Catrina’s Guidebook
Neighborhoods
In this historic neighborhood, you'll find graffiti murals, live music, craft cocktails, mouth watering food, tattoo shops, unique shopping, art, and down-to-earth vibes. If you're into anything creative, love being in a lively colorful environment, going out, or simply brunching, this is THE place to be.
717 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Deep Ellum
In this historic neighborhood, you'll find graffiti murals, live music, craft cocktails, mouth watering food, tattoo shops, unique shopping, art, and down-to-earth vibes. If you're into anything creative, love being in a lively colorful environment, going out, or simply brunching, this is THE place to be.
Lakewood is a beautiful historic neighborhood that is just tucked outside of downtown, in East Dallas. This cozy haven houses beautiful homes, tasty restaurants, and treasured local bars.
31 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lakewood
Lakewood is a beautiful historic neighborhood that is just tucked outside of downtown, in East Dallas. This cozy haven houses beautiful homes, tasty restaurants, and treasured local bars.
Food scene
So much more than just a doughnut shop, Hypnotic churns out funky specialty doughnuts and tasty chicken biscuit creations while staying closely involved in the local community. Favorite bites include the Canadian Healthcare (a long john topped with syrup, maple icing and a strip of bacon) and the Amy (a chicken biscuit with bacon, pickles, southwest spicy mustard, cheddar and honey).
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hypnotic Donuts & Biscuits
9007 Garland RdSo much more than just a doughnut shop, Hypnotic churns out funky specialty doughnuts and tasty chicken biscuit creations while staying closely involved in the local community. Favorite bites include the Canadian Healthcare (a long john topped with syrup, maple icing and a strip of bacon) and the Amy (a chicken biscuit with bacon, pickles, southwest spicy mustard, cheddar and honey).
Lakewood’s truest taqueria can be found on Gaston at Tacos La Banqueta. Though it’s far from the only one, this little taco stop boasts some of the most authentic street tacos in town — along with tortas, gorditas, gringas, sopes and quesadillas filled with chicken, cabeza, suadero, lengua, and more. Get through all those tough choices, there’s one more choice left: red sauce or green?
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tacos La Banqueta Puro D.F.
7233 Gaston AveLakewood’s truest taqueria can be found on Gaston at Tacos La Banqueta. Though it’s far from the only one, this little taco stop boasts some of the most authentic street tacos in town — along with tortas, gorditas, gringas, sopes and quesadillas filled with chicken, cabeza, suadero, lengua, and more. Get through all those tough choices, there’s one more choice left: red sauce or green?
With a proven, family-friendly concept, 24-hour service, and artsy atmosphere, Buzzbrews is one of the best diner choices in Dallas. Don’t sleep on the spot’s banana pancakes, stuff-your-own crepes, mimosas, and all-you-can-drink drip coffee.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
BuzzBrews Lakewood
5815 Live Oak StWith a proven, family-friendly concept, 24-hour service, and artsy atmosphere, Buzzbrews is one of the best diner choices in Dallas. Don’t sleep on the spot’s banana pancakes, stuff-your-own crepes, mimosas, and all-you-can-drink drip coffee.
Garden Café is a daytime eatery off the beaten path. It’s tucked into an old historic neighborhood in Junius Heights and from the outside doesn’t look like anything special. Don’t let that fool you though. When you visit, insist to sit outside on their backyard patio amidst the organic garden for the best experience.
Everything here is made from scratch and you’ll get a true farm-to-table meal. They offer Southern-style brunch with options like omelets, cheese grits, and pancakes and waffles with organic Vermont maple syrup. For lunch, their specialties are soups, crisp salads, and tasty sandwiches. Their espresso bar features local coffee from Oak Cliff roasters and is unmatched. Try the Iced “Toddy” Coffee which is their take on cold brew.
48 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Garden Cafe
5310 Junius StGarden Café is a daytime eatery off the beaten path. It’s tucked into an old historic neighborhood in Junius Heights and from the outside doesn’t look like anything special. Don’t let that fool you though. When you visit, insist to sit outside on their backyard patio amidst the organic garden for the best experience.
Everything here is made from scratch and you’ll get a true farm-to-table meal. They offer Southern-style brunch with options like omelets, cheese grits, and pancakes and waffles with organic Vermont maple syrup. For lunch, their specialties are soups, crisp salads, and tasty sandwiches. Their espresso bar features local coffee from Oak Cliff roasters and is unmatched. Try the Iced “Toddy” Coffee which is their take on cold brew.
Barbecue lovers flock to stand in line at this Deep Ellum barbecue haven in search of brisket and sausage and Pecan Lodge’s signature (and massive) beef rib. Don’t forget to save room for a bowl of banana pudding – the recipe comes from co-owner Diane Fourton’s grandmother, and the Boss Lady is serious about it being consistently top-notch.
255 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pecan Lodge
2702 MainBarbecue lovers flock to stand in line at this Deep Ellum barbecue haven in search of brisket and sausage and Pecan Lodge’s signature (and massive) beef rib. Don’t forget to save room for a bowl of banana pudding – the recipe comes from co-owner Diane Fourton’s grandmother, and the Boss Lady is serious about it being consistently top-notch.
Goodfriend’s 2011 opening was an East Dallas game-changer, attracting a new wave of cool, young families to the area. It keeps them loyal with a diverse roster of North Texas beers in addition to a rotating selection of hard-to-find brews from around the country. (You can also take some of them home from sister store Goodfriend Package across the street.) Add grass-fed beef burgers and a covered patio, and it’s no wonder the place remains the neighborhood’s go-to watering hole.
