The historic Granada Theater on Greenville Avenue has a younger sister next door that’s just as worthy of recognition. OK, Marcia? With a rooftop patio, a covered patio and yet another outdoor heated patio, it’s the perfect spot for those still wary of gathering indoors, while the perfectly dim indoor space holds a stage that’s a frequent spot for local and touring acts. The bar staff is efficient and friendly, and the food is restaurant-quality, so whatever your evening plans, it’s a solid one-stop choice. While Sundown is a particularly great hangout spot to keep the party going after taking in a show next door, it’s a destination all on its own.

Adair’s Saloon is Deep Ellum’s outpost for what truly makes country music country. With frequent guest musicians representing the best of outlaw country from North Texas and around the nation, Adair’s boasts a honky tonk vibe in a dive bar atmosphere. The kitchen is open until 1:30 a.m. nightly offering some of the best bar burgers, sandwiches and wings for a surprisingly reasonable price. Be sure to grab a pen and leave your mark on the wall. Some may call it graffiti, but the good folks at Adair’s call it art.

The Alamo Club feels like it’s always been a part of Lower Greenville despite having opened in 2019. Owner Austin Rogers can often be found running food, taking orders and sometimes bussing tables at the classy Dallas club. The Alamo Club is billed as a cozy spot fit for any occasion, a quiet date night, an outing with the family or drinks with friends. To make sure patrons don’t go hungry, Rogers enlisted the help of English chef Michale West. The menu is filled with mouth-watering apps for the table and entrees like the Club Cheese Burger and the Pot Roast Pappardelle.

If you’re in the mood for drinks but don’t want to get wasted on vodka-crans, Alexandre’s is your spot. The long bar, comfortable seating and small stage give Alexandre’s the intimate feel of a speakeasy or jazz lounge. Plus, the knowledgeable team can whip up delicious craft cocktails such as mint julep, clover clubs and sidecars. On weekends, Alexandre’s showcases local talent with live music performances from local singers and bands.

Is Angry Dog a restaurant or a bar? It's a great place to have some drinks while watching a game, get a good meal and hang out. So, a bar, right? Are good salads on the menu a disqualifier? What about a packed house when the Stars are in the playoffs? See? Tough call. So, we threw a dart at our Angry Dog Venn diagram and it landed on bars. The burgers, chili cheese dogs or club sandwiches are great for lunch or before a game over at the American Airlines Center or a show in Deep Ellum. Or just let Angry Dog be your only destination and you'll be well entertained, fed and, hopefully, buzzed.

You will miss Apothecary the first time you attempt to visit. That’s part of its charm. This self-ascribed “avant-garde cocktail lounge” is a dark respite from the elements. Here the world is shuttered out, the noise turned down to a delightful whisper. On one visit, a guest at the next table was watching videos on his phone, loudly. Luckily he left before we were able to ask to move. It’s just not a phone-out, sound-up place. At all. There are plenty of those around the city, but not here. Every server knows the cocktail menu inside and out and could narrate a documentary on each drink. The menu is broken into three levels, starting with classics to more free-solo rock climbing type adventures like an R-Oaxaca-Fort (a blue cheese mezcal number) and Death in the Afternoon (absinthe and bubbles). The food menu includes a charcuterie board, caviar service, a vegan Bolognese and a short-rib plate served with potato pave and white chocolate. Make reservations to be sure to get a seat.

When the Armoury D.E. opened its doors in 2015, its mission was to offer some of the best cocktails, food and live music Deep Ellum had seen in years. The Armoury has stuck to what it knows best, offering a casual dining experience with a diverse selection of Hungarian comfort foods and other good stuff that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else. Be sure to ask about the burger of the week while you’re there. Also, venture out back to catch one of their free live shows, curated with a music taste as refined as the bar’s choice in booze.

Atlas opened in 2021 in the Bishop Arts District with a global cocktail menu. The vibe here is come-one-come-all. Pretty Aperol Spritzes stand tall alongside bottles of Lone Stars on the bar. It’s a fun mix of locals, tourists and first dates. Notice a bookshelf at the back of the bar and ask yourself if anyone here is doing much reading. Not likely. The bookshelf serves as a fake door that leads to a back bar, which rotates global themes (remember, Atlas) and seats about two dozen but packs in many more. It’s open in the evenings, Friday through Sunday. Try the pho, it’s co-owner Dan Bui’s family recipe, and it's bliss. And their toasty Cuban with house-roasted pork is magnificent.

Few places are left where you can truly feel like you’re in a bygone era, but the Balcony Club feeds that fantasy convincingly. The landmark jazz club on the second floor next to the old Lakewood Theater is a go-to spot for aspiring old-timers, no matter their age. The intimate space and dimly lit ambiance scream “date night,” as there’s only room for a cheek-to-cheek dancing, making The Balcony a great choice to take that person you’re trying to get to know much, much better.

