Best Bars in Dallas 2022 from p15 Atwater Alley 4900 McKinney Ave. ATWATERALLEY.COM/HOME In sorry-not-sorry news, we’re spilling the beans on hard-to-find Atwater Alley: Go past the door of Henry’s Majestic, toward the alley, then hang a right after the sidewalk ends and look for the door with an upside- down A over a right-side-up A. Once inside, Atwater doesn’t have QR codes or paper for menus, just tell the bartender what you want. If you don’t know — even better — af- ter a few questions, you’ll quickly come to terms. We started with an Old-Fashioned, then the bartender suggested a take on a classic Vieux Carré, which was fantastic. Early in the evening, the dark hues, Ba- roque-style wallpaper and deep booths are perfect for an intimate date, but later it gets busier as Park City 20-somethings come in for a nightcap or three. Botanist 308 N. Bishop Ave. BOTANISTDALLAS.COM The Botanist in the Bishop Arts District is a swanky cocktail den offering an over-the- top presentation, including a giant golden swan serving “boat,” to wet your hipster whistle. The main part of The Botanist is a large open room with chandeliers overhead and deep plush couches and armchairs that looks onto the adjacent always-packed Para- diso courtyard. Further back is a smaller room with tables and chairs for a more inti- mate drink. Above all, the drinks here are se- rious. The menu offers fun anecdotes for each, like a Bishop Society made with gin and six other flavors including passionfruit, lime, Poppy Amaro, lavender, cherry and or- ange that is “elegant and exotic with an ap- proachable peely tart.” 16 16 Casablanca 200 N. Bishop Ave, Ste, 113 CASABLANCADTX.COM The Silk Road-themed Casablanca sits like an oasis in the heart of the Bishop Arts Dis- trict, just a few steps off the main artery. Here the mood is a desert oasis with sandy hues and a Moroccan aura. Like any cool Atlas bar and a fresh pomegranate cocktail desert hangout, its centered on a calming pool of water (which is not for swimming). The menu of small bites stretches from the Middle East to Asia, from smoked edamame to pork and plum dumplings. Casablanca also expanded, adding an adjacent outdoor post called The Palm Bar with grab-and-go cocktails and a sandy lounge area. But if you and your friends like to get loud, get a room: Casanova is a sing easy in the back, with sev- eral swank private karaoke lounges for up to 15 guests. Reservations are a must. Community Beer Company 3110 Commonwealth Drive COMMUNITYBEER.COM Community Beer Company is one of the original craft breweries in Dallas. Their Mo- saic IPA is a pillar in the local beer commu- nity, and their shiny new brewery just northeast of downtown that opened earlier this year is an ode to how far the local craft beer scene has come in 10 years. With more than 70,000 square feet of elbow room, this two-story production brewery and biergar- ten is host to families, friends, birthday par- ties and plenty of pooches on the weekends. They offer almost two-dozen beers on tap, all their own. Community Kitchen, an on- site kitchen, is still in the works and ex- pected to open sometime in 2022. For now, they host food trucks on Fridays and Satur- days and delivery drivers regularly drop off boxes of pizzas to picnic tables. Four Corners Brewing Co. 1311 S. Ervay St. FCBREWING.COM Four Corners Brewing Co. has come a long way since the 5-gallon home brew system it started with an over a decade ago. Their large brewery in The Cedars neighborhood hosts their manufacturing facility and a well-adorned taproom (we love the upside- down lamp installation overhead). They of- fer one-of-a-kind beers brewed on a smaller experimental seven-beer barrel system be- hind the taproom. One of the best times to visit is Thursday evenings for lotería, which is sort of like bingo but with fresh craft beer and 20-year-olds (although your nana is more than welcome). Nosh on fried fajita balls and nachos while learning new Span- ish words. Their Heart o’ Texas red ale is an Observer staff favorite. Try out the Geeks Who Drink Trivia on Sundays and monthly bike rides for more good fun. Kessaku 1401 Elm St. KESSAKURESTAURANTS.COM Fifty floors atop The National building in downtown sits Michelin-star chef Danny Grants’ cocktail and sushi den, Kessaku. To find it, take the elevators to Monarch on the 49th floor, but instead of going to the restau- rant, take a left into a hallway and head up- stairs. You’ll find a posh cocktail lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows delivering a stun- ning skyline view. Hip-hop music overhead is turned up, and when the place is packed, it’s loud. We can’t report much on the cocktails and sushi, other than they went down real easy; perhaps it’s asking too much to compete with this view and big boss energy. Valet is available and reservations are a must. Neon Kitten Izakaya 2805 Main St. NEONKITTENDALLAS.COM An izakaya is the Japanese version of an Irish pub or American tavern: a casual bar that serves small snacks. At Neon Kitten, which can be found by looking for the neon pink sign high in the window outside, the snacks are sushi and dim sum, and stacked plastic baskets allow the tender steamed The Blackbird Society is behind a false door in Neon Kitten. dumplings and wontons to stay warm with- out getting soggy. The drinks are Japanese- inspired too. On a hot day, try the Osaka, a snowcone-like drink served in a ceramic Hello Kitty mug made with ume and cherry blossom liqueurs, Roku gin, and a touch of sage and grapefruit-like pomelo for a touch of acidity. Large peonies are painted across the walls. Head toward the bathroom and take notice of a bookshelf, which is actually a door that leads to The Blackbird Society. This speakeasy is a high-end cocktail lounge where a bartender will craft a drink for you based on your preferences, likely expanding the boundaries of what you thought was a good drink. The Blackbird Society is only open Thursday through Sunday. Check their website for reservations; on occasion, if the crowd is light, they may invite a few people from Neon Kitten back. Rare Books Bar 6959 Lebanon Road, Suite 110, Frisco RAREBOOKSBAR.COM It’s not too late to try to latch on to the bour- bon boom that’s swept the nation for the last decade or so. If you want to broaden your whiskey horizons beyond Jack Daniel’s or Jim Beam, then Rare Books is where you need to be. It’s a speakeasy-style joint inside J. Theodore’s Restaurant in Frisco, and each week, Rare Books announces a classic liter- ary title that you’ll need to give to the Librar- ian to get in. Seating is limited to 50 or so patrons, but if you can get in, be ready to do some reading; the bourbon (and scotch, rye, Japanese whisky and Irish whiskey) menu stretches eight pages, with further options for flights and crafted cocktails. If there’s a rare whiskey you always wanted to try but could never afford a bottle, chances are Rare Books can offer you a pour. Texas Live! 1650 E. Randoll Mill Road, Arlington TEXAS-LIVE.COM Just outside Globe Life Park is a bevy of res- taurants and bars, all housed under one roof called Texas Live! And if you’ve ever >> p18 MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2014 JUNE 30-JULY 6, 2022 DALLAS OBSERVER DALLAS OBSERVER | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | MOVIES | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | SCHUTZE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | CULTURE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS dallasobserver.comdallasobserver.com
