Hotel bars are hip new hangouts
There is something comforting about the friendly confines of your neighborhood dive bar: the familiar faces, the bartender who knows your name, your favorite brand of beer always on tap.
But all that familiarity can become a bit monotonous.
How often do you really want to see the same guys shooting pool, or sit next to the same barfly, slugging down the same adult beverage you had the night before, and the night before that?
It’s a new year. It could be time to shake things up a bit.
Enter the DFW hotel bar scene.
Once the bastion of traveling salesmen in cheap suits and cheaper cologne swapping “war stories” over flat beer and stale peanuts, the hotel bar has shrugged off those old stereotypes and transformed itself into a vibrant scene for locals and visitors alike.
From upscale sports bars, where you can catch Sunday’s Super Bowl, to chic downtown clubs with skyline views, the Metroplex’s roster of hotel hot spots has definitely upped its game.
On any given night, you may encounter players from a visiting pro sports team or a chatty rep from a pharmaceutical sales convention. In other words, it won’t be boring. Certainly not monotonous.
And it won’t cost you a fortune, either. Most hotel bars know that the days of unlimited expense accounts are past, and they offer reasonable drink and food prices, plus attractive happy-hour specials.
So if you want to feel like you’re on vacation, or just a mini-vacation from your usual haunt, check out some of the top hotel bars in DFW.
Whiskey & Rye, Omni Fort Worth Hotel
The vibe: A sports bar/neighborhood hangout with plenty of flatscreens, a duo of blue-felt pool tables and lots of leather chairs. The crowd naturally varies with whatever guests or conventions are in town, but every Friday and Saturday there is live entertainment beginning at 9 p.m. and a lively atmosphere. Musical acts are posted at facebook.com/whiskeyandryefw.
Signature drink: The Depot, made with TX Blended Whiskey, muddled blackberries, Grand Marnier, lemon juice and sugar.
Most expensive drink: Macallan Rare Cask, $70. There are also rare whiskeys available by request.
Food: A Southern twist on bar-food staples. The Southern club ($10) features smoked turkey and chipotle bacon, and the venison chili ($9) comes with griddled jalapeño-cheddar bread.
Specials: Whiskey Wednesdays highlights a label from W&R’s extensive selection. Check the Facebook page after 4 p.m. to see that day’s choice. Texas Tuesdays at 5 p.m.: Live music, drink specials and boot shinings by M.L. Leddy’s.
Fun fact: You couldn’t tell these days, but this area of Fort Worth was referred to as “Hell’s Half Acre” in the 1880s. The arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1876 launched a local economic boom, and Whiskey & Rye is modeled after neighborhood bars from that era where famous gamblers like Luke Short, Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp and outlaws Sam Bass, Eugene Bunch, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid might have hung out.
Details: 1300 Houston St., Fort Worth; whiskeyandryefw.com.
Texan Station, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
The vibe: A fantasy land for sports fans, Texan Station features a 30-foot-high, 52-foot-wide screen with VIP reclining seats. We recommend making a reservation for the reclining seats during peak times, typically holidays and weekends but especially Football Sundays. (The lounge chairs are sold out for Super Bowl Sunday; stadium seating is still available for $50.) Late nights are usually pretty packed, too, depending on what group or convention is in house.
Signature drink: The Gaylord has its own custom barrel of Garrison Brothers whiskey. And it has a strong partnership with neighboring Grapevine Craft Brewery. There’s also a bartender’s drink of the day — for the Michigan State-Alabama College Football Playoff, it was the Mighty Spartan.
Most expensive drink: For Scotch lovers, a single neat pour of Macallan 25 goes for $135 with tax. By comparison, the Macallan 18 is a bargain at $42.
Food: The sports-themed menu elevates the usual pub grub with items such as the Dee-Luxxe Grilled Cheese with four types of cheese on Texas Toast ($11) and the Salmon Super Bowl Salad with quinoa and mild goat cheese ($18). The most popular item is the Dr Pepper barbecue sandwich ($14).
