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Order up a Prohibition-era cocktail at the Wilfred in Plano.
The Wilfred

The 11 Hottest New Cocktail Bars in DFW Right Now

Where to sip the city’s best drinks, from high- to lowbrow

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Order up a Prohibition-era cocktail at the Wilfred in Plano.
| The Wilfred

Patio season is upon us, and it’s time for a fresh update of the Eater Dallas Cocktail Heatmap. These buzzy cocktail bars offer the perfect answer to the question, "Where should I drink tonight?"

Whether in search of a complex sip mixed by one of Dallas's finest bartenders or something impossibly drinkable, this guide to the city’s hottest cocktail spots will help you get it done when its time to wet your whistle.

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Armor Brewing Co

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Up in Allen, Mike and Jenn Todryk, who hosts the HGTV show No Demo Reno, opened up a spot that serves craft beers brewed and canned on-site — several of which are award winners. Head here to try a smoked porter, Gary Golden Ale (named after tehir golden retriever Gary), No Joy IPA, a blood orange-flavored Fruited Goose, and many more. 

The Wilfred

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Next to the Sea Breeze Fish Market and Grill in Plano, this speakeasy has tin ceilings and gorgeous cocktails, and you’ll need the password to get in. It may be Plano’s most luxe bar and possibly its most customized as well. The menu is inspired by Prohibition-era cocktails, with a solid wine list and small bites available.

Regines Lounge

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Spend an evening in a sea of deep greens and golden yellow decor, with plates of sushi, dim sum, and clever cocktails. Order a Lucky You-Zu with gin, Aperol, strawberry verbena, yuzu, and salted vanilla foam. Or perhaps a Temple of Doom with rum, creme de banana, toasted sesame, and pineapple. Dress sharp and prepare to be serenaded by weekly performers. 

Babou’s

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This intimate nightclub inside the Hotel Swexan has something for both types of partiers. Enter through the Library, which is refined with lots of seating and samurai art hanging on the walls. Or pass through the next set of doors to Babou’s, named for Dali’s ocelot, for dancing and wildness all night.

Wriggly Tin

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Looking for a great patio or a family-friendly spot to have a few drinks? This South Dallas spot is it. There are pre-made batch cocktails that hit on the basics (margarita, old fashioned, and a twist on a vodka soda using coconut water) and some clever, original options. It also serves Small Beer Works beers and has a smattering of beer mixes that combine with prickly pear lemonade and grapefruit soda for a smooth drink. And the kitchen has bar basics, including pizza and sandwiches. 

Yes, this is a lunch spot with great sandwiches, but it’s also got a mean aperitivo hour in the evenings from 3 to 7 p.m. Stop in for sharable plates, glasses of natural wine, local and specialty beers, and batch cocktails. 

Surf Camp

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Get to Surf Camp while it is there — this rooftop spot from Nick Badovinus is only around for a year, and whether or not it is open is weather-dependent. On a nice day, pop in for a frozen daiquiri or a frose (just a few among the long menu of frozen drinks), cans of craft beer or Peticolas on draft, and a selection of celebratory light white, sparkling, and rose wines. There’s also a light food menu. 

Patrick Kennedy's Irish Pub

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Get a little luck o’ the (American) Irish in your life at this Downtown spot. Obviously, it has plenty of cans and beers on tap, but it also serves a healthy menu of beer blends, from the obvious ones such as a black and tan to the more rarely seen (in Dallas anyway) Black Velvet (a mix of Guinness and Champagne). It also features an Irish-themed cocktail list mostly centered on classic cocktails with a twist. 

Barons Creek Vineyards Tasting Room Dallas

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When one of the Hill Country’s beloved vineyards opens a tasting room properly in Dallas, finally, we take notice. It has slipped into the space in Bishop Arts formerly occupied by Ame and is offering a taste of its fine wares — as well as the option to leave with a few bottles.

LadyLove Lounge & Sound

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From the uber-cool Bishop Arts record store Spinster and the folks behind Taco Y Vino comes LadyLove. Stop here to listen to DJs spin (mostly vinyl). And enjoy drinks like the “Sad Girl R&B” with Libelula tequila, Pallini limoncello, Regan’s orange bitters, and grapefruit soda or a “Side Piece” with St. Remy signature brandy, Combier berry, Cointreau, dry vermouth, and Lambrusco.

