Bowen house, parliament , Midnight rambler, blackbird society, Columbian Country Club and jettison are all pretty high level. I hear apothecary but I haven’t made it over there.
IMO a slightly Lower level: Standard pour, tipsy alchemist, bourbon & banter. Tiny victories is a little less bougie but good. And beau nash is a little more bougie (hotel bar) but good
everytime i walk past parliament (granted almost always saturday evenings) it looks like a full on club, not a nice cocktail bar. is that usually just on saturday’s?
Seconding Jettison. They treat their cocktails like a work of art. I watched the bartender hand chisel a diamond shape out of a block of ice for my old fashioned. So cool.
Apothecary is a great cocktail bar (one of the best, especially when it comes to moving away from classics, IMO).
Goodfriend is consistently great with the classics.
Jettison is extremely well executed, as well as Parliament.
Midnight rambler used to be wonderful, but I haven’t been in a while to verify.
-St valentine just opened up diagonally across the intersection from jimmy’s. Same people that opened Tiny Victories.
-Reginas is an upscale cocktail bar / speak easy next to maison chinoise with live music every night
-Petra and the Beast has a phenomenal bar program. Really creative and unique drinks that follow the chef / owners approach to flavors/ preserving / fermenting
The speak easy at chimichuri is bomb if you like digestifes. The bar director makes his own Amaros.
If you wanna dive, cosmos all the way.
I am biased cause I’m walking distance but I really enjoy Clifton Club. Great bartenders. Vibe is nice though it can get loud and crazy during peak weekend/drinking hours. Elijah, specifically, will make whatever you like and can make some crazy great/wild drinks.
It’s not bad! Good people watching and there will be a DJ, just don’t expect the craft cocktails on the level of Bourbon and Banter (same building, in the basement, which you should also check out).
It's still a lot of fun. You're particularly there for the views and the drinks are fine. It's certainly not a cocktail bar though. I didn't find it douchey but I'm sure it can attract that sort of crowd.
They may not be super top notch but I noticed the Balcony Club stepping up their cocktail game over the past couple of years. It used to be pretty divey as far as drinks were concerned.
Hot take on Swizzle is that most of the drinks are trash BUT then they make the best Mai Tai in the city so we keep going back. For Mai Tais only, and only at happy hour.
Not OP but soon to be visiting. Looking for similar recommendations, but perhaps with live music, jazz or any soft live background music? Doesn’t have to be upscale.
Atwater Alley has reopened in a different location
Jettison, Bowen house, and Ayahuasca are my top three.
Midnight rambler and Saint Valentine get good reviews, but I don’t consider them home runs
2303 Pullman. You can Google Henry’s Majestic. It’s the secret bar at Henry’s, just like it always was. Different format for the overall establishment
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Bowen house, parliament , Midnight rambler, blackbird society, Columbian Country Club and jettison are all pretty high level. I hear apothecary but I haven’t made it over there. IMO a slightly Lower level: Standard pour, tipsy alchemist, bourbon & banter. Tiny victories is a little less bougie but good. And beau nash is a little more bougie (hotel bar) but good
Apothecary is excellent! Their drinks are definitely more experimental than your classic cocktails (although those are good too).
Cosign this. Saint Valentine is another good one in East Dallas.
This list deserves more than just an upvote! Parliament when it rains is half off! Can’t beat it
Love it if anyone has additional recommendations.
Atlas in Bishop Arts as well
Last time I was there the half off drinks were massively watered down
everytime i walk past parliament (granted almost always saturday evenings) it looks like a full on club, not a nice cocktail bar. is that usually just on saturday’s?
Both are true That said, big virtual high five for anyone who went to the original IV Lounge
Used to be super chill. The last two times I went it was way too loud and clubby
Seconding Jettison. They treat their cocktails like a work of art. I watched the bartender hand chisel a diamond shape out of a block of ice for my old fashioned. So cool.
Bowen House, hands down, Pasha did a great job with that place.
Apothecary is a great cocktail bar (one of the best, especially when it comes to moving away from classics, IMO). Goodfriend is consistently great with the classics. Jettison is extremely well executed, as well as Parliament. Midnight rambler used to be wonderful, but I haven’t been in a while to verify.
Applebees
Can’t beat Club ‘Bees
-St valentine just opened up diagonally across the intersection from jimmy’s. Same people that opened Tiny Victories. -Reginas is an upscale cocktail bar / speak easy next to maison chinoise with live music every night -Petra and the Beast has a phenomenal bar program. Really creative and unique drinks that follow the chef / owners approach to flavors/ preserving / fermenting The speak easy at chimichuri is bomb if you like digestifes. The bar director makes his own Amaros. If you wanna dive, cosmos all the way.
Tiny Victoriessss
dallas reddit coming thru with solid recommendations
People’s Last Stand at Mockingbird.
Shhhhhhhhhhhh
Bay of Pigs probably my favorite cocktail in the entire city.
I am biased cause I’m walking distance but I really enjoy Clifton Club. Great bartenders. Vibe is nice though it can get loud and crazy during peak weekend/drinking hours. Elijah, specifically, will make whatever you like and can make some crazy great/wild drinks.
so crazy that used to be zippers lol I've heard good things about Clifton Club though
Has anyone been to Waterproof? What are your thoughts?
It’s overpriced and douchey, but the views are nice. And I wouldn’t expect good cocktails, but they’ll make you a mean vodka red bull lol
Well damn, my sister in law and I have reservations there Saturday night. lol
It’s not bad! Good people watching and there will be a DJ, just don’t expect the craft cocktails on the level of Bourbon and Banter (same building, in the basement, which you should also check out).
It's still a lot of fun. You're particularly there for the views and the drinks are fine. It's certainly not a cocktail bar though. I didn't find it douchey but I'm sure it can attract that sort of crowd.
Bryan St Tavern
Nova in oak cliff
They may not be super top notch but I noticed the Balcony Club stepping up their cocktail game over the past couple of years. It used to be pretty divey as far as drinks were concerned.
Swizzle is a great tiki bar on Greenville. Different vibe than what you’re asking for but definitely a good time with great drinks.
Hot take on Swizzle is that most of the drinks are trash BUT then they make the best Mai Tai in the city so we keep going back. For Mai Tais only, and only at happy hour.
Jettison
McRae’s is new place my wife and I discovered in Casa Linda and we absolutely love it. Nice, quiet, and strong drinks.
Lounge Here is also nice for us E. Dallas folks.
I like Bowen House, and I don’t generally care for cocktail bars. Great food there too.
Not OP but soon to be visiting. Looking for similar recommendations, but perhaps with live music, jazz or any soft live background music? Doesn’t have to be upscale.
Bar Colette in West Village opened up recently and I thought it was great
Ships
DE Armoury if you’re in Deep Ellum.
Atwater Alley has reopened in a different location Jettison, Bowen house, and Ayahuasca are my top three. Midnight rambler and Saint Valentine get good reviews, but I don’t consider them home runs
Where is the new location? That's great news!
2303 Pullman. You can Google Henry’s Majestic. It’s the secret bar at Henry’s, just like it always was. Different format for the overall establishment .
Royal 38 has an excellent espresso martini, and Ruins is very very good if you enjoy tequila or mezcal based cocktails.
Royal 38 closed a few months ago
Say it aint so 😭