Dallas has plenty of daytime attractions, but the city heats up at night. So patrons who enjoy a party atmosphere, perfectly chilled drinks, and some of the hardest working bartenders in Texas won’t run out of great bar options in Dallas.
Here are some of the local favorites.
The 20 Best Bars in Dallas
Dallas bars have something for everyone and every mood. So whether you want to catch up in a quiet lounge with some friends or throw down in an authentic Texas saloon, you can find the perfect spot in this list of the 20 best bars in Dallas.
Tiny Victories
Looking for a cozy space with the perfect mix of traditional and creative cocktails and a stellar happy hour? Tiny Victories in Oak Cliff is sure to be your new favorite hangout spot.
While the 1,000-square-foot bar offers a solid variety of beer, wine, and hard seltzers, the standouts are their cocktails that include everything from a classic Pimms Cup to a soon-to-be classic Tyler Street Swizzle.
Seats are limited, so jump on their happy hour, which includes half-priced cocktails and beer and wine specials Tuesdays through Fridays, from 4-7 p.m.
Tiny Victories, 604 N. Tyler Street, Dallas, 972-685-7066
Cafe Duro
If you’ve struggled to balance your European cafe dreams with your neighborhood bar budget, it’s time to discover Cafe Duro. This lower Greenville space just opened in the summer of 2022, serving ridiculously delicious pizzettas and paninis by day and turning into a vibey wine bar at night.
The house red and white wines are on tap, as is Illy nitro cold brew. The atmosphere invites you to linger, whether you arrive for an espresso or a strawberry spritz, a delightful blend of sparkling rosé and cappelletti.
Cafe Duro, 2804 Greenville Ave, Dallas, 214-888-8485
Apothecary
When you’re tired of the typical bar scene and seeking some adventure, there’s no better place than Apothecary, tucked away in Lower Greenville. Boasting a menu of drinks that includes an octopus tentacle, Apothecary is dimly lit, moody, and full of surprises.
Along with their eclectic drinks, the bar bites menu includes its own wonders, as Apothecary may be the only place in Dallas serving an edible candle.
Apothecary, 1922 Greenville Ave, Dallas, 972-850-9192
Clifton Club Bar and Lounge
One of Dallas’s most anticipated new bars, the Clifton Club, is living up to the hype. Opened in May 2022, the Clifton Club balances glamor with a home bar feel, so patrons feel upscale but comfortable in the intimate booths and smooth ambiance.
The cocktail menu boasts unique takes on classic cocktails like Aperol spritz alongside old favorites. Those who arrive hungry won’t be left wanting, as their shareable snacks menu combines traditional flavors with a modern twist.
Clifton Club Bar and Lounge, 3333 N Fitzhugh Ave, Dallas, (214) 484-2130
Atlas
True to its name, Atlas aims to take customers on a trip around the world, with a global menu that could easily feel upscale but offers more of a neighborhood bar feel. The extensive craft drink menu easily takes the stage at Atlas, which shouldn’t be a surprise, considering the bar’s impressive mixologists.
Singapore Slings, Pisco Sours, and Sidecars are all popular choices, but patrons can feel comfortable ordering any cocktail on or off the menu, knowing they’re in skilled hands.
Atlas, 408 N Bishop Ave, Dallas, atlasbishoparts@gmail.com
Bar Eden Lounge at Paradiso
When you immerse yourself in Bar Eden’s boho feel, make sure you don’t have any upcoming plans. The lush greenery, colorful space, and craft cocktails ensure you won’t want to leave anytime soon.
Bar Eden Lounge leans into the theme with aptly named drinks, such as Virgo’s Nectar and Medusa’s Gaze. The food menu is similarly cultivated, offering tempura-battered squash blossoms and prosciutto with seasonal fruit.
Bar Eden Lounge at Paradiso, 308 N Bishop Ave, Dallas, (214) 944-5865
Mayer’s Garden
Mayer’s Garden is a solid neighborhood bar, the type of place you could see yourself scheduling a standing meetup with friends. Massive, garage-style doors open the dining area to the outdoor patio for an indoor-outdoor feel, and abundant plants soften the industrial vibe while honoring the name.
The feel of Mayer’s Garden can be encompassed in one section of the menu, “Nuggies,” featuring a variety of chicken and portobello mushroom nuggets and dipping sauces.