Cidercade Arlington

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If drinking cider and playing arcade games sounds like a good time, the newest Cidercade is open now in Arlington. It’s a showcase for Bishop Hard Ciders and sells a vast array of flavors, including a few you’re not likely to see in grocery stores or at the local bar. 

Armor Brewing Co

Up in Allen, Mike and Jenn Todryk, who hosts the HGTV show No Demo Reno, opened up a spot that serves craft beers brewed and canned on-site — several of which are award winners. Head here to try a smoked porter, Gary Golden Ale (named after tehir golden retriever Gary), No Joy IPA, a blood orange-flavored Fruited Goose, and many more. 

The Wilfred

Next to the Sea Breeze Fish Market and Grill in Plano, this speakeasy has tin ceilings and gorgeous cocktails, and you’ll need the password to get in. It may be Plano’s most luxe bar and possibly its most customized as well. The menu is inspired by Prohibition-era cocktails, with a solid wine list and small bites available.

Regines Lounge

Spend an evening in a sea of deep greens and golden yellow decor, with plates of sushi, dim sum, and clever cocktails. Order a Lucky You-Zu with gin, Aperol, strawberry verbena, yuzu, and salted vanilla foam. Or perhaps a Temple of Doom with rum, creme de banana, toasted sesame, and pineapple. Dress sharp and prepare to be serenaded by weekly performers. 

Babou’s

This intimate nightclub inside the Hotel Swexan has something for both types of partiers. Enter through the Library, which is refined with lots of seating and samurai art hanging on the walls. Or pass through the next set of doors to Babou’s, named for Dali’s ocelot, for dancing and wildness all night.

Wriggly Tin

Looking for a great patio or a family-friendly spot to have a few drinks? This South Dallas spot is it. There are pre-made batch cocktails that hit on the basics (margarita, old fashioned, and a twist on a vodka soda using coconut water) and some clever, original options. It also serves Small Beer Works beers and has a smattering of beer mixes that combine with prickly pear lemonade and grapefruit soda for a smooth drink. And the kitchen has bar basics, including pizza and sandwiches. 

Fond

Yes, this is a lunch spot with great sandwiches, but it’s also got a mean aperitivo hour in the evenings from 3 to 7 p.m. Stop in for sharable plates, glasses of natural wine, local and specialty beers, and batch cocktails. 

Surf Camp

Get to Surf Camp while it is there — this rooftop spot from Nick Badovinus is only around for a year, and whether or not it is open is weather-dependent. On a nice day, pop in for a frozen daiquiri or a frose (just a few among the long menu of frozen drinks), cans of craft beer or Peticolas on draft, and a selection of celebratory light white, sparkling, and rose wines. There’s also a light food menu. 

Patrick Kennedy's Irish Pub

Get a little luck o’ the (American) Irish in your life at this Downtown spot. Obviously, it has plenty of cans and beers on tap, but it also serves a healthy menu of beer blends, from the obvious ones such as a black and tan to the more rarely seen (in Dallas anyway) Black Velvet (a mix of Guinness and Champagne). It also features an Irish-themed cocktail list mostly centered on classic cocktails with a twist. 

Barons Creek Vineyards Tasting Room Dallas

When one of the Hill Country’s beloved vineyards opens a tasting room properly in Dallas, finally, we take notice. It has slipped into the space in Bishop Arts formerly occupied by Ame and is offering a taste of its fine wares — as well as the option to leave with a few bottles.

LadyLove Lounge & Sound

From the uber-cool Bishop Arts record store Spinster and the folks behind Taco Y Vino comes LadyLove. Stop here to listen to DJs spin (mostly vinyl). And enjoy drinks like the “Sad Girl R&B” with Libelula tequila, Pallini limoncello, Regan’s orange bitters, and grapefruit soda or a “Side Piece” with St. Remy signature brandy, Combier berry, Cointreau, dry vermouth, and Lambrusco.

Cidercade Arlington

If drinking cider and playing arcade games sounds like a good time, the newest Cidercade is open now in Arlington. It’s a showcase for Bishop Hard Ciders and sells a vast array of flavors, including a few you’re not likely to see in grocery stores or at the local bar. 

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