The Kessler Theater, which is a Dallas icon as big as some of the legends who grace its stage, has had more iterations than Diddy’s had stage names. For the past few years, under the vision of current owner Edwin Cabaniss, it’s become a concert destination for music stars and up-and-coming locals alike. While the venue’s bar is not open independently of show dates, it’s worth praise just for the stellar drinking experience. First of all, there are two bars, and the little one upstairs has a particularly cool backstage feel; the bars are open long before show times, giving patrons ample time to get their chattiness out of their systems before sitting down to enjoy a show. This is likely the explanation for the infamous viral incident a few years back when a fringe-booted woman and her friend were kicked out of a LeeAnn Womack show for refusing to stop speaking loudly during the performance: Maybe they just didn’t get there early enough to pregame and get all their obnoxious banter out of the way.

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 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 the 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 the 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.

Bar Colette wasn’t the only shiny new cocktail bar to pop up across Dallas this year, but the mixology at this bar puts it into a category of its own. Ruben Rolon, the beverage director who previously developed a Michelin-recognized establishment, is redefining Dallas' cocktail scene. The drinks are meticulously made, often taking multiple days to perfect, with a focus on reinterpreted classics. Add in their exotic spirits and global wines paired with exquisite bites like a caviar waffe, and you have one of the most memorable cocktail experiences in the city. Reservations are a must.

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.

True to its name, Barcadia is half bar, half arcade, and offers video games from Centipede and Dig Dug to Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat, plus skee-ball ramps and popular bar food. And with 24 draft beers to choose from and ample mixed-drink selections, Barcadia is not far from a Chuck E. Cheese with an adult twist. Not feeling gamey? Have a seat on the bar's spacious front patio, which is great for accommodating large groups of people-just make sure to watch out for falling wooden blocks from the giant Jenga game.

Bernie's is tucked away inside Preston Tower down a dim corridor with no signage announcing it's even there (none that we saw, anyway), but a visit here plays out like a trip back in time. Bernie's gives speakeasy vibes. The decor is vintage art deco, the atmosphere is classy and the playlist offers the likes of Kenny Loggins, Stevie Nicks, Patti Austin and Quincy Jones. Bernie’s unapologetically skews to a slightly older crowd, which we're here for — a place where the phone doesn't eat first. The bartenders are pros, and the drinks are stiff. You really can’t go wrong with whatever you order, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend the beautifully smoky and oh-so-smooth old fashioned.

This year, Black Swan Saloon rose like a phoenix out of East Dallas ashes after the bar's initial decade-long run in Deep Ellum and closure in 2020. After four years of grief, happy tears were shed at the news that Black Swan was back. The signature house cocktails, Black Swan Classics, boilermakers and other spirits are back where they belong in the moody and swanky interior full of kitschy art. Our most recent happy hour was confirmation enough: legends never die.

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 historical 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.

This bar in Deep Ellum has effortless charm and an easy attitude. Brick & Bones has six house cocktails all priced to move at $10 to $12, plus a bevy of beer ($2 pony High Lifes), wine and liquors. The small kitchen in the back pushes out 24-hour-brined Mexican-inspired chicken fried to order that will light your soul on fire and maybe other things. It's sexy-hot, but keep that down low because influencers may pick up on it and ruin the joint. Drinks roll out quickly, and service is on point. This is a pocket of Deep Ellum's old soul.