14 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 | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | MOVIES | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | SCHUTZE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS | meets leather, and where you’ll meet new friends to dance into the night. THE PEAK INN 132 N. Peak St. When Joe Morales opened this bar in No- vember 2019, he called it his “retirement bar,” as in the kind of place he wants to find a stool to call home later down the road. Many locals and regulars are already doing that. The juke- box has a cultured range from Lizzo to Jerry Jeff Walker, the weekday happy hour lasts until 10 p.m., and the kitchen stays open to 1:30 a.m. every night. In fact, the bar food here is superior; you might not find a better late-night burger in this city. Specifically, the Lil’ Kahuna burger with a house-made Thou- sand Island dressing is a critic favorite. The vibe, strong drinks and food also make it a big draw for local service industry workers after they get off their shifts. SINGLE WIDE 2110 Greenville Ave. Single Wide is a small bar. Like, really small. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in hospitality. Single Wide offers the same spe- cial drinks under the same trailer park aes- thetic 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. WHISKEYS 835 Exposition Ave. Tucked away in Exposition Park is one of Dallas’ finest hidden gems. Whiskeys rep- resents a sophisticated oasis within an al- most-forgotten strip of Dallas real estate. Co-owner Sean Smith and the team take to heart the curation of roughly 700 unique top-shelf whiskeys and bourbons, fit for for- tified aficionados and beginners alike. Among the many things that make the place pop, including the sultry interior and the soulful sounds pumping from the speakers, are the curated whiskey flights. Try the homage to the originator of the Jack Dan- iel’s whiskey brand, Uncle Nearest Green. DOWN TO CHILL The Dallas bars that are always up (or down) for whatever you have in mind. ARMOURY D.E. 2714 Elm St. When Armoury D.E. opened its doors in 2015, its mission was to offer some of the best cocktails, Hungarian-accented food, and live music Deep Ellum had seen in years. We’d say “mission accomplished,” and add extra credit for the dark-and-sultry atmosphere. In addition to a wide selection of beers, there’s also an array of boilermaker variations and creative cocktails. Looking to cast a spell? Try the High Priestess, a seductive mix of tequila, lime, chile agave, and Strega, a.k.a. “witch” li- queur. Venture out back to catch one of the free live shows, curated with a music taste as refined as the bar’s choice in booze. ALEXANDRE’S 4026 Cedar Springs Road A long bar, comfortable seating, and a small cabaret-style stage give Alexandre’s the inti- mate feel of a speakeasy or jazz lounge. Plus, the knowledgeable team can whip up deli- cious craft cocktails such as icy mint juleps, pisco sours, and sidecars. On weekends, Al- exandre’s showcases live performances from local talent, and don’t miss $20 steak nights every Wednesday. BLACK SWAN SALOON 1623 N. Hall St. Black Swan Saloon was the original cocktail bar of Deep Ellum, but sadly shut- tered in the wake of the pandemic. Four years later, like a dark- winged beauty, it rose again in East Dallas – with the same Clint Eastwood velvet artwork. The city wept for joy, and returned to sip- ping Black Swan Classics, boiler- makers and House Freezer Martinis among the moody, swanky decor. Servers are atten- tive and helpful. Dress up or wear your old Foreigner shirt; anything goes here. COLD BEER CO. 3600 Main St. Cold Beer Co. is a low-key beer garden on the east end of Deep El- lum – east enough that East Dallas gets split custody. The bartenders are attentive and knowledgeable, and the local beer selection is be- yond wide: 24 taps with 36 more options in cans, some that rotate seasonally. And, perhaps the great- est beer sidekick since your college roommate, CBC has a grilled pi- mento cheese sandwich. The large outdoor areas are all worked over with either heaters or misters and fans, depending on the time of year. Oh, and if you don’t like beer, well, first we can’t be friends. Second, CBC also has a limited but interesting cocktail menu, including the Texas Pecan Old Fashioned. THE DUBLINER IRISH PUB 2818 Greenville Ave. While this little bar may be tiny, the heart of it all is unmatched. The Dubliner, Dallas’ longest-running Irish pub, offers a stacked selection of Irish beers, whiskeys, and spir- its. 