12 Dallas Bars Worth Checking Out
The Dallas-Fort-Worth metro area is one of the largest and fastest-growing areas in the country. It's an area that is a good mixture of Texas natives, young professionals, old money, students, and people from all walks of life. Texas is like its own small country and is a state with a big personality and a variety of cultures. This melting pot is on full display in Dallas, which bodes well for a healthy nightlife.
You can find a little bit of everything in the Dallas bar scene. There is an eclectic mixture of bars that you can check out, whether you want a watering hole with happy hour specials or an upscale champagne paradise. Understanding the best bars to visit can help you fill your social calendar, whether you want a go-to place for a drink, a place to watch the game, networking opportunities, or just somewhere to let your hair down. These bars have excellent drink selections, a fitting theme, and the type of environment that you'd like to spend time in. You'll find something you love no matter your tastes and sensibilities. Use this guide whether you're a local or a traveler seeking the highest-quality bars in Dallas.
1. Parliament
Parliament is a craft cocktail joint that makes all of your favorites with care. It's fitting for the sophisticated connoisseur who likes their drinks in fine glasses and with the highest-quality ingredients. This ritzy bar is cozily situated in the Uptown area of Dallas and features a stylish vibe. Parliament came onto the scene in 2014 and has been a mainstay in the State & Thomas neighborhood since. It's an excellent place to turn to whether you're grabbing a cocktail by yourself, enjoying a date night, or planning a gathering with a group of your closest friends or co-workers.
The bar area is a roundtable of leather chairs, and the interior features artful touches that bring the pre-prohibition theme together. Everything about the establishment says class, from the wood fixtures to the stylish glasses that are neatly arranged. When you want to enjoy cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Mai Tai, and a host of other drinks, Parliament is your spot. You can also enjoy some in-house specialties like the Parliament Royale, Christian Louboutin, Namaste, and Laguna Luna. If you're more of a wine or beer fan, the bar also has extensive offerings, including $5 beers. This is a great locale to stop by for happy hour specials Monday through Saturday. The bar is open seven days a week and perfect if you're looking for a drink and quality service.
2. The Grapevine Bar
The Grapevine Bar is a zany establishment where you'll find a little bit of everyone. It's an eclectic bar that is full of energy and serves strong, delicious, colorful drinks. Grapevine is known for its outdoor patio which allows people to enjoy the night air and good company. The bar opened in 1996, which in this day and age, brings it to historic status. You'll see as soon as you pull up to the no-frills building that Grapevine is the epitome of a dive bar. When you step inside you'll find a dive bar paradise, complete with pool tables, bar specials etched in colored chalk, and a mix of people from all walks of life enjoying themselves.
It's an excellent place to party and unwind after a long work week, or to grab a well-made beverage any day of the week. The bar is open until 2 a.m., seven days a week, and features happy hour specials every day except Sunday. In addition to stiff, flavorful cocktails, you'll also appreciate that the Grapevine Bar showcases beers from local brewers. The outdoor patio is set up like a friend's backyard you'd spend time in over the summer, complete with a basketball hoop. You'll love this bar if you're looking for camaraderie and a friendly place to enjoy yourself.
3. Room 520 Speakeasy
Room 520 is a cocktail bar in Dallas that features a cozy and intimate vibe. It's been voted one of the most popular cocktail bars in Dallas as of this writing — and for good reason. The journey into Room 520 starts with a fun adventure. It's a speakeasy-style bar nestled away in the SOVA Micro-Room & Social Hotel. To get to Room 520, patrons must visit the front desk and "check in" to Room 520 and will be given a key card. From there, you can go to the room and gain access to this hidden bar tucked away in the hotel.
Once you arrive, you'll be treated to artisan cocktails made just right. Room 520 has elegant furniture and a lounge feel. Since it only holds 25 people, you might also choose to place a reservation before showing up. Some examples of the cocktails that you can enjoy here include the Prototype, which features rum and brandy, ginger, lemon, honey, and black peppercorn, Fire and Desire, which includes brandy and bourbon, smoked maple wood, orange bitters, and chocolate, and Purple Stuff, which is an infusion of dark rum, vanilla, hazelnut, and coconut. You don't have to dress to the nines, but the establishment asks that guests refrain from wearing athletic-themed apparel or revealing clothing. The hours are as exclusive as the bar itself, as Room 520 is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. Double Wide Bar
Double Wide is a bar that doubles, triples, and quadruples down on its theme, creating one of the wackiest environments that you'll find in a Dallas bar. You'll find humorous artwork all over the place, rows of toilets adorned with colorful lights, graffiti-style caricature paintings, and lots of Elvis. The structure is designed to look like a double-wide trailer with an illuminated tornado coming out of the roof. Double Wide has been open since 2003 and is situated just outside of the Downtown area. It's a bar that doesn't take itself too seriously and welcomes people from every crowd.