Specials: Depends on the season. This month, Texan Station will feature weekly cocktail specials.
Fun fact: Gaylord Texan is the official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys, so during away games, members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are on hand signing autographs. This is also the site of The Cowboys Hour radio show hosted by Brad Sham and Ben and Skin on 105.3 The Fan.
Details: 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine; marriott.com.
Rattlesnake Bar, Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
The vibe: Opulence is the operative word at this lounge, located inside legendary Dallas chef Dean Fearing’s restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton. There is always great people watching at Rattlesnake Bar, one of the most likely places to get a glimpse of a celebrity in DFW. Peak times are 5-7 p.m. weekdays, 11 p.m.-2 a.m. weekends. The back of the bar is made of honey onyx marble, which was also used to create the Guacamologist station featured in the lobby at 6 p.m. daily.
Signature drink: Dean’s margarita ($14), which is Patron Silver, damiana, agave nectar, and house-made sweet and sour. Most popular at the moment is a Rattlesnake Kiss, which is Deep Eddy grapefruit vodka, St-Germain liqueur, cilantro and jalapeño ($14).
Most expensive drink: El Jefe ($26). The añejo tequila used in this drink was hand-selected by Fearing in the agave fields of the Patron Hacienda in Mexico. A limited number of bottles are available. The drink also includes agave nectar and lavender bitters. Liquor: Remy Martin Louis XIII for $475 a shot, $7,000 a bottle.
Food: Fearing’s signature lobster nachos are bestsellers on the extensive bar menu. Other popular items include jalapeño-elk corndogs, Comanche buffalo tacos and Fearing’s poutine.
Fun fact: Rattlesnake Bar has an outdoor area called the Live Oak Bar, named for the Texas live oak trees that shade the area. It is heated in the winter.
Details: 2121 McKinney Ave., Dallas; ritzcarlton.com/dallas.
Mezzanine Lounge, Worthington Renaissance Hotel
The vibe: Cool and casual, kinda like downtown Fort Worth. Peak times fluctuate based on what’s happening around town and in the hotel. Weekends are always busy, and on Friday and Saturday a happy-hour bar in the lobby features $5 beers and wines. It is not uncommon to find large groups mingling after a conference or a wedding. There’s also a good mix of tables and chairs as well as lounge furniture and two projectors on either side of the bar showing sports.
Signature drinks: The TX Red evolved from one of the hotel’s Discovery Hours and soon became a favorite. It features the local TX Blended Whiskey, fresh-squeezed ruby red grapefruit and mint-infused simple syrup.
Discovery Hour happens five days a week. Four days feature a specialty cocktail such as the TX Red in the lobby. Behind every cocktail is a story worth sharing. For example, the TX Blended Whiskey is local to Fort Worth. If you look carefully at the bottle, you’ll notice the leather cap. Each bottle has a different cap from the best boot makers in Fort Worth. The goal is to give guests a little hometown flavor. On the fifth day, Discovery Hour is elevated with a musician, demo or other activity.
Most expensive drink: Johnnie Blue on the rocks, $50.
Food: Most people come to the bar for drinks. The food menu consists mostly of shareable appetizers, with two of the more popular items being the R burger and barbecue pulled-pork sliders.
Specials: From 7 to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday is All Texas Happy Hour, when customers get half off local beer, wine and spirits.
Fun fact: The bar sits on the mezzanine level and looks out over the main lobby. Architect David M. Schwarz’s firm oversaw the hotel’s remodeling, and he is famous locally for designing Globe Life Park in Arlington, Bass Hall in Fort Worth and American Airlines Center in Dallas, among other notable projects.
Details: 200 Main St., Fort Worth; marriott.com.
Dragonfly, Hotel ZaZa
The vibe: Chic and sophisticated, this boutique hotel bar in Dallas is typically busiest Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. In addition to the restaurant and bar, there is Poolside at Hotel ZaZa, which you can look out at while dining and drinking at Dragonfly. A DJ creates the lounge ambiance from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Bottle service available; call 214-550-9500.