Mayer’s Garden, 2422 N. Henderson Ave. Dallas, (972) 373-4647
Sky Blu Rooftop Bar
Boasting some of the best views in Dallas’s design district, Sky Blu Rooftop Bar at the top of the Tru by Hilton in Dallas Market Center is a modern space that lets the skyline take center stage.
Located only a mile from the American Airlines Center, Sky Blu is an optimal spot to grab a drink before a concert or sporting event. However, the bar is purposely flying under the radar, making it the type of spot only Dallas insiders know about. The attire is “elevated chic.”
Sky Blu Rooftop Bar, 1949 N. Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, 214-741-3000
Ellie’s Restaurant and Lounge
A surefire place to impress any date, you can find Ellie’s Restaurant and Lounge in the award-winning HALL Arts Hotel in Dallas’s arts district. Overlooking a sculpture garden and providing ambiance inside and out, this sophisticated bar offers live music every Thursday through Sunday and a Sunday morning jazz brunch.
Sporting a full menu and a generous happy hour, Ellie’s Restaurant and Bar is a must-do in Dallas, though few can afford to make it their regular hangout.
Ellie’s Restaurant and Lounge, 1717 Leonard Street, Dallas, 972-629-0924
The Branca Room
You can’t go wrong with the late-night spots of Bishop Arts District, and The Branca Room is no exception. Set up as an Argentinian art-deco speakeasy, The Branca Room is an intimate space designed as an offshoot of the favorite local restaurant, Chimichurri.
Prioritizing culture and seasonal ingredients, The Branca Room crafts its own vermouth and amaro, ensuring its drinks are as distinctive as the space itself.
Don’t sleep on their signature cocktails, including the Garduña and the Father Ernettis, both boasting house-made liquors. Bourbon enthusiasts also won’t want to miss their monthly bourbon nights, featuring bottles you can’t find anywhere else.
The Branca Room, 24 W 7th Street, Dallas
Casablanca
Another standout bar in the Bishop Arts District, Casablanca perfectly balances funky with exotic, creating a space that feels straight out of Morocco. The food menu offers shareable plates, while the drink menu includes a boozy tea service, frozen cocktails, and some Texas favorites.
Casablanca quickly becomes an all-night party spot with its Casanova karaoke lounges and six reservable rooms with its own food and cocktail menu. Casablanca refers to these spaces as their “singeasy.”
Casablanca, 200 North Bishop Ave. Suite #113, Dallas, 972-863-9600
Neon Kitten
Deep Ellum’s Neon Kitten is an over-the-top cocktail lounge serving Asian small bites and lots of personality. Sustainability is as high a priority as the lounge’s flavor and ambiance, so don’t expect plastic straws and paper napkins.
They reserve two of the ten taps for seasonal batch cocktails, and each drink has a unique twist. For example, the Tokoyo features wasabi powder, and the Kyoto includes sweet potato.
Make sure you leave room to eat when visiting the Neon Kitten, as the dim sum and sushi rolls are worth the visit alone.
Neon Kitten, 2805 Main St., Dallas, (972) 807-2308
Loro
Themed as an Asian smokehouse and bar, Loro originated in Austin, and Dallas anxiously awaited their location, which opened in 2021. Loro quickly became one of Dallas’s must-try spots, with boozy slushies and craft cocktails keeping patrons satisfied while they wait for their counter service meal.
Decidedly casual, none of the delicious menu items top $20, making sampling all of Loro’s options an achievable goal. Don’t miss the beef brisket, corn fritters, or the mango sake slushie.
Loro, 1812 North Haskell Ave, Dallas, 214-833-4983
Mi Cocina/Seis Segundos
The original Mi Cocina moved to uptown after 20 years in West Village. The Dallas institution quickly spread its wings in the new, larger space, expanding to open a new bar, Seis Segundos.
All spaces still serve Mi Cocina’s signature cocktail, the Mambo Taxi, a swirled concoction of frozen margarita and sangria. However, at Seis Segundos, the cocktail is served with Hornitos tequila, while the downstairs version uses Sauza Silver.
