Sunny Dallas, Texas, beckons visitors and locals alike to get outside and explore. Along with miles of urban green spaces, the downtown area boasts one of the largest urban arts districts in the entire country, a walkable stretch of nearly 20 blocks that includes world-class museums, galleries, and restaurants.
Then there’s the trendy Uptown neighborhood, host to hip concept stores and chic boutiques — plus the city’s famous arena basketball arena. And in the Design District, vintage warehouses and antique shops await.
As for food, it’s easy to balance your consumption of Southern-style comfort food — think decadent biscuits and gravy — with fresh fare from farmers markets and cafés.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Visit Uptown’s Trendy Boutiques and Downtown’s Arts District
As one of Dallas’ hippest neighborhoods, Uptown is packed with unique shops and restaurants. Begin your morning with a walk or bike ride in the nearby Klyde Warren Park, where the 5-acre green space hosts free yoga, outdoor concerts, and film screenings.
After you’ve worked up an appetite, try a decadent brunch of Italian coffee, biscuits with maple sausage gravy, and buttery croissants at Bread Winners Café & Bakery.
In the afternoon, take a stroll down uptown’s West Village shopping district, host to more than 100 upscale boutiques. Browse menswear staples like dress shirts, pullovers, and sweaters at the flagship location of Mizzen + Main and women’s and men’s fashions at the concept store Nicole Kwon. Find your new favorite corduroy jacket at Rye 51.
For a light lunch, opt for the charcuterie boards at the Spanish-style Si Tapas bar before browsing the Dallas Arts District – the nation’s largest contiguous urban arts district. . Explore a collection of over 25,000 works spanning 5,000 years at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), and the Nasher Sculpture Center, with stunning outdoor gardens and over 300 sculptures.
Back in Uptown, grab a table at the contemporary Japanese restaurant Uchi for fresh sushi and sashimi before enjoying a cocktail or craft beer in the backyard of e the Rustic. Be sure to check the latest programming at the nearby arena home to Dallas’ professional basketball and hockey teams, where a variety of concerts and live shows are regularly hosted.
Saturday: Check Out the Farmers Market and Museums
Today, it’s time to check out Downtown’s extensive green spaces and booming arts and culture scene. Begin your morning like a true local with a visit to the Dallas Farmers Market. Not only is this locale a one-stop shop for seasonal produce, flowers, and more, it is also host to a 26,000-square-foot food hall known simply as the Market.
Step inside to sample fare from some of Dallas’ finest purveyors. Sip on an Italian-style espresso from Palmieri Café while enjoying an idyllic view of the Dallas skyline.
In the afternoon, stop for a lunch of tacos and burritos at Salsa Limón before exploring the best of Downtown’s cultural offerings. Not-to-miss spots include the Dallas World Aquarium, where you’ll see black-footed penguins, flamingos, and potbellied seahorses. Kids love exploring the 20,000-gallon walk-through tunnel where sharks and rays swim overhead.
Visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza near the Historic West End District, to learn about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy through a selection of documentary films, images, and artifacts.
For dinner and craft cocktails, book a table at the Woolworth. Start with shared plates like truffle fries topped with shaved pecorino before savoring dishes like a 45-day dry-aged porterhouse steak or salt-and-pepper encrusted sea scallops.
Enjoy an after-dinner drink a few doors down at Social Lobby in the lobby of The Adolphus, Autograph Collection, an art deco–style lounge with a fancy gold-and-marble bar. For a taste of Texas, try the 1912 Old Fashioned” — the classic cocktail made with locally distilled Balcones bourbon.
Sunday: Shop the Design District
It’s time to take to the streets of the city’s Design District to explore its high-end studios, antique shops, and art galleries. Begin with a specialty brew at Ascension Coffee, a hip roaster with distinct pour-over coffees and an extensive menu of all-day breakfast bowls and sandwiches..
Then browse the vintage records and wares at Lula B’s Design District before you start gallery hopping. View works from international and local contemporary artists at Samuel Lynn Galleries, large-format landscape photography at Crawshay Gallery, and rotating exhibitions of early-20th through 21st-century photo-based art at Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery.
Now it’s time to make your own lunch — while taking a culinary class at the Cookery (reserve ahead to book your spot). The interactive experience is specific to a dish, cuisine, or skill, including handmade pasta or sushi, and students get to eat the food they create.
Another novel attraction: the bowling and bites at Bowlounge, a retro-chic venue with 12 vintage lanes, signature cocktails, a dog-friendly patio, and a menu offering decadent burgers and pizzas.
Head over to the waterfront Trammell Crow Park, which borders the design district, for a peaceful afternoon stroll with great views and a few quirky stone cow sculptures.
For dinner, visit Cidercade, where you can take your turn playing retro arcade games — there are more than 170 options — while imbibing a pint of house cider. This cider-filled fun zone doesn’t serve food, but you can order from the visiting food truck of the night stationed outside. You can also always order delivery from one of your new favorite Dallas spots, and Cidercade will provide the rest of the fun.
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