Signature drink: Menus change seasonally, but a long-running favorite is the Big Flirt, made with Absolut Mandrin, passionfruit puree, pineapple juice and fresh berries ($12).
Most expensive drink: Yamazaki Sherry Cask (single malt from Japan), $250 per glass. The Pappy Van Winkle (rye, Kentucky) is listed as “please inquire.”
Food: Dragonfly serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner along with an “all day” menu, a lounge menu (shared bites) and a late-night menu. Calamari salad with Thai chili vinaigrette ($14) is among the most popular items. Other notables are the bacon-brisket-cheddar sliders ($9) and spiced ahi tuna tacos ($14).
Fun fact: Dragonfly just rolled out a new whiskey menu, titled “Not the Bottom of the Barrel.” Food and beverage director Alex Aland has sourced some of the most sought-after and hard-to-get whiskey and bourbon.
Details: 2332 Leonard St., Dallas; hotelzaza.com.
Wine Thief, Omni Fort Worth Hotel
The vibe: An intimate and secluded wine bar on the southern end of the Omni lobby, next to Bob’s Steak & Chop House. It offers hand-selected labels, along with a quiet atmosphere and some apps from Bob’s. Peak times are 5-7 p.m. and 9-11 p.m., with people unwinding before and after dinner.
Signature drink: Beyond the wine, try the Texas mule: Tito’s vodka, Gosling’s ginger beer and lime, garnished with candied ginger and served in a copper mug.
Most expensive drink: Macallan 18 Scotch, $30.
Food: A small-plates menu includes some Bob’s appetizers, salads and desserts. Popular: arugula salad with peppered steak, apples, walnuts, Parmesan and bleu cheese, and artisan cheese and meat plates.
Fun fact: Wine Thief hosts tastings on the third Wednesday of each month (February to November), with the wines built around a theme. The $40 cost includes three small plates.
Details: 1300 Houston St., Fort Worth; omnihotels.com.
The Living Room, W Dallas-Victory
The vibe: This sleek downtown spot is in the lobby of the W Hotel, across from American Airlines Center in Dallas. It feeds off the energy of post-work and pre-game crowds and a steady flow of hotel guests. Peak time is 5 p.m., especially when there is an event at the AAC. Living Room Bar also has an eclectic lounge feel with cowboy-cool textures like cow print “bean bag” chairs.
Signature drinks: Most popular and frequently ordered: the lemongrass drop, with Tito’s vodka, elderflower, lemongrass syrup, pineapple and mint; and the Polish mule (a Moscow mule with a twist), with Belvedere vodka, lime, elderflower, three dashes of Angostura bitters and ginger beer.
Most expensive drink: Smoked pineapple margarita, $15. It’s no longer on the menu, but bartenders make it upon request. It includes Patron Silver tequila, agave nectar, fresh pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, mescal and basil leaves.
Food: Most popular items are chef Vijay Sadhu’s pimento cheese croquettes with chili-lime aioli, duck confit tacos topped with chipotle slaw and Texas chicken lollipops, tossed in hickory-smoked barbecue sauce.
Fun fact: Everyone loves the fuzzy cowboy hat wall. At any given moment you’ll see a crowd of people taking selfies in front of it.
Details: 2440 Victory Park Lane, Dallas; wdallasvictory.com.
The Owners Box, Omni Dallas Hotel
The vibe: An upscale sports bar in the sprawling Omni convention center hotel in downtown Dallas, The Owners Box was voted No. 1 sports bar in DFW in 2014 by D Magazine. There are 72 HDTVs, including a new 18-foot laser-projection big screen, one of only 100 in the world. You’ll feel like Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban watching games here any day, but particularly on game days.
Signature drink: Red Zone margarita, made with Patron Silver, PAMA pomegranate liqueur, fresh sweet-and-sour mix and a splash of orange juice.
