For new college students, learning about the different boroughs Dallas has to offer can seem overwhelming. To start you off on the right foot, The Daily Campus offers this guide to one of Dallas’ most chic and popular destinations: Uptown. There’s a little something for everyone in this Texas-style SoHo from small coffee shops to late-night destination clubs.
Breadwinner’s—This brunch Mecca offers everything you need to make it through Saturday morning. When you walk in, you’re immediately greeted by a seemingly endless display of fresh baked pastries, beautiful cakes and homemade bread. If you’re lucky, you’ll be seated in a room full of plants with a bright open skylight (and let’s face it, you need as much oxygen and sunlight as you can get right now). To make it even better, shortly after being seated, a sampling of Breadwinner’s breads is placed in front of you just in time to keep your stomach from eating itself. Don’t miss the fried chicken and waffles or the mimosas (if you’re 21).
Blackfriar-Offering a full menu and great music, Blackfriar Pub provides a relaxed, local-centric place to eat and drink. An Irish owned pub, Blackfriar’s front porch has been converted into a beer garden overlooking McKinney’s cobblestoned streets with colorful strings of lights providing a warm glow from above. When you go inside, be sure to take note of the intricate, antique woodwork throughout the room—it came from a castle in England owned by Pete Townshend of The Who and was shipped here in full in 1982.
The Idle Rich Pub–This cleverly-named pub is owned by the same folks at Blackfriar, but it offers a more whiskey-centric bar menu and some excellent finger food options. The Idle Rich pub is a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxed meal with friends, especially out on the porch. They also have a pretty delicious brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4pm.
Avenu—Notorious as a late-night SMU hangout, Avenu offers the classic club atmosphere—low lighting, a packed dance floor and ultra-bass accompanying top 40 hits. Come here if you want to dance the night away, and don’t wear a jersey. 21 & up.
So&So;’s—New kid on the block So&So;’s claims to offer up “Something For Everyone,” and so far the promise has been kept. It features the obligatory porch and picnic table combo, plus some really excellent food from Executive Chef Nick Amoriello. Some favorites include the Caramel Bacon Popcorn that accompanies the complex and generous meat and cheese board and the coconut curry mussels.
The Standard Pour—The Standard Pour combines two excellent things: carefully crafted cocktails and decadent takes on American staples such as lobster nachos and pizza fries. It’s been voted one of the best cocktail bars in Dallas, and there’s an even greater incentive for ladies to go. Every Wendesday, the Standard does Dame’s Dinner Club, which means that women who make a reservation get a free three course meal. That’s right, a FREE three course meal. Make your reservation early.
Crooked Tree Coffee House—A small shotgun house off McKinney Avenue has been converted into Crooked Tree, a local coffee house that offers a quiet atmosphere in three small rooms. They feature artwork from local painters and have live music on Saturday evenings. Some SMU students also work there, so stop by for the most beautiful latte you’ll ever have, and make a new friend before you hunker down to get that O-Chem done.
