17 July 18–24, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents patio out front is nice to watch all the do- ings on the street when the weather is be- ing decent. Inwood Tavern 7717 Inwood Road This iconic Park Cities drinking den, which celebrates its 60th birthday this year, is an institution. The old-school, unpretentious atmosphere attracts folks from all walks of life, from local Highland Park day traders to a Master’s jacket-donning Scotty Schef- fler to regular Joes like us who just want to belly up to the bar for a cold one. Inwood Tavern beer taps represent a lot of local brewers to go with 18 vodkas, 18 tequilas and 33 whiskeys and scotches. If you need a cure that only a stiff drink will fix, Inwood Tavern has the answers for what ails you. There’s also a great porch and daily happy hour specials. LadyLove Lounge & Sound 310 W. Seventh St. Lying low on a near-hidden corner of Bishop Arts gives LadyLove the allure of a speak- easy, but there’s no prohibition at this inclu- sive space. The bar’s music is loud enough to dance to but not loud enough to drown your conversation, giving you the perfect option to sit down with your date or dancing to the sounds provided by the likes of DJ Sober (who spins every Wednesday) or Christy Ray. The red-dimmed-light lounge also has themed nights, and a patio that invites spon- taneous convos with strangers. House cock- tails include a Rude Boy with tequila, dry vermouth, aloe-peno syrup, lime and salt. Beers start at $5 and include some local op- tions. It’s where velvet meets leather, and where you’ll meet new friends to dance into the night. Mayer’s Garden 2422 N. Henderson Ave. In the late 1800s, Mayer’s Garden on Elm Street was a self-described “early pleasure resort of Dallas” that offered live animals, live music and beer that flowed seven days a week. We’re not sure about all that, but today, a new Mayer’s Garden lives on Hen- derson Avenue, and while it may not have live animals, it makes up for that with im- pressive cocktails and tasty food bites, wrapped in an indoor-outdoor space that’s lively and inviting. A solid list of Texas- centric beers is on tap so you can catch a game on TV or kick back for some hangs with your friends. Service at the bar is al- ways excellent — we’re partial to places that get that first drink with a smidge of haste. Meyboom Brasserie 2100 Greenville Ave. In 2023, Lower Greenville’s Belgian-influ- enced Meyboom Brasserie made its entry into our annual Best of Dallas list thanks to a stellar espresso martini that, quite frankly, blew us away. But Meyboom’s espresso martini is no outlier. The Mey- boom team, guided by owners April Sego- via and Jeff Karetnick, has set a high bar in all aspects of their operation. From the standout bar bites (like fried Dutch goat cheese balls made with Gigi’s Honey and drizzled with a cherry reduction made with Lindeman’s lambic beer) to the cozy, classy vibe to the top-shelf drink menu of meticulously crafted cocktails, wine and old-world brews, Meyboom Brasserie is an elite choice to grab some drinks and bites when cruising the bustling neighbor- hood of Lower Greenville. Saint Valentine 4800 Bryan St. This new bar in East Dallas has an old soul. From two experienced barkeeps — original mixologist Gabe Sanchez and Ryan Payne — this is a slinky black dress with an attitude of indifference. Sip a cocktail like the Big Booty Trudy or order a boilermaker from the Churched Up beer section of the menu. The bar food is obnoxiously good. Tinned fish with toast and stone ground mustard are Lunchables for adults. Pair furikake fries with a mai tai. Keep an eye out for specials like dollar wings on Wednesday. We should have just led with dollar wings, huh? Sidecar Social 5100 Belt Line Road, Addison While some bars are cozy and chill, Sidecar Social is anything but. It’s almost preposter- ously large, sprawling almost 20,000 square feet. The main bar is flanked on three sides by 18-foot televisions to catch the game. And instead of sitting around, Sidecar Social en- courages friendly competition, with tradi- tional bar games such as pingpong, darts