Recently we chatted about some of the best patios in our fine city. Now we've put together a list of some of our favorite rooftops. We hope ... no, rather, insist you find a spot at one of these places very soon. Dare we suggest you imbibe a cold beer in the unobstructed sun under the abating heat, sunglasses on, slightly slouched in a chair on a deck? Life is outside, people.
See also: - Best of Dallas® 2012 - Patio Drunk
The Soda Bar at NYLO Southside (1325 Lamar), a boutique hotel, just opened a couple of weeks ago across from the Cedars Social, but we already think it should be on the regular rotation of places to enhance your vitamin D intake. The Soda Bar sits atop the hotel and offers and totally chill scene and a stellar panoramic view of the downtown skyline.
Owner Fergal McKinney recently renovated the second story of The Black Friar in uptown (2621 McKinney Ave.) and added an upstairs bar and balcony. The interior of this spot has always been dark, slightly brooding and a great place to hide out. Turns out, some of the woodwork that adorns The Black Friar originally came from a castle in England owned by Pete Townshend of The Who, and its first home in Dallas was at the original Hard Rock Café that used to be next door. Cool, huh? Well, now you can grab a proper stein of Franconia's Oktoberfest (or many, many others) and sit on the upstairs balcony for possibly the best people watching along McKinney Avenue.
Terilli's (2815 Greenville Ave.) came back strong after a fire destroyed the iconic spot a couple of years ago. The large rooftop patio offers a beautiful view of lower Greenville. The atmosphere is usually pretty relaxed and is certainly enhanced with a plate of their famous Italian nachos.
When the owners of Stackhouse Burgers (2917 Gaston Ave.) refurbished this 1920s-era house last year, they made sure it retained much of its old charm. And they did so very well. Not only does Stackhouse serve one of the best burgers in town, the two patios are refreshing. On the rooftop, the sharp angles of the tall A-frame house offer a nook with a view of downtown Dallas through the canopy of trees.
Sundown at Granada (3520 Greenville Ave.) opened earlier this year as an enhancement, if you will, to the Granada Theater next door. They brought in chef Patrick Stark and completely renovated what used to be the M Street Bar. The rooftop patio is a great place for a drink while lounging on one of their giant couches and soaking up late summer sunshine or perched at the rail watching the busy neighborhood below. Some nights they bring out a DJ or have special watching parties, like for Breaking Bad or any sporting event. If nothing else, the music is always good.
The Quarter Bar (3301 McKinney Ave.) might be easy to miss with all the fuss over it's sister restaurant Bread Winners, but that's a mistake. The downstairs bar has an eclectic New Orleans feel and the rooftop patio has a lot of different seating and areas to hang out. They don't open until 4 p.m., but they have a variety of drink and food specials throughout the week. The Quarter Bar lacks the polished modern feel of the new places along McKinney, which is exactly what makes it great.
Oh, sure there might be a few things that grab your attention when you walk into The Grapevine Bar (3902 Maple Ave.). But, keep moving past all the grandma and grandpa chairs lined along the wall, through the spacious patio out back and never mind that basketball court with mean game of one-on-one and head straight for the rooftop bar. This little dive is nothing but a good time waiting to happen, and the Sunday through Monday all day happy hour prices are a gem. Go for the view, stay for the entertainment and discover a Pom Pom.
