Tea at Taschen

The Joule offers tony afternoon tea service alternative in downtown Dallas

Sometimes you just need to duck out of the office on a Friday afternoon, and The Joule is giving Dallasites another, more refined option for playing hooky with its new afternoon tea service.

As of September 26, the hotel’s Taschen Library, just off the lobby near TenOverSix and Weekend, is offering champagne afternoon tea service on Fridays at 2:30 pm. Imagine snacking on goat cheese on brioche with cucumber, basil cream and crispy prosciutto and sipping rare tea blends while surrounded by midcentury mosaics and beautiful coffee-table tomes.

“Because The Joule lobby is already such a naturally communal environment, we wanted to offer a really special experience within it,” says Joule general manager Justin Fields. “The Taschen Library proved to be the perfect little nook for something a bit more intimate.”

Joule executive chef Jaco Smith and executive pastry chef Ruben Torano devised the menu, which will change seasonally. Savory treats may include ham mousse eclairs and deviled egg sandwiches; sweet options could be huckleberry buckle or berry layer cake.

In addition to champagne, guests can enjoy Freak of Nature Oolong, 2001 Vintage Oak Barrel-Aged Pu-Erh and Moonlight Jasmine Blossom teas.

We envision this as a way to entertain out-of-town guests, spend time with girlfriends or wrap up a business meeting (if you must still work). Regardless of the company, it’s not a bad way to start the weekend, and this has a different vibe than downtown neighbor The Adophus, which is known for its afternoon tea service.

“We thought Friday would be a great day as people close down their work week and are ready to relax or even celebrate something special,” Fields says. “If it’s as popular as we think it will be, I have a feeling we’ll be hosting private events there quite often.”

Tea at Taschen is $59 a person, inclusive of taxes, gratuity and valet. During the tea, guests receive 10 percent off purchases in the library. Seating is communal and limited to 16 people. Reservations can be made by calling 214-748-1300 x4363 or emailing tea@thejouledallas.com.

Tea is served communal style in the Taschen Library at The Joule.

Photo courtesy of Taschen Library

Tea is served communal style in the Taschen Library at The Joule.

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Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 new happy hours for February

Even Coast

The Frozen John D at Even Coast.

The February edition of Where to Drink, CultureMap's monthly column on restaurants and bars you can get a drink at, travels far and wide to find the best and most exotic happy hours around: From sushi deals in downtown Dallas to $5 margaritas in Collin County to Indian bar bites in Irving.

(If you're in a more date-night frame of mind, be sure to consult our list of places where you can share a sweet Valentine's Day meal.)

Here are five happy hours to try in February:

Cafe Gecko
Laid-back perennial favorite in Richardson has just unveiled a brand new happy hour menu featuring their delectable versions of classic bar food treats including pizza fries, pretzel bites, chicharrones, onion rings, and fried pickles, priced from $5-$7, plus $1 off everything in the bar. It's served Monday all day, and Tuesday-Friday from 3-7 pm.

Dozo Omakase
Omakase sushi restaurant which opened a year ago at Trinity Groves with a compact menu that includes the trendy multi-course omakase style of dining, available in small or large versions. They do a cool approach to happy hour by introducing a new menu nearly every month. For February, it includes items from the sushi bar and the kitchen including half-price nigiri, sushi hand rolls for $8, gyoza for $6, crispy rice tuna for $10, and miso soup for a bargain $2.50. Cocktails include sake for $9 and a Kyoto highball cocktail for $11.

Even Coast
Neighborhood restaurant from chef Omar Flores opened on the Addison-Dallas line in 2024 with seafood, pastas, and steaks — and now happy hour. It's a good one, served from 2-6 pm every day with its own menu of $3 oysters, $10 cheeseburgers, and salmon dip. House cocktails are $9, including a rotating flavor frozen drink; a pint of beer is $6, and wine by the glass is $9. The only restriction is where: On Friday-Saturday, it's available only at the bar; Sunday-Thursday, it's also available in the dining room and on the patio.

Neon Cactus
Congenial Mexican restaurant in Fairview has a happy hour with deals that surely seem worth driving for: They run Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm and include margaritas for $5, domestic beers for $4, wine by the glass for $5, and well drinks for $4. They also have daily food specials that run all day, such as queso blanco and chicken tinga flautas, $10 each on Thursdays, and taco plates with rice and beans, $10 to $12 on Tuesdays.

Nirvana
Sultry Indian lounge at Toyota Music Factory with DJ, dance floor, and rooftop patio has what may be the worst website in the world — but buried beneath the PTSD flash graphics and music is a worthy happy hour, served from 4-7 pm featuring $2 off all cocktails, including the Hunan Heatwave with tequila and tandoori pineapple, and the Beijing Berry mocktail with mixed berries and ginger ale. Plus Indian-themed bar snacks such as "drums of heaven" AKA chicken lollipops; street-style chow mein, and crispy chili corn.

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