Our previous visit to Irving was filled with fun, so this weekend I had high hopes - and our stay at the NYLO Las Colinas Hotel did not disappoint.
Outside the hotel + inside the king suite at the NYLO Las Colinas in Irving, TX
HOTEL
The NYLO Las Colinas Hotel is a smaller hotel, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, with 5 floors and 200 guest rooms - and I generally prefer this. The parking lot was easy to access and our room was close to the elevator (important for hauling luggage!). The rooms have been updated recently and the vibe of the hotel is industrial chic, which I thought was striking. The hotel is also pet friendly, which is always appreciated by our family.
Quinn enjoying the comfy bed + balcony views at the NYLO Las Colinas in Irving, TX
We had the opportunity to stay in a king skyline suite, which featured a balcony facing Fort Worth. The outdoor patio was a nice treat and provided a nice lounge space for suntanning. The suite was quite spacious (600 sq. ft.) with a bedroom separate from the living area. The living area had a large pull out couch and its own 55 inch television, so we could wind down at night in a separate space from our daughter.
Scenes from the outdoor pool at NYLO Las Colinas in Irving, TX
Similar to the hotel, the pool was compact, but really cute. There were two pools, which we were a little confused about. I think the smaller side was meant to be the hot tub, but it was not much warmer than the main pool; we just adopted it as our own kiddie pool, which worked out great. There was an outdoor bar space with covered seating and some games (giant connect four, jenga and foosball) right next to the pool.
My only complaint is that both days we went to the pool, the towel rack was empty. (Although the front desk was very accommodating about getting us towels.) The hotel restaurant had an exit directly to the pool, so you could easily purchase beverages to enjoy poolside, or they had a small selection of wine and beer in the hotel lobby for purchase, too.
Other than an order of chicken wings, we did not try the hotel restaurant, The Loft Kitchen, but we did visit the bar for a nightcap both evenings. The bartender was incredibly patient and sweet; one night I requested a drink she was unfamiliar with, and she was kind enough to let me walk her through it to try and recreate it. I thought it was fun they had a few photo op areas outside of the restaurant, too.
The fitness center to counteract my activities at the LOFT Bar at NYLO Las Colinas: Irving, TX...
Last, the fitness center is always a point of scrutiny for me. I love to eat/drink on these trips, so being able to be somewhat healthy and visit the gym is always appreciated. The fitness center at the NYLO Las Colinas was equipped with new cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical + bikes). They also had a great variety of free weights in new condition and a functional training system. They had plenty of sanitizing wipes and towels available, too. The gym is accessible 24 hours a day.
ACTIVITIES - GOLF
8718 Amen Corner
Flower Mound, TX 75022
If you're a golf enthusiast, you'll love Tour 18; it's a recreation of 18 famous holes from various American golf courses. Although it's called Tour 18 Dallas, it's technically located in Flower Mound, which was about 30 minutes from the hotel. It was an easy drive and I loved the last 2 miles driving through the gated community surrounding the course - some small houses in there...haha.
We met a gentleman the night before who had been to Tour 18, and he described the condition of the course as subpar. The greens were a little rough on a few holes and the fairways had some dead spots, but nothing I was overly troubled by! We had a 9 AM tee time - if you go in the morning, the breakfast sandwiches are huge and quite tasty! The Bloody Mary's also hit the spot.
Rates vary depending on when you go, but the most you'll pay is $89, which I thought was fair!
My favorite holes were #17 TPC Sawgrass (which was #9 at Tour 18) and the #11-13 Augusta National which you end your round with.
FOOD
The first night, we actually cancelled our dinner reservation; we had stopped in Abilene on the way and ate a huge lunch, which carried us through the night. On Saturday we drove about 5 minutes from the hotel and visited Mexican Sugar.
3215 Regent Blvd
Irving, TX 75063
Interestingly enough, the hostess informed us that the restaurant wasn't typical Mexican fare, that it was Latin. (I found that entertaining since the name of the restaurant is Mexican Sugar, but anyway...) Everything we ordered was excellent - the queso, homemade tortilla chips, and crab enchiladas. One item we were disappointed with was the seafood paella (which was the most expensive); the rice was super fishy and even had a metallic taste to me - I found it to be inedible. But no complaints on anything else. The watermelon margarita from the flight was a hit.
Strawberry ranch water + margarita flight, crab enchiladas + seafood paella, respectively from Mexican Sugar
On the drive home, we stopped in Fort Worth for brunch, which was around 30 minutes from the hotel.
4400 White Settlement Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76114
Gemelle describes itself as a "Euro-American pizza pasta place". We arrived around 11:30 and could hear the music coming from the outdoor patio. On Sundays they have gospel music, which was surprisingly delightful. The vibe there felt like a retro vacation with all of the orange aperol umbrellas and the seacan pool. They also had some lawn games (bocce and a ping pong table) and additional seating on the side (apparently for rental only). The space was incredibly cute, but the food was average.
Alex's Eggs Benedict was cold and the bread served under my chicken milanese was hard as a rock. We also ordered a yogurt bowl from the brunch menu that cost $16...consisting of greek yogurt, a few berries and almonds. So in my opinion, you're paying for the venue and entertainment, rather than the quality or uniqueness of the food. I would definitely go again though and try a pizza or pasta, since that may be more their forte.
I thank Agita + Chelsea for their hospitality at NYLO Las Colinas. This weekend was a perfect balance of relaxation and activity for my family - I look forward to visiting Irving again!