8 Best Things To Do In Dallas At Night: Deep Ellum Edition

1. Pecan Lodge

No visit to Deep Ellum would be complete without a stop at one of Dallas’s premier barbecue joints. Pecan Lodge serves up Texas brisket, long racks of pork ribs, one-pound beef ribs, pulled pork, and home-stuffed sausages. They slow cook all this in a traditional offset pit where Texas mesquite and oak wood give the BBQ its unique smokey flavor. Their dry rub is a family recipe passed down from the owners’ grandparents, and everything else on the menu is made from scratch, from the southern fried chicken to the collard greens. This is a meal you will not soon forget.

Pecan Lodge

Address: 2702 Main St, 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: Pecan Lodge

2. Twisted Root Burger Company

While barbecue is a Texas mainstay, there are some who say that the hamburger is a Texas original. And there’s no better place to get a traditional Texas hamburger than Twisted Root Burger Company. Since 2006, owners and head chefs Jason Boso and Quincy Hart have been building half-pound, fresh ground beef patties with housemade toppings on locally sourced buns. With names like The Western, The Verde (made with green chiles from Hatch, New Mexico), and the Big Tex, these are much more than your traditional hamburgers. Reservations aren’t even required to get this taste of Texas.

Twisted Root Burger Company

Address: 2615 Commerce St., 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: Twisted Root Burger Company

3. BrainDead Brewing

BrainDead Brewing is a relative newcomer to the Deep Ellum brewpub community, but one that has quickly become a staple of the scene. Inside the cavernous space lit by pallet-wood lighting, you’ll sip inky stouts, amber ales, and barrel aged brews crafted to wake up your palate. Long communal tables are designed to foster a beer community, where strangers enjoy a tall pint together. The outdoor patio gives you a chance to enjoy the warm Texas evenings while letting the kids stretch their legs. The Southwestern and Texas inspired menu created by renowned chef David Peña means BrainDead is a stop you won’t want to miss.

BrainDead Brewing

Address: 2625 Main St, 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: BrainDead Brewing

4. Deep Ellum Brewery

Deep Ellum is loud, wild, and ever changing. And that’s the same spirit that Deep Ellum Brewing brings to every beer it crafts. From fun summer ales like Dallas Blonde to sweet milk stout Local Legend to Mexican-style lager Neato Bandito to the neo-American pilsner Rye Pils to the more traditional craft Deep Ellum IPA, this is a beer lover’s paradise. At night, the stage is lit with live music to fill out the ambiance. And if you want to know how those big steel wells can turn four simple ingredients into an elixir, then stop by Thursdays at 6 p.m. for a tour of the brewery.

Deep Ellum Brewing

Address: 2823 St Louis St, 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: Deep Ellum Brewing

5. Nines Bar

Deep Ellum has always been about the music. The Nines Bar, a relatively new addition to the Deep Ellum nightclub scene, purports to elevate that tradition. Sporting a huge dance floor, DJ booths, and aerial entertainment, The Nines specializes in hip-hop, dance, and electronica.

A 190 square meter (2000 square foot) rooftop deck offers stunning views of Deep Ellum and downtown Dallas. Stop by for one of their specialty cocktails and stay for Whiskey Wednesdays, Burlesque on Thursdays or DJ-spun house, rave, and jungle dance music on the weekends. This is one party you won’t want to miss.

Nines Bar

Address: 2911 Main St, 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: Nines Bar

6. Twilite Lounge

This is a narrow, railroad car space, panelled in dark wood, dimly lit by candle-like chandeliers. It’s also an intimate setting for a night of live music, a few specialty libations, or even a quiet place to read a book. Twilite Lounge offers all this and more. An outdoor patio lets guests to this Deep Ellum fixture appreciate the warm Dallas evening while enjoying live performances from locally and nationally renowned singer-songwriters and sipping on locally inspired cocktails and fresh brews. With decor inspired by Old Hollywood and classic New Orleans French Quarter, the Twilite Lounge is one place you won’t want to miss on an evening in Deep Ellum.

Twilite Lounge

Address: 2640 Elm St, 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: Twilite Lounge

7. Three Links Deep Ellum

If it’s live music you want from a night in Deep Ellum, then you need to go no further than Three Links on Elm Street. Since 2013, this punk bar has been the premier spot to see up-and-coming bands, established local musicians, or even a veteran performance group. Weeknights, when the red-curtained stage is empty, enjoy a quiet sip of one of the 40 beers they have on tap or a taste of their deep bourbon selection. On weekends, when the stage is occupied, expect standing room only in this very intimate setting. Buy tickets in advance and get there early.

Three Links Deep Ellum

Address: 2704 Elm St, 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: Three Links Deep Ellum

8. Dallas Comedy House

Nothing says good times like a good belly laugh, the kind that makes milk come out of your nose. And for a good laugh in Deep Ellum look no further than the venerable Dallas Comedy House. Since 2009, this place has been serving up piping hot plates of humor, from sketch comedy and standup to hilarious musical reviews and improv.

It is the latter that has been a staple of this comedic powerhouse and improv is still the glue that binds every gut-busting joke together. The comedy bar not only offers performances from comedy greats like Tim Meadows and Keegan-Michael Key but also fosters comedy from within, via comedy writing classes at their training center. Fridays at 10 p.m., enjoy fresh standup from new and established performers. Saturdays at 6 p.m., it showcases family friendly improv. Check their schedule online and buy tickets early to get your laugh on.

Dallas Comedy House

Address: 3025 Main St, 75226 Dallas, TX

Website: Dallas Comedy House

Dare to explore the night in Dallas

Whether you’re looking for some of the best barbecue in Dallas, the best beer, the best place to listen to live music, or the best laugh in town, you don’t need to drive all over the metroplex to find it. It’s all right here, in the heart of Dallas, Deep Ellum.