Theme aside, Double Wide features well-made drinks and live music. It's closed on Mondays and open Tuesday through Sunday. The bar offers original creations and its personal take on old favorites. Examples of some drinks you'll find here include the Old Timer, Freedom 75, The Dang, Twisted Tang, Hurritang, and YooHoo YeeHaw. When you drop in, you'll find a mix of musical acts featuring country, rock, and a variety of other genres. A walk through Double Wide is its own adventure. It's a menagerie of lights, sounds, and energy, and the drinks flow until it closes at 2 a.m. The experience of Double Wide is worth the visit for the theme alone, and the drinks and service put it over the top.
5. The Standard Pour
The Standard Pour is the epitome of an establishment that knows itself. It specializes in bourbon and has been named one of the best places for this spirit in the United States eight years in a row. This bourbon bar is situated in the Uptown area of the city and features a well-decorated indoor space and an outdoor patio area. You'll know you've arrived when you pull up to the quaint red building at the intersection of McKinney and Allen and will feel right at home once you're seated.
It's the go-to spot in Dallas if you're in the market for a quality Manhattan or Old Fashioned. For the latter, the Standard Pour specializes in options like barrel-aged and barley Old Fashioneds. Some other great cocktail options they provide include the Lululemon, Dune Buggy, Texas Peach Smash, Watermelon-Basil Margarita, and Golden Girl. You'll be able to also enjoy beers from Texas and red, white, and sparkling wine options.
The Standard Pour also features a full kitchen with food made from scratch. In addition to a nice craft drink, you can also enjoy brunch and dinner food offerings. The brunch menu has food items like bourbon bacon glazed chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, and bacon-wrapped jalapenos. For dinner, you might enjoy the king ranch chicken sandwich, bourbon BBQ burger, shrimp brochette, steak frites, and lobster ravioli. To top it off, you'll enjoy happy hour specials daily, and all day on Mondays.
6. Swizzle
Swizzle is a bar that brings the tropics to Dallas in a single location. This is a tiki bar with an island feel, and everything from the menu to the decor brings this theme together. It's a fairly new bar, having opened in 2020. Swizzle is located in the Lower Greenville area of Dallas and is owned by a husband-and-wife duo. When you walk through Swizzle, you'll take in a variety of tiki art fixtures. The bar specializes in craft cocktails influenced by Hawaiian and Filipino cultures.
Some of the specialty cocktails that you'll find at Swizzle include the Zombie, QB Cooler, 3 Dots and a Dash, Never Say Die, Nui Nui, and the 1944 Mai Tai. The drinks are strong, tall, and packed with plenty of island-infused flavor. The restaurant also serves several small plates, sides, and entrees that you can sink your teeth into. Some of the small plate items that you might enjoy include spicy wings with dragon aioli, coconut calamari, crab rangoons, vegan or pork lumpia, and chips and dip. For entrees, you have the rice bowl, bihon pancit, mushroom adobo, coconut curry, and loco moco.
You can visit Swizzle seven days a week, and the whole family is welcome before 9 p.m. The establishment has happy hour specials for beer, cocktails, and food for two hours Monday through Friday. It's an excellent place to stop by for sweet drinks, great food, photo ops, and a fun atmosphere for all.
7. Apothecary
Apothecary is an amazingly decorated avant-garde cocktail lounge. The bar uses technology and a variety of new processes to make cocktails just right and challenge your palate. It's situated in the Lower Greenville area and is open Tuesday through Sunday. It's a ritzy and sophisticated bar that's a bit pricier than your casual watering hole, but the results that you get are worth every penny. Each cocktail is made with expertise and the finest ingredients available.
You might order drinks like the Old Pal, featuring rye whiskey, campari, and dry vermouth, or the Queen's Park Swizzle, which has ingredients like white rum, lime, simple syrup, and mint. The bar features happy hour specials Sunday through Friday that will let you try some unique cocktails for a fraction of the price. Apothecary also features an eclectic food menu with offerings that you'll enjoy. Some of these food items include Jamaican beef patty, crab cocktail, funnel cake-style fries, and cheddar fritters. The combination of food, drinks, and environment makes Apothecary an excellent place to add to your list. It's an upscale bar with an intimate vibe and offers one of the most unique experiences that you'll find in Dallas. When you're all about your surroundings and service from people who love the art of the drink, it doesn't get better than Apothecary.
8. Double D's
Double D's is a bar that sells itself by offering "cocktails and all the love." This bar is set in a prime location, near the American Airlines Center and Trinity River in Dallas' Design District. When you come to Double D's, the two D's you'll enjoy include excellent drinks and DJs. The drinks are well-made and reasonably priced. It's one of the newest bars in the city, but quickly became one of the most popular.
Some draft cocktails that you'll enjoy when you stop into Double D's include the Pimm's Cup, Litty Long Island Iced Tea, Paloma, and their Whiskey Drink. It offers takes on old-school favorites, including the Appletini, Expresso Martini, Mai Tai, Amaretto Sour, and Eastside Fizz. Perhaps the biggest draw for Double D's is its atmosphere. It has a bigger party atmosphere than you'll find at most bars, thanks to the rotating list of DJs that play the selections that keep people amped. You will find a diverse group of people socializing and dancing the night away anytime that you step foot into Double D's. The bar is open Wednesday through Sunday with regular happy hour specials that customers appreciate. Whether you're rolling up solo or bringing a large group with you, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more unique and energetic place to spend your time at a bar in Dallas. It's also an excellent place to host your private event if you're planning a birthday, bachelor or bachelorette party, or any other gathering.
