122 BEST OF DALLAS® 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING & SERVICES | READERS’ CHOICE | CONTENTS 2013 Tumblr reblogs. The enchantment of darkwave music is buzzing from a drag queen’s DJ decks in the corner. You turn to the bar to order a vodka soda, where a hairy- chested man in a crop top is waiting to give you a stiff pour. The person next to you, hav- ing wandered over from The Church at It’ll Do, is wearing fishnets, latex and cat ears on a Sunday night in May. Wait, are you gay? It actually doesn’t matter, because you’re home regardless. BEST PLACE FOR A COUPLE TO SEE SOMEONE FROM ACROSS THE BAR AND LIKE THEIR VIBE Bowen House 2614 Boll St., Dallas bowenhousetx.com Spare us the pearl clutching — polyamory is in. If you and your partner are looking for a third, Bowen House is where you’ll find someone right in the middle of the Venn dia- gram of being both attractive enough and open-minded enough to give it a shot. Or, at the very least, polite enough to the vibes you’re sending. Bowen House is cozy, it’s in- viting and it’s doing all the work of setting the exact mood you’re after; if the potential third rejects you here, maybe you actually need to vibe-check yourselves. BEST CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINE Mike’s Gemini Twin 1906 S. Harwood St.,Dallas mikesgeminitwin.com There are few bars in Dallas that are as inti- mately communal as the whisper of a patio at Mike’s Gemini Twin. And unfortunately, there’s just something about it that makes you crave a drunk smoke break. Even if you aren’t a smoker, the draw of taking at least a quick drag on the Mike’s Gemini patio is contagious (we may or may not be speaking from experience), and the bar clearly knows its audience. A fully-stocked vintage ciga- rette vending machine sits toward the back of the bar, and naturally, you have to pass it to step out onto the patio. It’s a smart touch that underscores the bar’s dive-meets- lounge feel, and even if you can only burn your way through half an American Spirit, you’ll feel cool just for being seen tugging on one of the knobs. ..................... S4 3911 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas station4dallas.com No matter what kind of night you’ve had, it can usually only be made better by ending it at S4. But also, it’s one of the few options you have for an after-hours club in this city and the closest you’ll get to living like the Europe- ans do. When you aren’t ready to turn things down, you can dance the night (or, rather, the morning) away until 4 a.m. It’s easily the most famous LGBTQ+ bar in Dallas, but the inclusive nature of its dance floor means ev- eryone finds their space under the disco ball. BEST BAR TO WATCH WOMEN’S SPORTS Stan’s Blue Note 2908 Greenville Ave., Dallas stansbluenote.com Stan’s Blue Note has been a Greenville Ave- nue institution since 1952, which means it has had plenty of time to figure out what makes a sports bar actually work: lots of screens, strong pours, a crowd that cares and no weird need to overcomplicate things. What makes it especially worthy here is that it is simply a great place to watch women’s sports — with a setup that gives the game the attention it deserves, not the side-TV treat- ment. More than 30 screens, full sound and decades of neighborhood credibility help. So does knowing exactly what kind of bar it is. BEST WEEKNIGHT FOR JAZZ Wednesday, Shelley Carrol at Revelers Hall 412 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas The saxophones are getting louder — in the best way. Every Wednesday night, Dallas Provided by S4 S4