Mi Cocina and Seis Segundos, 3232 McKinney Ave., Dallas, 214-600-8044
Cosmo’s Bar and Lounge
Everything about Cosmo’s Bar and Lounge is mismatched, from the furniture to the menu. However, it just works. Cosmo’s feels like the place you want to take your grandpa to have a cocktail and feed the jukebox while he tells you old stories.
You can enjoy a Paloma or a PBR while perusing the VHS collection. Whether your mood suits a steaming bowl of pho or a gourmet pizza, you can trust it’ll be delicious. Cosmo’s is the dive bar that makes you feel like you belong.
Cosmo’s Bar and Lounge, 1212 Skillman St, Dallas, 214- 826-4200
Flashback Retro Pub
Are you feeling sentimental? Flashback Retro Pub is the bar of your ‘80s childhood dreams. Packed with 60 arcade games that are free to play with a two-drink minimum, the Bishop Arts District pub is full of nostalgia, with skeeball, vintage consoles, and Rubiks cube tables.
In addition, Flashback Retro Pub has a full line of signature cocktails, each designed to give you all the feels, from the Care Bear to the Beetlejuice.
While there is a full bar, you’ll need to visit one of their neighbors for food.
Flashback Retro Pub, 821 W. Davis Street, Dallas
Goodbye Horses
Everything about Goodbye Horses is no-frills. The SMU sports bar focuses on standard fares, like pizza, wings, and tacos, but patrons can expect it to be better than the norm.
Full of old sports memorabilia, Goodbye Horses feels like it’s been in Dallas forever, even though it just opened in May 2022.
Cocktail drinkers will want to sample the Blackberry Old Fashioned and the Spicy Margarita, and it’s worth getting there early on weekends when Dallas pitmaster Matt Dallman will serve barbeque until it sells out.
Goodbye Horses, 5629 SMU Blvd, Dallas, 469-372-1110
Rodeo Bar
The Rodeo Bar could be considered to be a Dallas institution, first opening in the Adolphus hotel in 1981. It underwent a major revamp and reopened in January 2022, all shined up.
Despite its facelift, Rodeo Bar still offers the blue plate specials, football fundays, and $5 happy hour menu of the past. Enter through the Adolphus to enjoy the contrast of marble and brass on your way to the Rodeo Bar’s neon signs and honkey tonk vibes.
Rodeo Bar, 1321 Commerce Street, Dallas, 214-651-3559
The Bowen House
The first thing to note about The Bowen House is that it may be haunted. Rumors claim the historic house still serves as the home of Mary Bowen, one of the original owners of the Bowen farm, and that she occasionally enjoys flickering the lights.
If you’re willing to brave a ghost, there’s plenty to enjoy about the Bowen House. Featuring creative cocktails, a mix of high-end appetizers like foie gras, and more accessible fare, such as their double cheeseburger, the Bowen House is a slice of Dallas history worth visiting.
The Bowen House, 2614 Boll Street, Dallas, 214-484-1385
Lee Harvey’s Dive In
Lee Harvey’s is a beloved dive bar south of downtown, opened a spinoff location across the street, dubbed Lee Harvey’s Dive In. The new bar is a private social swim club, where patrons can hang out poolside, enjoy the sunning lawn, and enjoy country club-style food and cocktails.
Lee Harvey’s menu takes everything up a notch with Wagyu beef hot dogs and fresh ceviche. The sips are summery and boast rum punch, margaritas, and mojitos.
Patrons can rent cabanas and sun loungers, but members have first dibs.
Lee Harvey’s Dive In, 1315 Beaumont St, Dallas, 214-428-4510
Recover Faster with IV Therapy
Dallas is a big city, and there’s no way you can make it through all of these bars in one night or even one weekend. However, if you partied a little too hard, we offer IV therapy throughout Dallas to help get you back on your feet.
IV therapy offers fast hangover recovery, restoring the hydration, vitamins, and nutrients you lost somewhere at the Neon Kitten.
Whether you’re fighting a light hangover and need to power through with some extra Hydration, or if you’re Still Spinning from the night before, we offer a range of hangover packages to suit your recovery.
Significant hangovers may require The Baller or Defcon 1. Both options treat multiple hangover symptoms and are customized to your needs. In addition, planners can get ahead of their hangover with our PreGame package, so you can prepare your body for the hangover before it begins.