21 July 18–24, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents but the pizzas are one of the most popular options. 5334 Lemmon Ave., 214-559-4424, theivytavern.com. KESSAKU: Fifty floors atop The National building in downtown sits Michelin-star chef Danny Grants’ cocktail and sushi den, Kes- saku. To find it, take the elevators to Monarch on the 49th floor, but instead of going to the restaurant, take a left into a hallway and head upstairs. You’ll find a posh cocktail lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows delivering a stunning 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. 1401 Elm St. 50th Floor, 214-239-9999, kessakurestaurants.com. THE KESSLER THEATER: The Kessler Theater, which is a Dallas icon as big as some of the legends who grace its stage, has had more iterations than Diddy’s had stage names. For the past few years, under the vision of current owner Edwin Cabaniss, it’s become a concert destination for music stars and up-and-coming locals alike. While the venue’s bar is not open independently of show dates, it’s worth praise just for the stellar drinking experience. First of all, there are two bars, and the little one upstairs has a particularly cool backstage feel; the bars are open long before show times, giv- ing patrons ample time to get their chattiness out of their systems before sitting down to enjoy a show. This is likely the explanation for the infamous viral incident a few years back when a fringe-booted woman and her friend were kicked out of a LeeAnn Womack show for refusing to stop speaking loudly during the performance: Maybe they just didn’t get there early enough to pregame and get all their obnoxious banter out of the way. 1230 W. Davis St., 214-272-8346, thekessler.org. LAKEWOOD LANDING: Lakewood Landing is the “upscale dive” Dallasites turn to for a great burger and a neighborhood bar atmosphere that you just can’t find at many places around town these days. The Landing packs a lot of character into its small space with a pool table and jukebox that is kept updated with local favorites. The bar also has a big patio area out front with plenty of seating to get some air and talk music, sports or anything with locals who know where the good times really roll. 5818 Live Oak St., 214-823-2410, lakewoodlanding.com. LEE HARVEY’S: With its throwback wood- paneled walls and old-school neon beer signs, Lee Harvey’s is the pinnacle of dive-bar excellence. A Dallas institution, this ol’ watering hole is exactly where you’d want to go to knock down a few cold ones after a long week of work. Don’t have a hot date? No problem. Bring your pup and hang out on the patio, which is one of the best that Dallas has to offer. And when you’re good and toasty, be sure to grab an order of onion rings that come with a side of to-die-for chipotle aioli. They’re straight-up more addictive than crack (not that we’ve tried crack, or anything). 1807 Gould St., 214-428-1555, leeharveys.com. LEELA’S WINE BAR: If Leela’s Wine Bar were an Airbnb host, it would definitely have super-host status. Leela’s original location on Greenville Avenue is a little bit more free-spirited than its Uptown sibling, where the mood is a touch more mature with lo-fi bass beats and dark green plush booths. At both locations, Leela’s implements a tap system, meaning every glass of wine is as the winemaker intended, not sul- lied by light or oxidation. Also, there’s much less waste. The global wine list includes a super Tuscan, a Garnacha, West Coast staples includ- ing Joel Gott and Robert Hall, plus some deeper cuts. Get one of the cracker-thin-crust pizzas, which can be made with cauliflower crust. The mushroom bechamel or Butcher loaded with meat both hit the spot. Be sure to check out the Greenville location during the holidays for a winter wonderland pop-up. Whatever you do, don’t leave without treating yourself to one of the best espresso martinis in the city. 1914 Greenville Ave., 469-778-0201, leelas.com. THE LIBERTINE BAR: This Lower Greenville staple since 2006 is known for its thoughtfully curated draught beer selection and stellar bar food, attracting both foodies and tipplers alike. Brunch on their spacious patio should certainly be on your calendar. The playlist is always great too, consisting mostly of indie rock music. Hopefully, they’ll soon be able to get back to their notorious Brass Knuckle Corn Dog Beatdown contest and paired beer dinners. 2101 Greenville Ave., 214-824-7900, libertinebar.com. THE LIBRARY BAR: The Library Bar sits on the ground floor of the Warwick Melrose Hotel in the Oak Lawn area, not far from downtown Dallas. Designated a Dallas Historic Landmark in 1983, the original apartment hotel was built in 1924. The Library Bar offers patrons a relax- ing, dimly lit piano-bar environment in a laid- back library setting — though at night, it’s far too dark in The Library Bar to read any of the books lining the shelves. The bar specializes in wines and martinis, but an old fashioned goes down great. The burgers are superior as well. It offers live music, so the library setting makes a great cozy place to unwind while sipping a well-made drink. 