Reata Restaurant in Fort Worth returned to its original Throckmorton St home, serving the celebrated West Texas ranch cooking that made it famous.
Order: Tenderloin tamales, cowboy ribeye, tres leches cake.
Tip: Lunch is a great-value way to sample the kitchen. The rooftop terrace has sweeping downtown views, ideal in cooler months.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Fort Worth occupies a dramatic mahogany-lined downtown space serving USDA prime aged beef and seafood.
Order: Double Eagle bone-in ribeye, cold-water lobster tail, aged prime NY strip.
Tip: The wine list exceeds 1,200 selections. Request an upstairs table for a quieter experience. Valet parking available on Main St.
Toro Toro in Fort Worth is a pan-Latin steakhouse on Main Street where South American churrasco, Peruvian ceviche, and Brazilian picanha share the menu.
Order: Pan-Latin churrasco, ceviche flight, Brazilian picanha with chimichurri.
Tip: Happy hour Monday through Thursday 16:00-19:00 offers half-price cocktails and discounted small plates at the bar.
Wicked Butcher in Fort Worth is a modern steakhouse inside the Sinclair Hotel on Main St, focused on dry-aged prime beef and seasonal sides.
Order: Dry-aged prime ribeye, bone marrow with toast, duck fat fries.
Tip: The lobby bar opens at 06:30 daily and is a strong spot for pre-dinner cocktails. Valet is available through the hotel.
Grace in Fort Worth is a refined downtown restaurant at 777 Main St celebrated for seasonal American cuisine and an outstanding curated wine programme.
Order: Pan-seared scallops, dry-aged duck breast, chocolate fondant with bourbon ice cream.
Tip: The bar opens at 16:00 and is quieter early in the evening. Ask for the cheese cart selection, which changes weekly.
Wicked Butcher in Fort Worth is a modern steakhouse inside the Sinclair Hotel on Main St, focused on dry-aged prime beef and seasonal sides.
Order: Dry-aged prime ribeye, bone marrow with toast, duck fat fries.
Tip: The lobby bar opens at 06:30 daily and is a strong spot for pre-dinner cocktails. Valet is available through the hotel.
Reata Restaurant in Fort Worth returned to its original Throckmorton St home, serving the celebrated West Texas ranch cooking that made it famous.
Order: Tenderloin tamales, cowboy ribeye, tres leches cake.
Tip: Lunch is a great-value way to sample the kitchen. The rooftop terrace has sweeping downtown views, ideal in cooler months.
Toro Toro in Fort Worth is a pan-Latin steakhouse on Main Street where South American churrasco, Peruvian ceviche, and Brazilian picanha share the menu.
Order: Pan-Latin churrasco, ceviche flight, Brazilian picanha with chimichurri.
Tip: Happy hour Monday through Thursday 16:00-19:00 offers half-price cocktails and discounted small plates at the bar.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Fort Worth occupies a dramatic mahogany-lined downtown space serving USDA prime aged beef and seafood.
Order: Double Eagle bone-in ribeye, cold-water lobster tail, aged prime NY strip.
Tip: The wine list exceeds 1,200 selections. Request an upstairs table for a quieter experience. Valet parking available on Main St.
Grace in Fort Worth is a refined downtown restaurant at 777 Main St celebrated for seasonal American cuisine and an outstanding curated wine programme.
Order: Pan-seared scallops, dry-aged duck breast, chocolate fondant with bourbon ice cream.
Tip: The bar opens at 16:00 and is quieter early in the evening. Ask for the cheese cart selection, which changes weekly.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen on West Fwy in Fort Worth is a festive Cajun seafood house known for generous Gulf Coast plates and lively happy hours.
Order: Blackened catfish, crawfish etouffee, fried alligator bites.
Tip: Happy hour Monday through Friday 15:00-18:00 offers discounted appetisers and cocktails. The crawfish etouffee is the kitchen's top dish.
Grace Restaurant at 777 Main Street in Fort Worth offers over 700 wine labels chosen by two sommeliers alongside contemporary American cuisine.
Order: Chef's tasting menu with sommelier wine pairings; ask for the temperature-controlled cellar selection.
Tip: Request a table near the glass-enclosed wine cellar for the full visual effect; book at least two weeks ahead for weekend reservations.
Wines From a Broad on Houston Street in Fort Worth pours and retails exclusively female-made wines, celebrating women producers from across the globe.
Order: By-the-glass pours exclusively from female winemakers; the curated charcuterie and cheese pairing board.
