15 July 30 - August 5, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents July 30–August 5, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER | CONTENTS | UNFAIR PARK | SCHUTZE | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | MOVIES | DISH | MUSIC | CLASSIFIED | you’re feeling rebellious, try the Bad Deci- sions, a house shot made with strawberry, vodka, and lemon. All cocktails are half price from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday and all day Tuesday, adding up to the perfect place to take your friends – or fly solo and plan to make a few more. TWILITE LOUNGE 2640 Elm St. As you walk down Elm Street in Deep El- lum, you’ll pass a heavy black door and red shaded windows. This is the Twilite Lounge, and it is known for its incredible, seasoned bar staff who know their way around a good cocktail. Known also for its frequent free live shows that might get a lit- tle loud for folks there to unwind, Twilight Lounge also has a cozy little patio area out back with plenty of table seating where guests can chat away into the night. GOOD SPORTS Dallas is clearly a sports city, and we’ve got the sports bars to prove it. CHRISTIES SPORTS BAR AND GRILL 2817 Greenville Ave. When the soup of the day is “mimosas” and sangrias come in towers, you know you’ve found home — not to mention the spicy and tropical F*** It Bucket. This longtime fave moved from Uptown to Greenville Avenue in ‘21, and the updated digs now include a larger outdoor space. Plus, every seat inside, out- side, and on the roof has views of TVs, so it’s a great option for catching local, national, and international sports games with the whole gang. STAN’S BLUE NOTE 2908 Greenville Ave. Sports, sports and more sports await you at Stan’s Blue Note. This Lower Greenville “sports 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. The bar has recently gotten a fresh makeover, including another pool table. They have the best vending machines in the state. Drinks are fairly cheap, so you can eas- ily celebrate your team’s victory. Or mourn another Cowboys loss. Whichever. MILO BUTTERFINGER’S 5645 SMU Blvd. Milo Butterfinger’s changed ownership a couple of years back and got a proper facelift. We’re not sure what was involved or even if we want to know, but damn, it looks fantastic. The place draws a mix of SMU students, neighborhood regulars, and old-timers. It’s perpetually in a good mood; either out on the giant patio, in one of the big booths, at a pool table, or by the cozy fireplace. Bottom line? It’s a great place to watch sports, hang with your pals, or meet a special new friend (wink, wink). Oh, and it’s also a steal, between the $10 weekday lunch specials, daily drink specials, and happy hour that includes $3.75 domestic beers. THOMAS AVENUE BEVERAGE CO. (TABC) 2901 Thomas Ave. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Eddie “Lucky” Campbell knows a thing or two about bars. The long-time Dallas bar- keep, who also owns the Standard Pour and Parliament, has created a space at TABC that is smart and stylish, but not arrogant. Inside is dark and cozy; the big patio is airy, sporty and dog-friendly. Happy hour runs from 4–7 p.m. seven (SEV-EN!) days a week with clas- sic cocktails priced below embarrassingly cheap, which we honestly can’t say enough good things about. The food menu is tight and hits above its weight: specials like spin- ach and poblano alfredo, or shrimp and sau- sage bucatini are made from scratch. GUEST STARS Where to bring your out-of-town guests. ARCHIVE AND ALCHEMY 1922 Greenville Ave. The jewel of a bar formerly known as Apoth- ecary recently expanded into the neighbor- ing former home of Rye, becoming a two-room cocktail experience called Archive and Alchemy. The Rye team remains at the helm, flexing the same strength that earned the Michelin Guide Texas Exceptional Cock- tails Award in 2024. Following this transfor- mation, guests may choose their room upon arrival, though everyone is encouraged to ex- plore both sides throughout the night. On the Archive side, find a more approachable vibe with drinks from Apothe- cary’s original “Over the Counter” section like the Rob Roy and Soft Serve Margarita. Alchemy, by contrast, is the more experimental, more playful of the two, serving many inventive “Illicit Elix- irs.” Uniting the pair is a food menu that can be ordered from either side, with more nods to old favorites like the Icelandic hot dog and the sauerkraut cake. AYAHUASCA CANTINA 334 Jefferson Blvd. Possibly the most difficult-to-find bar in Dallas, in order to locate Ayahuasca, you’ll