Where to Find the Best Cocktails in Dallas

One of the liveliest, most entertaining, and underrated cities in the U.S., Dallas is absolutely booming right now, with young professionals flocking in from Los Angeles, New York City, and all points in between. Attracted by the excellent weather, resurgent job market, and relatively low cost of living—not to mention a rambunctious bar, restaurant, and cocktails scene—these freshly minted Texpats are flooding into creative, hipster-friendly neighborhoods like Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts, and Uptown to live, work, and play.

If you’re headed out for a night on the town and are looking for the best cocktails in Dallas, check out our favorite bars below:

1. Midnight Rambler

1530 Main Street — (214) 748-1300

Inspired by the dark glamour of old-school rock and roll, this lively downtown Dallas speakeasy is tucked beneath the well-heeled Joule hotel and is buzzing into the early hours from Wednesday to Saturday. Hosting the chicest crowd and some of the craftiest cocktails in town, Midnight Rambler is a subterranean refuge that’s the perfect dinner spot in which to see and be seen. Plus, this cocktail bar is named after a Rolling Stones song!

Order this: Cuffs & Buttons ($14): A feisty blend of spiced bourbon, stone fruit, honey, bitters, and lemon zest.

2. The Tipsy Alchemist

2101 Cedar Springs Road — (469) 899-7080

High-end and hipster in equal measure, the Tipsy Alchemist looks like a cross between an industrial laboratory and a boutique hotel. The official mission statement of this unique Uptown Dallas cocktail bar is, “to blow your mind with elevated cocktails, through science, art, and technique in a sexy, social lounge setting.” Needless to say, this bar succeeds on all fronts, producing lip-smackingly delicious drinks that look as if they’ve been crafted by a mad scientist (think test tubes, funnels, and liquid nitrogen).

Order this: The Edison ($15): Thanks to mint nitrogen, this bright-green rum drink is served in a lightbulb-shaped glass, making it a perennial favorite among the Dallas crowd.

3. Parliament

2418 Allen Street — (469) 804-4321

A saucy, bordello-lit gem in the heart of Uptown Dallas, Parliament is renowned for its lengthy leather-bound drinks list, offering ingenious twists and spins on traditional Golden Age cocktails. At the heart of this local favorite, you’ll usually find larger-than-life bartender Lucky Campbell, a fedora-sporting, shaker-slinging Dallas legend who is almost as famous as the bar itself (not to mention its legendary happy hour).

Order this:Ramos Gin Fizz ($15): An early take on the Gin Fizz, unearthed from an 1893 Roosevelt Hotel cocktail menu, including egg white, gin, lemon, cream, orange blossom, and soda.

4. Mansion Bar

2821 Turtle Creek Boulevard — (214) 443-4747

A Dallas institution, the Mansion Bar is the glamorous centerpiece of the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, a palatial former oil baron’s home that’s been transformed into one of the most luxurious hotels in Texas. But it’s so much more than just another hotel bar, with live music, impeccable service, and the rich, refined feel of a private members’ club thanks to its leather-lined walls and opulent velvet settees. Its adjacent namesake restaurant is also a must-try, having won multiple national and international awards for its global twist on American cuisine.

Order this: Mansion G&T ($16): A smart take on the classic cocktail made with Junipero gin, house-made tonic, Kaffir lime leaf, and grapefruit zest.

5. The Bowen House

2614 Boll Street — (214) 484-1385

A plush, Victorian-style drinking den in a historic home from the 1870s, the Bowen House is, quite frankly, a very special place. The best seats are in the recently renovated Back Room, although the fireplace is also a popular cozy spot in the winter months. The cocktail menu here is pleasingly fluid (the talented in-house mixologists will make you whatever you want, if you ask!), while the food menu is reassuringly upmarket (think fried brie and truffle-infused steak tartare). This could well be the best cocktail bar in Dallas-Fort Worth—just don’t ask about the resident ghost.

Order this: Say Hello To My Little Friend ($15): More than three of these explosive mezcal, tequila, and liqueur numbers are likely to blow your head off.

