Cocktail News

6 Dallas bars unveil new on-trend cocktail menus for spring 2025

Old fashioned flight at Tupelo Honey

Tupelo Honey

Dallas restaurants regularly roll out menus these days that follow the season, keeping things fresh by taking advantage of whatever's being harvested. But bars are getting in on the action, too, unfurling creative drink menus that make the most of seasonal ingredients and flavor trends.

Here are some refreshing drink menus to look forward to in Dallas this spring:

Knife Plano
Plano steakhouse has four new seasonal cocktails for spring including In Bloom, which contains both mezcal and tequila, along with pineapple juice and lime, served in an absinthe-rinsed glass. The Umit’s Mule is a spin on the classic mule featuring bourbon with aromatic bitters. Monk’s Sabbatical blends Diplo rum with trendy Green Chartreuse, Averna, and falernum, stirred. Finally, the fruity Fresa, which combines tequila blanco with citrus syrup, lime juice, and fresh strawberries. Cocktails are $14-$16.

Midnight Rambler
Award-winning cocktail bar at the Joule Dallas Hotel is doing a Pokemon-inspired menu with two distinct sections. One section, "Ramblerdex," features cocktails inspired by Dallas staples including Marky Mav with Bacardi Ocho rum, Cuban Style, and citrus mint prosecco foam. The Conspirator is a Caprese-style martini with tomato-basil-infused rum and Mozzarella Co. bocconcini — cheese in a drink, how wild is that. Matcha Chop has Illegal Caribbean Cask, mezcal, matcha, coconut milk punch, and blackberry foam. Their "Rambler on Lock" section brings back Midnight Rambler classics such as the Filthy 2.0, an ultra-dirty martini. Cocktails range from $14-17.

On Rotation
Brewery located near Dallas Love Field has brought back Turbulence, an IPA they first released in 2021. It's a hazy IPA full of Citra and Idaho 7 hops with grapefruit, tangerine, mango, apricot, and oranges. They have it on tap, $4.50 for eight-ounce or $8 for 14-ounce; and or via growler, $9 for a 32-ounce fill. They also have it in cans at the brewery, $22 for a four-pack.

Tupelo Honey
North Carolina-based Southern restaurant has launched a new beverage menu nationwide and that includes the two DFW locations in Las Colinas and Frisco. It's heavy on matcha and watermelon in drinks such as the Mindful Martini with Prairie Organic Gin and matcha; a nonalcoholic iced match latte; and the Watermelon Smile Margarita. Cereal Milk Martini is a rum-based cocktail topped with rainbow cereal marshmallows. There is also a Whiskey Flight with four old fashioneds served in a mimosa flight stand; and house-made lemonades in flavors like matcha, peach, and blueberry. Drinks are $11.50-$28, or $6.50 for the non-alcoholic matcha.

Virgin Hotels
Commons Club at the Virgin Hotels in the Design District has a new limited-time cocktail menu promoting the new Hulu sitcom Mid-Century Modern, which follows three friends as they spend their golden years in Palm Springs. Drink highlights include Boys Just Wanna Have Fun with Ketel One Vodka, cherry vanilla soda, and lemonade; She’s Throwing Shade, with Spring 44 Gin, St-Germain, Fever-Tree grapefruit soda, and lime; and Rainbow Rager with Bacardi 8, Aperol, pineapple, and cinnamon. Drinks are $16 each, but for those who want to indulge or share, a For The Queens Bowl for 3-4 is $45. Available through April 27.

Waterproof
Statler Dallas Hotel rooftop bar is going all tiki with three new tropical cocktails: Llama’s Choice with Tito’s Vodka, guava nectar, lemon, and coconut; Mai Tai with a pineapple rum blend, orgeat, triple sec, lime, and Fee Foam; and Rooftop-Rita with LALO Blanco Tequila, orange liqueur, agave, and lime. Drinks are $15-$16.

Cocktail notes

RTDs at the supermarket
The Texas legislature is considering a bill to allow "RTD" ready-to-drink cocktails in grocery and convenience stores. The bill, authored by Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth, would allow the sale of beer and wine products with up to 17 percent ABV. Texans can currently buy RTDs at liquor stores such as Total Wine, although those have a higher alcohol content than the lower-ABV malt liquor versions Hancock is suggesting for convenience stores. In the bill, Hancock claims the laws are "confusing for Texans." The bill is sufficiently innocuous and pointless that it has made it through the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, and if passed, it would be effective September 1.

