Lauren Drewes Daniels
Audio By Carbonatix
It’s that dark quarter of the year when family is back in town, homecoming is nigh, and that aunt or uncle has an official invite to the function. Need a strong drink or a martini so dirty you’ll blush? Sames.
Cheap drinks, low lights and sticky floors are the only way to cope these days. Here are our 11 favorite dive bars that still smell like smoke, and no matter how many times you wipe down the bar, it’s still a little sticky.
Lakewood Landing, East Dallas
Lakewood Landing has held steady as Dallas’ “one and only upscale dive” for over 50 years. Upscale means one thing everywhere else, but at this dive, it means the corndogs are house-battered. You see the vision when you settle into this dimly lit bar with a lauded jukebox and worn details. If you thought the charm stopped there, wait until you see the menu. The drinks are cheap and almost all the food is under $10, including “the” burger and the award-winning Philly cheesesteak. You see? 5818 Live Oak St.
The Grapevine, Medical District
Wine bar turned dive bar? You don’t hear that every day. The Grapevine opened as a spot for vino on Maple Avenue in 1996, but quickly evolved into a come-as-you-are dive when the regulars demanded something stronger. Despite the bar’s loyal following, the land beneath it was purchased and dozed, forcing relocation. Now, two miles from the original location, most of The Grapevine’s original art, nameplates and soft lights decorate this bigger space, equipped with a two-story patio, grandma couches, pool tables and outdoor courtyards. 2213 Butler St.
Lauren Drewes Daniels
The Peak Inn, Old East Dallas
If The Peak Inn were your neighbor, it might be a problem. This is an easy bar, with a great juke box and a fantastic cheeseburger. Weekday happy hour runs until 10 p.m. here (20% off all alcohol), plus on Mondays, you can get a burger and fries for just nine bucks. There’s pool, darts and Golden Tee, plus TVs for all the sports. It’s laid-back, dark and has great food. Leaving is the hard part. 132 N. Peak St.
Double Wide, Deep Ellum
At Dallas’ favorite little ol’ trailer park, the drinks hit harder than dad, so they say. Since 2003, Double Wide has served the coldest beer and stiff concoctions like the Yoo-Hoo Yee-Haw and HurriTANG, which could, perhaps, evoke those deeply buried childhood memories. Live music, at least every Friday and Saturday, ranges from rock to country, plus karaoke and other events from time to time. 3510 Commerce St.
Lee Harvey’s, The Cedars
Don’t be afraid, just go on in. Asked about the reference to the assassin’s name, the original owner, Timm Zbylut, told us, “It’s just Lee Harvey’s.” (No Oswald.) OK. This quirky dive bar has been making us ponder what we thought we knew for more than 20 years. There’s a large outdoor space with plenty of picnic tables and often live music on the porch. The burgers and wings are great; the onion rings are epic. 1807 Gould St.
Charlie’s Star Lounge, Deep Ellum
The outskirts of Deep Ellum is the place to be kind and unwind, as per the motto at Charlie’s Star Lounge. They host themed nights, a beloved Friday night karaoke and a colorful kitchen sink for patrons. “Big Fun” and crew sling libations behind the bar like the must-try Cherry-Lime-Yay, a frozen cherry limeade with vodka. The catch? The bathroom sinks are not sex-proof. 4319 Main St.
Cosmo’s, East Dallas
Owners Gerald and Debra always wanted to own their own retro dive bar where they could keep things interesting and old school in the Lakewood Area. Cosmo’s, with its ’70s vintage furniture and groovy lights, does just that. Microsoft Word was definitely used to create the menu, but their fresh, classic cocktails and eclectic variety of food prove worthy. Allegedly, this dive has some of the best pho in Dallas thanks to executive chef Jackson Tran’s family recipe. Also on the menu are Stoner Wings and much more (but try the pho anyway). Party tip: this spot is within walking distance of Lakewood Landing if you want a twofer one night. 1212 Skillman St.
Adair’s Saloon, Downtown
Sunday through Friday, happy hour, free pool on Mondays, and live country music? Yes. Adair’s Saloon has been open since 1963. Seven nights a week, Dallas’ upcoming artists and other Texas talent appear on the stage. If they don’t, the regulars will get the damn jukebox playing the sounds of legends like Bob Wills or Hank Williams. Graffiti and art cover about every square inch of the walls and include photo memorabilia of famous and not-famous folk who have passed through the bar, including the blown-up photo of some guy named Elvis Presley taken back in 1955. If their walls could talk, there’d be unbelievable lore. 2624 Commerce St.
Ships Lounge, Lower Greenville
Ships knows what it is. This small bar at the lowest of Lower Greenville has all the small but important things, like a ciggie machine, a pool table, no matter how awkwardly placed, and a padded bar front so your forearms don’t get those weird indentations. You may be listing (obligatory nautical pun) by the end of the night here, but to do otherwise would be an insult to one of the oldest dark bars in Dallas. 1613 Greenville Ave.
Mike’s Gemini Twin Lounge, The Cedars
What do bar-top hot dog rollers and stripper poles have in common? They’re both conversation pieces for a night at Mike’s Gemini Twin Lounge. The standout name of this dive tucked away near Old City Park is a nod to an old drive-in theater that used to be parked along Central Expressway. Nowadays, the frozen espresso martini here is a winner, as is the free pool on Sundays, an array of board games and meal deals: Mike’s Seventh Heaven gets you a Wagyu hot dog (Meats by Linz) and a martini for $15. Yum! 1906 Harwood St.
Fireplace Lounge, East Dallas
Fireplace Lounge is a book you should absolutely judge by its cover. We know a gem when we see one. It’s a plain white building squeezed between a golf course and I-30 in Old East Dallas, and the only way you know it’s there is with the yellow-tinted “Fireplace Lounge” sign out front that’s half rusted. You know exactly who you’ll find here, too. Recent divorcees, those celebrating a birthday, or anyone who was the lucky patron of pay-it-forward at the drive-thru. Sometimes they host random bonfires in the “backyard” and a potluck you can spot atop the pool table. If you want to hear your favorite songs in-tune, heed the jukebox; otherwise, out-of-tune classics are courtesy of the karaoke machine. 3122 Samuell Blvd.
