The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton
Boutique hotel across from SMU and Mockingbird Station, featuring John Tesar's Knife steakhouse and soaking tubs.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
The Highland Dallas sits near Southern Methodist University and Mockingbird Station, offering modern suites equipped with Google Chromecast and deep soaking tubs. Guests enjoy upscale dining at Knife, an on-site steakhouse serving dry-aged meats with around-the-clock room service. However, reviewers regularly report issues with mediocre morning breakfasts, tight working desk space crowded by coffee machines, and poorly handled loyalty upgrades. 81157
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Suites like the 800-square-foot King Superior provide ample room alongside modern perks like seamless Google Chromecast streaming on the TVs. 82
- Bathrooms stand out with rainfall showers, plush robes, and freestanding soaking tubs, paired with back-to-back vanities that optimize space. 15
- The location offers convenient walkability right across from Southern Methodist University and Mockingbird Station. 8
The catch
- While John Tesar's Knife receives praise for its dry-aged steaks, morning dining draws mixed feedback, with some guests reporting cold toasted sandwiches and soggy salads. 158
- Service experiences vary, with travelers praising helpful staff while others cite confusing breakfast charges and unaccommodating front desk agents. drawn from the full read
Who it's for
- — Visitors to Southern Methodist University
- — Steakhouse diners wanting 24/7 room service
- — Families seeking spacious suites with soaking tubs
Skip it if
- — Business travelers needing an unobstructed work desk
- — Light sleepers sensitive to nearby freeway noise
- — Loyalty members expecting hassle-free room upgrades
Seen on camera
2 moments · 1 video · The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“Start your morning with a delicious breakfast before diving into your day.”
youtube.com1:09“With a 24-hour front desk, secure parking, and an restaurant serving exquisite meals, every convenience is at your finge…”
youtube.com1:27Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
Paying $6 more direct is likely worthwhile if you value Hilton Honors points, status credit, or on-property benefits.
Prices shown are an estimated range, not a live quote — the booking site confirms the real rate for your dates.
This sits inside our estimated range for this hotel.
Confidence: low · modelled estimate, not a live quote. Check the supplier for the real rate on your dates.
Score breakdown
How the 88/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
92Food
90- “With a 24-hour front desk, secure parking, and an restaurant serving exquisite meals, every convenience is at your fingertips.” 101:27
- “Knife is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and serves quality cuisine in a cozy atmosphere. And while chef John Tesar is known for his dry-aged meats, I have yet to find anything on the menu that I didn't devour within minutes.” 8
Location
93- “The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas$$$ | United States, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave.Exceptional service in a perfect location.” 6
- “Located just outside of the Park Cities, it is located across the highway from Southern Methodist University and across the street from Mockingbird Station making it an attractive choice for many visitors who are here for both work and pleasure.” 8
Noise
87- “On the downside, some guests have reported noise from the nearby freeway, so it's worth requesting a room away from the road.” 3
Room
88Service
89- “The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas$$$ | United States, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave.Exceptional service in a perfect location.” 6
- “The Highland Dallas belongs to Hilton's Curio Collection and impresses guests with swanky digs and excellent customer service; travelers say the staff go out of their way to meet their needs (including the needs of four-legged friends).” 7
Bed & Sleep
89- “The bed was comfortable and the two bedside tables were equipped with outlets and USB ports.” 15
Value
84- “So worth it. This is a centrally located hotel that checks all of the boxes at an affordable price point.” 8
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-08-24
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
On par with what $$ usually buys
Scores 1 point below the mid-range median of 89, across 494 hotels in the same bracket. In Dallas it sits 2 points above the local median of 86.