6. Ebb & Flow

2651 Commerce Street — (972 ) 913-2322

Arguably the most intriguing bar in bohemian Deep Ellum (there are plenty of contenders, particularly on Commerce Street and Elm Street), Ebb & Flow is a high-end Dallas cocktail lounge boasting a unique flower-carpeted ceiling, a delightful vine-fringed patio, and a legendary brunch menu (the Cubano egg rolls here are awesome).

Order this: The Garden Margarita ($12): Dallas locals love a margarita, and this delicious green concoction (featuring the strangely complementary trio of jalapeno, cilantro, and cucumber) is a remarkably refreshing treat to sip leisurely on the patio as you watch your fellow drinkers ebb and flow (see what we did there?).

7. Paradiso

308 North Bishop Avenue — (214) 944-5865

A glamorous restaurant and cocktail bar built around a stunning, Mediterranean-style courtyard with a gurgling fountain, Paradiso is one of the most elegant places to enjoy a night out in the stylish Bishop Arts District. The cocktail menu is simple but well-rounded, with the welcome addition of a couple of outstanding mocktails, plus a decent selection of local beer. While you’re in this Dallas neighborhood, also check out nearby sister venue Casablanca, a gorgeous lounge sporting retro Marrakesh vibes and a full bar.

Order this: Time After Time ($14): A moreish blend of white rum, house ginger syrup, pineapple, and lemon.

8. The Old Monk

2847 North Henderson Avenue — (214) 821-1880

More of a traditional pub than a classic cocktail bar, the Old Monk nevertheless merits its place on this list by virtue of the fact that it serves one of the best Old Fashioneds in Dallas and has the most extensive whiskey list in town. Grab a seat outside on the friendly, buzzy patio and watch the lively Knox-Henderson neighborhood warm up for the evening while drinking the featured cocktail of the month over a plate of the ridiculously addictive frites with bourbon mayo. Needless to say, you won’t get bored at this bar. Time flies when you’re having fun (and whiskey).

Order this: Irish Old Fashioned ($11): Jameson Black Barrel (twice-charred Irish whiskey, instead of bourbon) with orange, Luxardo cherry, and Peychaud bitters.

9. Apothecary

1922 Greenville Avenue — (972) 850-9192

A sleek, avant-garde cocktail den behind an unmarked door on popular Lower Greenville Avenue, Apothecary has a cocktail menu that will challenge your palate and melt your mind—think drinks that numb your tongue, are mixed with duck confit-washed bourbon, and are even garnished with a random octopus tentacle. A superb date night spot, the low-lit bar lounge is sexy and surprising, with just 40 seats in total and a bar bites menu worthy of the complex cocktails they complement, ranging from edible oyster shells to edible candles.

Order this: Call Me Trinidaddy ($15): A feisty rum concoction containing pineapple-infused amargo vallet, banana, and egg white. Walk straight in, look the bartender in the eye and ask for this tropical delight by name—no need for an “excuse me, sir” or even a “hello.”

10. Rattlesnake Bar

2121 McKinney Avenue — (214) 922-4848

Rattlesnake Bar is a great place for celebrity spotting, Stetson-wearing, or simply sitting back and sipping a traditional ranch water with the locals. This Dallas hotspot is attached to the Ritz Carlton hotel’s Fearing’s restaurant, which is run by celebrity chef Dean Fearing, better known as the “Father of Southwestern Cuisine.” This bar is as opulent as you might expect, so dress smart and ideally go for dinner at Fearing’s afterward, where you’ll enjoy some spectacular high-end gourmet twists on traditional Tex-Mex recipes.

Order this: Pie Tai ($20): A fresh, sharp blend of rum, pumpkin pie syrup, orgeat almond syrup, and lime juice.

Live—and play—in style by living with Landing

If you’re thinking about moving to Dallas to enjoy all the wonderful cocktails and other attractions this Texas city has to offer, Landing offers fully furnished apartments in Dallas, all with flexible lease terms that let you stay in town for as little or as long as you like. So, whether you want to stick around for one round or two, you’ll be able to live life on your terms by renting from Landing. Learn more today!