13 July 17 - 23, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Cold Beer Company 3600 Main St. 214-701-3226 www.coldbeerco.com Cold Beer Co. is a low-key beer garden on the east end of Deep Ellum — east enough that East Dallas locals get split custody. The bartenders are attentive and knowledgeable, and the place has a fantastic selection of lo- cal beer: 24 taps with 36 more options in cans, some that rotate seasonally. And, per- haps its most adorable feature, CBC has a grilled pimento cheese sandwich on the menu. The large outdoor areas are all worked over with either heaters or misters and fans, depending on the time of year. Check out the Wednesday drink special: The Pony Up, a small Miller High Life with a shot of Jameson. Columbian Country Club 3314 Ross Ave. 214-484-1555 www.columbiancc.com Remember when grandma let you take a drag off her ciggie? What happened to those grandmas? Well, you might find one at Columbian Country Club, which oddly gives off grandma vibes, and for some rea- son we love it. Paying homage to the origi- nal Columbian Country Club in Dallas that opened in 1881, the proprietors have succinctly captured a bygone era, elegant and charming, but with carpet. You even get an Andes chocolate mint with your tab, if you don’t get kicked out for smoking first. Chicken fingers and the warm crab dip off the bites menu hit hard. Drinks are pricey but Grams would want you to splurge. Community Beer Company 3110 Commonwealth Dr. 214-751-7921 www.communitybeer.com Community Beer Company is one of the original craft breweries in Dallas. Its Mo- saic IPA is a pillar in the local beer commu- nity, and its brewery just northeast of downtown 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 biergarten is host to families, friends, birthday parties and plenty of pooches on the weekends. They offer almost two- dozen beers on tap, all their own. Coupes (new) 4234 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-434-1347 www.coupesdallas.com/visit Coupes is tucked into a Highland Park strip mall, but with this specialty shop’s re- nowned bubbly selection, it could easily be- long in the posh Highland Park Village. We appreciate the approachability. Specializ- ing in Champagne, Coupes was named one of the 10 best places to drink champagne in the United States by the Bureau du Cham- pagne USA. Here, bubbles beckon for a girls’ night. Gold-touched furnishings, soft pink drapery and commanding U-shaped bar set the scene. Toast to the good life with pours showcasing both France and Texas wines and Champagne, Blanc de Noirs, Crémant de Loire, Cuvée and more. For the cocktail enthusiast, Coupes offers classics and signatures like the bourbon and peach Avoir la Pêche. Even saying it makes you jump a tax bracket. Dallas Woody’s 4011 Cedar Springs Rd. The complex worlds of sports and pop mu- sic collide at this famed gay bar. Over at Woody’s, guests can come in and catch the game by daytime, then belt out their best diva impression by night. At any given mo- ments, several screens play sports, as well as pop music videos from the ‘90s, 2000s, and now. And on Tuesday nights, you can hear customers give it all they got as showtunes play throughout the bar. Dot’s Hop House & Cocktail Courtyard 2645 Commerce St. 214-230-3687 www.dotshophouse.com Located in the heart of Deep Ellum, Dot’s Hop House & Cocktail Courtyard is the ulti- mate brunch spot. From its decadent duck fat cheese fries and avocado toast brus- chetta, diners are always in for a treat. Pa- trons can sprawl out on the enormous, 10,000-square-foot dog-friendly patio, and on chilly nights, Dot’s outdoor heaters help to warm up cold bones. Be sure to pamper yourself with one of its hand-crafted cock- tails, like the Dot’s old fashioned or the truly inspiring Strawberry Smokeshow. Plus, beer aficionados can have fun selecting craft brews off an unparalleled 99-tap drink menu. This full-service bar and restaurant makes foodies everywhere rejoice. Double D’s 1404 Riverfront Blvd. 469-243-6866 www.wedothisandthat.com/doubledsdallas Get your mind out of the gutter: It’s Double D’s because it’s in the Design District. The vibe here is the best party you ever hosted in your grandma’s basement, with polished brass knickknacks, old couches, a shag rug and the rest. The cocktails here are serious. Try Edna’s Lunch Box, a tribute to the famed Oklahoma bar, made with a Miller High Life, amaretto and orange juice served in an ice-cold mug. It oddly tastes like Dr Pepper. Early in the evening, the vibe is a bit more cocktail-lounge. Later, a line starts to form at the door and things get groovy. Local DJs set up in the booth and the whole place starts dancing. Don’t be shy about ordering a classic cocktail; the bar menu is one of the best in the city. 