3015 Oak Lawn Ave., 214-224- 3144, landmarkrestodallas.com. LOUIE LOUIE’S PIANO BAR: Magic is hap- pening at Louie Louie’s Piano Bar, where acts such as Alessia Cara, Shaun Martin, Cure for Paranoia and many others grace the venue’s stage. The place is owned and operated by musicians, so you can expect a good show every time. If you hop into Louie’s on a Mon- day, the piano player for the night will likely be Ronnie Wilson, the owner of the venue. He’ll be slamming his keys, playing with other notable local musicians during his weekly Monday night jam. But it has a whole team of pianists. If keys aren’t your thing, you’ll want to hit up Louie Louie’s for the recurring artist showcase Lockjohnson’s Playground. And don’t worry about going hungry or thirsty at Louie’s. Try one of the tasty signature bowls. That’s not food. It’s literally a cocktail in a bowl meant to serve three-four people. The menu is simple but satisfying. Chips and salsa, jalapeno bottle caps and pulled pork sandwiches all go well with a night of local music at Louie Louie’s. 2605 Elm St., 214-741- 3600, louielouiespianobar.com. MIDNIGHT RAMBLER: The soundtrack at this subterranean bar at the Joule Hotel in downtown Dallas is as well crafted as the neo-classic cocktails and art-deco interior. The swanky, dimly lit gem has speakeasy vibes. But the mirrored wall behind the bar holding the shelves of liquor bathed in backlighting lets everyone know the star of the show here is the cocktail program. Have a favorite eclectic drink that’s hard to find? Try the bartenders here. Chances are they’ll serve the best one you’ve ever had. Or stick to the classics like a French 75 or an old fashion, which put this spot in its truest form. Reservations are a must if you’re going with a group of four or more. 1530 Main St., 214-261-4601, midnightramblerbar.com. MIKE’S GEMINI TWIN: The Cedars bar is often labeled a dive bar, but there’s nothing shabby about Mike’s. Sure, the name sounds like a hard lemonade drink inspired by an early 2000s girl band, but Mike’s Gemini Twin is a refreshing cross of swanky and unpretentious. The bar has pool tables and a mystery stripper pole that’s roped off and not to be used — no matter how tempting and how gifted of a pole dancer you believe yourself to be after a few glasses of Champagne. Unintentionally, the pole also serves as a perfect symbol of the bar’s delightfully contradictory ambiance. It’s no wonder it’s a magnet for scenesters. 1906 S. Hardwood St., 214-377-9356, m.facebook. com/MikesGemini. THE MITCHELL: Downtown’s glamorous gold-themed bar can be a place for a big, romantic night out, or it can be a quick place to crash after a show. The Mitchell is versatile, and that extends to the enormous liquor selection — including dozens of gins; order a martini and they’ll ask which you want — and the party-ready Champagne options. A tiny kitchen produces big, hearty cheeseburgers and French bistro food like steak frites, venison tartare and platters of fresh oysters. When The Mitchell reopened after the pandemic, it took a while to get new drink menus printed, but in the meantime, the staff here can make darn near anything, or ask to find out about their own eccentric inventions. Just don’t order vodka. They save a bottle or two for emergencies, but that’s about it. 1404 Main St., 214-971-6273, facebook.com/themitchelldallas. NEON KITTEN: 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 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 prefer- ences, 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 occa- sion, if the crowd is light, they may invite a few people from Neon Kitten back. 2805 Main St., 972-807-2308, neonkittendallas.com. THE NINES: The Lizard Lounge’s sister venue, Red Light, was reborn in 2016 as The Nines. WIth a new layout and sound, lights and video equipment, The Nines shot into the scene with a grand opening jam-packed with live music and aerial performances. What used to be a dance club for EDM-focused DJs turned into a mecca for a vast selection of live music and entertainment. A staple of the club’s event calendar is the aerial performances. This should come as no surprise considering who the owner is: Allen Falkner, a suspension artist. He’s not your run of the mill suspension artist, though. Falkner popularized the craft and is known as “the father of modern suspension.” His wife, Courtney Crave, is an international model, burlesque dancer and aerialist. Needless to say, there’s always something interesting going on at The Nines. When there’s music, you can grab a drink and some good ass tacos before you hit the dance floor. 2911 Main St., 469-458-3324, ninesbar.com. Kathy Tran Midnight Rambler lives beneath the Joule. >> p22
