Drink Up

Raise a glass to the coolest hotel bars in downtown Dallas

True Dallas cocktail connoisseurs know that hotels aren't just for out-of-town visitors. Just as downtown Dallas hosts some of the state's swankiest places to stay, it's also the home of some stellar hotel bars.

So leave the suitcases at home and check in — er, out — the hottest hotel watering holes in downtown Dallas.

AC Lounge, AC Hotel Dallas Downtown
Classic cocktails are on the menu here, and you can sample several during the bar's generous happy hour. This bar actually services three hotels, so expect a well-traveled clientele, many of whom might be feeling chatty.

Bourbon & Banter and Scout, The Statler
Ask the front desk for that evening's password, then head downstairs to what used to be the hotel's beauty salon. Pick up the phone in the booth, dial in the secret code, then feel very top-secret as the door swings open and you're granted entry into the stylish speakeasy. For a slightly funkier atmosphere, head to Scout and sample the wide selection of craft beers while challenging passersby to a game of ping pong or bowling.

Central Cafe and Upside, Canopy by Hilton Dallas
Locally sourced brews and food are served up in the lobby-set Central Cafe, which feels airy and casual (but not too casual). Eight stories above, Upside serves 360-degree views of downtown from its rooftop patio, along with unique cocktails and several great beer and wine options.

Draft Sports Bar & Lounge, Sheraton Dallas
With 12 local beers on tap, handcrafted cocktails, and American comfort food, this sports bar is just right for catching a game or two. It earns an even bigger sports pedigree for being the official media center of Super Bowl XLV, when Dallas hosted the big game.

The French Room Bar and the Lobby Bar, The Adolphus
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of Dallas knows that The French Room is one of the city's chicest dining experiences, but don't overlook its elegant bar. In the huge lobby, you can take your pick of seats and chat it up with locals and hotel guests alike.

The Lobby Bar, the Westin Dallas Downtown
This hub for business travelers means you'll always be able to find a partner for interesting conversation. Pick a brew from the superior beer list, kick back, and get ready to expand your horizons.

Lorenzo Kitchen, Lorenzo Hotel
Your senses are in for an avalanche at this hotel, where art and artistic touches decorate every conceivable surface and area. The dining options are no different, with cowhide and hot pink chairs sitting below a mirrored disc ceiling and dozens of framed vintage photographs. Craft cocktails, local drafts, and an assortment of cans and bottles make happy hour a happening hot spot.

Midnight Rambler, The Joule
CultureMap Dallas awarded this underground favorite the title of 2016's Best Bar of the Year, and that's not a commendation to be taken lightly. It boasts possibly the best liquor selection in all of Dallas, wielded by bartenders who can whip up one-of-a-kind cocktails to suit any palate.

Monduel's, Hyatt Regency
It doesn't feel like a coincidence that the Hyatt is right next to Reunion Tower — one of Dallas' tallest landmarks — and the inside of its bar boasts what feels like the highest ceiling in the city. The sleek, mirrored bar only adds to the feeling of spaciousness, but don't worry: a drink or two will help keep you grounded.

The Owners Box, Omni Dallas Hotel
It follows that a top-tier sports town must have a superior sports bar, and this tech-savvy destination is among the best. Private game-watching tables include sound isolating technology and interactive scheduling, or you can catch the game on the 16-foot screen. Oversized seating areas and a killer patio, plus a mouthwatering menu and awesome beer selection, round out its attributes.

Petro Bar & Bistro, Cambria Hotel
Located inside the historic Tower Petroleum Building, this impressively large bar is surrounded by wrap-around windows that look out onto the hustle and bustle of downtown. Leather-backed barstools surround the blue and brass bar, where staff concocts locally inspired mixed drinks. A wide-ranging wine selection spans the globe with 14 varietals, and local picks fill out the taps, cans, and bottles.

The Pyramid Bar, Fairmont Dallas
Just as its exotic name suggests, The Pyramid Bar excels at serving an eclectic list of fine wines, exotic ports, sensational vodkas and rums, single malt scotches, bourbons and cognacs, and favorite aperitifs. The TV is a nice touch for the sports fan, but don't even think about asking for volume.

