Dallas After Dark

Country & Western
Cowboys Red River
Cowboys is the kind of place where you’ll get up and dance because it looks like too much fun not to. If you find yourself tripping over your two left feet, take a lesson on Sunday night to prepare yourself for the following weekend. (Busy? They have lessons on Wednesdays and Fridays, too.) 10310 Technology Blvd. 214-352-1796.

Gilley’s Dallas
Big-time bands—country and otherwise—flock to play in front of the 10,000-square-foot dance floor. The crowd is always an eclectic mix-and-match of blue-collar boys and power brokers. We recently found ourselves wedged between a group of college students on one side and several soccer moms taking the night off from the kids on the other. The Swedes call that a smorgasbord. 1135 S. Lamar St. 214-421-2021.

Top Rail
Top Rail is the real deal. A bona fide honky-tonk, from the neon-lit covered-wagon sign on the outside to the skin-tight Wranglers perched on stools on the inside. But don’t be intimidated: Top Rail is a neighborhood bar whose patrons just happen to be cowboys. Be yourself and you’ll fit in (though it wouldn’t hurt to wear jeans). 2110 W. Northwest Hwy. 972-556-9099.

Dance
Carsons Live
Want to act like a fool on the dance floor? Carsons Live is the stage for you. Try to remember your sweet dance moves (think Running Man and/or Roger Rabbit) on Wednesday nights when the DJ spins Top 40 dance music from the ’80s, ’90s, and today. Thursday nights are saucy for salsa dancers. But on Friday and Saturday nights, cover bands play to a dance floor packed shoulder to shoulder. 17727 Dallas Pkwy. 972-931-9111.

Lush
Get a group of your closest friends together and request bottle service at this hip Lowest Greenville haunt. (It’s not too expensive; besides, you’re worth it.) In return, you get to reserve a spot in the Blue Room overlooking the dance floor and glimmering bar, a prime perch for people-watching. But don’t be a wallflower forever. Dance! 1520 Greenville Ave. 214-826-2888.

Seven
After a short hiatus last year for remodeling, Seven has reopened to welcome some of the hottest national acts in the dance scene (The Crystal Method, for one). Named for the seven deadly sins, this is the type of dance club that doesn’t have windows for a reason. The crowd is on the youngish side, but after midnight (the place is open till 4), you never know who will show up. The stylish lounge area lets local models (and even a Playboy Bunny or two) linger. Local DJs, including a few faves like 12 Inch Pimp’s DJ Willie Trimmer, spin regularly. 2505 Pacific Ave. 214-887-8787.

Station 4
Station 4 (formerly Village Station) lives up to the hype. The interior is so hip it hurts: slick surfaces matched with neon lights and a balcony that overlooks a huge dance floor. But who needs slick surfaces when you have sleek, shirtless bodies writhing to the beat? It’s a gay bar, but not really. Anyone and everyone is welcome. 3911 Cedar Springs Rd. 214-526-7171.

BABALU, BY YOU: The vibe at Club Babalu is muy caliente.

Latin
Club Babalu
Step one: find a spot on a couch. Step two: order one of those 48-ounce house drinks (like the Babalu, a mix of several rums and fruit juices). Step three: watch the show. You don’t have to be a pro to join in, but there are professional salsa dancers twirling across the floor—at least they could be pros, so you might want to take in a few pointers. One thing’s for sure: the dancing is hot. Don’t worry if it’s your first time. You can get free salsa lessons from 9:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays . 2910 McKinney Ave. 214-953-0300.

Kismet
One, two, cha-cha-cha your way through the densely packed crowd on Wednesdays for Brazilian night and Thursdays for Latin night. Free dance lessons help hone your hip-shaking skills, but once the music starts, chances are you won’t need any instruction. DJs Nacho and Juan provide a steady stream of funk-laced Latin favorites. We’ve spotted WB Channel 33’s Joanne Castaneda on Latin night enjoying the scene with friends. The breezy back patio offers a much-needed respite on steamy nights. 3707 Greenville Ave. 214-823-8883.

Sipango
Wednesdays at Sipango are definitely the hottest Latin night in town, with a crowd that spills onto the sidewalk. Havana NRG, a vibrant, seven-piece band, takes center stage every Wednesday to a frenzied bunch ready to dance the workday away. For a taste of luxury, order a hand-rolled cigar and smoke it outside on the patio. 4513 Travis St. 214-522-2411.

THE BEST OF THE REST

Drama Room. DJ Michael Jerome spins a good blend of dance, house, and electronic music. 3001 Knox St., Ste. 210. 214-389-5724.

