Holiday Tips

These Dallas-Fort Worth bars are open for you on Christmas Day 2016

Bottom's Up, Reserve 101, February 2013, cocktail, drink

This list tells you where to get one of these on Christmas Day.

Photo by Joel Luks

Does this list even need an introduction? It's the holidays. Many people confined together in small rooms. People you haven't seen in a while. People you deliberately moved away from. We're restraining ourselves from typing these words in all caps: You need a drink.

Here are some of the bars open for business in Dallas-Fort Worth on Christmas Day:

Barcadia Bar & Grill
Both the Dallas and the Fort Worth locations of this retro hangout will be open regular hours on Christmas Day, beginning at 11 am.

The Barley House
Veteran bar on SMU Boulevard is as reliable during the holidays as it is every other day of the year. It'll observer its regular hours on Christmas Eve, and it opens on Christmas Day at 7 pm.

Basement Bar
Cozy Stockyards spot never quits. It's open regular hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, from 6 pm to 2 am.

Billy Bob's Texas
Fort Worth's best honky-tonk bar seems like the perfect holiday escape. It opens at 3 pm and stays open until midnight.

City Tavern
If any bar wins the prize for being the most dependable, come rain, shine, or annoying uncle, this savvy downtown Dallas spot is the one. God bless 'em, it's open 11 am to 2 am, no matter what day of the year it is.

Double Wide
Always a friend to the Christmas orphan, Double Wide will be open at 8 pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Extra incentive: It's hosting a one-hour happy hour until 9 pm.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Downtown Fort Worth beer temple is observing very customer-friendly hours all holiday weekend, including 11 am-2 am on Christmas Eve and 5 pm to midnight on Christmas Day.

Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House
East Dallas' favorite beer bar opens at 8 pm, and that includes not only brews but also burgers, because the kitchen is open for business too.

The Grapevine Bar
The Grapevine opens late at 9 pm, so if you’re jonesing for some late-night basketball and daiquiris, well, this is your place.

Idle Rich Pub
McKinney Avenue pub is there for you on Christmas Day, open from 8 pm-2 am. Christmas Eve is another story: It's closed.

Lakewood Landing
Of course this East Dallas dive bar is open; does it ever close? On Christmas Day, doors open at 8 pm — for but for drinks only, as the kitchen is closed.

Landmark Bar & Kitchen
West Seventh bar is open on Christmas from 7 pm-2 am, when it hosts an event called "The Biggest White Elephant Gift Exchange Ever." Bring a $10 gift if you want to join in.

Libertine
Doors open at this Greenville Avenue staple at 7 pm, and, in case you missed dinner, the kitchen is serving.

Lee Harvey’s
Casual Cedars spot opens at 6 pm for its usual laid-back fun. The kitchen is closed, but there are free s'mores. You read that right.

The Loon
Every day is a holiday at this stalwart bar, where the drinks are strong and the Christmas spirit runs high. No taking the day off here, no-sir-ee: It's open at 11 am.

Meddlesome Moth
Restaurant-bar has the Design District covered, with food and drinks, beginning at 5 pm on Christmas Day (and Christmas Eve too).

Old Monk
Henderson Avenue pub takes the night off on Christmas Eve, but it's be back in the saddle on Christmas Day at 8 pm, and the kitchen is open until midnight.

The Rustic
Uptown hangout with great outdoor space and live music opens at 6 pm, serving food and booze.

Ships Lounge
Greenville Avenue dive treats Christmas like every other Sunday, i.e., open at noon. At least, that's what the staff is saying now. Might want to call and check.

Three Links
Feisty Deep Ellum bar is doing it up right, open on Christmas Eve Saturday at 11 am and ending with a big charitable raffle. Christmas Day, they're open at 5 pm.

Windmill Lounge
You can always count on this Maple Avenue friend to be there for you during tough times. It's open until midnight on Christmas Eve, and then back again at 6 pm on Christmas Day.

cocktails holidays

Wine News

New Vinifera Wine Lounge and Bistro debuts on Flower Mound’s Riverwalk

Vinifera

Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro

A new wine bar and bistro has opened in Flower Mound. Called Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro, it's at 4120 River Walk Dr., in a space formerly occupied by a short-lived pizzeria, joining a string of bars overlooking the Riverwalk.

Vinifera is from Jamie Creevy, a British native who moved to Dallas in 2007, and who has worked at concepts such as Henderson Tap House and Peppersmash Concepts. At Vinifera, he's partnered with Chris Kummer, a former US Marine with experience in nightclubs and restaurants, including Chill in Grapevine.

Running the kitchen is executive chef Justin Samsill, who has worked at a wide range of high-end places including Knife, Town Hearth, The Mitchell, Smoke, and Hide. The menu has a big selection of seafood such as mussels, shrimp cocktail, squid pasta, and scallops, as well as steak au poivre, pasta bolognese, and trendy items such as steak frites and a smash burger, with entrees ranging from $19 to $35.

Vegetarian options include an unusual rendition of ratatouille, in which vegetables such as eggplant and tomato are cut into slices and arranged like a pinwheel. There are also salads and harissa carrots with Greek yogurt.

They describe the wine list as being "from all over the world", with 38 offerings by the glass. There are also cocktails.

Between the indoor dining room and outdoor space, the restaurant seats about 130 people. It shares a private event room with next door neighbor Whiskey & Smoke.

Riverwalk is the 158-acre mixed used development developed in 2017 and designed as a destination resembling the Riverwalk in San Antonio, with live music, events, and a range of eatery options including Whiskey & Smoke, Pennywise Pub, and Underdogs Burgers & Brews.

“We are looking to be creative and pivot to keep the area fresh," Creevy says. “People are looking for live music, value, free events, we want to entertain the residents and the community at an inexpensive rate."

wine openings