This spring I took my first trip to Dallas and absolutely fell in love. From the weather to the restaurant scene, Dallas is such a fun city to explore. Below I will share all of our recommendations for what to do, where to stay, where to eat and where to drink!
Where to Stay
The Beeman Hotel is located up north in the Dallas area on the SMU campus near an area called Highland Park. The hotel was super trendy and modern with an indoor pool and gym. This spot is located in walking distance of SMU campus as well as some fun shops and a movie theater. In the lobby of The Beeman was a trendy lounge with retro arcade games. There was also a chic bar/restaurant located in the hotel called Seely's Mill which is known for their smoky BBQ and brisket. You can enjoy food in the lobby or get it to go to take back up to the room. I recommend trying the brisket and the fresh margaritas!
Neighborhoods to Check Out
Dallas has lots of trendy and hip neighborhoods that each have a different feel to them. Here are a few of the neighborhoods we checked out and what we ate/drank and explored in each of them!
Highland Park
The Highland Park area is a gorgeous neighborhood located close to SMU campus. There is a gorgeous outdoor shopping area we checked out in this neighborhood as well as some fun restaurants.
Mi Cocina is a traditional Mexican restaurant with fun drinks and yummy food. It's a great
place to stop and grab a bite for lunch while shopping at
Highland Park Village or grab a Mambo and fajitas for dinner. This spot has free chips and salsa but I also recommend grabbing guac or queso as well!
Shug's Bagels is another popular spot near SMU campus. They have a variety of homemade bagels and spreads as well as bagel sandwich options. It's a quick service spot to grab a warm bagel. My favorite was the garlic bagel with scallion cream cheese!
If you're looking for a spot to grab a smoothie, fresh juice or an acai bowl - The Juice Bar is just the spot. It's a great place to start the morning or swing by for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Lower Greenville
Lower Greenville is an up-and-coming area for young families and young professionals. The entire strip is lined with trendy restaurants, bars and boutiques.
Leela's Wine Bar was one of my favorite spots that we checked out. The outdoor patio is pet friendly and a great spot for before or after dinner drinks. They also have a great Happy Hour from 4-6pm Monday-Friday that includes cocktails and house wines. We also snacked on a yummy charcuterie board which is also a must!
Terilli's is a charming family owned Italian restaurant. The dishes were very authentic - highly recommend the Creamy Tuscan chicken. They are also known for their varieties of fabulous martinis and live music. This spot also has an outdoor patio with fire pits to stay warm on chilly summer nights.
Downtown
The downtown area of Dallas is a bustling spot that is a must visit. From public parks to live music, downtown Dallas always has something going on. We loved checking out the community areas and dog parks while we were there. The Giant Eyeball (pictured above) is also a must visit landmark.
Uno Mas is a fun and lively Mexican restaurant located right in the heart of downtown (near the Giant Eyeball statue). We just stopped in for drinks but the food also smelled amazing. They also have a trendy rooftop patio with great views of downtown and free fresh chips and salsa.
The Dallas Farmers Market is unlike any other farmers market I have ever been to. It's huge! With lots of great shops and restaurants and various vendors. It has elements of a traditional farmers market with a modern twist. There is also a lovely winery located on site that offers tasting as well. There are restaurants of every variety from Thai food to sushi to Mexican food - there is something for everyone!
Located in the Thompson Hotel, Kessaku was hands down our favorite restaurant in Dallas. This was the most delicious sushi with the most spectacular views of downtown. The sushi was so fresh and flavorful - our favorite roll being the King Crab roll with truffle aoli and drawn butter for dipping. After your meal, you can also take a walk around their 360 degree viewing platform that gives an unmatched view of the city.
Also located in the Thompson Hotel, Catbird is a chic and trendy cocktail spot that is perfect for a pre-dinner drink and views of the city. The cocktails were phenomenal - but be sure to make a reservation in advance because this spot books up quick!
The Berni Bean was the cutest coffee shop right in the heart of downtown. I got the Cinnamon Toast Latte which was absolutely delicious. They also have a plethora of pastries and smoothies. The interior is colorful and tropical and the perfect spot to grab breakfast.
This area is a fun and popular area to check out some free live music, play outdoor games, catch a game on the big screen or sit back and relax with a drink. There are several restaurants located next to this spot as well where you can grab food to-go and find a table or lay out on the green space.
Bishop Arts District
Bishops Art district was one of our most favorite neighborhood in the city. So many trendy and artsy boutiques and shops makes for a perfect day of shopping and exploring.
Paradiso is another one of my favorite spots that we checked out. The inside is colorful and trendy with a large outdoor patio that is pet friendly. We stumbled upon it while exploring the area and absolutely loved the vibe. We grabbed some yummy cocktails and this fantastic hummus appetizer. The rest of the food looked incredible as well, this would be a great spot for dinner or lunch.
La Reunion is a great spot for a quick brunch or coffee. You can quickly order up at the pay station and grab your drink/food to go or eat it on their spacious patio. The baked goods are made fresh and make for excellent pastries or sandwiches.
Explore the Shops
There are several cute and artsy boutiques and shops - especially in the Bishop Arts District. These shops have lots of unique finds you won't see elsewhere. Each shop is different from the next that include clothing stores, flower shops, art galleries, comic book stores and novelty shops.
Deep Ellum
Pecan Lodge was recommended to us for the best BBQ in Dallas and it definitely lived up to it's reputation. The brisket and bacon mac-n-cheese were my absolute favorites. It is a quick service spot where you order at the counter and can take it to have inside or out on the patio. The patio also has occasional live music which really adds to the atmosphere.
Dot's Hop House was a fun outdoor bar in the Deep Ellum area. They serve food as well, but we just went for drinks. The rustic meets chic vibes gave this bar a fun and unique vibe. This place even has outdoor heaters for when things get chilly.
Trinity Groves
Art Park was another fun spot to spend the afternoon. It has vibes of a colorful and artsy biergarten and has plenty of lawn games as well as outdoor TVs. This spot has several local restaurants to choose from on the property as well as a full bar. This spot is a great spot to go with friends or your pets!
Uptown
XOXO Dining is a must visit spot if you are on a girl's trip or Bachelorette trip! This is the perfect girlie brunch spot with lots of great Insta-worthy photo ops. They have boozy brunch packages as well as a cupcake ferris wheel! Even the burger buns are pink!
Sixty Vines is another one of our absolute favorite spots of the trip. It is an incredible spot with a large variety of wines on tap. The food is also spectacular with a homemade Italian influnce. We got the short rib parpadelle and Margherita pizza which were both so fresh and flavorful. We also had an incredible charcuterie board - with housemade ricotta.
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