17 July 17 - 23, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents connoisseurs with discriminating ears. The Exposition Avenue club is a gem that shines with its stellar booking, from reggae nights to jazz. Erykah Badu’s band is frequently found on the venue’s stage, and the Queen herself is known to bust out an impromptu performance there from time to time. On weekends especially, every inch of the space vibrates to the grooviest frequency. The eclectic, laid-back space makes it the perfect no-frills setting to see some of the city’s best. Ships Lounge 1613 Greenville Ave. 214-823-0418 www.shipslounge.com Ships is one of the oldest dives in town and it sits in between the Lower Greenville club scene and an old East Dallas neigh- borhood. Visiting Ships on any evening of- fers a one-of-a-kind look into what happens when the two worlds collide. On one end of the bar, you’ll see folks who’ve been regulars since the bar opened some 50 years ago. And, just a few seats down, you’ll usually see musicians and artists mixed in with people trying to catch a game on TV. The older regulars like to keep the place quiet, and they enforce a strict no-cussing policy. So be prepared to use your inside voices-or at least keep it to a dull roar. Ships has all the charm of an old-school neighborhood dive, but the people you’ll rub elbows with there make the place such an interesting bar. Single Wide 2110 Greenville Ave. 214-824-5588 singlewidebar.com Single Wide is a small bar. Like, really small. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in hos- pitality. Single Wide offers the same special drinks under the same trailer park aesthetic its Deep Ellum counterpart Double Wide is known for, but Single Wide stands out with its own undying spirit in spite of the constant changes taking place in Lowest Greenville. Spider Murphy’s 2810 N. Henderson Ave. 469-779-7658 www.spidermurphyspub.com This Irish pub owned by Dublin-native Feargal McKinney opened in 2021 but al- ready has an old soul feel. Dark, heavy, wooden furniture and old-world accoutre- ments provide cozy niches for couples or small groups. The main seating area con- nects to a covered deck with picnic tables for an open-air, big-city energy. It serves classic bar food with a sprinkling of Tex-Mex and a few vegan offerings. McKinney even brought over a few menu favorites from his other spot, The Old Monk. Whoever picks the soundtrack here deserves a gold star; we need more ‘80s rock. The beer menu in- cludes imports, — Paulaner Hefeweizen, Hoegaarden — and local beers such as Lake- wood Temptress. St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin 2730 Commerce St. 214-698-1511 stpetesdancingmarlin.com This Deep Ellum landmark has held steady as the scene around it ebbs and flows for more than 20 years now. St. Pete’s straddles the line between a restaurant with a reliably high-caliber kitchen and a bar where any- one can grab a stool and a beer. At the end of the day, every neighborhood needs a spot like this. The expansive outdoor courtyard is great for people-watching. If you’re looking for a place to become regular, the bar at St. Pete’s has a golden real estate opportunity for you. Stan’s Blue Note 2908 Greenville Ave. 214-827-1977 www.stansbluenote.com Sports, sports and more sports await you at Stan’s Blue Note. This little Lower Green- ville dive bar is a great place to catch foot- ball, hockey, basketball and any other sporting event you can imagine. Watch the game on multiple screens from the comfort of multiple barstools or soft couches. Plus, games like table shuffleboard and foosball are fun ways to pass the time during off sea- son. Drinks are fairly cheap, so with pitchers of beer, you can celebrate your team’s vic- tory. Or mourn another Cowboys loss. Whichever. Strangeways 2429 N. Fitzhugh Ave. 214-823-7800 strangewaysdallas.com A Yelp reviewer’s complaint about this place is exactly what makes it so endearing to its fans. He was miffed because the “non- recognized music is not able to be changed.” Exactly. One of the best craft beer bars around, Strangeways is an off- beat East Dallas neighborhood pub with a great patio. The eclectic wall art, vibe, con- versation, music and whatever else is spe- cifically not designed to appeal to the masses. You just either dig it or you don’t. Most do. Keep an eye out for flight nights and pop-up dinners. And their bar food is some of the best around. Sue Ellen’s 3014 Throckmorton St. 214-559-0708 sueellensdallas.com Since 1989, Sue Ellen’s has been