22 BEST OF DALLAS® 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING & SERVICES | READERS’ CHOICE | CONTENTS Swoon, inside the Joule Hotel, will help you relish the reputation of being the friend who gives the best gifts – there’s no chance anyone else at the housewarming will show up with a structural, handmade ceramic vase, a vintage seashell wine glass or a $14 lemon squeezer shaped like a fish. And fine, if you prefer to play it safe with your in-laws and reach for a candle, you can get those here too. Swoon’s collection of goods, even at its most accessible price points (a cool sandalwood scalp massager runs for just $12), offers an elevated take on something your gift receiver will actually use. BEST WORLD CUP SOUVENIRS THAT AREN’T REALLY SOUVENIRS & NOT REALLY ABOUT SOCCER KD BIEL 1316 Slocum St., Dallas kdbiel.com Look, we don’t make the rules; we just change them to fit the occasion as we see fit. Indeed, KD Biel doesn’t sell jerseys or scarves, but it’s a temple to hand-crafted Belgian linens and French knives. So, since so many of their offerings are sourced from a 2026 World Cup nation, we don’t mind suggesting they could be worthy souvenirs? Their wares aren’t cheap exactly, so you might need to manufacture a reason to splurge, and that’s OK too. BEST ACTUAL WORLD CUP SOUVENIRS Matchday Scarves If the World Cup was the hottest ticket in town this year, and it was, then the matchday scarves were the hottest souvenirs. Like, su- per hot. Sure, a cozy scarf can keep you warm ( though it’s not like warmth was an issue for anyone this tournament), but it was highly unlikely that anyone arriving at the stadium less than two hours before kickoff could get their hands on the $50 item featuring color- ful designs customized with not only “Dallas Stadium” and the date of the match, but with the colors and logos of that day’s competing teams. In many cases, the combo scarves were listed on eBay for upwards of $400 by the time the second half kicked off. BEST EYEWARE Glass Optical 833 W. Davis St., Dallas glassopticaloakcliff.com If you’re not buying your Gucci frames in an apothecary, you’d be buying them in a mall, so better to support local businesses. Glass Optical is rustic, making even frame shop- ping for prescription lenses a boot scootin’ boogie affair. There just aren’t many spots selling eyewear with a tin ceiling, vintage lighting and antique furniture. The cool cu- ration obviously extends to the selection of glasses, with hip brands like the minimalist LINDBERG, British atelier Cutler and Gross, and the historic NYC optical shop MOSCOT. The options feel more bespoke and less mass-market than the average eyewear. BEST JEWELER Zorrilla Custom Grillz 13505 Montfort Place, Dallas @ZorrillaCustomGrillz If there’s one iconic piece of jewelry that’s Provided by ps.swoon Swoon Zorrilla Custom Grillz Provided by Zorrilla Custom Grillz