enter Xamán Café, then head down a back hallway to a wooden door. Step inside for a truly captivating experience. Every bottle of booze is sourced from Mexico; the cock- tail menu is designed to represent eras in Mexico’s history, from Prehispanico through the Revolution to modern times. Within the Independencia section, for ex- ample, you’ll find the namesake Ayahuasca made with tepache (pineapple), mezcal, and ginger. After your thirst is quenched, indulge your palate with a menu influenced by Oaxaca and steeped in authenticity, from Chicharrones to Lengua con Adobo Guiso. Fear not if you’re unfamiliar with the fare; servers are happy to be your guide. BOWEN HOUSE 2614 Boll St. In the Victorian-era landmark Ahab-Bowen House, you can brush with a bit of local his- tory while you kick back a few cold cock- tails. Conveniently located in uptown Dallas, this bar’s vintage decor nods to a by- gone era, while the drink menu tends to- ward the upscale. There’s a classy wine list and an assortment of beers in draft, bottles, and cans, and the signature cocktails are sexy like a forbidden literary love affair. For example, La Ofrenda layers roasted tomatil- lo-infused mezcal with citrus liqueur, fire- water bitters, and avocado oil. BOXCAR 4509 Greenville Ave. This tiny space is fashioned to look like an old-timey luxury passenger train car. In- stead of actual windows, TVs synced to passing landscapes line the walls. Elegant and mysterious, the only thing it needs to complete the illusion is a little tremor to shake the crystals hanging from the chande- lier. But it’s not all show; the drinks are just as captivating. Start with the Magic Potion, with a single-word description: clarified. We can’t recall exactly what was in ours (it changes), but we had two. We can also vouch for the Thief in the Night with pista- chio-infused gin, lemon, and melon liqueur, topped with egg white froth. Elevated bites, like the jalapeno cheddar corn dog, are a treat. Oh, and absolutely be sure to visit the bathrooms. KATY TRAIL ICE HOUSE 3127 Routh St. With plenty of ultra-lounges and cocktail bars in our watering-hole repertoire, our city’s ice house-inspired niche is filled with this Texas-centric spot. Complete with nearly 30 Texas beers on draft and Texas whiskeys, to boot, it’s located just off the Katy Trail for an easy pop-in after your workout. And, since it’s relying on out- doorsy types to stay in business, it has one of the biggest, most colorful patios in town. Need to protein-up as you cool down? The bar has a full menu that includes burgers, brats, and dogs, plus don’t sleep on the dark- beer venison chili. LEE HARVEY’S 1807 Gould St. This dive, named for one of the most infa- mous figures in our city’s history, sports throwback wood-paneled walls, pool tables, and old-school neon signs. A Dallas institu- tion, Lee Harvey’s is exactly where you’d want to go to knock down a few cold ones with the gang. No friends? No problem. Bring your four-legged bestie and hang out on the patio, which is one of the best in town. And when you’re good and toasty, be sure to grab an or- der of onion rings with chipotle aioli. They’re straight-up more addictive than crack (not that we’ve tried crack, or anything). MIDNIGHT RAMBLER 1530 Main St. The soundtrack and Art Deco decor at this subterranean bar inside the Joule Hotel drip with style, but the cocktails are the main event. Just catch a glimpse in the mirrored wall behind the bar reflecting shelves of li- quor bathed in backlighting, and you’ll have no doubt that 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, which puts this spot in its truest form. Reservations are a must if you’re going with a group of four or more. ROUND-UP SALOON 3912 Cedar Springs Road One of the most legendary gay bars in town, the Round-Up Saloon is a big ‘un, boasting several rooms, multiple bars, a two-story outdoor patio, and giant hardwood dance floor. The space is saturated in a western theme, including several large, framed pho- tos of strapping cowboys doing cowboy-type things. Along with karaoke, trivia, and drag shows, the bar hosts dance lessons every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday night, with a promise: “If you don’t have a dance part- ner, we’ll find you one.” For sure, this friendly bar ensures everyone feels welcome – gay, straight, and transgender folks alike. Even Lady Gaga made an appearance at the Round-Up Saloon after her “Born This Way” tour, as an act of support for the gay community. Thomas Avenue Beverage Co. (TABC) B A R S T O P Photo by Alison McLean
