Dallas has a lively nightlife scene with more than enough bars and clubs to satisfy the young and the restless. Here are a few of my recommendations for making both the right choice of bars and what to wear at the “right” bars.
Downtown Nightlife
Fuse: One of the great low-key spots of downtown is Fuse, located right off Commerce street. Sushi-fusion restaurant by day turned lounge at night, Fuse is edgy without being too trendy (as apparent by the unisex restroom – that’s right there’s only one restroom). Women in metropolitan casual outfits sit and sip their drinks while chitchatting with low-key men in fitted jackets and trendy jeans. The outdoor patio is on a roof with various pools and beds situated on an open patio between three urban-chic high-rises. It’s very reminiscent of “Sex and The City.”
Obar: If you want something geared toward people in their 20s, visit obar. At obar, the doormen and patrons are both incredibly selective, but that’s part of what makes the “obar scene.” The typical obar patron is young, an SMU student, early to mid 20s, drives a 7-series Maseratti, adorned in Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, is trendy, very attractive and hits upscale clubs four (or more) nights a week.
Clear Ultra Lounge: This spot is located in the Davis building in the heart of Dallas’ Main Street district. This club is beautiful, but that’s about it. It’s very small, the clientele is a bit uppity, and not at all casual. I think the tone of Clear Ultra Lounge is set by the shadows of unclothed women dancing on the walls. There’s no real dance floor, just an open space that people kinda-sorta dance in. Apparently it doesn’t get busy there until late at night. If you want to fit in there, you have to be high maintenance, in a shiny dress or a suit that makes you look like a player.
Sports Bar Attire
Christies Sports Bar and Grill: Aside from its prime Uptown location, Christies has the best sports viewing in town. They have NFL Ticket, as well as a March Madness sports package. Sports bar or not, it’s trendy. You’ll bump into Gucci-clad sorority girls trailing their boyfriends who are dressed from head to toe in Ralph Lauren.
Casual Bars
Uptown Pub: This is the place to be if you are yearning to party in the West Village but not willing to get dressed the nines. Enjoy the fresh air outside on the McKinney Side patio – it’s an ideal location for people watching.
The Loon Bar and Grill: This bar is known for some of the stiffest drinks in town. Girls, leave your heels at home. Dressing casual allows these bar-hoppers to be themselves in an unpretentious environment, which successfully combines bar mingling with comfortable seating.
Hotel Bars
Hotel ZaZa’s Dragonfly: Diners look out across the hotel’s pool to see the nightlife hub for the Dallas jet set, just after sundown. Make sure to look good – ZaZa clientele are sleek, chic and dress accordingly. Gentlemen, no shorts or flip-flops. You’ll feel out of place, if they even let you in.
Ghostbar: And who could forget the much-hyped and talked about Ghostbar. Much like ZaZa, Ghostbar transitions seamlessly from day to night. It’s known for its fantastic downtown view, but no better than that from Reunion Tower. Once upstairs, the crowd is a collection of all the negative Dallas stereotypes all thrown haphazardly together into one pseudo-bar environment. It’s almost like a mad science experiment to see what kinds of debauchery will result. Everyone is dressed to impress, but it only serves to create an atmosphere of hyper self-awareness. You can see the pretentious, the older yuppies from the suburbs, leather-faced older women who borrow their teenage daughters’ clothes and the always-present creepy guy at the bar coming on to any female walking within arm’s reach. Ghostbar is quite the experience.
Knox/ Henderson Bars
Suite: For great dancing, there’s no better choice than Suite. People come here to dance, so it isn’t so lonely and awkward to get on the dance floor like most other places in Dallas. At Suite, don’t be afraid to really dress up.
Candle Room: This location offers one of the best experiences around. Unlike most clubs and bars, the Candle Room has an atmosphere that you can’t get anywhere else in Dallas. Dress sexy-hot and in nighttime attire (again no flip-flops).
Samba Room: Located on Travis, this is yet another trendy, high-decibel, Latin-chic hangout for Big D’s beautiful people. On one side is a surprisingly delicious restaurant and on the other, a packed watering hole with a cool serpentine bar. It’s a good place to sip on a mojito or Cuban rum.
The Old Monk: This is a dark, handsome bar across the street from Samba Room. This establishment has been known to crawl with frat boys, “Entourage” wannabes, and Paris Hilton look-alikes. Hey, it’s Dallas – that’s what you get! But overall, this casual bar is a great place to visit when you just want to sit back and relax. The Old Monk is a perfect place to begin or end an evening!
Go out and do as you wish, but consider what you’re wearing because no one wants to feel out of place in one of Dallas’s many nighttime hot spots!