Tip: The staff curate pairings by occasion; mention what you are celebrating and they will select a bottle from their female-producer-only range.
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Fort Worth downtown pours over 200 beers on draught and in bottle beneath its famous suspended saucer collection.
Order: The rotating Texas craft tap; the UFO Platter sampler of five beers.
Tip: Happy hour runs Tuesday to Friday 15:00 to 18:00. The back patio catches afternoon shade nicely.
Wicked Butcher at Fort Worth Sinclair Hotel pairs a polished lobby bar with an upscale American dining room, drawing professionals for cocktails and steaks.
Order: The smoked old fashioned; the craft gin and tonic with house bitters.
Tip: The bar lobby is open from early morning for coffee service. Evening cocktail hour tends to draw a post-work crowd from nearby offices.
The Library Bar in downtown Fort Worth is a college-themed dive with sports screens, pool tables, arcade games, and evening karaoke, open daily until 02:00.
Order: A bottle of Lone Star; the house whiskey shot during happy hour.
Tip: Karaoke nights draw big crowds mid-week. Street parking on Houston St is metered until 22:00 and free afterwards.
Reata in Fort Worth downtown near Bass Performance Hall serves Texas ranch-cuisine cocktails at a polished bar drawing theatergoers and business diners alike.
Order: The West Texas martini; the pecan-smoked old fashioned with local rye.
Tip: The bar is the best spot for solo dining on the full menu. Reserve a table for the dining room if visiting on performance nights near Bass Hall.
Curfew in downtown Fort Worth is a cocktail bar and speakeasy with late-night pizza, resident DJs, and a dance floor popular among local nightlife crowds.
Order: The house signature cocktail; the late-night pizza to accompany a second round.
Tip: Reservations are accepted and recommended on Friday and Saturday nights when the dance floor gets going around 22:00.
Little Red Wasp in Fort Worth downtown Sundance area is a kitchen and bar with a straightforward menu, solid draught beer list, and all-day happy hour daily.
Order: The house beer selection on draught; the brunch cocktail on weekends.
Tip: Happy hour runs 16:00 to 18:00 daily with $5 drafts and wells. Weekend brunch starts at 10:00 with bottomless options.
Refinery 714 is a penthouse whiskey bar on the 24th floor of the Kimpton Harper in Fort Worth, with panoramic skyline views and a polished spirits programme.
Order: The whiskey flight from the deep spirits list; the Tipsy on 24 house cocktail.
Tip: Sunset visits from 19:00 to 20:00 offer the best light for skyline views. Dress smartly as the hotel bar maintains a relaxed but polished atmosphere.
Branch and Bird in Fort Worth Frost Tower Sky Lobby is a smart contemporary bar and restaurant on an upper floor with well-made cocktails and city views.
Order: The cocktail of the month; the contemporary shareables paired with a glass pour.
Tip: Happy hour runs Tuesday to Friday from 16:00 to 18:00. The venue closes Sunday and the dinner menu runs Tuesday onwards.
Wild Acre Restaurant and Beer Garden occupies the old Ranch Style Beans factory east of downtown Fort Worth, with 26 taps, bocce, and a sprawling beer garden.
Order: Texas Blonde session ale; Juice Slinger IPA; Agave Americana.
Tip: The grassy lawn hosts live music most weekends; arrive by 17:00 to claim a picnic table before the crowd builds.
Cowtown Brewing Company in Fort Worth pairs house-brewed lagers and IPAs with on-site smoked barbecue in a 5,000 sq ft taproom with a generous outdoor deck.
Order: Rhinestone Cowboy Kolsch; Sim City double dry-hopped IPA; Canvas milk stout.
Tip: Saturday brunch starts at 09:00 when smoked brisket is at its freshest; the outdoor deck is shadiest in the morning hours.
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in downtown Fort Worth offers 200-plus beers and pub food until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday near Sundance Square.
Order: Black and Blue Sandwich; Beerfeast board for the table.
Tip: Friday happy hour (15:00 to 18:00) makes for a smart pre-game before a late session at the outdoor patio with live music.
Buffalo Bros at Fort Worth's Sundance Square serves wings and pizza until 02:00 every night with 93 HD screens covering every major sport on air.
Order: Classic Buffalo wings; pizza by the slice.
Tip: Wednesday night whiskey specials at $5 a pour make it a popular mid-week stop. The loaded potato skins are a reliable late-night order.