CultureMap's monthly Where to Drink column usually focuses on the best new happy hour specials being offered around Dallas, because what's better than drinking on the cheap?
For this August edition, the theme is broader. There's still a new happy hour, but also a few new bars, and for the beer crowd, a new lineup of IPAs.
Here's where to drink in Dallas right now:
Botanist
If you want to drink at the newest bar in town, this bar in Oak Cliff is opening on August 2. It's at 308 N. Bishop Ave., in the new Bishop Arts development owned by the Nazerian family. A spokesperson says it's a cocktail lounge with the feel of a vintage laboratory of sorts, featuring an ever-changing menu of botanical drinks. Ingredients include flowers, herbs, house-made infusions, and other edible curiosities. Sounds intriguing. Cocktail examples include the Bob Ross, with jalapeño-infused beet tequila, lime juice, agave, and dry Curaçao; the Chrysanthemum, with Fernet-Branca, Bénédictine herbal liqueur, turbinado sugar, absinthe spritz, and a chrysanthemum garnish; and the Mitchell, with Cynar, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, and lemon juice. There are bites, too, including oysters from both coasts, shrimp cocktail, tostones and caviar, fried baby artichokes, cheese, and charcuterie.
On Rotation
This White Rock bar/micro-brewery has some of the most creative beers in Dallas-Fort Worth. Right now, they're celebrating an IPA theme with four new releases of their own, enhanced by a "hopped up" tap list of guest brewers. Their house IPAs include a hazy IPA with Citra, Huell Melon, and Pacifica hops, resulting in notes of citrus, lime, honeydew melon, and strawberry. One very experimental IPA is the ZERO Poms Given, brewed with no hops in the boil. The end product is flush with passionfruit, pineapple, mango, and honeydew aromas while an infusion of pomegranate puree adds a sharp, slightly sour note. You can sit and have a pint, with a pizza from Cane Rosso next door, or take it to go in a growler.
Shark Club
Fresh in from Canada, Shark Club Bar & Grill opens its first location in the U.S. in Plano. This sports-centric destination with quality food and drink is from Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars, and the Plano location has a live scoreboard specifically for Dallas Stars games. The bar has 40-plus TVs and two 20-foot seamless HD media walls — one of the largest custom-designed ROE LED video wall systems in Texas — plus patio and game room with foosball, table hockey, shuffleboard, and skeeball. The food includes spaghetti & meatballs, chicken wings, mini-mac sliders, a Shark Burger with bacon, cheddar, onions, and mushrooms, and an "adult" Mac & Cheese with bacon, jalapeños, breadcrumb crust, and spicy ketchup.
Taco Cabana
Taqueria chain continues expanding its alcohol program with new drinks and specials including $2 shots of Fireball Whisky, Sauza Tequila, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, and a new drink called the sopapilla shot, featuring Rumchata and Fireball Whisky. Other additions: a Blue Margarita on the Rocks for $4, and new $4 pitchers of beer, frozen margaritas and swirls. Margaritas are $3 on Mondays, and there's a daily happy hour from 4-7 pm with $1 off beer and sangria, plus food snacks that include $4 nachos. During this initial phase, the program is available only at these locations: 9210 ERL Thornton Fwy., Dallas; 4360 Dallas/Fort Worth Turnpike, Dallas; 4313 S. Fwy., Fort Worth; 2601 Dean St., Balch Springs; 5959 Broadway, Garland; and 104 West FM 544, Murphy.
Thirsty Lion
Gastropub chain is doing a temperature-themed special: When temperatures are 95 degrees or higher, Moscow mules and margaritas are half-price. Thirsty Lion is also launching its new Social Hour this month every day from 3-6 pm which includes $6 cocktails & wine, $1 off draft beers, and a $6-8 food menu.
