Going to be in dallas with wife in February. Any recommendations? Areas to stay? places to eat? Things to do? TIA
How many days will you be here and what kind of restaurants/bars do you like? Something for everyone Perot Museum Aquarium 6th Floor Museum Arboretum (the wife will love) Bush Library Klyde Warren Park Then the wife would enjoy Bishop Arts District Design District Trinity Groves West Village All have plenty of restaurants/bars to go along with the shops she would like
My first reaction was to say that Dallas sucks, but I didn't want to rain on his parade. If we're on the pile on portion of the thread, then oh man think again about this
W library is the worst of the presidential libraries I've been to. Pale shadow of the greatness of his daddy's library.
spending a romantic vacation at a library is a bad idea anyway. "nothing makes me hornier than seeing all these fucking books!" - Original Poster and his wife (probably)
If you're under 35 and trying to impress the Mrs., I'd stay at the Ritz or Hotel ZaZa in Uptown (not to be confused with Downtown). All the bars and restaurants you'll want are within walking distance. Best steak: Knife Best BBQ: Pecan Lodge Best upscale BBQ: Smoke Best Pizza: Cane Rosso Best southern/comfort food (upscale): Sissy's Southern Kitchen Best Mexican/Tex-Mex: Javier's and Mesa Mayo, followed by Mi Cocina (chain but still good imo). Best seafood: Trulucks or Daddy Jacks
Hotels- Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek The Joule Warwick Melrose The Adolphus Magnolia Hotel, Downtown Eats- Trulucks Perry's Capital Grille Saint Martins Rodeo Goat for lunch To do? Well fuck that depends a lot on you and your wife??? The Arboretum Sixth floor musuem Reunion Tower Thanksgiving Square
For steak, I'd go bob's chop house over the capital grill (assuming that's the national chain that be be found everywhere). I'd second meso maya for mexican, although it's not tex mex or even mexican. It's good. Oh...if you want to blow her mind for a cheap breakfast, go to the kolache factory. Make sure to get the fuckers stuffed with sausage gravy.
Bob's is not what it used to be. I think it's very average now. Would go to knife any day over Bob's. it's not even close I agree meso maya is not Tex-mex, but it is Mexican. It holds itself out as "Yucatán region" Mexican food.
I stayed at Hotel Zaza for a wedding and that area is fun. It's also where Johnny Football was leaving during one of his last domestic violence incidents.
Age:Early 30's No keeds Not broke, but not baller status. Not for VD, just long weekend getaway Reason:Dumb stuff wife does. Wants to take a bunch of long weekend trips. Not sure why dallas, but she is bank rolling them so idgaf
Is Uber, or car rental best idea? What part of town best to stay at? Only been there for business 1-2x and through airport 1000x. Maybe do aquarium, tourist stuff. Is Texas book depository area/jfk stuff interesting? Im a history buff but might be underwhelming
Wife also wants to go Portland, D.C. & Boston so they don't all have to be amazing. Also, chance to scout if job opportunities ever come up in Tejas.
For your consideration: Bishop Arts, which has been mentioned, has a ton of fantastic restaurants in walking distance from each other. You could get dinner at one place, and then drinks and/or dessert at another, etc. There's also cool window shopping. It's a great idea if you want to keep your options open about what food you're in the mood for (but I would caution about walking in without a reservation, most places there are small and will have a wait). For lodging, you might consider the Belmont Hotel. It's a little less expensive than some newer hotels in and around downtown, but it's got a neat vibe (it's a kitschy reno of an old motor in, but with a Spanish flare). It's near Bishop Arts, but it's also only a short ride to Downtown/Deep Ellum/Uptown/Lower Greenville (the latter two being my preferred bar districts). Also, Highland Park Village is in the same general vicinity of the W Presidential Library, and it would be a good place for swankier window-shopping and ogling 40+ MILFs worth more than you'll earn in a lifetime.
I like Bishop Arts and Deep Ellum, but they are kind of surrounded by the hood. They are the kinds of places I go but not really something I would recommend to someone visiting Dallas for a couple of days. I like the Lower Greenville suggestion and I would also throw Knox-Henderson in for consideration. I'm not sure what they would do in Highland Park other than visit SMU, the W Library and check out extravagant homes. If you're into touring around neighborhoods filled with $10mm+ homes, I'd also check out Preston Hollow, and particularly, Straight Lane. I think Uptown is going to be your best bet for the most part. It's the epicenter of shit to do in Dallas. Lot of fun bars and restaurants, and walking distance or a short drive to pretty much every suggestion in this thread. Also for day drinking/hanging out, I would recommend The Rustic and Katy Trail Ice House (both in Uptown), Truck Yard (Lower Greenville), and Chicken Scratch (South Dallas, near Deep Ellum/Belmont Hotel).
Great people, very little traffic, great schools, low cost of living and very few aggies. Basically paradise.
No disrespect to others, but I would disregard recommendations to The Cheesecake Factory (unless you are obese and like disgustingly huge portions of chain restaurant food) and Capital Grill (another chain - if you want a steak, go to Knife, Del Friscos, or Nick and Sam's). I would second a recommendation for a dinner/lunch in the Bishop Arts. If you like French bistros, go to Boulivardier, which is awesome, then walk over to Emporium Pies, which is the best pie ever (and I don't care for pie). Another good restaurant down there is Bolsa, but it's about three blocks away from the actual Bishop Arts District. Also a good pizza place, but the name escapes me. Stagger Lee's day drinking recommendations are spot on. Same with his restaurants. Dallas is an Uber city, so you can get around easily using it. Probably no need to rent unless you plan to visit Fort Worth. If you're a history dork, you'll like the book repository/JFK stuff. H/T has great hotel recommendations, but I disagree with his restaurants (other than Rodeo Goat). If you go to Klyde Warren Park (which you should at least check out, it's a park built on top of the interstate), check out Savor - a restaurant built right in the park. Great place for a drink bc views are great. Food is good, not great. Meso Maya is awesome, but I would go for lunch not dinner (atmosphere is underwhelming).
Is DFW walkable or is it best to take skylink? I have a somewhat tight connection tomorrow where I have to go from C37 to B37
Javiers>Meso but both are great. Used to murder so many La Ventana burritos I would rec ZaZa over the Ritz but not sure if that should be the case for married folks. There aren't many sights here, not much culture/character/history. Dallas is a great place to live but super meh vacation spot.
GF is heading there this week. She is staying out by the Galleria mall thing for a conference so no idea if anything is good out that way but figured someone here would know. Mainly in the world of food but if there is anything good to do near the Children's hospital there that would be helpful too.