Drinking Diaries

Raise your glass to the 5 best new Dallas bars of 2012

You can expect a line down these stairs most weekend nights, but that's onlybecause there's so much room for activities inside Kung Fu Saloon.
Photo by Conner Howell
The Standard Pour put craft cocktails smack in the middle of Uptown's nightlifescene on McKinney Avenue — and it worked.
The Standard Pour/Facebook
This is what everyone looks like when they drink on Union Bear's sidewalk.That's how good this place is.
Union Bear/Facebook
Between wide-open spaces indoors and out, along with plenty of taps, The Foundryhas the laid-back beer garden formula down.
Photo by Elliott-Munoz Photography

This has been the year of craft beer in Dallas, but all those brews don’t mean diddly if there isn’t an accompanying quality bar to patronize.

Fortunately, some fine watering holes opened in 2012. We wish we could say it was tough paring this list down to five, but it wasn’t. If you want a members-only pool and bar or hundreds of vertically striped shirts at some sports bar-slash-nightclub, this is probably not the list for you.

Kung Fu Saloon
We’ve come around on Kung Fu since it first opened and prompted an existential crisis. Yes, it gets crowded on the weekends, and there’s often a line, but it’s the place to be on Thursday nights. Throw in classic arcade games, shuffleboard, foosball and giant Jenga, and it becomes apparent why this has become the hottest corner on Cedar Springs Road, despite all the construction.

The Foundry in North Oak Cliff is the kind of bar that you look at and go, “Well, yeah, that’s about right.”

The Standard Pour
Who would’ve thought that quality cocktails could survive on McKinney Avenue? The Standard Pour has quickly earned a reputation among local mixologists as well as those from California and New York, like Kyle Ford, as one of the best craft cocktail spots in Dallas. Forget those whiskey and cokes at Idle Rich — the real deal is mere steps away.

Mason Bar or, more specifically, Hi/Lo Lounge
Don’t get us wrong, Mason Bar is a good time. It took over TABC as the new hangout for TCU, SMU and UT grads looking to get off McKinney Avenue. But the real gem is the speakeasy Hi/Lo Lounge. With voodoo-inspired wallpaper, low lights and some live music, Hi/Lo is the perfect refuge from the mayhem upstairs. It feels like a little secret and, oh God, we’ve said too much. In fact, don’t go to the Hi/Lo Lounge. It’s terrible and all the people are mean.

The Foundry
Sometimes the best theme is no theme. The Foundry in North Oak Cliff is the kind of bar that you look at and go, “Well, yeah, that’s about right.” Between wide-open spaces indoors and out, along with plenty of taps, The Foundry has the laid-back beer garden formula down. Add live music and skillet-fried chicken from Chicken Scratch next door, and you’ve got a bar that speaks for itself.

Union Bear
Sure, the patio of Union Bear in West Village is great for the whole people-watching-while-getting-sloshed-on-craft-beers thing. But we like bunkering in downstairs and wasting an afternoon with no intention of sunlight slowing us down until we’ve tried every single brew on the menu. Fortunately, there's enough quality food here to make this an all too real possibility.

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Craft Beer News

Dallas Stars owner to open beer-centric Craft restaurant in the U.S.

Craft

Food and beer from Craft.

A restaurant concept from Canada is opening its first U.S. location in little old Dallas: Called Craft Restaurant & Beer Market, it's a small chain with an emphasis on craft beer and elevated casual dining opening in Preston Center at 5974 W Northwest Hwy.

According to a release, it will open in in early 2026 — their first in the American market.

The concept was founded in 2019 by PJ L'Heureux partnered with Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars and the Moxies chain. It will feature more 100 beers on tap including local Texas brews, along with cocktails, wine, and a fresh, globally inspired menu.

L'Heureux calls Dallas "a natural fit" for Craft.

"Our large restaurant footprint, commitment to local products, and dedication to community are what Texas is all about," L'Heureux says in a statement. "Texas and specifically the Preston area of Dallas, with its booming economy, diverse culture, and love for craft cocktails and beer, is the perfect place for us to begin this exciting new chapter."

The Dallas location will be a state-of-the-art, 10,500 sq. ft. space with a modern yet welcoming interior, featuring warm woods, industrial accents, and a massive 360-degree bar as its center.

The space will also include a 5,250 sq. ft. rooftop patio, complete with a full bar, cozy booth seating, lush greenery, and a games area, offering the perfect atmosphere for both casual gatherings and special celebrations.

Craft president Scott Frank says that the chain, which has nine locations across Canada, likes to create unique menus and partnerships in each of the communities they are in.

"CRAFT has always been about bringing people together, and we're thrilled to share our passion for craft beer, exceptional dining, and community building with our friends in the Texas market," added L'Heureux.

craft beer openings

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Raise your glass to the 5 best new Dallas bars of 2012

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Craft Beer News

Dallas Stars owner to open beer-centric Craft restaurant in the U.S.