WXYZ, Aloft
This casual chain's trademark trendiness is on full display at its bar, where there's plenty of comfortable seating and a friendly bar staff that's always ready to keep your glass full. Check out the better-than-average wine selection, which offers plenty of wallet-friendly options in both red and white.

Still thirsty? Here are a few others to add to your list: Titches Bar and Bistro at Hotel Indigo, The Lounge at Magnolia Dallas Downtown, and Izkina at Deep Ellum Hostel.

Lorenzo Kitchen has a happening happy hour.

Lorenzo Hotel/Facebook

Lorenzo Kitchen has a happening happy hour.

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Losing some spice

Beloved neighborhood taqueria to close after 37 years in Dallas' Oak Cliff

Facebook/El Padrink

Cafeteria y Loncheria El Padrino will close its doors at the end of 2026, following 37 years serving the neighborhood.

An Oak Cliff taqueria will close its doors at the end of 2026, ending nearly 37 years serving the neighborhood. Cafeteria y Loncheria El Padrino, the brightly painted-brick gem at 408 W. Jefferson Blvd., will lose its lease at the end of December, according to Juan Contreras, son of the restaurant's owner.

Contreras confirmed to CultureMap that property managers will not renew his father's lease and have given the restaurant less than three months to vacate.

“Honestly it’s not a surprise,” Contreras says in an Instagram post. “With Bishop Arts and all the development interest around it, something was bound to happen eventually.”

The little restaurant sits at the end of a row of thrift and quinceañera dress shops, a few blocks from Bishop Avenue and the evolving Bishop Arts District.

Contreras, who shares his father's name, says the little Oak Cliff El Padrino was his dad’s first restaurant. “His dream," Contreras notes. "He’s been feeding this neighborhood since 1989.”

The family later opened a second location in Pleasant Grove.

Both restaurants are beloved for their welcoming atmosphere and unfussy, authentic Mexican fare.

"As a small business in Oak Cliff, we know what it means to be part of a community. Our neighbors are not just customers .. they are family," notes a Facebook post from the taqueria.

While handmade tortillas and tacos are staples, customers also come for antojitos — or "little cravings" — such as guacamole, menudo, pan dulce, queso, French fries, and chips. Heartier options include machacado (shredded meat) and eggs with bacon strips and cheese in the beans.

Regulars know, love, and fear the camarones a la diabla — shrimp that made a deal with the devil — with shellfish "swimming in salsa roja so picante, it’ll make your abuela say '¡Ay, Dios mío!'," says El Padrio's Facebook page. They recommend ordering a cold agua fresca de piña bien before taking a bite: "That sweet pineapple coolness is your lifesaver."

The younger Contreras, who is involved in local advocacy and community organizing, says the history of Oak Cliff — particularly the area around his father’s restaurant — illustrates the less welcome side of neighborhood revitalization.

“This has been building for years. Elected officials and interest groups sell you a beautiful picture of what a neighborhood can become," he says in his social media post. "What they leave out is that the people who stayed and kept these neighborhoods alive when nobody else wanted them are usually the ones priced out or pushed aside for ‘better’ tenants.”

The elder Contreras came to the U.S. "with nothing but his hands and the hope that his kids would have it easier than he did," says the son, "the way so many of our fathers did."

Unless something changes before the end of the year, the Oak Cliff location will continue operating throughout 2026, Contreras says. The Pleasant Grove location will remain open and unaffected, he adds.

“If you’re one of the Oak Cliff regulars or you’ve been meaning to stop by, now’s the time,” he says. “Come eat, order out, and tell your friends. Every visit means a lot to my dad right now.”

Hope is not entirely lost for the owner and local fans of his restaurant, Contreras says. The Contreras family has weathered its share of challenges and does not intend to give up on Oak Cliff easily. They just need to find an appropriate and affordable space from which to operate.

“This isn’t our first rodeo. If you know of a move-in-ready space in Oak Cliff where my dad can plug in and cook, send me a message," he says.

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