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House
1154 Peavy RdGoodfriend’s 2011 opening was an East Dallas game-changer, attracting a new wave of cool, young families to the area. It keeps them loyal with a diverse roster of North Texas beers in addition to a rotating selection of hard-to-find brews from around the country. (You can also take some of them home from sister store Goodfriend Package across the street.) Add grass-fed beef burgers and a covered patio, and it’s no wonder the place remains the neighborhood’s go-to watering hole.
Tucked away off the beaten path between East Dallas and Uptown, this cozy brick-lined cantina has locals cramming in at all hours– not only for the incredible drink specials on offer everyday (including $3 hand-crafted margaritas on Tuesdays and $2 mimosas at weekend brunch), but also for the phenomenal food. You seriously can't go wrong with anything on the menu, from the spicy white queso topped with taco meat, guacamole, sour cream and jalapeños to tacos, enchiladas, carne guisada (a Tex-Mex style beef stew), grilled shrimp and the like. Cool the burn with said margaritas which come every which way– from straight up on-the-rocks to frozen and swirled in flavors like mango and strawberry. Oh, and did we mention that they serve breakfast (think: migas, huevos rancheros and breakfast burritos) all day?
48 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
E Bar Tex-Mex
1901 N Haskell Ave.Tucked away off the beaten path between East Dallas and Uptown, this cozy brick-lined cantina has locals cramming in at all hours– not only for the incredible drink specials on offer everyday (including $3 hand-crafted margaritas on Tuesdays and $2 mimosas at weekend brunch), but also for the phenomenal food. You seriously can't go wrong with anything on the menu, from the spicy white queso topped with taco meat, guacamole, sour cream and jalapeños to tacos, enchiladas, carne guisada (a Tex-Mex style beef stew), grilled shrimp and the like. Cool the burn with said margaritas which come every which way– from straight up on-the-rocks to frozen and swirled in flavors like mango and strawberry. Oh, and did we mention that they serve breakfast (think: migas, huevos rancheros and breakfast burritos) all day?
Bar Scene
Cosmo’s is a dive bar (not uncommon in East Dallas) with vintage kitsch in spades. A drink menu full of strong specialty martinis, old- and new-school cocktails, and surprisingly really good food turns newcomers into regulars every night.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cosmo's
1212 Skillman StCosmo’s is a dive bar (not uncommon in East Dallas) with vintage kitsch in spades. A drink menu full of strong specialty martinis, old- and new-school cocktails, and surprisingly really good food turns newcomers into regulars every night.
It doesn’t get more Texas than a bartender slinging drinks from an AirStream parked on a patch of dirt surrounded by a smattering of truck-bed tables. This open-air bar in lower Greenville is the perfect spot for, well, anything. Choose from a variety of rotating food trucks and three stationary bars serving very interesting drinks like trash can punch, made with New Amsterdam vodka and “other good stuff.” This is the place to be when temperatures climb to the unbearable triple digits, so get here early to snag a spot and catch some live music.
229 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Truck Yard
5624 Sears StIt doesn’t get more Texas than a bartender slinging drinks from an AirStream parked on a patch of dirt surrounded by a smattering of truck-bed tables. This open-air bar in lower Greenville is the perfect spot for, well, anything. Choose from a variety of rotating food trucks and three stationary bars serving very interesting drinks like trash can punch, made with New Amsterdam vodka and “other good stuff.” This is the place to be when temperatures climb to the unbearable triple digits, so get here early to snag a spot and catch some live music.
Cock & Bull is heavily praised for packing a top-notch kitchen inside a pretty small pub/dive bar. Craft beers accompany a gastropub-style menu with everything from quesadillas to mussels and meatloaf to cheese boards.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cock & Bull Neighborhood Pub
6330 Gaston AveCock & Bull is heavily praised for packing a top-notch kitchen inside a pretty small pub/dive bar. Craft beers accompany a gastropub-style menu with everything from quesadillas to mussels and meatloaf to cheese boards.
For 10 years, The Libertine has been an effortless blend of comfort and class, a neighborhood joint where you can catch a game but also where you can order stuffed quail or house-made vegan quinoa. The bartenders here are happy to serve up cocktails, but The Libertine’s heart is in its beer. A great selection of cold beers, seasonal drafts, and weeknight specials (like Wednesday Texas beer nights and Thursday pint nights), plus regular pairing dinners puts this on every beer lover’s shortlist.
54 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Libertine Bar
2101 Greenville AveFor 10 years, The Libertine has been an effortless blend of comfort and class, a neighborhood joint where you can catch a game but also where you can order stuffed quail or house-made vegan quinoa. The bartenders here are happy to serve up cocktails, but The Libertine’s heart is in its beer. A great selection of cold beers, seasonal drafts, and weeknight specials (like Wednesday Texas beer nights and Thursday pint nights), plus regular pairing dinners puts this on every beer lover’s shortlist.
If a medieval library and a bar hooked up, Armoury D.E. would be the outcome. From its brick walls to liquor-filled bookshelves, the Deep Ellum destination lets you know it’s serious about its handcrafted cocktails. Order the Green Honey made with gin, orange, lemon, and grapefruit bitters. The gin is soul-warming, a splash of orange blossom water is refreshing, and a touch of honey adds just a hint of sweet to the bitter.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Armoury D.E.
2714 Elm StIf a medieval library and a bar hooked up, Armoury D.E. would be the outcome. From its brick walls to liquor-filled bookshelves, the Deep Ellum destination lets you know it’s serious about its handcrafted cocktails. Order the Green Honey made with gin, orange, lemon, and grapefruit bitters. The gin is soul-warming, a splash of orange blossom water is refreshing, and a touch of honey adds just a hint of sweet to the bitter.