High Fives is everything a neighborhood watering hole should aspire to be: It has a laid-back vibe and offers a slew of weekly events, ranging from game night on Tuesdays to DJs spinning tunes Thursday through Saturday. Plus drinkers can also dig into a solid menu of gastropub fare that covers everything from meat and cheese boards to salads, sandwiches and burgers. The best part is that most all the booze and food options are priced at $10 or less. Did we mention there's a huge patio with fire pits, flat screens and cornhole?
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: High Fives is a popular neighborhood watering hole for the under-25 crowd.
Ilene's expert tip: Score $5 sandwiches, beer, cocktails and wine during Happy Hour, from 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and all-day Tuesday.
If a glass of cognac and a fine stogie sounds like the perfect way to end your evening, look no further than the super swanky cigar lounge at one of Dallas' most iconic Mexican restaurants. Find over 50 brands of cigars along with a lengthy selection of spirits and specialty cocktails served up in a hunting lodge-like space filled with plush leather furnishings and taxidermy. Do order the Serrano pepper-infused Margarita or a Texas Martini made with Tito's, Chambord and pineapple juice. Don't be surprised if you run into a few A-list celebrities here.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: Javier's Cigar Lounge is a classy place to go when don't mind being surrounded by smoke.
Ilene's expert tip: Parking is scare around here, so your best bet is to either park on a street nearby or use the restaurant's valet. Note that Javier's adheres to a dress code of no shorts.
This upscale gastropub is one of the best places in the neighborhood to watch a game, where dozens of large HD screens are usually broadcasting some type of sports action. But Chelsea Corner is more than a sports bar, it's a terrific spot for drinking and eating. Libations run the gambit from wine, beer and craft cocktails to an extensive lineup of whiskeys while food options include everything from gourmet burgers to artisan pizzas and braised short ribs. And if that's not enough to keep you entertained, there's also a massive, dog-friendly patio sporting games like Jenga and cornhole.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: Chelsea Corner is the perfect place for a friendly get together.
Ilene's expert tip: Discounted booze and bar bites are on offer during Happy Hour, Monday-Thursday from 4-6:30 p.m. and Friday from 11a.m.- 6:30 p.m.
For those looking for a little action to go with their drinking, this bar-arcade hybrid will be your happy place. Channel your inner child with Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and Mortal Kombat along with skeeball, pinball, a 5-foot tall Connect Four and giant Jenga. Also find great food (burgers, fried PB&J sandwiches, falafel and fried Oreos) and other fun one-off activities like DJ jams, beer dinners and '80s dance parties. Decent deals on happy hour booze and food as well as free play on games every Wednesday ensure a lively atmosphere every day of the week.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: Barcadia is best for folks who like to drink and play.
Ilene's expert tip: Barcadia offers Happy Hour Monday-Thursday from 4-7 p.m. and Friday from 3-7 p.m. Also find specials every day of the week, including 1/2 price pizza on Mondays and free games on Wednesdays.
Formally known as Abacus, Jasper's Uptown (by the same owners) is as impressive as a cocktail destination as it is for a place to dine. And unlike its predecessor, this spot has a more casual vibe, especially on its outdoor patio. The well-rounded bar program features everything from cocktails made with in-house fused spirits to champagne, sake and an eclectic list of global wines. On the food side, find items such as sushi, lobster shooters, grilled venison and slow-smoked baby back ribs alongside bar bites like pizza and bulgogi beef tater tots. Stop by from 5 to 7 p.m. when you can score happy hour deals on edibles and drinks.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: Jasper's is for when you fancy cocktails in casually chic surrounds.
Ilene's expert tip: Jasper's offers food and drink deals during ladies night out on Wednesdays.
From the folks behind The Old Monk up the street, this laid-back Irish pub boasts 18 beers on tap and around 30 more in bottles. Beyond beer, drinkers will find a solid selection of cocktails (offered half-price on Thursdays) as well as sangria, wine and hot drinks like bourbon hot chocolate and Irish coffee. Like any great pub, expect to find a menu featuring dishes like fish & chips, burgers and sandwiches, plus board games, darts and, of course, televised sports. Keep an eye out for weekly happy hour (3-7 p.m.) and DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: The Skellig is the place to go for a local, casual vibe.
Ilene's expert tip: The Skellig offers a late-night menu from 11 p.m.- 1 a.m., Sunday -Thursday.
It's not difficult to see why The Old Monk is one of Dallas' favorite watering holes. The place, adorned with ecclesiastical antiquities-- including lights from an old monastery, reclaimed dark wood paneling from confessional booths and a turn of the century altar door, is literally gushing with charm. It's also gushing with an exhaustive list of beer. We're talking Trappist brews like Dubbal and Chimay as well as draft and bottled beers from England, Holland, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and the United States. Also, on offer is a curated selection of whiskey as well as wine and craft cocktails. Oh, and the food (think wurst boards, fish &chips and Belgian-style steamed mussels) isn't too shabby here either.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: The Old Monk is one of Dallas' most charming and beloved pubs.
Ilene's expert tip: Find $1 off call liquor, well liquor, draft beer, and house cocktails during Happy Hour from 3-7 p.m., Monday-Friday.
For a laid-back evening, you couldn't pick a more convivial place to hang out than at this retail wine shop and bar, where super cozy environs, complete with a fireplace, set the mood for exploring a global wine list of nearly 400 labels. Find a constantly changing selection of everything from Spanish Tempranillo to Austrian Orangetraub on offer by the glass or bottle plus around twenty-five varieties of craft beer. Edibles come in the form of assorted artisan cheese and charcuterie plates. Keep an eye out for tastings and special events.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: Veritas Wine Bar is the ultimate place for wine aficionados.
Ilene's expert tip: Every Monday Veritas offers 1/2 price glasses of wine all day until closing time.
Don't let the non-descript exterior fool you, this Henderson Avenue hotspot is pure Midcentury modern glam filled with plush seating areas, pop art and dazzling crystal chandeliers. The bar program serves up modern takes on the classics (think old fashioned with Knob Creek Rye, Giffard peach, butter pecan, and salted house bitters) while the food menu is made up of sharable plates like lobster tempura and beef sliders. If that's not enough to hold your attention, there's also burlesque on Wednesday nights, live music on Thursdays and a resident DJ spinning tunes on Fridays and Saturdays.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: Felix Culpa is a great place to take a date.
Ilene's expert tip: Visit Tuesday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9 p.m. until close, when you can score half-price sharables, $5 house wines and beer and $8 select cocktails.
From the folks behind Breadwinners Café, this handsome neighborhood tavern takes as much care with its cocktails as it does the food. Here, drinkers can choose from an extensive menu of wine and beer on tap as well as an eclectic lineup of craft cocktails, many of which are made with house-made mixers and spirits. Food-wise, expect to find everything from crispy carnitas dumplings to bone marrow spiked burgers and prime New York strips. Henry's also boasts a hidden speakeasy that's open Wednesday through Sunday. Stop in on the weekend when there's live music on the patio.
Recommended for Knox-Henderson's Best Nightlife because: Henry's Majestic is where to find live music and a hidden speakeasy.
Ilene's expert tip: Be sure to check out Henry's for Happy Hour, Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., when you can score $5 wine, draft beers, charged cocktails and discounted apps.