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10 terrific spots to spend an evening in Downtown Dallas

As soon as darkness falls, downtown Dallas comes alive with a vast range of nightly activities to keep night owls busy until the early hours. Downtown Dallas is home to a wide range of fun activities, including ultra-hip lounges, local pubs, and small live music venues.

Opening Bell Coffee, one of the top free live music venues in the city, or City Tavern, a charming local bar with everything from jazz to rock, are both great options if your notion of a fun night out incorporates fantastic music.

The Rodeo Bar offers a genuine Texan ambiance with live music and a menu of food and drinks to suit a more American experience. Want a hand-crafted beverage in a chic environment? Then proceed to Midnight Rambler, a seductive underground bar in the stylish Joule hotel. Moreover, there is The Mitchell, a classy bar where gin cocktails are treated like works of art.

These are ten of the best locations to go around the downtown area, whether it’s for a date, a simple get-together with buddies, or just a spot to relax after work.

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER

The upscale underground hideaway of the Joule Hotel may not be in a discreet location, but it has all the characteristics of a seductive speakeasy, from its vaulted ceilings and wood-paneled walls to its vintage light fixtures and luxurious leather seats. The beverage selection ranges from modernist creations to reinvented classics (think wheat vodka, sherry, lime juice, and beef broth infused with roasted ginger, anise, and cardamom). Additionally, a small variety of gourmet snacks are sold inside the bar, and CBD Provisions, located upstairs, accepts food orders. Watch Facebook for any special events.

Due to the fact that Midnight Rambler is a great venue for a date, it is recommended for Best Nightlife.

PARLIAMENT

For good purposes, this Uptown bar is regarded as one of the best in the entire city. It is a lovely, dimly-lighted area with a friendly atmosphere and a large cocktail menu (more than 100 drinks), which includes both classic cocktails and cutting-edge innovations. The best part is that it has a fantastic happy hour where you can get drinks for $6 to $9 (all day on Mondays and from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday). Oh, and whenever it rains, Parliament also gives happy hour prices. The venue quickly fills up, so arrive early if you want to have a seat.

Parliament is the ideal venue for an evening of real cocktail loving, therefore it is recommended for Best Nightlife.

THE MITCHELL

This relaxed local hangout blurs the lines between a bar and a diner and is housed in a gorgeous 1920s structure with lights and tufted leather furnishings. In other words, it’s a terrific spot to get a quick drink or remain for a hearty meal. There is a fantastic selection of moderately priced French-inspired food, excellent cocktails, a strong gin collection, and a strong wine selection available (think frog legs and steak frites). Also, there is live music every night from Wednesday to Saturday. Did we mention that on a few Wednesdays each month, there will be mezcal and cigar pairings?

If you’re searching for a classy bar with excellent food, outstanding cocktails, and an approachable atmosphere, this is the place to recommend.

RODEO BAR

The Rodeo Bar, a bar and restaurant with a western motif located in the Adolphus Hotel, is enjoying its reopening after being shuttered in 2018 for renovations. The historic saloon, which first opened in 1981, evokes a traditional Texas vibe with old furnishings, neon signs, and a menu to match. Everything is available, including chips, smash burgers, blue plate specials, caviar fries served with Dom Perignon, and boilermakers and cocktails with a Texas theme. After all, this is the Adolphus Hotel. You can anticipate live music every weekend in the back room, with genres ranging from rock to western.

Rated as the Best Nightlife in Downtown Dallas because, For those looking for a bar that perfectly captures Americana, this is your spot.

FRANKIE’S DALLAS

There is no lack of locations to watch sports in Dallas, but few are as comfortable as this bi-level bar in the downtown Davis Building. There are plenty of TVs (44 HD big screens) with all the major DirecTV sports channels, comfy seating, regular drink deals, and food that goes above and beyond typical pub fare. We’re talking about everything, including finger foods like wonton nachos, hand-crafted burgers, unusual sandwiches, and gourmet pizzas. Twenty Texas craft beers are available on tap, and there is a tempting cocktail menu as well. Oh, and there are burlesque performances, debate evenings, live music, and a seductive speakeasy hidden downstairs.

Frankie’s is the ideal location for a laid-back get-together with buddies, making it a recommendation for Downtown Dallas’ Finest Nightlife.

THE WOOLWORTH

This chic downtown bar, located on the second level of the structure that formerly housed a Woolworth five-and-dime, is a well-liked hangout for people looking for excellent drinks and equally excellent food. Together with a wide assortment of craft beer and wine, drinks include cocktails like the Purple Rain made with gin, crème de violette, and pomegranate-rosemary simple syrup. Shareable starters like crab chips and lobster-brie fondue are available, as well as dry-aged beef burgers, fresh fish, and sirloin. All of this is provided in a light-filled area with a welcoming patio that looks out onto Tony Tasset’s sculpture of an eye.

The Woolworths is a terrific location for a date or a night out with friends, making it a suggestion for Downtown Dallas’ Finest Nightlife.

OPENING BELL COFFEE

This trendy coffee shop, hidden in the basement of an old Sears Roebuck structure, has more to offer than just cash flow. Together with great food options including sandwiches and croissants, wine, local craft beer, and coffee drinks, Opening Bell also cooks up a regular package that requires anything from stand-up comedy to live music. Almost every night, as well as on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, has something going on. Regarding the musical roster, you can anticipate a revolving group of regional and national performers performing anything from folk to soul, jazz, and pop. Interesting fact: A lot of the musicians who have performed here have gone on to compete on The Voice.

Opening Bell Coffee is one of Dallas’ finest free music locations, making it a top pick for the best nightlife in Downtown Dallas.

GALLERY ROOFTOP LOUNGE

Infinity pools, fire pits, and incredible city views are uncommon rooftop bar amenities in Dallas. Perhaps none like the Gallery Rooftop Lounge atop the artistic Canvas Hotel in the downtown Cedars district. Of course, there is more to take in than just the scenery. Together with appealing bar treats like butcher boards, tuna poke tostadas, and wagyu beef sliders, you’ll find inventive cocktails, margarita flights, wine, and craft beer. Live music and guest DJs are sometimes featured at events. Be here early to secure a fantastic spot on the deck since, as you might imagine, this location transforms into party central after the sun goes down.

Rated as the Best Nightlife in Downtown Dallas because The Gallery Rooftop Lounge is a great place to go on a date.

CITY TAVERN

City Tavern will be the ideal choice for you if you’re seeking a place with lots of character. This welcoming local bar draws a diverse crowd of visitors who come to unwind with a drink and chow down on tasty fare. The best part is that you can always watch broadcast sports action there. Expect to discover a small selection of drinks, a tonne of craft beers on tap, bar foods like wings and barbacoa nachos, as well as burgers, fish & chips, and salads. Watch Facebook for any special events.

City Tavern is the place to go if you want a laid-back ambiance with moderately priced food and alcohol. It is suggested for Downtown Dallas’ Finest Nightlife.

HOUSE OF BLUES DALLAS

This famous music hotspot, which is situated in Victory Park, is one of the best places in the city to catch a wide range of well-known musical performers. In fact, the Dallas location was ranked as the fourth most well-liked music club in the nation by Billboard magazine. This is not unexpected given that its main performance space is both roomy enough to hold a crowd and friendly enough to let music fans mingle with their favorite artists. In addition to hosting concerts, HOB also presents a weekly Local Vocals show in the Foundation Room lounge, where guests can also enjoy drinks and small meals. Everyone from Alice Cooper to George Clinton has performed there.

The House of Blues is a well-liked venue to see traveling groups and up-and-coming talent, making it a recommendation for the greatest nightlife in Downtown Dallas.