touch.

The rooms are styled in a sort of modernized take on old Hollywood glamour, with marvelous bathrooms. It's worth springing for a premium room, as they're quite spacious, and have balconies overlooking the pool (of course, they also overlook a convenience store across the street). If you're feeling adventurous or kinky, there are also several themed suites. The restaurant, Dragonfly, while crowded, is not as happening as it could be. Still, this is easily the sexiest hotel in Dallas, if not all of Texas.