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 Emerald Isle influences; on tap are Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s, Newcastle and a rotating selection of featured beer. Whether you stop by for a pint or a nosh, you’ll be kept warm by the crackling fire- place inside in the winter or cooled down while chatting up new friends on the air-conditioned patio in the summer. HIDDEN DOOR 5025 Bowser Ave. Feel free to get the party started early at Hidden Door; this quirky gay dive bar begins pouring drinks as early as 7 a.m. They finally started accepting credit cards instead of only cash payments, too, so grab a drink, hit the pool tables or take the party out to the spacious lawn. Added attractions include drag shows, leather daddy pageants, and all-night dancing. Plus, with over $2 million donated to local LGBTQ+ organizations, all the fun here also gives back to the community. THE LIBERTINE BAR 2101 Greenville Ave. This Lower Greenville staple’s been around since 2006, owing largely to its thoughtfully curated draught beer selection and stellar bar food. Brunch on the spacious patio is perfect for a date (or the morning after). The playlist is always great too, consisting mostly of indie rock music. For a group hang, check out Wednesday and Thursday trivia, or just pop in on Tuesday to snag a steak (or burger) and a cocktail for just $20. OLD MONK 2847 N. Henderson Ave. Don’t let the name fool ya; the Monk’s hardly a chaste role model. Opened in 1998, it’s seen generations of bustling, beer- soaked nights, followed by brunch behind big sunglasses in the morning. The bar boasts draft beers from around the world, plus 50 bottles to choose from, the service is impeccable, and the fish and chips are tops in the city. Add in the authentic cozy feel, complete with pendant lights from a mon- astery in Europe, and it’s the perfect hide- away any day of the week. There’s now a second location along Davis Street in the Bishop Arts, as well as sister bars down the street along Henderson Avenue: The Skellig and Spider Murphy’s. PARLIAMENT 2418 Allen St. Brought to us by Dallas’ drink king Eddie “Lucky” Campbell, stepping inside this State-Thomas hideaway is like traveling back in time to the barrooms and clubs of the early 1900s. Parliament offers a sophisticated selection of craft cocktails, like the Smoking Gun, a bad boy’s take on the Old Fashioned finished with cherry- wood smoke. STRANGEWAYS 2429 N. Fitzhugh Ave. A Yelp reviewer’s complaint about this place is exactly what makes it so endear- ing to its fans. He was miffed be- cause 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, conversation, music and whatever else is specifically not designed to appeal to the masses. You just either dig it or you don’t. Keep an eye out for flight nights and pop-up dinners. And their bar food is some of the best around. ST. PETE’S DANCING MARLIN 2730 Commerce St. This Deep Ellum landmark has held steady while the surround- ing scene 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 anyone 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 peo- ple-watching. If you’re looking for a place to become regular, the bar at St. Pete’s has a golden real estate op- portunity for you. SUE ELLEN’S 3014 Throckmorton St. Open since 1989, Sue Ellen’s is Texas’s oldest lesbian bar and a staple in Dallas nightlife. Following a pandemic-era glow-up, the par- ty’s back every night (except Monday) on multiple levels and across a giant dance floor. Don’t miss Tuesday karaoke, weekly drag shows, and theme nights ranging from musical parodies (Little Shop of Whorers) to Sleazy Sue’s burlesque. And, no matter what’s on deck, everyone’s always welcome at Sue’s. TINY VICTORIES 604 N. Tyler St. This tiny cocktail den (as the name suggests) occupies just 1,000 square feet to the west of the Bishop Arts District. The patio and happy hour wink and say, “Well, hi there, neighbor.” Treat yourself to something un- der the “classics” section, all of which are historical pillars of the cocktail industry. The 1895 Old Fashioned is a sure thing, or if Black Swan Saloon Photo by Alison McLean Top 50 Bars from p12
