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Margo Sivin

10 Dark Dallas Bars to Take Refuge in This Summer

Dimly lit drinking dens where you can forget how freaking hot it is.

by Whitney Filloon
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Blind Butcher
| Margo Sivin
by Whitney Filloon

In other parts of the world with more merciful climates, it's prime patio season — but not here in Dallas. Only true masochists choose to sit outside in August, when the 105 degree-plus temps make just going outside to get the mail pretty damn unbearable. No, at this point in the season what we all need is a dark, air-conditioned bar where we can drink to forget that it feels like the surface of the sun outside. Here are 10 to hide out in until you hear the weatherman say those two magical words: "cold front."

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Lakewood Landing

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5818 Live Oak St
Dallas, TX 75214
(214) 823-2410
(214) 823-2410
Visit Website
It's so incredibly dark inside this divey Lakewood day-drinking staple, you'll never want to leave. Stuff a few dollars in the jukebox, order up some cheese fries or wings, and prepare to stay a while.

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2. Veritas Wine Room

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2323 N Henderson Ave Ste 103
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 841-9463
(214) 841-9463
Visit Website
Veritas's small patio is popular when the weather is nice, but now's not the time for that. Instead, grab a table inside where it's dark and cozy and order up a chilled glass of rosé. There's even a fireplace to look longingly at and dream of winter. Ahhh, that's better. [Photo: Veritas Wine Room/Facebook]

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3. Louie's

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1839 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 826-0505
(214) 826-0505
Hit up Louie's right when it opens at 5:30 p.m. to beat the crowds. A pitcher of beer or a stiff martini and one of the excellent, crispy-crusted pizzas will make you forget all about the sweltering heat outside — at least, until you have to go sit your ass on a rocket-hot leather car seat. [Photo: Margo Sivin]

4. The Ginger Man

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2718 Boll St
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 754-8771
(214) 754-8771
Visit Website
This Uptown favorite for craft beer lovers feels like a friend's cool old house, if your friend happened to have a zillion beer taps and a real deft hand at assembling cheese plates. It's an excellent spot for happy hour meetups — just resist the urge to try out the patio and stay inside where it's nice and dim. [Photo: The Ginger Man/Yelp]

5. Lee Harvey's

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1807 Gould St
Dallas, TX 75215
(214) 428-1555
(214) 428-1555
Visit Website
Lee Harvey's is dark and creaky and all the booths are sort of falling apart, but that's all part of the charm. The canned beer — which is definitely what you ought to be drinking here — is also gloriously icy cold. [Photo: Lee Harvey's]

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6. The Mansion Bar

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2821 Turtle Creek Blvd
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 559-2100
(214) 559-2100
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Hey, no one said dark bars have to be dives. At the very swanky Mansion Bar, you can pretend to be a proper lady or gentleman that isn't even soaked in sweat and red-faced while you sip on a fancy $14 cocktail such as the watermelon and chile-infused La Sandia. How very civilized. [Photo: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek]

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7. Libertine Bar

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2101 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 824-7900
(214) 824-7900
Visit Website
Perennial Greenville Avenue favorite The Libertine is everything a bar should be on the inside — that is, dark and cozy with lots of wood (and even more beer). Thumb your nose at seasonal eating and feast on fish and chips and mac and cheese, because you've probably had enough watermelon salad this year. [Photo: Libertine Bar/Facebook]

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8. Blind Butcher

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1919 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 887-0000
(214) 887-0000
Visit Website
Blind Butcher is dark, narrow, and vaguely European-feeling, which is good in this case because hey, it's probably not 105 degrees there. Order some fine whiskey and duck poutine and you'll soon forget about the scorched landscape that awaits you beyond the doors. [Photo: Garrett Hall]

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9. The Old Monk

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2847 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 821-1880
(214) 821-1880
Visit Website
The Old Monk's loyal regulars know it's an excellent spot for summer drinking. It's dark, there's lots of tasty beer on tap, and when it's so hot you feel like stabbing someone, you can play a round of darts. [Photo: Joey M./Yelp]

