My husband and I stayed at the Lumen Hotel the weekend of November 9-10, 2012 to visit my brother, who is on the faculty at SMU. He suggested we stay at this hotel due to its close proximity to the campus and the building where he teaches and has his office.

I think we were in the newer wing. Our room was on the right front part of the building as you look at it from Hillcrest Avenue. In general, we really enjoyed our stay. We did find the food at The Front Room a little over-priced. But then, perhaps all restaurants connected to "boutique" hotels are pricey. We only ate one breakfast at the Lumen as there are many other places to eat within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. Our food was good and the oatmeal was incredible. I don't think I have ever eaten such sweet and juicy red raspberries before.

One comment that I read over and over in reviews was that the room didn't have a window or was small. The hotel lists not only the amenities but also the size of each room offered. The least expensive rooms are advertised as having no window. And dimensions of each room should allow each prospective guest to figure out if the room they are booking is big enough.

We started out with a reservation for a Queen Deluxe room, but took advantage of a three-day sale in early December to upgrade to an Imperial room with two double beds. The room was large, the shower did not look out into the room and we had a nice street view. We heard a few doors closing on Saturday night, but I have heard louder doors in other hotels.

The wine tasting hour, which we enjoyed on Friday, was a lot of fun and both of the Canyon Road wines we sampled were excellent. I enjoyed the pool Saturday afternoon. It had been warm for several days before we arrived so the water was a perfect temperature. Sunday morning I borrowed a bike (complimentary) and found the Katy Trail, which took me into the city, ending at the American Building. It was about a 4-mile ride round-trip, picturesque and flat.

We agree with most other reviewers that the beds were super-soft. Perhaps that is why we didn't hear slamming doors. We were told the the hotel was completely booked that weekend.

We would stay at this hotel again. Jody P

Great part of DFW to stay and play. The dogs are always welcome and we love that. Beds are great and the place is nice. 4th floor rooms with wrap around balconies are nice. Great little pool area and rooftop terrace for parties.

Have stayed at Lumen a number of times. The hotel has been recently renovated. Kudos to Kimpton for adding a very cool vibe, nice pool, great restaurant (I believe it is independently owned), and trying to create a great small hotel. Location remains outstanding. Close enough to downtown and to Greenville Avenue to enjoy, right next to SMU, and sitting in the midst of Dallas' high-end neighborhood Highland Park. Unfortunately, the hotel is noisy. Many rooms have a view of a cinder block wall, thus resulting in a dark room. Additionally, the shower is located in most rooms facing the bedroom. I guess if you are alone it is ok, but when traveling with anyone else it is just plain strange. Overall I am going to give the Lumen an "A" for effort and a "C" for results.

Third stay for us at the Lumen and I have to say I was more aware of the little things this time that keep the hotel from getting a "very good" rating. As mentioned below, the walls are thin and noise is a factor. The sound of opening and closing doors up and down the hall seems to rocket through the corridors. The hotel has expanded and almost doubled its size, though, and it could be that the new wing is better (we were in the original hotel wing). The so-called "king deluxe" room is quite small and dominated by the bed and a huge chair. There is a tiny closet and no other storage. It's a great room for a single traveler but cramped for a couple staying for several days and equipped for several changes of clothes. On the plus side, the new roof deck is amazing and a great place to spend a warm autumn afternoon. The new lobby is airy and beautiful. The lobby bar is ample and the service was good there. The Lumen is great for proximity to SMU. Just know that if you're choosing it for that reason, you'll be making some tradeoffs.