So some people may not know, but I actually lived in Dallas for a Summer! This was a few years ago (wow, I’m that old already to where I can say that?) and SO much has changed since then! There are still most of my favorite staple spots, but I also have found so many new and cute businesses that have opened since then! I usually find these places through influencers I follow on Instagram. I always find cute places, screenshot them, and then save them to my favorite photos on my phone. When I decided to go up to Dallas for the weekend to visit my friend, I thought it was the perfect time to check them out!
I drove to Dallas right after work on a Friday, so I didn’t get there until later in the evening. With limited time, we first decided to grab ice cream from this super cute ice cream shop over by UT-Dallas. The shop is called Sweet Daze Dessert Bar and they specialize in making all different kinds of elaborate desserts from cupcakes to donuts to ice cream. I kept it simple and ordered a cup of Black Velvet ice cream which turned out to be delicious! What’s even better is the aesthetic, of course! They had a neon light set up with balloons, which I grabbed a quick photo at.
I stopped by the original Half Price Books, which I used to go to when I lived in Dallas. It’s such a big store and there’s so much to discover and find in there. I actually just discovered it was the first Half Price Books to open of their chain which made stopping by here even more magical!
The next day, we decided to grab lunch at The Common Table, which is a restaurant located by the brand new Cowboys Practice Facility (Go Cowboys!). It was cool to see a brand new shopping center that is centered around the stadium. At the restaurant, I got a sweet salad that had peaches, walnuts, and feta cheese that was really good.
Afterwards, we decided to stay the night at the Lorenzo Hotel. It was probably the most interesting hotel I’ve been to solely for the décor where it features somewhat of an Alice in Wonderland theme. There’s a lot of different things going on, and a lot of it doesn’t go together, but it brings a very artsy but almost eerie vibe.
After we checked into the hotel, we actually skipped over to another hotel that has an amazing rooftop pool and bar. The hotel is called NYLO Southside and with a few branches of this hotel throughout Dallas, I have to say this is the most urban one featuring a phenomenal city view of downtown. The hotel was aged, but very well taken care of, and I loved the set up of the rooftop. It featured a bar area, cabana, and a pool that flowed over the side of the building. I also really enjoyed their Popsicle Sangrias which hit the spot on a sweltering hot day!
After we spent a good amount of time chilling at the pool, we headed over to STIRR for a quick dinner. It was a fabulous small restaurant with a bar scene upstairs. I didn’t get a chance to go up and check it out, but I was told it’s a fun area that gets really lively later in the night. But if you do stop here, make sure to order one of their amazing desserts!
Since STIRR is in the Deep Ellum area, it’s really easy to hop around to other bars. We first stopped by one of my friend’s favorite places, Dots. I’ve been here quite a few times and it’s a nice spot to grab a drink and hang out with friends. It’s nice since in the midst of hopping neighboring bars, Dots is able to bring a large crowd but maintain a low-key vibe.
The next morning, and the last spot I visited before heading home, I went to my favorite brunch place in Dallas, Bread Winners. When I briefly lived in Dallas, I lived literally across the street from here and used to stop by all the time before work or for a late breakfast on the weekends. They have a variety of breakfast and lunch foods, so you really can’t go wrong! My favorite part is when they bring out complimentary slices of bread, and it’s a surprise each time.
xx,
Rachelle