10. Cock and Bull

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6330 Gaston Ave
Dallas, TX 75214
(214) 841-9111
(214) 841-9111
Visit Website
Besides being nice and dark, this Lakewood pub also has way-better-than-average bar food. In fact, we probably shouldn't even call it bar food. Wagyu Reuben sandwich, anyone? [Photo: Jimmy Lee B./Yelp]

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1. Lakewood Landing

5818 Live Oak St, Dallas, TX 75214
It's so incredibly dark inside this divey Lakewood day-drinking staple, you'll never want to leave. Stuff a few dollars in the jukebox, order up some cheese fries or wings, and prepare to stay a while.
5818 Live Oak St
Dallas, TX 75214
(214) 823-2410
Visit Website

2. Veritas Wine Room

2323 N Henderson Ave Ste 103, Dallas, TX 75206
Veritas's small patio is popular when the weather is nice, but now's not the time for that. Instead, grab a table inside where it's dark and cozy and order up a chilled glass of rosé. There's even a fireplace to look longingly at and dream of winter. Ahhh, that's better. [Photo: Veritas Wine Room/Facebook]
2323 N Henderson Ave Ste 103
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 841-9463
Visit Website

3. Louie's

1839 N Henderson Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Hit up Louie's right when it opens at 5:30 p.m. to beat the crowds. A pitcher of beer or a stiff martini and one of the excellent, crispy-crusted pizzas will make you forget all about the sweltering heat outside — at least, until you have to go sit your ass on a rocket-hot leather car seat. [Photo: Margo Sivin]
1839 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 826-0505

4. The Ginger Man

2718 Boll St, Dallas, TX 75204
This Uptown favorite for craft beer lovers feels like a friend's cool old house, if your friend happened to have a zillion beer taps and a real deft hand at assembling cheese plates. It's an excellent spot for happy hour meetups — just resist the urge to try out the patio and stay inside where it's nice and dim. [Photo: The Ginger Man/Yelp]
2718 Boll St
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 754-8771
Visit Website

5. Lee Harvey's

1807 Gould St, Dallas, TX 75215
Lee Harvey's is dark and creaky and all the booths are sort of falling apart, but that's all part of the charm. The canned beer — which is definitely what you ought to be drinking here — is also gloriously icy cold. [Photo: Lee Harvey's]
1807 Gould St
Dallas, TX 75215
(214) 428-1555
Visit Website

6. The Mansion Bar

2821 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219
Hey, no one said dark bars have to be dives. At the very swanky Mansion Bar, you can pretend to be a proper lady or gentleman that isn't even soaked in sweat and red-faced while you sip on a fancy $14 cocktail such as the watermelon and chile-infused La Sandia. How very civilized. [Photo: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek]
2821 Turtle Creek Blvd
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 559-2100
Visit Website

7. Libertine Bar

2101 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Perennial Greenville Avenue favorite The Libertine is everything a bar should be on the inside — that is, dark and cozy with lots of wood (and even more beer). Thumb your nose at seasonal eating and feast on fish and chips and mac and cheese, because you've probably had enough watermelon salad this year. [Photo: Libertine Bar/Facebook]
2101 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 824-7900
Visit Website

8. Blind Butcher

1919 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Blind Butcher is dark, narrow, and vaguely European-feeling, which is good in this case because hey, it's probably not 105 degrees there. Order some fine whiskey and duck poutine and you'll soon forget about the scorched landscape that awaits you beyond the doors. [Photo: Garrett Hall]
1919 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 887-0000
Visit Website

9. The Old Monk

2847 N Henderson Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
The Old Monk's loyal regulars know it's an excellent spot for summer drinking. It's dark, there's lots of tasty beer on tap, and when it's so hot you feel like stabbing someone, you can play a round of darts. [Photo: Joey M./Yelp]
2847 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 821-1880
Visit Website

10. Cock and Bull

6330 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX 75214
Besides being nice and dark, this Lakewood pub also has way-better-than-average bar food. In fact, we probably shouldn't even call it bar food. Wagyu Reuben sandwich, anyone? [Photo: Jimmy Lee B./Yelp]
6330 Gaston Ave
Dallas, TX 75214
(214) 841-9111
Visit Website

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