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. Its large brewery in The Cedars neighborhood hosts their manufacturing facility and a well- adorned taproom (we love the upside-down lamp installation overhead). It offers one-of- a-kind beers brewed on a smaller experimen- tal seven-beer barrel system behind 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). 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. Ginger’s 2115 Jackson St. 214-420-8533 gingersdallas.com Ginger’s is a subterranean cocktail lounge in the historic East Quarter. It opened as the speakeasy attached to the Sushi | Bar, but over time it has gained traction as its own entity. It’s possibly one of the only glamor- ous bars in Dallas that encourages you to “come as you are” rather than enforcing a strict dress code. The bartenders are knowl- edgeable and attentive, and once you factor in some solid drinks and a good music playl- ist, well, the rest is history. Goose Bar (new) 2905 Greenville Ave. www.goodwinsdallas.com In a year, Goodwins has become a Lower Greenville staple, like it’s always been there. Its speakeasy, Goose Bar, is easily one of Dal- las’ best-kept secrets. While technically ac- cessible through the dining room, getting there feels like a bit of a maze. Instead, slip through the exterior black door marked with a golden goose. Inside, the bar glows with warm lighting and an “if you know, you know” vibe. It’s unpretentious, but polished with a wink of humor. An overhead mural encourages you to “hang in there.” We’d love to know what kind of a day encouraged that one, but touché. This is the kind of bar you visit when you’ve graduated from your entry level job, learned to handle your liquor and come to appreciate out-of-the-box crafts- manship. Try the tart Greek Salad Martini. It’s like sipping Greek dressing, followed by a glorious buzz. Happiest Hour 2616 Olive St. 972-528-0067 www.happiesthourdallas.com Mostly we lean toward off-the-beaten-path bars, speakeasies and low-key places with quirky personalities. Happiest Hour is none of those. This is that one friend who is al- ways in your face, “You’re having a damn good time, like it or not.” It’s a great spot to pregame for anything at the American Air- lines Center, which is an easy walk. It’s trendy and busy, but well-run and worth pushing the limits of your usual social ca- pacity. Groups gather around lounge seating on the rooftop for a view. There’s a large bar downstairs, as well as tables and chairs that spread out over a lawn. Ample TVs show all the sports ball contests. Be sure to share an order of foot-long fried mozzarella sticks (it’s 5 feet of cheese). Happiest Hour is an all-weather, all-occasion, all-happy spot. Henry’s Majestic 2303 Pittman St. 469-893-9400 www.henrysmajestic.com The original Henry’s Majestic (and its secret speakeasy, Atwater Alley) was a popular res- taurant, bar and brunch spot in Uptown for 18 years until its building was sold in 2022. Early in 2024, Henry’s was reborn in West Dallas, and everything about the new venue feels like an upgrade. There’s the massive courtyard that doubles as a small concert venue, plus two restaurants — one with a kitchen and one with a bar. Henry’s offers a bit of everything: cozy indoor seating, tons of outdoor seating, fire pits, TVs, a good bar with classic and contemporary cocktails and ro- bust kitchen offerings. Hidden Door 5025 Bowser Ave. 214-526-0620 www.hiddendoor-dallas.com Those who can’t wait until the evening can get the party started early. Hidden Door, a quirky gay dive bar begins pouring drinks as early as 7 a.m. Plus, they finally started ac- Kathy Tran Partying in your grandma’s basement is the vibe at Double D’s in the Design District. cepting credit cards instead of only cash pay- ments. So grab a drink, hit the pool tables, or take the party out to the spacious lawn, where you can catch drag shows, leather daddy pag- eants and dance the night away. >> p14