a staple in Dallas lesbian nightlife where everyone is welcome. It used the pandemic hiatus to upgrade, update and polish everything. When it finally reopened, a crowd poured onto the sidewalk waiting to get inside. Keep an eye out for its schedule for their regular events and live music, but regulars, rest assured, karaoke on Thursdays is back. Sundown at Granada 3520 Greenville Ave. 214-823-8305 www.sundowndfw.com The Granada Theater on Greenville Avenue has a younger sister next door that’s just as worthy of recognition. OK, Marcia? With a rooftop patio, a covered patio and yet another outdoor heated patio, it’s the perfect spot for gathering outdoors, while the perfectly dim indoor space holds a stage that’s a frequent spot for local and touring acts. The bar staff is efficient and friendly, and the food is restau- rant-quality, so whatever your evening plans, it’s a solid one-stop choice. While Sundown is a particularly great hangout spot to keep the party going after taking in a show next door, it’s a destination all on its own. The Balcony Club 1825 Abrams Parkway 214-826-8104 www.balconyclubdallas.com Few places are left where you can truly feel like you’re in a bygone era, but the Balcony Club feeds that fantasy convincingly. The landmark jazz club on the second floor next to the old Lakewood Theater is a go-to spot for aspiring old-timers, no matter their age. The intimate space and dimly lit ambi- ance scream “date night,” as there’s only room for a cheek-to-cheek dancing, making The Balcony a great choice to take that per- son you’re trying to get to know much, much better. The Branca Room 24 W. Seventh St. 469-906-6098 www.thebrancaroom.com Lying out of sight, The Branca Room is a speakeasy of sorts behind Chimichurri Bis- tro in the heart of the Bishop Arts District. To find it, slip down the alley just west of Eno’s and look for the red light hanging above the unmarked door. It’s self-described as a ceremonious atmosphere honoring the Argentine culture and its rich Italian influ- ence. Inside is lit by crystal chandeliers, showing off Argentinian art and posters. Or- der anything with Amaro or vermouth. An Amaro Transfusion has house-made ver- mouth, port, jasmine liqueur and rye, served in an IV bag. The Dallasite 4822 Bryan St. 214-826-3670 www.dallasiteclub.com The place has an old-school, cash-only cig- arette machine by the restrooms. We were destined to love Dallasite the moment we laid eyes on that beauty. Dallasite is the di- viest of dives — the ultimate leave-your- pretentiousness-at-the-door watering hole. There’s a spacious patio out front, solid bar grub, pool tables, shuffleboard and darts. The bartenders are cool as hell and as well- versed in the bartending game as anyone around. And the amaretto sour is one of the best we’ve had anywhere. The Dubliner 2818 Greenville Ave. 214-818-0911 www.dallasdubliner.com While this little bar may be tiny, the heart of it all is unmatched. The Dubliner, Dal- las’ longest running Irish pub, offers a stacked selection of Irish beers, whiskeys, and spirits. So make a new friend at the long wooden bar, shoot some darts, and rock out to some tunes, because you’ll want to stay for hours at this cozy little haunt. The beer certainly reflects the Em- erald Isle influences, on tap are Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s, Newcastle and a rotat- ing selection of featured beer. The bottles are heavy on the Irish and UK suds with some domestic and international brews, whiskey and other spirits rounding out the menu. The food is decidedly American bar grub, mostly sandwiches. The closest the menu gets to the other side of the pond is a spiced Welsh rarebit of cheddar, Smithwick’s Ale, worcestershire sauce, to- matoes, scallions and bacon. Whether you stop by for a pint or a nosh you’ll be kept warm by the crackling fireplace inside in the winter or cooled down while chatting up new friends on the air-conditioned pa- tio in the summer. The Goat 7248 Gaston Ave. 214-327-8119 thegoatdallas.com There are so many places with “blues” in their names that look nothing like the music they proclaim to celebrate. No self-respecting blues establishment should be brighter than your average live K-pop experience. We’re not saying the place should look like a toxic waste site. It just needs a little weathering and history to fuel the soul of the blues music that blares out of its windows. This Gaston Avenue club bleeds blues the way Kathy Tran Strangeways is an offbeat East Dallas neighborhood pub. >> p18
