9 July 17 - 23, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents third places where identity, integrity and in- tentionality and novelty so undeniably Dal- las collide. DESIREE GUTIERREZ THE DALLAS DOZEN, RANKED hen we think about the best bars in Dallas, we like to think of the bars that make Dallas great. A mix of refined dives, classic cocktails, that unique Big D panache with a touch of sexy mystique. Here are a dozen of the best bars in Dallas, ranked. Below that, you’ll find the remaining top 100 bars in Big D. 12. Tiny Victories 604 N. Tyler St. 972-685-7055 www.wedothisandthat.com/tinyvictories This cozy cocktail den just west of the Bishop Arts District has a patio and happy hour that winks and says, “Well, hi there, neighbor.” Inside a small shrine to Bob Ross evolved randomly; a bartender just put something on one day, the next day a repeat customer asked why the famed happy little clouds painter wasn’t back on the TV. He’s been a part of the regular pro- graming since then. They’re serious about drinks, but amicably. Try something under the “classics” section, all of which are his- torical pillars of the cocktail industry, like the 1944 mai tai with rum, Cointreau and orgeat. If you want something fun, try a re- cession-proof priced House Shot made with “bad decisions.” The snug bar offers half-priced cocktails from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and all day Tuesday. It’s a great place to catch up with old friends during the week, and a place to make new ones on the weekend when the vibe gets turned up. 11. Double Wide 3510 Commerce St. 469-872-0191 www.double-wide.com When Deep Ellum starts to feel just a bit too crowded, you don’t have to look too far for an escape. The hipster honkey tonk dive bar Double Wide, all the way down on Commerce Street, offers a selection of cheap, powerful and interesting drinks that all fit in with its trailer park aesthetic. What makes this location so much different than its Greenville Avenue counterpart Single Wide is its outdoor patio with seating made from repurposed toilets and road signs. Double Wide’s music venue (which makes its width double) is located across the patio and hosts bands and DJs from an array of genres. 10. Ruins 2653 Commerce St. 972-707-0607 ruinsdeepellum.com Ruins is rooted deep in Latin culture. With original artwork hanging on the wall, an ex- quisite menu of authentic Latin American dishes and the longest list of tequilas and mezcals we’ve ever seen, Ruins is a great place to meet up with friends for some ad- venturous bites and libations. Take the La Flor No Se Marchita (the flower that doesn’t wither), which Ruins recently explained on their instagram. It’s made with Xtabentun, a Michoacán style tepache. The drink tells the story of two sisters, one a sinner the other pure; the former dies and from her burial ground flowers grew. Xtabentun is fer- mented honey from those flowers flavored with anise. The legend here, however, is the sinner who died was actually pure of heart, but just wasn’t interested in dispelling the rumors. That’s how Ruins crafts their drinks. Ruins also offers a little music venue in the back called The Limbo Room. Small though it may be, the bar has gone to great lengths to ensure that patrons get a full VIP experience with close proximity to the band and world class lighting and sound. 9. The Old Monk 2847 N Henderson Ave. 214-821-1880 www.oldmonkdallas.com The Old Monk on opened in 1998 along Henderson Avenue and has been a Dallas staple since. Generations have given this place their days, sipping dark beer through the night, followed by brunch behind big sunglasses in the morning. Their fish and chips are tops in the city. The bar has draft beers from around the world plus 50 bottles to choose from, with a few locals squeezed in. Service is impeccable the place is run like the well-oiled machine it is. Notice the pen- dants lights hanging over the bar from a monastery in Europe and other choice ac- couterments collected giving the space its authentic cozy feel. There’s now a new loca- tion along Davis Street in the Bishop Arts, which is just as fun but short on the history this place has. Two sister bars are down the street along Henderson Avenue — The Skel- lig and Spider Murphy’s — if you’re up for a European dark bar walking tour. The happy hour (weekdays 3 to 7 p.m.) is dangerous; house cocktails are just $7 each (as of July 2025). 8. Katy Trail Ice House 3127 Routh St. 214-468-0600 www.katyicehouse.com Dallas has plenty of ultra-lounges and dive bars in its watering-hole repertoire, but the city didn’t have an ice house-inspired bar to speak of. That niche is filled with this Texas-centric ice house complete with nearly 30 Texas beers on draft and Texas whiskeys. As the name suggests, the bar is located just off the Katy Trail, and since it’s relying on outdoorsy types to stay in busi- ness, it has one of the biggest, most colorful patios in town. If you need something to soak up all the Texas suds, the bar has a full menu that includes dark-beer venison chili — what else would you expect from a road- house menu? 7. Apothecary 1922 Greenville Ave. 972-850-9192 www.apothecary.bar You will miss Apothecary the first time you attempt to visit. That’s part of its charm. This self-ascribed “avant-garde cocktail lounge” is a dark respite from the over- whelming elements of life. Here the world is shuttered out, the noise turned down to a delightful whisper. The mixologists here spend months crafting the recipes for each cocktail. Every server knows the menu in- side and out and could narrate a documen- tary on each drink. The menu is seasonal and undergoes entire resets annually. In 2024, it went down the rabbit hole with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme and in 2025 it’s a jaunt through the decades. When the ‘50s were the focus, a very dirty martini along with a plate of dirty martini deviled eggs made us want to get a bouffant pixie cut. Sister-concept and neighbor Rye, was awarded the Michelin Guide Texas 2024 Exceptional Cocktails Award in 2024. They know cocktails. Find out. 6. Black Swan Saloon 1623 N. Hall St. 214-749-4848 Black Swan Saloon was the original cock- tail bar of Deep Ellum, but sadly shuttered when the pandemic hit. Then, four years later, like a dark winged beauty, it rose in East Dallas — with the same Clint East- wood velvet artwork. Happy tears were shed. The city wept. The signature house cocktails, Black Swan Classics, boilermak- ers and other spirits are back where they belong in the moody and swanky interior full of kitschy art. It’s cozy yet elegant. Servers are attentive and helpful. Dress up or wear your old Foreigner shirt, anything goes here. Try the House Freezer Martini (a hot new crush) made with Junipero Gin, Vermouth Blanc, Koji tincture and Crazy Water. 5. The Grapevine Bar 2213 Butler 214-522-8466 www.grapevinebar.com Naturally, when The Grapevine moved out of its beloved small pink adobe on Maple Avenue in 2023 there was skepticism about whether the charm could carry over. Great news: They double-bubble packed it. After about three decades, they re- opened the bar in a spot a mile from the original, and kept most of the staff who have been with the bar for a decade. They offer up a lot of outdoor space and the same seriously powerfil drinks and re- cently added a kitchen (get the boudin balls). This is Dallas’ “everyone bar.” There’s a little bit of this (basketball) and a little bit of that (karaoke), but there’s no doing coke in the bathroom (so says a sign, anyway). Kathy Tran Apothecary is an avant-garde cocktail lounge on Greenville Ave. >> p10
