Lily and Kara, here, from Dallasites101! When we moved to Dallas six years ago, we fell in love with it instantly. With the pool parties, tacos, warm weather, and vibrant lifestyle, we were sold. However, we met a few folks along the way who weren’t as sold as we were–If that’s you or if you’re completely new to the city, give us a few minutes; we have some suggestions to help you fall in love with Dallas, just like we did!
The Tacos
When you think of Dallas cuisine, you might think of Southern BBQ or Tex-Mex, but hold your horses. Let’s not forget tacos (which deserve a category all their own, in our opinion)! One of the first places we ever visited was El Come Taco on Fitzhugh – order the al pastor street taco and the Pollo a la Mexicana. If that’s not your thing, don’t worry. You could close your eyes and pick something off their menu and it’ll be good!
A few other classic taco spots in town are Revolver Taco Lounge in Deep Ellum, Tacos La Banqueta in East Dallas and Tacos Mariachi in West Dallas and Lower Greenville.
The Patio Bars
Every tried and true Dallas resident has been to Katy Trail Icehouse in Uptown! The holy grail of patio bars in Dallas, this is the place you want to be when that perfect warm, sunny Texas weather hits. You’ll have every excuse to sit outside with a cold beer and good company… both the two-legged and four-legged kind!!
You can also try The Rustic for brunch and live music or Truck Yard if you’re near lower Greenville and want a laid back front-porch kinda vibe.
The Art
Dallas has one of the most concentrated Arts Districts in the country, with just a few blocks of area, but several museums and concert spaces within it. Located in Downtown Dallas, you can visit The Nasher for sculpture, The Dallas Museum of Art for world-class art, the Crow Museum of Asian Art for a beautiful collection of Asian pieces, or you can head to a performance at the symphony, opera, ballet and more!
Photo source; Credit: Beili Liu Studio
The Live Music: Deep Ellum
While Austin might be pegged as the “Live Music Capital” of the country, Dallas has its fair share of outstanding venues and shows, too! Head to Deep Ellum and stop in Anvil Pub any day of the week, or visit the Twilite Lounge, High and Tight or Armoury DE on the weekends for rock and roll, folk and Americana music. The live music scene in Deep Ellum truly offers an array of genre options to Dallasites of all tastes.
The mixture of Southwestern, Southern and Latin Culture
Dallas has a very cool mixture of cultures and we love the combination! If you want to go really cowboy, we recommend getting your Southwestern shopping fix done at Wild Bill’s Western Store in West End or head over to Favor the Kind for more modern and feminine apparel. Then, obviously, you’ve got to head over to The Stockyards in Fort Worth.
If it’s southern cuisine you’re seeking, you have to try the Fried Chicken and Waffles at Oddfellow’s and explore Bishop Arts after. While you’re out, make sure to stop by Revelers Hall for live music by a New Orleans-style brass band!
If you want Latin influence and an outstanding variety of tequila and mezcal, head to Las Almas Rotas near Fair Park, off I-30! We could go on about the amazing bar menu, mezcal flight options, and delicious eats, but we know you’re about to Google this place and the 275+ reviews speak for themselves.
The Sports
Dallas is home to “America’s Team,” aka Cowboys football! Whether they win or lose, it’s always exciting to head to Arlington and watch the game at “Jerry World.” You could also catch a Mavs, Rangers, FC Dallas or Stars game, or hop aboard the new XFL train and support the Dallas Renegades! Needless to say, Dallas has an option for every sports fan.
You don’t have to give us your final rating right now…try out a few of these beloved Dallas hot spots and let us know when that affinity for the city kicks in!
Featured image photo source.
Written by Lily & Kara of Dallasites101
Dallasites101 is a hyperlocal media company in Dallas, about Dallas. They are your 101 to Dallas, encouraging new and native residents to continuously discover and engage in the city, through content and experiences. They want Dallasites to call the city home, to find and build their sense of place here by trying “the new.” And that doesn’t just mean what’s new to Dallas, but also what’s new to them!
