Italian fine dining, wine list$$$bishop-artsTue-Sat 6pm-10pm, closed Sun-Mon
Michelin Bib Gourmand Italian restaurant with one of the city's best Italian wine lists, curated to match handmade pasta and seasonal secondi. The sommeliers guide wine pairings at a level rare outside New York or Chicago.
Order: By-the-glass Barolo or Barbaresco pairing with hand-rolled pasta; grappa finish
Tip: Reserve the four-top in the back corner for a full evening. The wine program is as strong as the food; ask for the off-menu producer bottles.
Mexican wine and beer shop$oak-cliffMon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 12pm-7pm
Jefferson Blvd shop with over 100 labels of Mexican wine in every varietal, tempranillo, malbec, rose, sparkling, chardonnay, and chenin blanc. Monday tastings 6-9pm are free and educational.
Order: Monday free tasting flight; Coahuila cab franc bottle
Tip: Free Monday tastings run 6-9pm. The shop is 10 minutes from Bishop Arts and pairs well as a pre-dinner bottle stop before heading to Valle or Lucia.
Modern American, wine bar$$$knox-hendersonTue-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
Michelin Bib Gourmand Henderson Ave restaurant with a wine program built around small-production bottles and an educated floor team. The 20-seat bar is one of the best places in Dallas to eat and drink simultaneously.
Order: Bar snack progression with two or three glasses from the rotating by-the-glass list; natural wine from the rotating staff-pick section
Tip: Bar seating is first-come first-served and usually preferable to a reserved table for wine-focused visits. The Monday wine deal changes weekly.
Craft cocktails, curated wine list$$$uptownTue-Wed 5pm-12am, Thu-Sat 5pm-2am
World's 50 Best Bars-listed subterranean lounge with a compact but precisely chosen wine list that complements its celebrated cocktail program. An elegant option for those who want a single evening destination in downtown Dallas.
Order: House seasonal cocktail; curated by-the-glass red from the sommelier list
Tip: The wine program is secondary to cocktails here but well-chosen. Ask the bartender for the wine of the night rather than scanning the list independently.
Farm-to-table New American, wine$$$bishop-artsWed-Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri 5pm-9:30pm, Sat 10am-9:30pm, Sun 10am-2pm
Bishop Arts farm-to-table restaurant with a wine list built to complement seasonal Texas-sourced cooking. The Friday and Saturday evening service is when the wine program is at its most exploratory.
Order: Natural wine pairing with the market tasting menu; Texas-winery selection by the glass
Tip: Saturday brunch wine service starts at 10am and includes a solid sparkling selection alongside the famous blue corn pancakes.
Avant-garde cocktails, natural wine$$lower-greenvilleTue-Sun 5pm-12am, Mon closed
Lower Greenville cocktail bar with a notably strong natural wine section in the menu, serving producers the cocktail crowd discovers almost by accident. The bar team approaches wine with the same ingredient-forward curiosity as their cocktails.
Order: Natural wine staff pick; French onion soup cocktail alongside a glass of Jura
Tip: Worth visiting for wine even if cocktails are not your focus. The natural wine list runs 15-20 bottles deep with knowledgeable staff guidance.