36 BEST OF DALLAS® 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING & SERVICES | READERS’ CHOICE | CONTENTS ......................... SURGEONS WHO DRINK Bonsai Bar Multiple locations bonsaibar.com Somewhere between happy hour and horti- culture school, Bonsai Bar found what works: hand you a pair of tiny shears, an even tinier tree and a drink strong enough to make you question what you’re doing, or to give you more courage. One minute you’re sipping something citrusy, the next you’re performing delicate canopy surgery on a ju- niper that’s older than your last relationship. BEST PLACE TO GET A PORCH GOOSE Davis Street Mercantile 710 W. Davis St., Dallas davisstreetmercantile.com The wild goose chase for the perfect porch accent ends here. Dallasites needing some nostalgic charm on their doorstep should take a gander at Davis Street Mercantile, where Giddy the Porch Goose awaits his new home. Giddy already looks handsome in his original hand-painted glory, but the fun really takes flight when you style him in a complete waterfowl wardrobe. Whether hosting a backyard wedding or having folks over for Sunday’s big game, Davis Street of- fers enough looks to ensure Giddy is always the best dressed in your nest. Once you’re set on goose gear, make sure to peck through the rest of the shop’s home decor, because there’s always new items worth flocking to. BEST FLOWER SHOP DIRT Flowers 211 E. Colorado Blvd., Dallas dirtflowers.com DIRT Flowers proudly offers artistic bud- ding arrangements that embrace the avant- garde. Perfect for flora fans with a wild sense of style, DIRT’s designs mix natural textures, unique materials and an exotic se- lection of both fresh and preserved blooms that sit high above grocery store chain ar- rangements. Though the shop allows online ordering and same-day delivery, it’s also worth the walk-in experience. Having re- cently moved from its Bishop Arts building to Colorado Boulevard, DIRT’s new bright, sunlit space is as quirky and inviting as the arrangements themselves. Whether in need of a showstopping centerpiece, a convincing “I’m sorry” gift or grabbing something just because, let DIRT handle the bouquet. BEST STORE IN BISHOP ARTS Jowa. 402 W. Eighth St., Dallas thejowa.com Jowa. offers hand-selected garments and accessories sourced directly from South Ko- rea. Born and raised in Korea, founder Eun- hwa Jung Schriver brought this contemporary concept to Dallas to show- case independent designers from her home country. They offer quality clothing at a rea- sonable price to inspire customers to invest in a long-lasting, quality wardrobe. Jowa.’s inventory features sleek, unique clothing in- cluding everyday basics and eye-catching, statement pieces. This shop is so carefully stocked that there is only one of each piece in the entire store — don’t worry, though, it’s always replaced quickly with a new item. BEST STORE IN DEEP ELLUM Parfums Du Ciel 267 S. Hall St., Dallas parfumsduciel.com It takes a certain type of person to get so frustrated by a failed fragrance order that they decide to teach themselves to make that fragrance instead — that person is Tara McDaniel, the owner of Parfums Du Ciel. Now, her perfume bar has over a dozen sig- nature fragrances, all made in-house, plus body oils and body butters made to order. The helpful staff will guide you through the offerings, but each fragrance also has a QR code next to it so you can check out the pro- file. In addition, it offers perfume classes by reservation, where parties of two to four can create exactly the bottle they want. Provided by Parfums Du Ciel Parfums Du Ciel