and shuffleboard, as well as more communal games like bocce ball and foosball, set up on a large table for eight competitors. It’s all free to play. Add a menu replete with deli- cious cocktails and chef-driven takes on bar classics, and it’s easy to see why Sidecar So- cial has become a destination. Surf Camp 2130 Commerce St., Third Floor Surf Camp is Nick Badovinus’ rooftop bar and restaurant in the East Quarter, perched above National Anthem and Brass Ram. Self-described as a “rooftop refreshments and fair-weather snack bar,” Surf Camp de- livers on those promises from start to finish. The cocktails lean heavily on tropical motifs, all the beer comes in cans, and there are light snacks and burgers that complete the theme. Whatever your mood, you may be in is instantly eased by fresh air and an adult beverage, where the fun is included free of charge. Since this bar is outdoors only, it’s closed when the weather is indecent, so check out its website — surfcamptx.com — before heading over. Tina’s Continental 3309 Elm St. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Deep Ellum, Tina’s Continental is an intimate cocktail lounge that we can’t help but adore. Inside the historic Continen- tal Gin Building, the tiny bar is cozy and in- viting, with booths and chairs upholstered in leather the tone of butternut squash that pops against the navy walls. The lighting is subdued and flawless. And the cocktail game is exquisite; there are 448 different ways to prepare your martini, ensuring that the version you order is perfectly suited to your tastes. Wriggly Tin 1906 S. Haskell Ave. Owner and brewmaster Aaron Garcia leads the Small Beer Works team behind the stel- lar brews, cocktails and mocktails at Fair Park’s Wriggly Tin. Immerse yourself in some good ole day drinking at Wriggly Tin with a host of stellar house drink options: The Black Pepper Pils (an airy pilsner of black peppercorn, coriander and orange peel), Ojo Moro (a smooth dark lager with tones of coffee and nutty caramel cookies), shandy (beer and prickly pear lemonade), spicy mezcal margarita and, perhaps, the showstopper of them all, the Pink Cadillac Margarita. The retrofuturist Marfa-esque vibe and expansive (and shaded) dog- friendly patio make it a perfect summer drinking hideaway. When hunger strikes, check out the artisan pizzas. The Rest of the Best ADAIR’S SALOON: Adair’s Saloon is Deep Ellum’s outpost for what truly makes country music country. With frequent guest musicians representing the best of outlaw country from North Texas and around the nation, Adair’s boasts a honky tonk vibe in a dive bar atmo- sphere. The kitchen is open until 1:30 a.m. nightly offering some of the best bar burg- ers, sandwiches and wings for a surprisingly reasonable price. Be sure to grab a pen and leave your mark on the wall. Some may call it graffiti, but the good folks at Adair’s call it art. 2624 Commerce St., 214-939-9900, adairssaloon.com. ALAMO CLUB: The Alamo Club feels like it’s always been a part of Lower Greenville despite having opened in 2019. Owner Austin Rogers can often be found running food, taking orders and sometimes bussing tables at the classy Dallas club. The Alamo Club is billed as a cozy spot fit for any occasion, a quiet date night, an outing with the family or drinks with friends. To make sure patrons don’t go hungry, Rogers enlisted the help of English chef Michale West. The menu is filled with mouth-watering apps for the table and entrees like the Club Cheese Burger and the pot roast pappardelle. 1919 Greenville Ave., 469-399-7600, alamoclub- dallas.com. ALEXANDRE’S: If you’re in the mood for drinks but don’t want to get wasted on vodka-crans, Alexandre’s is your spot. The long bar, comfort- able seating and small stage give Alexandre’s the intimate feel of a speakeasy or jazz lounge. Plus, the knowledgeable team can whip up delicious craft cocktails such as mint Chris Wolfgang Sidecar Social is a sprawling sports bar. Lauren Drewes Daniels Surf Camp offers beach vibes on a roof. Christopher Durbin Saint Valentine is a new bar in East Dallas offering good food and cocktails. >> p18