Eight Lounge. Sinful Fridays bring $2 wells and renowned DJs. 1906 Greenville Ave. 214-824-2888.

Lizard Lounge. National DJs and beat masters frequently spin to an 18-and-older crowd. 2424 Swiss Ave. 214-826-4768.

Nikita. Not a dance club strictly, but this venue has hot DJs and room to groove. Huge selection of premium vodkas. 3699 McKinney Ave. 214-520-6454.

Purgatory. DJs on three of the four levels. 2208 Main St. 214-651-8850.

The Round Up Saloon. Alternative (read: gay) club with dancing  and boot shines. 3912 Cedar Springs Rd. 214-522-9611.

Samba Room. Live Latin bands every Wednesday make it easy to go through a pitcher of mojitos. 4514 Travis St. 214-522-4137.

Shade. Chill out with a beer after work, then wait a few hours until the tables are moved to create a makeshift dance floor. 2114 Greenville Ave. 214-828-9889.

Texas Tea House. Progressive country, southern rock, rock ’n’ roll, and Delta blues bands play among pool tables and a spacious patio. 2612 Commerce St. 214-747-3927.

Vain. Mirror-paneled walls make it easy to watch yourself (and your friends) get funky. 2026 Commerce St. 214-747-1122.

Zubar. Sip a cocktail and relax while quality DJs spin groovy tracks every weekend. 2012 Greenville Ave. 214-887-0071.

Cosmo’s
If Danny Partridge ever persuaded Reuben to give him seed money to open a bar, Cosmo’s is what that bar would be. The Lakewood retreat is retro cool, but in an organic, natural way, not some blatant, trying-too-hard kind of way. Cosmo’s has the staples of a good hipster hangout: dim lighting from ’70s lamps, a jukebox with eclectic tunes, a muted TV with ’60s and ’70s movies playing, and couches with stains of unknown origin. The best spot to be is around the fire, especially when the weather is cold enough to warrant one. 1212 Skillman St. 214-826-4200.

Elbow Room
This is a destination bar. You’re not likely to stop in after work, unless you work at nearby Baylor Hospital. The roomy yet cozy bar is close to Deep Ellum, but not close enough to get pub-crawl traffic. Still, the Elbow Room has its fair share of regulars, drinkers who enjoy the shuffleboard, pool, and darts. Or they perch on the patio in the back, where a second bar keeps them sated while they stay seated. Every time we find ourselves at the Elbow Room, we wonder why we don’t go there more often. Hey, look! They’ve got Lone Star. 3010 Gaston Ave. 214-828-9488.

YOU HEARD IT HERE: Grapevine is a playground for partiers.

Grapevine
Grapevine is not for the faint of heart. Rather, it’s for those in search of adventure. If you go in the twilight hours, you might find yourself beneath the basketball hoop in the back patio area playing a game of H-O-R-S-E; loser buys the next pitcher. The coin-op pool table inside gets plenty of use. Or you might find yourself dabbling in the PlayStation II, playing some vids at the bar. The drinks are stiff and the crowd is always strange, and we mean that in a good way. 3902 Maple Ave. 214-522-8466.

Lakewood Landing
Yes, it’s smokey. Yes, it’s small. But it’s not like the sign outside didn’t warn you. “Lakewood Landing, An Upscale Dive,” it reads, but you won’t hear any complaining from the people who have been making this Lakewood legend their haunt for decades. Park yourself in a booth with a busted spring. Shoot a game of pool in the well-lit backroom—the only part of this dark, dank bar that’s lit in any manner worth mentioning. Eat a blue cheese burger from the surprisingly good kitchen. Order another pitcher of Shiner. Lucille would have wanted you to. 5818 Live Oak St. 214-823-2410.

Lee Harvey’s
The bar itself is in a bit of a shanty that feels like half of a lake house—albeit one with a well-stocked bar. But you don’t want to be inside unless you’re buying the next round. You want to be outside, seated at a picnic table with newfound friends or gathered around a fire pit with someone else’s dog (if it’s Sunday). Admittedly, Lee Harvey’s is not in the greatest neighborhood—it’s across the street from a rundown apartment complex south of downtown—but it wouldn’t be the same anywhere else. The best part: the chilled juice-glass-size glasses that come with your Miller High Life. (We assume the glasses come with other beers, too, but why would you order anything else?) 1807 Gould St. 214-428-1555.

