When the soup of the day is “mimosas” and sangrias come in towers, you know you’ve found home. Not to mention the spicy and tropical F*** It Bucket. And while we all loved (sometimes too much) their original Uptown location, their new spot has a large outdoor space; every seat on their patio, rooftop and inside has views of TVs. It's literally wall-to-wall sports here. It's a great option for catching local sports teams, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit on the patio.

Adair’s Saloon is Deep Ellum’s outpost for what truly makes country music country. With frequent guest musicians representing the best of outlaw country from North Texas and around the nation, Adair’s boasts a honky tonk vibe in a dive bar atmosphere. The kitchen is open until 1:30 a.m. nightly offering some of the best bar burgers, sandwiches and wings for a surprisingly reasonable price. Be sure to grab a pen and leave your mark on the wall. Some may call it graffiti, but the good folks at Adair’s call it art.

Let us be perfectly clear: There’s no such thing as a speakeasy anymore. Alcohol is legal again, and if you didn’t know that, we hope the rock you live under is air-conditioned. When it comes to bars based on speakeasy vibes, though, Akai is the best. To get there, a Musume staff member will guide you into the restaurant kitchen and through a cinderblock passage to the sexy backroom that is Akai. A red dragon hangs from the dark ceiling over red benches lit by warm red lights (akai is the Japanese word for “red”). The cocktails are intricate and beautifully presented. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more New York-style (not really) speakeasy in Dallas.

The Alamo Club feels like it’s always been a part of Lower Greenville despite having opened in 2019. Owner Austin Rogers can often be found running food, taking orders and sometimes bussing tables at the classy Dallas club. The Alamo Club is billed as a cozy spot fit for any occasion, a quiet date night, an outing with the family or drinks with friends. To make sure patrons don’t go hungry, Rogers enlisted the help of English chef Michale West. The menu is filled with mouth-watering apps for the table and entrees like the Club Cheese Burger and the Pot Roast Pappardelle.

If you’re in the mood for drinks but don’t want to get wasted on vodka-crans, Alexandre’s is your spot. The long bar, comfortable seating and small stage give Alexandre’s the intimate feel of a speakeasy or jazz lounge. Plus, the knowledgeable team can whip up delicious craft cocktails such as mint julep, clover clubs and sidecars. On weekends, Alexandre’s showcases local talent with live music performances from local singers and bands.

Equipped with a full-service restaurant, bar and a music venue, Amplified Live has a big patio area, a private pond and live music. They offer craft and imported beers and your favorite domestics. Amplified, formerly called Gas Monkey, also has a laundry list of appetizers on their menu: fried mac n’ cheese, pulled pork stuffed peppers, wings and Texas style loaded fries with queso, bacon bits and ranch dressing.

Is Angry Dog a restaurant or a bar? It's a great place to have some drinks while watching a game, get a good meal and hang out. So, a bar, right? Are good salads on the menu a disqualifier? What about a packed house when the Stars are in the playoffs? See? Tough call. So, we threw a dart at our Angry Dog Venn diagram and it landed on bars. The burgers, chili cheese dogs or club sandwiches are great for lunch or before a game over at the American Airlines Center or a show in Deep Ellum. Or just let Angry Dog be your only destination and you'll be well entertained, fed and, hopefully, buzzed.

You will miss Apothecary the first time you attempt to visit. That’s part of its charm. This self-ascribed “avant-garde cocktail lounge” is a dark respite from the elements. Here the world is shuttered out, the noise turned down to a delightful whisper. On one visit, a guest at the next table was watching videos on his phone, loudly. Luckily he left before we were able to ask to move. It’s just not a phone-out, sound-up place. At all. There are plenty of those around the city, but not here. Every server knows the cocktail menu inside and out and could narrate a documentary on each drink. The menu is broken into three levels, starting with classics to more free-solo rock climbing type adventures like an R-Oaxaca-Fort (a blue cheese mezcal number) and Death in the Afternoon (absinthe and bubbles). The food menu includes a charcuterie board, caviar service, a vegan Bolognese and a short-rib plate served with potato pave and white chocolate. Make reservations to be sure to get a seat.

When the Armoury D.E. opened its doors in 2015, its mission was to offer some of the best cocktails, food and live music Deep Ellum had seen in years. The Armoury has stuck to what it knows best, offering a casual dining experience with a diverse selection of Hungarian comfort foods and other good stuff that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else. Be sure to ask about the burger of the week while you’re there. Also, venture out back to catch one of their free live shows, curated with a music taste as refined as the bar’s choice in booze.

