Where to Drink Now

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 floral cocktails in bloom

Spring means flowers, whether in the form of gardens, crowns, or cocktails. Dallas bartenders are giving the season a nod by infusing their creations with petals and blooming ingredients, so drink up before summer hits and the heat causes even the sturdiest blossom to wilt.

American Beauty, Abacus
The food may be getting the spotlight right now, thanks to chef Christopher Patrick's James Beard House debut, but Abacus is still dominating behind the bar. There are several floral-inspired drinks from which to choose, but this beauty queen combines Ford's gin, Luxardo maraschino cherries, rose syrup, lemon, egg white, and pink peppercorn, then crowns it with dried rose buds. Even cocktails are wearing flower crowns now.

Moment of Zen, Eastwood's Bar
This casual Uptown spot just introduced a new weekday happy hour from 4-8 pm, with all by-the-glass drinks going for $5 and under. That includes craft cocktails such as this one, which mixes vodka, housemade Zen syrup, sparkling wine, and hibiscus — and it's only $3.

The Great Gatsby, High & Tight Barbershop
This speakeasy doubles down on flowers, using them as both an ingredient and a garnish. For $9 you get Aviation gin, pamplemousse rosé, orange, lemon, and a mist of orange blossom water, all topped with a delicate bloom.

Flora, Flora Street Cafe
With flowers in its name, of course this Stephan Pyles restaurant lets its cocktail menu blossom. The namesake takes junipero, lemon verbena, elderflower liqueur, creme de violette, and lavender bitters to produce a dreamy pink cocktail that's accented with a delicate flower sprig.

Bohemian Bloom, Midnight Rambler
The Joule's underground bar has a flower power-themed spring cocktail menu, with floral essential oils, hydrosols, extracts, honeys, pollen, roots, and dried flowers all going into several new libations. But this is the one to order if you're missing the the Rambler's formerly iconic Sonic Bloom. It has gentian (a pretty blue flower), Douglas fir, pear, grapefruit, elderflower, and brut sparkling wine.

The namesake cocktail at Flora Street Cafe.

Flora Street Cafe/Facebook

The namesake cocktail at Flora Street Cafe.

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Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas: 7 bars with St. Patrick's Day specials

Velvet Taco

Green margarita with a green velvet cake

It's that time of year again to gather up all your green for St. Patrick's Day. The holiday, which started in Ireland and was introduced to the U.S. in 1737, has evolved to be very boozy. It's definitely a big deal in Dallas, which comes out for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Greenville Avenue in force.

For the March edition of our monthly Where to Drink column, we go green with restaurants and bars offering St. Patrick's day specials:

Fuzzy's
Taco shop chain will bring the luck of the Irish with the Ginger Irish ’Rita, a limited-time cocktail that gives Fuzzy’s signature frozen margarita an orange kick thanks to a float of Jameson Orange, an orange-flavored version of Jameson Irish Whiskey, topped with spicy Q Ginger Ale for $10. Available March 10-May 5.

Kona Grill
Hawaiian restaurant is offering a swath of lucky specials during happy hour. There will be $3 green beer, sake, and seltzer. Featured bites include $6 corned beef sliders available for dine-in and takeout. Available March 14-March 21.

Logan’s Roadhouse
Laid-back steakhouse chain is featuring green beer for $4-$5. They also have a green butter which can be paired with Logan’s rolls. Available at Hurst and Burleson locations March 14–17.

Mexican Bar CompanyMexican Bar Company

Mexican Bar Company
Plano restaurant is celebrating St. Patrick's Day all month long with its drink of the month: Called the Lucky Charm, it's a lively sip featuring basil infused agave, cucumber puree, lime juice, serrano-infused Lalo Blanco Tequila, and a fresh serrano pepper for garnish, if you dare. $17.50.

STK
Uptown steakhouse will offer the Leprechaun Stiletto — made with Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, St. Germain, cucumber, and mint — during happy hour for $9. Food specials include corned beef sliders, $26 for two. Available March 14-March 21 from 3-6 pm.

Thirsty Lion
Pub chain has cocktail and beer specials including an Irish espresso martini and an Irish old-fashioned, both made with Jameson Whiskey. They'll also be pouring Guinness Stout, Smithwick's Red Ale, and the Blacksmith:: Smithwick's layered with Guinness Stout. Bites include Scotch eggs, Reuben sandwich, and Irish Shepherd's pie. Available at Addison, The Colony, Plano, Las Colinas, and Euless through March 17.

Velvet Taco
Taco chain has two Irish specials: A green margarita with Lunazul blanco tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave nectar.; and a green twist on their red velvet cake, tinted green and topped with Lucky Charms. The margarita is available in small for $5 and large for $8, and the cake is $4.25. Both available from March 17-21.

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