Most expensive drink: Hennessy XO ($45)
Food: Most popular items include barbecue-brisket potato skins, Texas loaded fries, shrimp pesto flatbread, a half-pound burger, Cajun shrimp tacos, and a barbecue-brisket sandwich. Owners Box sweet pretzels and brownie sundaes are popular desserts.
Specials: Happy Hour, 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, includes $4 domestic drafts, $5 well drinks and $20 domestic beer buckets (five beers).
Fun fact: There are complimentary billiards, cornhole and Jenga. Super Bowl Sunday will feature Broncos- and Panthers-themed dishes: the Denver Burger, inspired by a Denver omelet, and the Carolina pulled-pork doughnut sandwich, complete with Krispy Kreme buns.
Details: 555 S. Lamar St., Dallas; omnihotels.com/hotels/dallas.
SODA Bar, NYLO Dallas South Side
The vibe: Funky and chic terrace bistro space, plus a rooftop patio and pool bar that provides panoramic views of downtown Dallas. Inside, the pool table and piano are painted in funky designs. Outside, the infinity pool and fire pit call to you no matter the time of year. Peak time is after 8 p.m. Saturday, but there’s no bad time to hang out in such a beautiful space.
Signature drink: NYLO Rita, with Z reposado tequila, PAMA liqueur, simple syrup and cranberry juice.
Most expensive drink: Specialty cocktails include cherry lemonade, peach bliss, summer shandy and aviation (all $12).
Food: The most popular menu items are fish and chips, wings, a blackened chicken sandwich, and a tuna steak sandwich.
Specials: From 4 to 7 p.m., $5 beer and wine and select appetizers.
Fun fact: SODA stands for South Dallas. Also, the hotel is one of the most eco-friendly in the world — it has earned LEED Gold status for its design.
Details: 1325 S. Lamar St., Dallas; nylohotels.com/dallassouthside.
SER Steak + Spirits, Hilton Anatole
The vibe: Located on the 27th floor of the Anatole’s tower, this bar, which is part of a steak house, provides panoramic views of downtown Dallas through floor-to-ceiling windows. SER took over the space from Nana, a beloved Dallas restaurant that closed a few years ago. People still pine for it, but the new bar still draws crowds, particularly in pre-dinner hours as people watch the sunset and soak in the views.
Signature drink: Wine. SER offers its own wine club, with discounts on monthly tastings and dinners, plus complimentary valet at the hotel.
Most expensive drink: Beyond the wines, it’s the Texas peach old-fashioned ($15) — Texas whiskey infused with Texas peaches, brown sugar simple syrup and Fee Brothers bitters.
Food: Bar menu highlights include shrimp cocktail ($16) and 8-ounce filet of beef ($45).
Specials: Happy hour is 4-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and includes $5 domestic beers and wine selections $7-$10.
Fun fact: W.T. Greer, a singer and pianist who serenaded crowds and celebs at The Melrose Hotel in Dallas for a decade, now performs at SER from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Details: 2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas; hiltonanatolehotel.com.
Coming soon: Outlaw Taproom, Four Seasons Resort and Club
The vibe: Outlaw Taproom is the bar slated to open this spring at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas, replacing Bar 19. It is inspired by the hotel’s new restaurant concept LAW, which will offer Texas fare inspired by the natural elements of the state, from land to air to water. The bar will also pay tribute to the outlaws of Texas music, such as Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Janis Joplin.
Signature drinks: The Outlaw takes its “taproom” name seriously — there will be taps atop the bar for Texas beers, wine, even cocktails.
Fun fact: HD screens will play footage of some of these Texas artists’ greatest performances. Outlaw’s outdoor patio will be covered, but will include a rustic fireplace. And it will be designed to host live acoustic performances.
Outlaw Taproom is scheduled to open in May, in time for the annual AT&T Byron Nelson PGA tournament at TPC Four Seasons.
Details: 4150 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving; fourseasons.com/dallas.
This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Hotel bars are hip new hangouts."