Atlas opened in 2021 in the Bishop Arts District with a global cocktail menu. The vibe here is come-one-come-all. Pretty Aperol Spritzes stand tall alongside bottles of Lone Stars on the bar. It’s a fun mix of locals, tourists and first dates. Notice a bookshelf at the back of the bar and ask yourself if anyone here is doing much reading. Not likely. The bookshelf serves as a fake door that leads to a back bar, which rotates global themes (remember, Atlas) and seats about two dozen but packs in many more. It’s open in the evenings, Friday through Sunday. Try the pho, it’s co-owner Dan Bui’s family recipe, and it's bliss. And their toasty Cuban with house-roasted pork is magnificent.

Few places are left where you can truly feel like you’re in a bygone era, but the Balcony Club feeds that fantasy convincingly. The landmark jazz club on the second floor next to the old Lakewood Theater is a go-to spot for aspiring old-timers, no matter their age. The intimate space and dimly lit ambiance scream “date night,” as there’s only room for a cheek-to-cheek dancing, making The Balcony a great choice to take that person you’re trying to get to know much, much better.

Barbara’s Pavilion, or as the Oak Cliff townies like to call it “Barb’s,” is probably your favorite bartender’s favorite bar. This beloved watering hole has been slinging drinks to patrons for more than 50 years. So, to be honest, this is probably your mom’s favorite bar too. This low-key dive bar with a retro drip is notable for its epic karaoke nights on Thursdays and Sundays and its steamy burlesque shows every third Wednesday of the month. When locals aren’t belting out their favorite go-to karaoke tunes, you can rock out to anything from '70s golden disco to New Age millennial hits to contemporary hip-hop. Don’t be surprised if you see a celebrity camped out at the bar next to you. It just means they have good taste.

Its building was originally an open air barn built over a century ago to hold cattle for the Fort Worth Stock Show. Since then it has served as an airplane factory and department store before arriving at its true calling in 1981, opening its doors at Billy Bob's Texas, self-billed as "the world's largest honky tonk." There may be a bigger one out there somewhere, but we doubt it, and there's certainly none that has hosted the likes of ZZ Top, BB King and Willie Nelson's July 4th picnic. There's bull riding, both mechanical and live, 30 bar stations and enough space for an army of dancers to two-step the night away in comfort.

Though it’s been around for years, this Lakewood wine bar still feels like a well-kept secret. Bodega’s cozy, cave-like atmosphere and cushy armchairs and couches are perfect for settling in and spending a couple of good hours getting to know its savvy selection of global wines. If you need help deciding, the owners choose every bottle and know their inventory perfectly. The wines are available for retail purchase, too.

In the historic Dallas home of Ahab Bowen, you can brush with a bit of local history while you slam back a few cold beers. It’s located conveniently in uptown Dallas, in, well, an old house. The drink menu tends toward the upscale, with a classy wine list and an assortment of beers in draft, bottles and cans. All your favorite hard liquors are available, too, so don’t fret if you need something a touch stiffer when you stop by Bowen House. There’s also an assortment of signature cocktails. If you’re feeling equal parts literary and spicy, for instance, you could try out the “For Whom the Bell Pepper Tolls,” a mix including tequila, Cynar Amaro, lime and bell pepper.

Lying out of sight, The Branca Room is a speakeasy of sorts behind Chimichurri Bistro in the heart of the Bishop Arts District. To find it, slip down the alley just west of Eno's and look for the red light hanging above the unmarked door. It's self-described as a ceremonious atmosphere honoring the Argentine culture and its rich Italian influence. Inside is lit by crystal chandeliers, showing off Argentinian art and posters. Order anything with Amaro or vermouth. An Amaro Transfusion has house-made vermouth, port, jasmine liqueur and rye, served in an IV bag.

The Silk Road-themed Casablanca sits like an oasis in the heart of the Bishop Arts District, just a few steps off the main artery. Here the mood is a desert oasis with sandy hues and a Moroccan aura. Like any cool desert hangout, its centered on a calming pool of water (which is not for swimming). The menu of small bites stretches from the Middle East to Asia, from smoked edamame to pork and plum dumplings. Casablanca also expanded, adding an adjacent outdoor post called The Palm Bar with grab-and-go cocktails and a sandy lounge area. But if you and your friends like to get loud, get a room: Casanova is a sing easy in the back, with several swank private karaoke lounges for up to 15 guests. Reservations are a must.

“Be Kind, Unwind” is the tagline for this bar right outside of Deep Ellum in the location of the old Starlight Lounge. Allen Falker, owner of Nines in Deep Ellum, and general manager Corey Howe had to replace almost everything in the building: plumbing, electrical, roof, floor, HVAC, bathrooms (for ADA compliance), the parking lot — everything. What is left is a straightforward bar with DJ, music video and karaoke nights. Be sure to try the Cherry Lime-Yay! a frozen cherry limeade with vodka, and if you’re feeling extra fancy, an OIld Fashioned made with Garrison Brothers Single Barrel.