Dallas bar scene's signature style: a spirit-forward cocktail on American whiskey or agave, with a Southwestern flavour element (dried chile, mole bitters, smoked salt) and a long-form preparation.

Deep Ellum's cocktail scene developed in the early 2010s alongside the BBQ and restaurant renaissance in the neighbourhood. Midnight Rambler opened in The Joule Hotel in 2013 and established the standard for craft cocktails in Dallas, eventually earning a World's 50 Best Bars ranking. The neighbourhood bars that followed borrowed the focus on house-made ingredients and Southwestern flavour profiles while making the format accessible at a walk-in price point.

Where to eat Deep Ellum craft cocktail in Dallas

4 editor picks for Deep Ellum craft cocktail in Dallas, ranked by editorial score. All Dallas signature dishes · Deep Ellum craft cocktail across every city.

  • Midnight Rambler

    Order Seasonal tasting menu cocktail; house-infused spirit expressions

    Dallas's most acclaimed cocktail destination: a subterranean lounge beneath The Joule hotel with live DJs, bold creative cocktails, and a World's 50 Best.

    DetailsBookDirections

  • Ruins

    Order Oaxacan tacos with slow-cooked meats. The mezcal and agave cocktail list.

    A Deep Ellum institution where a serious mezcal programme and Oaxacan-style tacos feed the late-night crowd until 2am, every night the kitchen.

    DetailsDirections

  • Parliament

    Order Mai Tai; champagne cocktail of the night

    Elegant Uptown cocktail lounge serving classics and champagne cocktails since 2014, with an all-day Monday happy hour and a 5-8pm Tuesday through Saturday.

    DetailsBookDirections

  • Armoury D.E.

    Order Hungarian comfort food snacks alongside the eclectic cocktail menu. Gothic atmosphere included.

    A Deep Ellum bar with dark Gothic architecture, a Hungarian-inflected food menu, and cocktails that run from classic to house-specific until 2am.

    DetailsDirections

Book food experiences in Dallas

Outdoor Escape Room in Dallas - Deep Ellum★ 4.5 (13)
This dish

Viator · 2 h

Outdoor Escape Room in Dallas - Deep Ellum

An immersive clue-solving adventure around Deep Ellum in Dallas. Search for real-world clues, solve puzzles, and discover the neighborhood with an experience you'll ne...

fromUSD 75 Check dates

See all 346 food experiences in Dallas

Make it at home

Serves 17 minIntermediate

Ingredients

  • 60ml Texas bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 20ml fresh lemon juice
  • 20ml honey syrup (1:1 honey to water)
  • 2 dashes mole bitters
  • 1 ancho chile, toasted and steeped in bourbon for 24 hours (optional)
  • Smoked salt for the rim
  • 1 large ice cube

Method

  1. Smoke the rim: run a lime wedge around a rocks glass, dip in smoked salt, and fill with a large ice cube.
  2. Combine bourbon (or ancho-infused bourbon), lemon juice, honey syrup, and mole bitters in a shaker with ice.
  3. Shake hard for 12 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
  4. Double-strain over the large ice cube into the prepared glass.
  5. No garnish needed if using infused bourbon; if not, a dehydrated lemon wheel or ancho strip works.

Editor tip. The ancho infusion takes 24 hours but transforms a standard sour. Taste at 12 hours; the full 24 hours can be too bitter depending on the chile.