Barbara’s Pavilion, or as the Oak Cliff townies like to call it “Barb’s,” is probably your favorite bartender’s favorite bar. This beloved watering hole has been slinging drinks to patrons for more than 50 years. So, to be honest, this is probably your mom’s favorite bar too. This low-key dive bar with a retro drip is notable for its epic karaoke nights on Thursdays and Sundays and its steamy burlesque shows every third Wednesday of the month. When locals aren’t belting out their favorite go-to karaoke tunes, you can rock out to anything from '70s golden disco to New Age millennial hits to contemporary hip-hop. Don’t be surprised if you see a celebrity camped out at the bar next to you. It just means they have good taste.

Though it’s been around for years, this Lakewood wine bar still feels like a well-kept secret. Bodega’s cozy, cave-like atmosphere and cushy armchairs and couches are perfect for settling in and spending a couple of good hours getting to know its savvy selection of global wines. If you need help deciding, the owners choose every bottle and know their inventory perfectly. The wines are available for retail purchase, too.

In the historic Dallas home of Ahab Bowen, you can brush with a bit of local history while you slam back a few cold beers. It’s located conveniently in uptown Dallas, in, well, an old house. The drink menu tends toward the upscale, with a classy wine list and an assortment of beers in draft, bottles and cans. All your favorite hard liquors are available, too, so don’t fret if you need something a touch stiffer when you stop by Bowen House. There’s also an assortment of signature cocktails. If you’re feeling equal parts literary and spicy, for instance, you could try out the “For Whom the Bell Pepper Tolls,” a mix including tequila, Cynar Amaro, lime and bell pepper.

Lying out of sight, The Branca Room is a speakeasy of sorts behind Chimichurri Bistro in the heart of the Bishop Arts District. To find it, slip down the alley just west of Eno's and look for the red light hanging above the unmarked door. It's self-described as a ceremonious atmosphere honoring the Argentine culture and its rich Italian influence. Inside is lit by crystal chandeliers, showing off Argentinian art and posters. Order anything with Amaro or vermouth. An Amaro Transfusion has house-made vermouth, port, jasmine liqueur and rye, served in an IV bag.

The Silk Road-themed Casablanca sits like an oasis in the heart of the Bishop Arts District, just a few steps off the main artery. Here the mood is a desert oasis with sandy hues and a Moroccan aura. Like any cool desert hangout, its centered on a calming pool of water (which is not for swimming). The menu of small bites stretches from the Middle East to Asia, from smoked edamame to pork and plum dumplings. Casablanca also expanded, adding an adjacent outdoor post called The Palm Bar with grab-and-go cocktails and a sandy lounge area. But if you and your friends like to get loud, get a room: Casanova is a sing easy in the back, with several swank private karaoke lounges for up to 15 guests. Reservations are a must.

“Be Kind, Unwind” is the tagline for this bar right outside of Deep Ellum in the location of the old Starlight Lounge. Allen Falker, owner of Nines in Deep Ellum, and general manager Corey Howe had to replace almost everything in the building: plumbing, electrical, roof, floor, HVAC, bathrooms (for ADA compliance), the parking lot — everything. What is left is a straightforward bar with DJ, music video and karaoke nights. Be sure to try the Cherry Lime-Yay! a frozen cherry limeade with vodka, and if you’re feeling extra fancy, an OIld Fashioned made with Garrison Brothers Single Barrel.

When the soup of the day is “mimosas” and sangrias come in towers, you know you’ve found home. Not to mention the spicy and tropical F*** It Bucket. And while we all loved (sometimes too much) their original Uptown location, their new spot has a large outdoor space; every seat on their patio, rooftop and inside has views of TVs. It's literally wall-to-wall sports here. It's a great option for catching local sports teams, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit on the patio.

Soaking Dallasites with booze since 2003, City Tavern is a cool downtown spot where you can grab a drink and get a bite to eat. They offer regular lunch specials, and the drink menu is as varied as it is tasty. On Tuesdays, you can get a taco special, and on Wednesdays, you can tilt Italian with a fettuccine Alfredo and garlic bread combo dish. Weekdays from 4 p.m. till 7 p.m. you can also hang out for happy hour, when they offer all sorts of specials on grub, beer and wine.

Cold Beer Co. is a low-key beer garden on the east end of Deep Ellum — east enough that East Dallas locals get split custody. The bartenders are attentive and knowledgeable, and the place has a fantastic selection of local beer: 24 taps with 36 more options in cans, some that rotate seasonally. And, perhaps its most adorable feature, CBC has a grilled pimento cheese sandwich on the menu. The large outdoor areas are all worked over with either heaters or misters and fans, depending on the time of year. Check out the Wednesday drink special: The Pony Up, a small Miller High Life with a shot of Jameson.