While this sports bar has been around for 34 years, longtime barkeep Aaron Saginaw took over ownership in 2015 and has kept one of Dallas’ best dive cranking. It’s got a great patio, cold beer, some of the best southern hospitality, and if you’re a cocktail drinker, don’t hesitate to grab an old fashioned or Manhattan.

Great patio, delicious burgers, substantial whiskey selection, and one of the best beer programs in the city: it is the quintessential neighborhood bar. Whether it’s sipping Montucky Cold Snacks or frozen drink of the day on the laid back patio or knocking back some Rollertown Big Germans while cheering on the Mavericks with the rest of the neighborhood, Goodfriend is a great place.

Originally in Uptown, Bodega is now a permanent fixture in the lives of East Dallas wine lovers. Try the weekly “Cult Wines” flight, which could feature anything from a 2013 La Magia Ciliegio Brunello to a 2018 Plumpjack Oakville Old Vine Estate Cabernet. If it’s a Netflix and Chill kind of night, all bottles are available to go. 

From the team at next door restaurant Rye, Apothecary has cemented its place in the Dallas cocktail scene for having one of the most innovative and creative programs in town. Duck confit washed bourbon and cocktails served with an octopus tentacle, pyrolyzed elderflower, or even pasta sauce make for an adventurous date night.

Ever since Trader Vics went away, Dallas has been in desperate need of a quality Tiki bar. Island vibes and over-the-top cocktails make Swizzle a delightful place to begin or end your evening on Lower Greenville. Try the Martiki Swizzle 2.0, an overproof rum cocktail with pineapple, lime, and rock candy syrup, and the Pupu platter loaded with Lechon Kawali pork skewers, crab rangoon, and pork lumpia. 

This spot has a massive patio with TVs and picnic tables as far as the eye can see. Great bar food and hospitality make this courtyard a perfect place to watch a game or sit outside and enjoy the weather. On draft, find a delicious rye whiskey bramble and a spicy pineapple margarita made for patio pounding. Grab a blueberry lemonade boozy pop while you’re at it. Coming in large groups and bringing your dog are both highly encouraged. 

Graffiti-filled walls and live honky tonk say you know that this bar is unlike any other in downtown Dallas. One of the oldest bars in Deep Ellum, Adair’s has always been known for its live music, incredible burgers, and pitchers handed out like sips from a communion tray. Don’t try to get fancy. Order a pitcher of Shiner Bock and enjoy the band when you come here. It’s the spot for visiting friends who want to see “Texas.”

Whiskeys is a Black-owned whiskey bar with one of the most thorough selections in North Texas. White dudes typically dominate whiskey. Whiskeys are creating a new audience for the spirit by educating patrons and serving rare bottles. And yes, Pappy is in stock.

On the 10th floor of the stunning Thompson Hotel, this is the epitome of Dallas glam. Enchanting Art Deco decor on a vast patio with simple and perfectly executed cocktails. Its signature drink is the Catbird, with tequila, Campari, lime, and grapefruit foam. Upscale vibes and a food menu from Jeramie Robison (formerly of The Mansion, Uchi, and the Adolphus) make this one of Dallas’ hottest spots.

Host to one of the best cocktail menus in the country, the Rambler has racked up “best American hotel bar” awards year after year. Look for the Pineapple Get Down for a pineapple upside down cake in a glass or Peach Old Fashioned, featuring bourbon house infused with Texas peaches. 

Besides the big ass TV screen, Jaxon is the crown jewel of the AT&T Discovery District and is on the short list of places you have to bring your visiting relatives for some killer barbecue and the best frozen margaritas in Texas. Make sure to try a Mangonadas, a mango and chamoy (a sour, spicy paste) slushie. Jaxon has 40 beers on tap, mainly from Texas, including the Turning Point Quencher and incredible Texas whiskey selection.