Beach News

New bar concept with giant sand pit brings beach to Dallas' Bishop Arts

You can sip your cocktail and dig your toes into the sand.

Dallas' Bishop Arts district has a new bar experience with ... sand. Called Bishop Lane, it's a former walkway that's been reimagined into a beachy scene with sandpit, thatched hut-style outdoor bars, and oodles of outdoor seating.

The concept is the latest from Exxir Hospitality, whose portfolio of bars and restaurants includes Oak Cliff haunts such as Paradiso, the Mediterranean restaurant in Bishop Arts; Botanist, the mixology-driven cocktail bar; and Good Companions, the casual cafe.

Located at 200 N. Bishop Ave., Bishop Lane is a 12,000-square-foot plaza that runs parallel to Bishop Avenue from the parking lot on 9th Street to Melba Avenue, now re-imagined as a tropical paradise.

Basically, they've cleverly repurposed a walkway that ran behind some of their concepts and transformed it into an outdoor oasis with a beach theme. This includes:

rattan couches
beach umbrellas in both striped canvas and thatched palm
blue-and-white striped beach chairs
pink aluminum drink tables
palm tree sculptures

These are all splayed across a big sandpit, spanning 1,000 square feet with 13 tons of sand, begging you to take your shoes off. Although it's brown sand, not white sand, but come on, this is Oak Cliff, not Bora Bora, stop being picky. (They do have great white sand at Sandbar Cantina and Grill, between Deep Ellum & Expo Park.)

Exxir has added two new outdoor bar concepts as part of the space: The Palm Bar at Casablanca, and Tejas Beach Shack.

Contributing to the beachside vibe are pop-up shops and street-food vendors, selling beach-style snacks such as tamales, tacos, walking tacos, multiple elote concoctions, noodles, bites, and craft cocktails, from executive chef Nick Hurry and beverage director Iluggy Recinos.

Food and drink items include Tejas Beach Shack's Frozen Chamoy Margaritas and Cool Ranch Doritos Walking Tacos, the Palm Bar's Longer Long Island Cocktail, and Casablanca's Dan Dan Noodles.

All offerings can be mixed and matched to be eaten throughout the al fresco seating areas.

Live music and DJ’s will be a big component, on Fridays from 6:30-8:30 pm and Saturdays from 7:30-10:30 pm.

Each weekend will celebrate a beach from around the globe:

June 3-4 - Hawaii
June 10-12 - Miami Salsa Night
June 17-19 - Venice
June 24-2 - Ibiza

nightlife

Sweet spot

Artisanal Venezuelan bakery with French flair rises in north Dallas

Courtesy photo

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A new bakery with Latin roots and European elan has debuted in north Dallas: Called Pan Pa’ Vos, it is a Venezuelan bakery at 3855 Frankford Rd., near the border with Carrollton.

Pan Pa’ Vos (which means “bread for you” in Spanish), features a unique balance of cozy neighborhood bakery and sophisticated French boulangerie.

The shop is from Jaiver Díaz, who first opened the bakery under the same name in 2017, in his hometown of Cabimas, Venezuela. Díaz later sold his shop and moved to Dallas in search of better opportunities. He continued to bake at home in Dallas and sold to neighbors and fellow Venezuelans who knew his brand from back home.

During his delivery rounds, he kept seeing this vacant space on Frankford Road, formerly home to a dry-cleaners, so he decided to open the shop to cater to the growing demand that his home bakery business was no longer able to keep up with.

Pan Pa’ Vos offers a “flour to final product,” which he says are 100 percent artisanal, additive- and preservative-free, never-frozen baked goods.

“This sets us apart,” Díaz says.

The vast menu created by Díaz includes beautiful bicolor croissants in assorted flavors including pistachio, chocolate, dulce de leche, Nutella, and strawberries and cream, for $6. They also have savory croissants such as brisket, chicken, egg, turkey, and pulled pork, for $8.

Other French offerings include mille-feuille and palmiers.

True to their Venezuelan roots, they serve cachitos, a crescent-shaped bread roll filled with ham, ham and bacon, or ham and cream cheese, and an assortment of savory empanadas.

Other popular items include New York rolls, cruffins, and doughnuts, ranging from $3 to $5, and cakes by the slice for $5, or 10-inch cakes for $35.

Pan Pa’ Vos also bakes hamburger and hot dog buns, sourdough bread and French bread for pick up.

The bakery's two-story space is designed in earthy colors for a fresh, comfortable feel, with plenty of tables and booths, and a wide window overlooking the kitchen. They offer a full coffee and tea menu to complement their pastry menu.

“Our concept is relaxing, clean and quiet,” Díaz says. “It is all about order and presentation.”

They are open daily from 7 am-9 pm.

bakeries

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New bar concept with giant sand pit brings beach to Dallas' Bishop Arts

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