Sanchez didn’t linger unclaimed for long.
While not solely a victim of the pandemic, at the time he told us, “It definitely put it on its fucking path.” One mile east of the Joule in Deep Ellum, Gabe Sanchez shuttered his craft cocktail bar, The Black Swan, after 10 years. Consequently, it sat out most of the pandemic. Finally, it’s downtown, which lost a significant amount of traffic. Not only is it a bar, meaning it had to close, but also part of a hotel that had strict capacity restrictions. Midnight Rambler had three strikes against it when mandates hit during the pandemic. Then there are craft cocktail lounges, like Midnight Rambler, the swanky subterranean art deco den at The Joule Hotel, 1530 Main St. There are old-soul dive bars, live-music bars, gay bars, sports bars, all-of-those-in-one bars. The local bar scene is wildly diverse and hard to categorize. (That's a bit of a misnomer, since the 'burbs, Fort Worth and Denton are represented on the list, but you get what we mean.) We've produced a list of our picks for the 100 Best Bars in Dallas. After so much time away from a comfy barstool, you might have forgotten what it is we all love about bars. Sidewalks in the Bishop Arts District and Deep Ellum are conveyer belts of people barhopping, looking to match vibe with vibe. That means entire entertainment districts are alive again. As an added bonus, score a 75-cent beer all damn day long on Sunday Funday and a list of other specials throughout the week.The long social nap of 2020 inspired a collective, almost bursting, need to find a barstool in a space that’s familiar, well-stocked and has a great soundtrack. Opened in 1979, The Hidden Door is one of the city’s best neighborhood bars thanks to its dedicated crowd of regulars and ridiculously friendly bartenders.
Pro-tip: on weekends, Station 4 charges a cover, but check the club’s Facebook page for a password to get in for free. Every week, it plays host to some of the world’s finest drag queens (including the locals who take to the stage four nights a week) in the legendary Rose Room. This multi-story bustling Cedar Springs nightclub, known to locals as “S4”, is a Dallas icon. The laid-back atmosphere and strong-ass drinks attract people of all stripes, which makes for killer people-watching, especially when the Everclear-spiked peach bellinis are flowing. The Grapevine BarĪt the Grapevine drinkers can shoot pool, hang out on one of the couches, or perch on the rooftop deck for an excellent view of the city. Looking for cheap drinks? Stop by on Thursday, when it’s happy hour all night long. Round Up Saloon & Dance HallĪ favorite of celebs like Lady Gaga, Round-Up Saloon makes both cowboys and city slickers feel right at home with its laid-back honky-tonk vibe. Most notably, though, it also offers up a solid array of drink specials, including $1 draft beer and $4 you-call-its on Tuesdays and $1 wells on Sundays. Dallas EagleĪs the city’s only bar for leather enthusiasts, Dallas Eagle is also one of the friendliest watering holes in town, accepting of folks of all kinds. On Fridays, check out the bar’s Facebook page for a passcode to skip out on paying the cover. Take in performances from burlesque dancers and drag kings, all while drinking jello shots and cherry bombs. Sue Ellen’sĪ name in the local lesbian bar scene since 1989, Sue Ellen’s remains one of the city’s best places to drink and dance. Definitely try the Mother’s Frozen Margarita, which packs a powerful boozy punch. On Tuesdays, the bar hosts a showtunes-themed party complete with $3.50 wells from 9 to 11 p.m., which will make it so much easier to belt Broadway’s biggest hits. Showtunes, sports, karaoke, and a lot of beer collide at Woody’s, an LGBT-friendly sports bar. Just remember to bring plenty of dollar bills to tip the entertainers. Make conversation with some of the scene’s friendliest bartenders, drink heavily-poured cocktails, and dance your ass off. This dive-y delight features plenty of attractive go-go dancers, and the booze is constantly flowing. Go forth, and consider this map your new nightlife bucket list.
Many of these bars are located in Dallas’ famous “gayborhood” Oak Lawn, but you’ll also find more off the beaten path options.Īs an added bonus, most of the spots on this map of Dallas’ most iconic gay bars offer dirt-cheap drink specials on various nights. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back jazz bar with craft cocktails or a clubby spot with music perfect for dancing, Dallas-Fort Worth’s gay bar scene has a spot that will suit your needs. From “the Strip” on Cedar Springs Road to an iconic Fort Worth watering hole, the city is home to an incredibly diverse array of bars that welcome people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. For decades, Dallas has long been home to one of Texas’ best LGBT bar scenes.