Much more than the average rectangle, these pools have been intentionally crafted to provide a singular experience that not only helps you beat the heat, but offers a striking visual backdrop as well.
The hotel pool has become an essential amenity for nearly every geographic area, whether it be predominantly hot, cold, or both interchangeably. For this reason, most establishments have incorporated a pool to woo tourists with the time-old tradition of a day spent poolside, languishing by the water while sipping the nearby bar’s drink du jour.
Yet, despite the plethora of water-bathing options that exist today for vacationing travelers, most lack the same level of high design and intentionality that now permeates many hotels themselves, thus relegating the hotel pool to a rectangular, water-filled afterthought surrounded by a scattering of lounge chairs. With this in mind, I’d like to propose a visually-focused roundup that highlights the most architecturally distinct hotel pools in the U.S. Featuring a variety of materials, shapes and depths, the hotel pools outlined below have been meticulously crafted to wow guests and offer yet another Instagram-worthy moment.
The Joule (Dallas, TX) Located in booming Downtown Dallas, the pool at The Joule hotel is an architectural stunner. Featuring a cantilevered design, the striking eight-foot pool provides guests with the sensation of swimming out beyond the hotel's edge while overlooking the hustle of downtown and Mainstreet directly below. Designed by celebrated hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany, known for notable restaurant designs and work with star chefs, the heated pool gives the expression ‘hanging out by the pool’ an entirely new meaning.
Rosewood Miramar Beach (Montecito, CA) At Rosewood Miramar Beach guests can beat the California heat by indulging in either of the hotel’s two outdoor swimming pools. However, it is the adult-only (21 years and older) Cabana Pool that steals the show in terms of style and architectural design. A nod to Paul Williams, the celebrated American architect, the pool features a distinct serpentine-edge design that intentionally draws inspiration from the architect’s work for the now-demolished Arrowhead Springs Hotel in Central California. A scalloped, zero-edge border further elevates the striking aesthetic and is complemented by the surrounding cabanas, each topped with a black and white valance.
The Lake House on Canandaigua (Finger Lakes, NY) Opened in 2020, The Lake House on Canandaigua is a family owned and operated hotel with world-class design, locally-inspired dining and bespoke event spaces. The Lake House on Canandaigua has won multiple prestigious travel awards including Travel + Leisure’s It List 2021 and Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2021. Overlooking the lake, the pool is temperature controlled and surrounded by local flora and fauna the crystal clear pool is the perfect place to relax with a book, or order a cocktail from the Sand Bar and soak up the sun and views. Amangiri (Canyon Point, UT) Situated in Canyon Point, Utah, the pool at ultra luxury resort Amangiri offers one of the most epic experiences to date. Utilizing the striking natural landscape as both a backdrop as well as integral architectural element, the swimming pool at Amangiri blends into the surrounding desert landscape by carving around a 24-meter-high natural stone escarpment that dates back more than 165 million years. King-size daybeds and sun lounges are scattered around the swimming area for maximum comfort while guests take in the unparalleled vistas of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by day and immense, starry skies by night.