- This hotel
- 88
- Bracket median
- 89
- Index median
- 90
Based on 494 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 39 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “The work desk was close to useless because of how tiny the working surface was. It was mainly occupied by in-room glasses and a Keurig machine, and I had to rearrange them to use the desk for work.” 15
- “The King Superior Suite is comfortable for a family of three at 800-square feet.” 8
- “A mini-fridge was discreetly hidden under the desk, and it didn't function properly at first. I had to call maintenance to check the fridge, and unfortunately, they did not resolve the issue, and my water stayed slightly below room temperature during my stay.” 15
- “Each space features refined decor and convenient technological amenities, including secure Digital Key access.” 2
- “The decor was updated and I really appreciated the fact that the desk area came outfitted with an ergonomic chair.” 8
- “Across from the bed, a TV was on top of a dresser, and I actually used the TV on one of the nights using its Google Chromecast feature to watch Netflix shows. It worked seamlessly and I appreciated the flexibility of not being limited to cable channels.” 15
- “The views from the room were not as dynamic as the ones from W Austin, but I still enjoyed them.” 15
- “Other than the technological hiccup from the mini-fridge, I loved that my room was a corner unit, and the glass walls allowed plenty of light into the room.” 15
- “The toiletries were by Natura Bissé, a skincare company based in Barcelona. The bath gel was passable, but the shampoo made my hair dry.” 15
- “Though every time I showered, the water leaked through the shower door, I liked a seamless shower drain and a simple metal footrest to make the shower experience more enjoyable.” 15
- “The shower had dual shower heads, and while the shower booth was clean and I wish the water pressure was higher.” 15
- “I love a hotel that chooses Molton Brown for their bathroom products. They smell so heavenly.” 8
- “The toilet was in a water closet, and while the wall was whimsical, it lacked soundproofing.” 15
- “The bathroom was small but a huge window wall facing downtown made the space more capacious.” 15
- “Sleek bathrooms have large vessel sinks, extra counter space, and a shower/tub combo with a curtain.” 3
- “The bathroom had two single vanities and a walk-in shower. The back-to-back orientation of the sinks was a creative use of the tight space.” 15
- “So worth it. This is a centrally located hotel that checks all of the boxes at an affordable price point.” 8
- “The on-site restaurant is a posh steakhouse with delicious food, which is also available through room service 24/7.” 7
- “Nothing was special from the breakfast, and it was comparable to any continental breakfasts one would get from budget hotels.” 15
- “With a 24-hour front desk, secure parking, and an restaurant serving exquisite meals, every convenience is at your fingertips.” On camera101:27
- “Knife is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and serves quality cuisine in a cozy atmosphere. And while chef John Tesar is known for his dry-aged meats, I have yet to find anything on the menu that I didn't devour within minutes.” 8
- “Start your morning with a delicious breakfast before diving into your day.” On camera101:09
- “y, the food was mediocre at best. Both the bagel and the breakfast sandwich were toasted yet cold, and the accompanying side salads were soggy.” 15
- “American cuisine is teamed with exceptional service for fine dining in Knife Dallas restaurant.” 1
- “The dining area was commodious and displayed numerous artworks on the floor.” 15
- “The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas$$$ | United States, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave.Exceptional service in a perfect location.” 6
- “The waiter was not as attentive as we hoped for, but the most frustrating part was the miscommunication from the check-in representative.” 15
- “A full-service salon and spa complement the wellness offerings, while The Reserve at The Highland steakhouse beautifully crowns the day with premium Texas-raised cuts and bold American flavors.” 2
- “The Highland Dallas belongs to Hilton's Curio Collection and impresses guests with swanky digs and excellent customer service; travelers say the staff go out of their way to meet their needs (including the needs of four-legged friends).” 7
- “Across the street from SMU, the first Texas Graduate hotel gets an "A" for walkability, friendly service, and clever design.” 6
- “Because I hold the Diamond Hilton Honors status, I gently asked if an upgrade was available. The front desk representative denied the upgrade although many upgradable rooms were available at the time of the check-in.” 15
- “The second day's breakfast charges were waived as well, but it was an unpleasant, avoidable experience, had the staff trained well from the start.” 15
- “I was disappointed in the miscommunication between the restaurant and the front desk staff, which ultimately affected my first impression of the hotel.” 15
- “Complete with pet-friendly options and elegantly appointed bathrooms, these accommodations ensure an optimal level of comfort.” 2
- “The bed was comfortable and the two bedside tables were equipped with outlets and USB ports.” 15
- “The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas$$$ | United States, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave.Exceptional service in a perfect location.” 6
- “And while these features - combined with a great seat near the southeast corner of Southern Methodist University's campus - surely capture guests' attention, most visitors say that it's the warm, welcoming staff that make their stays memorable.” 7
- “Located just outside of the Park Cities, it is located across the highway from Southern Methodist University and across the street from Mockingbird Station making it an attractive choice for many visitors who are here for both work and pleasure.” 8
- “On the downside, some guests have reported noise from the nearby freeway, so it's worth requesting a room away from the road.” 3
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about floor level.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about view.
- Noise rests on 1 source — too thin to rely on.
- 17 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 55/100We read 17 sources for this property, and pulled 46 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-08-28.
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Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
4 of 5 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 17 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 1The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection By Hiltonthehighlandhilton.dallasuhotel.comReview siteDate not stated1 quote used
“American cuisine is teamed with exceptional service for fine dining in Knife Dallas restaurant.”
Read originalthehighlandhilton.dallasuhotel.com - 2The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hiltondayuse.comReview siteDate not stated4 quotes used
“Each space features refined decor and convenient technological amenities, including secure Digital Key access.”
Read originaldayuse.com - 3The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hiltonoyster.comReview siteDate not stated4 quotes used
“Rooms at the Highland are stylish and elegant, outfitted with modern amenities.”
Read originaloyster.com - 4The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection By Hilton Dallas, TXthe-highland-dallas-curio-collection-by-hilton.dallastophotels.comReview siteDate not statedRead originalthe-highland-dallas-curio-collection-by-hilton.dallastophotels.com
- 5Boutique Hotel Dallas | The Highland Dallasthehighlanddallas.comReview siteDate not statedRead originalthehighlanddallas.com
- 6Hall Arts Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton Reviewcntraveler.comReview siteDate not stated4 quotes used
“The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas$$$ | United States, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave.Exceptional service in a perfect location.”
Read originalcntraveler.com
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