Dallas' 5 Best Stops for Music Lovers on a Date

With Dallas’ widely varied music scene, from the classic and traditional to the wonderful and strange, it’s easy to sweep your date off their feet into mystical lands of symphonic bliss or the dark, sweaty underworlds of the city’s late-night dance floors. Knowing where to start is critical, but we’ve got you covered.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

If Shakespeare could have given more specific dating advice, he probably would have suggested the symphony. It’s the kind of place where it’s equally acceptable to quote Shakespeare at one other and get lightly tipsy during intermission on the Meyerson’s lovely patio. Depending on your mood, go popular with the pops program or stick with the classics.

You can see a variety of acts at the Bomb Factory. Erykah Badu performed at the venue's grand opening in 2015. Photo by James Coreas. — You can see a variety of acts at the Bomb Factory. Erykah Badu performed at the venue’s grand opening in 2015. Photo by James Coreas.

The Bomb Factory

Pretty much every weekend, this venue welcomes artists you’ll want–or need–to hear. In 2015, Chvrches; Tyler, The Creator; Neon Indian; Bones Thugs-n-Harmony; and Erykah Badu moved through the venue. A date is the perfect excuse to see one of the many artists who filter through this Deep Ellum favorite. In any excursion with a potential partner, there are bonus points if you like the same kind of music. It’s better to find out early.

The Round-Up Saloon will get any music lover moving. Photo by Joshua Martin.

Round-Up Saloon

Strictly speaking, this place isn’t just about the music. It’s also about topless cowboys. Come here for happy hours, dance lessons, country music, and karaoke. A late-night deejay plays a perfect mixture of mainstream hits and throwbacks. I’ve seen couples line dancing beautifully. I’ve also seen people drop it so low their pants split. And have we talked about the Jell-O shots? Combined, these things make for one incredible icebreaker.

Dallas Opera

The Dallas Opera is a must for your musically minded date. Some people pretend they don’t like opera, but they are either lying or they’re wrong. You can help these people by asking them on dates and taking them to the opera. Tragedy, romance, and comedy all unfold in conjunction. And that’s just in the foyer. The music is even better. Also, opera on a budget is actually doable, and those nosebleed seats can be just as fun–especially for the opera newcomers.

Drink enough Yoo-hoo Yee-haws, and anything will sound good. Photo by Bret Redman.

Double Wide

There’s nothing like bonding over people-watching the hipsters (if you’re a prepster) or the prepsters (if you’re a hipster). Or just soak up Double Wide’s atmosphere. Is that a deer wearing a Willie Nelson bandana? Yes. Yes, it is. Cue more bonding the next day over not being able to remember the night because you drank too many YooHoo Yeehaws. Never has it been so romantic to sit outside on a toilet with another person, beneath a great graffitied poster of Barry Manilow. But here, it just is. In years to come, you’ll reminisce about it and that band that you almost remember.