Where to Drink
Where to drink in Dallas right now: 6 small bar gems for February
Cheers at Rayo in Expo Park.
Cut through the noise of loud bars with something a little more lowkey. This is nothing against the big fun flashy hangout. But sometimes you need a place that's laid-back. These small gems fit the bill, from a new hotel bar to one of the oldest bars in Dallas — most with happy hour offerings, and those are always welcome.
Here's where to drink in Dallas right now:
Cannon's Corner Irish Pub
Oak Cliff Irish pub
located in Cannon's Village, the cool Tudor-style building at 1314 W. Davis St., is a neighborhood bar for Oak Cliff with a weekday happy hour from 2-7 pm featuring $4.75 wells, $8 Irish mules, $5 red ale, and $4.50 domestic beers. There are also food specials including $7 mussels, corned beef & cabbage rolls, and Irish nachos. On Wednesdays, they have discounts on select whiskey over $12 at half price all day.
Kleo
Hotel restaurant and bar is tucked inside the Hotel Indigo in Las Colinas, which opened in December. Like the restaurant, the bar has a Mediterranean theme, in drinks such as the Mediterranean old fashioned with a Mediterranean spice cordial and cocoa bitters; the Turkish fire drill; and a Tzatziki martini with dill infused Bombay and blanc vermouth. Check them out during the bar's weekday happy hour Monday-Thursday from 2-6 pm when cocktails are half price.
Rayo
Cool little bar in Exposition Park
opened across from Fair Park in mid-2024. It's from two former Portland bartenders who envisioned an offbeat yet refined bar and eatery with an extensive cocktail program. Happy hour is Tuesday-Friday from 4-6 pm and features $7 margarita, $8 slushy, $6 daily punch, $5 Modelo. They also do some respectable food; one recent menu addition is the Spit Fire slider with spicy chorizo & Wagyu, Swiss, guacamole, caramelized onions, grilled jalapeños, chili polvo, and a quail egg on brioche.
Rodeo Cold
Throwback 1970s dive and backyard bar that opened in East Dallas in late 2024 has happy hour specials Tuesday-Friday from 3-7 pm including $5 bottled and draft beer, $5 ranch water, paloma, and The Man from Waco. If you're into drinks for the table, they carry sharable drinks like The Dolly, a glittery cocktail of pink whitney vodka, peach schnapps, and pink lemonade for $45. They have specials on bites, too, including a smash burger, patty melt, and chili dogs for $6 each; stacked fries are $8.
Saint Valentine
East Dallas bar co-owned by legendary cocktail guy Gabe Sanchez (Black Swan Saloon) features a happy hour Wednesday-Sunday from 5-8 pm. Drop in on Wednesdays for $1 wings. Classic drinks including daiquiris and margaritas are $8, a dirty gin or vodka martini is $10, and the Yo Kolby! featuring High Life Pony and Fernet Blanc is $8. In terms of food, the so-called happy meal includes a black garlic burger and fries for $12.
Stan's Blue Note
Neighborhood sports bar on Greenville Avenue is one of the oldest in Dallas, first opened in 1952. It's since grown into a spot to catch a game or beer with friends, but they also have some of the cheapest drink specials in town, Monday-Friday from 4-7 pm. Mondays feature 99-cent Busch Light drafts and $2 wells, and for those with an appetite, $1 hot dogs and tacos. They also have a new late night girl's night featuring $5 wine, White Claws, and frozen espresso martinis on Saturdays starting at 10 pm.
The chef from SER prepares activated charcoal-crusted Akaushi ribeye cap and Yukon Gold potato fondant.Photo by Guillermo Rosas
Lavender berry and mocha chocolate tartlets from La Reve Gelato & Patisserie.Photo by Guillermo Rosas
Awards ceremony host Cleo Greene, of NBC5's 'Texas Today.'Photo by Guillermo Rosas