Margarita News

Mi Cocina secret Monkey Bar to open on rooftop at Dallas hotel

Mambo Taxi and friends

Mi Cocina

A bar spinoff of the Dallas Tex-Mex chain Mi Cocina is making its debut: It's called Monkey Bar on 9, and it's opening at the Tru by Hilton Dallas Market Center, at 1949 N. Stemmons Fwy., on the ninth-story rooftop, where it will debut on Friday, June 13.

Monkey Bar on 9 is a spinoff of Monkey Bar, the once "secret" bar at the Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village, part of the M Crowd Restaurant Group that includes Mi Cocina, The Mercury, and Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q.

The venue will feature an outdoor patio and indoor bar, with views of the downtown Dallas skyline, open for both hotel guests and locals for happy hour, gatherings, and private events.

The menu will mirror that of Monkey Bar Highland Park Village, with tequilas, mezcals, margaritas, and cocktails made with cold-pressed juices: from a pour of Clase Azul to a jalapeño honey margarita to the Monkey Bar Mambo Taxi. There'll also be a food menu of shareable favorites such as queso, guacamole, and nachos.

The Monkey Bar started out as the unofficial title of a speakeasy on the third floor at the Highland Park Village branch of Mi Cocina, where it served as a private hangout for those who knew it existed.

In 2015, they gave it a makeover and made its existence more public. It was originally always going to be a one-and-only thing: In 2021, when they opened a Mi Cocina at 3232 McKinney Ave. with a bar similar to the Monkey Bar, they stated at the time that "we won't call it the Monkey Bar. There will never be more than one Monkey Bar." But you know what they say: Never say never.

“Monkey Bar is more than just a rooftop venue—it’s a place to escape, take in the stunning view and relax in open air with friends or coworkers,” says M Crowd CEO Edgar Guevara. “We’ve built on the experience our guests love at Monkey Bar Highland Park Village, but this location offers a larger space ideal for private parties and the wow factor of expansive views. Guests will enjoy the Dallas skyline from a new perspective.”

Monkey Bar will be open daily for ages 21 but not too late: 4-10 pm Monday-Thursday and 2-10 pm Friday-Sunday.

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Opening News

Dallas diner & music venue will open in former Ferris Wheeler space

Courtesy

Pancakes

A new restaurant has been unveiled that will take over the former Ferris Wheeler space near Dallas' Design District at 1950 Market Center Blvd.: Called AM/FM, it'll be an all-day diner and lounge with a big backyard and a stage for live music, and it's from Spune Productions, the music and event production company.

According to a release, it'll open in early January initially with evening hours, cocktails, and a few afternoon soccer matches. Music acts are already booked beginning January 8. More hours will be added down the road.

Ferris Wheelers BBQ, which was also a restaurant with a big backyard and a stage for live music, closed in November after eight years. Spune had already been involved since 2023 to help ramp up the live music side. Now they'll take it over with a fresh new personality and long hours.

They were famous for having a Ferris wheel on-site; an inquiry on its status went unanswered.

The diner will open daily at 7 am, serving "musicians coming off late nights, workers heading into morning shifts, and neighbors who want a place that remembers their name," says the release very poetically.

They've redecorated the interior with a new bar and banquettes that wrap the room. Alongside the renovations inside, the set-up outdoors will evolve over the coming weeks, with extra care given to the concert experience,

Menu
The food at AM/FM will be rooted in elevated Diner classics, with a menu overseen by chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman (Oh, Hi! Hospitality) that's influenced by Mexican-American kitchens and Nuevo Southern traditions.

Breakfast offerings include huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos, breakfast empanadas, French toast, avocado toast, pork belly toast, and an intriguing twist on pancakes called masa pancakes, made using masa harina AKA corn flour.

Lunch includes a chicken Milanesa Caesar salad, Sonoran hot dog, fried catfish po'boy, kale salad, Cobb salad, and a Mexican twist on chicken noodle soup with fideo noodles.

Entree plates include pot roast, meatloaf, fried chicken, and a weekly pot pie.

The beverage program will aim for accessibility with coffee, cocktails, and craft beer, says Victor Rojas, Quinones-Pittman's partner at Oh, Hi! Hospitality.

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