9. Inwood Tavern
Inwood Tavern is a world-famous bar, and one of the oldest in Dallas, having been open since 1964. Having been in the business for so long, it's clear that the establishment is doing something right. When you stop in to Inwood Tavern, you can enjoy a combination of cocktails, beer, and wine, while getting the most bang for your buck. It's a former dive bar that has been revived throughout the years without sacrificing service or lacking in personality.
Some of the cocktails that you'll appreciate when you visit Inwood Tavern include the S'mores Espresso Martini, Chelsea Scratch Margarita, and all of your favorite whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, and tequila drinks. You'll also be able to enjoy beer on draft or in a can, in addition to buying wine by the glass. It has an extensive shot menu, including specials on Jell-O shots. Inwood Tavern is open every single day and has happy hour specials until 7 p.m. The prestige and history of Inwood Tavern make it worth a spot on your list no matter what sort of drinks you're in the mood for. It attracts a fun crowd and has a spacious interior bar area, in addition to a patio area perfect for people-watching.
10. Midnight Rambler
When midnight strikes in Dallas, this isn't a bad place to find yourself. Midnight Rambler is a bar situated in the Joule Hotel that happens to be one of the absolute best cocktail lounges that you'll find in Dallas. It's run by an award-winning bartender, so you won't have to worry about the taste or quality of your drink. If you appreciate artisan cocktails and breathtaking decor, this is the type of place you'll want to spend your time. The bar features excellent decor starting with a trail of lights that you can follow to get to this sophisticated watering hole.
After you follow the lighting, you'll be taken care of by trained mixologists who offer stellar service. Whether you like whiskey, vodka, gin, or tequila, you'll get drinks that are blended with peak flavor in mind. This is the ideal place to come if you want to kick back and socialize with a small group of your close friends, family members, or co-workers. It features an intimate setting, and the bar offers private events as small as 12 people, or the option to buy out the entire bar. No matter your groove, you'll enjoy the vibes of the Midnight Rambler, which is open late Tuesday through Saturday.
11. Ellie's Restaurant and Lounge
Ellie's is a Downtown Dallas centerpiece that provides a taste of luxury. In this high-end establishment, you're not just getting artisan drinks, but can also sample food from an award-winning chef. Ellie's features a sophisticated decor with breathtaking Downtown skyline views from Ellie's terrace area. This bar is nestled inside the Arts District's Hall Arts Hotel.
When you're looking for craft cocktails, you can take your pick when you stop by Ellie's. Some of the inspired selections that you'll enjoy include Landscape in Blue, En Pointe, Stardust Cosmo, Flora-Tini, and Grilled Grapefruit Paloma. You can also sit at the elegant bar and sip on your favorite red, white, and rose wine offerings. Ellie's also has plenty of sparkling and champagne wine options. Customers love the two-hour happy hour Monday through Friday, and Wine Down Wednesdays, which give people a three-hour timetable to enjoy 50% off their favorite bottles of wine.
If you'd like a bite to eat, Ellie's also serves breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. The Ellie's Breakfast is a customer favorite, which includes two eggs your way, sausage or bacon, and potato hash. Some brunch offerings that you'll love include the open-faced omelet, Sonoma chicken sandwich, hippie toast, and Ellie's Burger. For lunch, Ellie's offers mini poke tacos, Ellie's Caesar salad, and an ahi tuna sandwich. For dinner, you might order roast the duck breast, kalbi-glazed filet mignon, or seared salmon. It's a swanky joint with food and drink offerings that you won't regret.
12. Coupes
Coupes is a champagne bar in Dallas that indulges all your senses. It's a place to come to celebrate life and toast to your successes. When you step inside, you'll enjoy elegant decor that features natural stone-topped tables, colorful curtains, and plenty of open space. It's located inside of The Shops of Highland Park, making it an excellent place to stop by between errands or to go out of your way to visit during the week or over the weekend.
When you take your seat, you can order an assortment of sparkling wines, along with small plate items that pair well with your drink. It's sophisticated and upscale to the fullest, with no shortage of options. Some of the food selections you might enjoy that will help expand your palate as you sip your champagne include marinated olives, grilled cheese sandwiches, deviled eggs and caviar, charcuterie and cheese, wagyu beef tartare, and a half dozen to a dozen oysters. Coupes is the place to be when you want to sit in a nice environment and enjoy some good company. The bar is known for its impeccable service and welcomes people from all over Dallas. It's a prime spot for networking and small gatherings, whether you're a couple enjoying a romantic evening out or a group of business partners. Coupes is open Tuesday through Saturday with a small block of hours. You're welcome to place reservations, although it's not required.