Where To Drink Now
Where to drink in Dallas right now: 6 best bars for something new
Where to drink? It's an important question. And we have an answer — or six answers, to be precise. Newness is the theme this month: These restaurants and bars have either just opened or just rolled out a new special or bar program.
Gather your drinking buddies:
Filament
Matt McCallister's Deep Ellum hub is already garnering national attention, as it's one of the reasons Zagat named Dallas a foodie city for 2016. But let's not overlook beverage director Seth Brammer's cocktails, which are conveniently included on the restaurant's new happy hour. All cocktails priced $10 and under are only a fiver between 4:30 and 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Of course, whiskey and bourbon are the focus, so try out the Whiskey Smash (bourbon, mint, demerara sugar, and lemon), and maybe order some small plates and classic dishes (fried "hot" catfish, anyone?), which are also conveniently half off.
Ida Claire
The term "ladies night" usually conjures up less-than-savory images of discotheques or aggressive sports bars, but not at Ida Claire. The Pinterest explosion in Addison doesn't rely only on its shabby-chic birdcages and mismatched china to draw in the women. Every Wednesday from 4 pm until close, the gals get half-price bottles of rosé.
Proof + Pantry
A new spring beverage menu brings with it kaffir lime leaf-infused gin, hibiscus syrup, cold-brew coffee, and lots of Top Chico. Courtesy of master barman Michael Martensen and bar manager Josh McEachern, these cocktails — still separated into No Proof, Low Proof, and High Proof — give plenty of options for tasty new libations. During happy hour — Monday-Friday happy, 4 to 7 pm — take $2 off all specialty cocktails, or choose from a trio of classic cocktails priced at $5.
Quill
This Dallas Design District lounge is so new, so modern, and so expensive that you might be wondering why it's on this list. There's bottle service, for goodness' sake, and glasses of champagne begin at $100. But there is also a hefty handful of beers — local, imported, and domestic — that range from $5 to $7. If you're dying to get in and experience this new joint without hitting your credit card limit, this is how.
Remedy
The Lower Greenville spot is overhauling its beverage menu, and you can taste the new sips for less during the weekday happy hour. For a while now, Remedy has offered $5 highball cocktails and $2 housemade sodas (along with that delicious cheeseburger for only $6.50) from 3-6 pm, Monday through Friday. Now we have updated cocktails, grouped into the three categories — rich/velvet, bright/sharp, and fizzy/bubbly — to try. Beverage director Mate Hartai is also playing with things like housemade coconut cream, and cashew/orange and pistachio/pumpkin seed orgeats, to add depth to Tiki classics. There also is a collection of made-to-order punches focusing on port, sherry, and other fortified wines.
Top Knot
The younger, hipper sibling to Uchi is offering a pretty sweet happy hour. Head upstairs between 4:30 and 6:30 pm daily, and you get your choice of five drinks and five plates for just $5 each. Not great if you're looking for lots of choices, but just perfect if you want to sample Shirakabe Gura sake or the mysterious Top Knot punch with your crispy pork bun.