The Loon
Do you like bars where the drinks are stiff and the waitresses are stern, yet strangely alluring? You’re not alone. The Loon is open 365 days a year and typically  packs in the twentysomethings Thursday through Saturday nights, when there’s a line out the door. From the outside, the Loon doesn’t look like much; inside, a huge fireplace makes half of the place feel like an après-ski spot. The added-on half on the east side is as nondescript as the façade, but the college kids and professional types who drink here don’t seem to care. 3531 McKinney Ave. 214-559-3059.

The Lounge at the Inwood Theater
You’re worried about the Lounge, aren’t you? You’ve heard that the art deco bar has been redesigned now that the neighboring Inwood Theater has new ownership. But fret not, dear martini drinker. The Lounge has the same sleek coolness as it ever did. True, the bathrooms have migrated to the theater side, but tipplers in the back booths can still read the subtitles on the foreign films screening next door—though, admittedly, not as easily. The Lounge is still the place to be for film geeks (like us) and the women who love them. 5458 W. Lovers Ln. 214-350-7834.

Meridian Room
With a name like the “Meridian Room,” you’d expect this bar to be fancier than it is. On the other hand, for a bar in Fair Park, you wouldn’t expect one this nice. The high ceilings, the mustard-colored walls, the European beer posters—it’s all so bohemian, yet cosmopolitan. Specialty cocktails are tempting enough to lure beer drinkers away from nearly a dozen draughts and more than 50 bottles. And the food is tasty enough to give all drinkers something else to do. (Crawfish chili is a must.) Bonus points for the pinball machine in the back. 3611 Parry Ave. 214-826-8383.

The Quarter
At Breadwinner’s liquored-up French Quarter cousin, cool skater-types serve stout pours for a melting pot of partygoers, including posh SMU Greeks, Parkie grads, tattoo-covered rockers, and socialites-in-training. Crash on a couch downstairs within arm’s length of the jukebox, mingle in the courtyard, or venture to the second-floor expansion, which includes a bar, comfy lounging area, and a patio overlooking McKinney Avenue. Round up the crew a little early and nab a table upstairs and make nice with a waitress. 3301 McKinney Ave. 214-754-4940.

THE BEST OF THE REST

Bar of Soap. Part laundromat, part punk bar. Tattoos not required but recommended. 3615 Parry Ave. 214-823-6617.

Barley House. We miss the Green Elephant, the college bar that used to occupy this space. Come to think of it, we miss the old Barley House, too. 5612 Yale Blvd. 214-824-0306.

Cavern. Upstairs is better, darker, and quieter than downstairs at this Lower Greenville mainstay. 1914 Greenville Ave. 214-841-9091.

Double Wide. The trailer-park theme—AstroTurf, tornado footage—is kitschy but catchy. Live music rocks, two times. 3510 Commerce St. 214-887-6510.

Louie’s. Heavy pours, great pizza, and nostalgia for the Dallas Times Herald. 1839 N. Henderson Ave. 214-826-0505.

New Amsterdam Coffee House. Fair Park hangout for amateur philosophers. Then again, aren’t we all amateur philosophers? Discuss. 831 Exposition Ave. 214-824-5301.

Pour House. A nice and clean neighborhood bar in a Lakewood strip mall. 1919 Skillman St. 214-824-1170.

Ships Lounge. Lowest Greenville beer-drinker’s spot with a great jukebox and no cussing. Seriously. 1613 Greenville Ave. @ Ross Ave. 214-823-0315.

The Slip Inn. Headquarters for the Mod among us, but it hasn’t been as crowded as it used to be. 1806 McMillan Ave. 214-370-5988.

Stoneleigh P. The converted pharmacy has reached Hall of Fame status. Remember, the magazine rack is for browsing and buying. 2926 Maple Ave. 214-871-2346.

Winedale Tavern. Used to be Lower Greenville’s diviest of dive bars before it cleaned up its act. 2110 Greenville Ave. 214-823-5018.

Candle Room
Everyone knows that you can’t get into Tristan Simon’s club unless you are somebody or know somebody. So for those who can’t swing it, here’s what it’s like: walk down a never-ending chamber-like hallway lined with flickering candles. Prance up to the bar, and flash your platinum card in front of the bartender to guarantee first-rate service. Maybe you’ll pass the fireplace and see Ashlee Simpson canoodling with on-again-off-again boy toy Ryan Cabrera. You might spy the notorious Wilson brothers hitting on sultry blondes. Or you could be invited to party with a table full of SMU sorority girls. Don’t you wish you could get in? 5039 Willis Ave. 214-370-4155.

HOOKAH IT UP: Chill, toke, repeat at the Velvet Hookah.