Bar takeover
Ginger’s, the speakeasy-style cocktail lounge in downtown Dallas' East Quarter that is operated by Sushi | Bar Hospitality, will host a special bar takeover for one night only featuring craft cocktail icon Christine Wiseman on Wednesday, April 23, from 6-10 pm. Formerly the Global Beverage Director for Bar Lab Hospitality, Wiseman spearheaded award-winning programs at Broken Shaker locations in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, and is known for her creative, playful yet refined cocktails.

nightlife cocktails

outta this world

Cowboys superfan launches pizzeria with Tex-Mex twist in Dallas food hall

Photo courtesy of Starboy's

Check out the cheese pull on Starboy's birria pizza.

A new pizza restaurant is slinging a variety of innovative pies in the Dallas Medical District: Called Starboy’s Pizzeria, the new shop is part of Food Nation Cinco Cocinas, the eclectic food hall at 4711 Maple Ave. The food hall was created by Ray Quintanilla and legendary restaurateur and "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex" Mico Rodriguez, who died earlier this month at age 68.

John Flores, an IT professional and self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys super-fan, created Starboy’s Pizzeria, which is now open in the former Sal’s Pizza and Restaurant space. Friends call Flores by the nickname "Starboy," which combines his love for the Cowboys and his fascination with NASA and space, he explains.

Flores met Quintanilla and Rodriguez while hosting karaoke at Mico’s Bar, another food hall occupant. When Sal’s closed earlier this year, they saw an opportunity to fill the void with a refreshed pizza concept.

“It is because of Mico that I even thought about starting this project: he was part of this, he was always happy, and we really hit it off, so I miss him,” Flores says.

Starboy's Pizzeria joins Mico’s Bar, Picazo Sushi and Poke, Wing City, and JJ’s Cafe, which opened a location in the food hall earlier this year.

Lupe Ibarra, a chef from the closed Sal’s Pizza with 25 years of experience, stayed on at Starboy's to continue perfecting traditional recipes while creating signature new ones tied to Flores’ Mexican heritage.

The result of the collaboration is a menu that includes traditional favorites alongside creative pies with a Mexican-inspired twist like the Pizza Birria (resembling the flavor profile of popular birria tacos), elotero, chicken fajitas, and pastor, among more than 15 specialty offerings.

Flores' passion for the Cowboys is especially evident in several unique creations:

Cry Eagles Cry: Inspired by the Philly cheesesteak, topped with beef, green peppers, onions, and mozzarella.
Starboy’s Classic (Blue): Red sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and fresh arugula.
Starboy’s Classic (Silver): White sauce, chicken, mushrooms, onions, arugula, mozzarella, and a balsamic glaze.
Cowboy: Brisket, onions, barbecue sauce, and smoked gouda.

Starboy's 16-inch pizzas range from $14-$25, with individual slices priced around $4. The menu also features sub sandwiches, pastas with a variety of sauces, and chicken Parmesan, all under $14.

To cater to the busy medical, residential, and retail crowds nearby, Starboy's offers lunch deals for under $12, which include pasta and garlic knots or a slice of pizza and a salad, complete with a drink.

Flores explains that his heritage and his mother’s influence serve as the primary driving force behind his new venture.

“My mom would always host family gatherings. She always fed people, and I got that from her. I like to see smiles on people’s faces from the things I do,” he says. “I have big dreams for this place. I want us to be part of the community and give back.”

Flores remains involved with karaoke at Mico’s Bar and is focused on driving traffic to the entire complex. He hosts Cowboys watch parties, while his adult children — Nathan, Natalie, and Amy — assist with social media, website management, and overall promotion for Starboy’s.

“When people try our pizzas for the first time, their eyes light up, so we know we are on the right track,” Flores says.

Starboy’s Pizzeria is open daily from 11 am-10 pm.

dallas pizza starboy's food nation cinco cocinas maple street food hall dallas medical district lunch pizzeria locally owned latino owned business pizza dallas cowboys tex-mex