The Madison Hotel at Bishop Arts — Hotel in Dallas

As a former professional hotel critic (back before the interwebs killed off most travel journalism) and native Dallasite who still has family there, I was extremely intrigued to hear about The Madison. I'm in Dallas probably every two months & have stayed at nearly every non-chain hotel in the entire DFW area, of both the boutique & quirky variety. Still, I only discovered this one a few days ago (more on that in a sec).||||The Madison is one of the most delightful hotel surprises I've seen in quite some time, all the more so in Dallas.||||You can see from the photos that this was a truly massive – and clearly pricey –overhaul, but since another review referenced it: no, this property likely isn't a good fit for folks with disabilities. It's a 100-year-old building, and ones that old can't really be retrofitted with wide hallways, accessible bathrooms, and elevators. As noted in another review, it's also not a traditional hotel. You check in via your phone: the front desk clerk isn't normally there after 7pm or so, but like at an Airbnb, you can let yourself in – to both the building, as well as your room – with a PIN code they'll text you the afternoon of your arrival.||||While it happened long before I was born, I also knew that Lee Harvey Oswald stayed in a number of rooming houses just outside of downtown Dallas, including this one; I had no idea, however, that one of them recently underwent a full gut-renovation job. You can read more about its early history as the Wesley Inn at the property. (That being said, I'm unclear how the property was used – or if – from 1970 to 2020 or so. The '80s & '90s were quite rough there: South Dallas got walloped by a devastating combo of crack cocaine & high crime. This area is entirely fine today – more so than downtown – but others further south continue to struggle.)||||Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the hotel in this day and age is its setting: a mixed, but mainly residential, neighborhood and across the street from an elementary school. (Particularly considering that Dallas banned Airbnbs in some residential neighborhoods near downtown, this is more of a fraught issue than many know.) If anything, it's strongly European in feel – definitely a plus! – and its most surprising part may, sadly, be how comparatively little attention it's gotten. (Case in point: this website. This should be listed as a hotel, not an inn. I assume that was a clerical error.)||||I have only two criticisms of the property. First, the "Cozy Queen" room I was given was quite a bit cozier than the one shown on their website – maybe 100 sq ft total. I'm fine with small rooms as a solo traveler, but I know others are not. Second, its HVAC system is, well, odd. I was admittedly there on an unseasonably hot spring day well into the 90s, but there doesn't seem to be a way to control the fan settings in each room. I think the manager should look into keeping the fan speeds within reason.||||In any event, The Madison is – at least for now – a much too little known gem, in a history-rich area with tons of exploring options even within walking distance. It's also almost shockingly affordable for a hotel so close to downtown: you can easily pay $50/night just to PARK at a place like the Kimpton Pittman! There is definitely no hotel in Dallas like it, and I suspect that's true for the entire...

This very intimate little inn style hotel was such a fun last minute option.|My two sons and I had decided to stay overnight in Dallas last minute after a long day and stumbled across the Madison. We loved the location of it being right at the base of Dallas Skyline. The drive in at night was fun and a cool sight to witness. The morning after we were about 10 minutes from downtown. ||This location is conveniently located near the train/street cars if you are trying to avoid driving in the city. I believe it showed about a 6 minute walk. ||This small boutique style hotel had a rich history and was very elegantly remodeled recently. It felt very characteristic in the most tasteful way. The halls and common areas were elegantly decorated and still had some flavor left over from the holidays. Felt very warm and inviting. The exterior doors were all self entry with a code provided prior to arrival. A small and gated parking lot rear of the building made it feel more secure and private. There is no elevator from what I saw so not very handicap accessible or friendly. Definitely heed that. The main access upstairs is a stairwell on the rear exterior or the stairwell from the front entrance. ||The rooms themselves are quaint and cute. They are rather small but provide all your basic necessities. Free wi-fi, unlimited soap, shampoo and conditioner from a small natural soap company. The room came with two double beds, a clothing hutch with a coffee maker and mini fridge, a small bathroom with walk in shower/sink/and toilet, and a television with access to Netflix. It was cozy, beds were comfortable, very clean and design aesthetic was pleasant. || I definitely will be coming back here on a solo trip again to do some foot work in the very cool and vintage surrounding neighborhoods. Truly enjoyed my time and felt very comfortable and safe with...

My wife and I had an event we were attending in Dallas and I was looking for a place to stay that wasn't the typical chain hotel, but didn't really want a vacation rental either. I stumbled upon The Madison while poking around online and thought it looked interesting. I've stayed in nearly every part of the DFW area in the last 20 years, but never in the Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts District area. I love this part of Dallas, and The Madison fits right in. It's a clever blend of historical and contemporary. Lovingly restored with a nod to the past, they've managed to put together a modern hotel that doesn't feel soulless. It reminded me a lot of a hotel I've stayed at in Paris (France, not Texas), with the furnishings and decor. ||I booked the hotel through their website and a couple days before our stay, I received a text message inviting me to check in online. I completed the check-in form, and on the day of arrival I received a message with a code for the door and for the room. The doors have digital key pads for access, so no physical key is required. The front desk is not staffed all of the time, but they are responsive if you should need something. There is a small parking lot behind the hotel that fills up pretty quickly, but there is plenty of on street parking up front. We stayed in a standard king room, and it had everything we needed. The room and the bed were very comfortable. Don't expect a lot of space to spread out, but if you travel like we do, a smaller room is just fine. The area is quiet and felt safe. It's within walking distance to the bars and restaurants in the Bishop Arts District (about a 15 minute walk) if you choose to do so. The staff we spoke to made us feel very welcomed and we plan on staying there again...