Gay Dallas Nightlife – Everything is BIGGER in DALLAS!
We just got back from visiting Dallas recently. A dozen or so LGBT writers from around the world were invited to tour Dallas and see all that it has to offer. (Big Thanks to American Airlines and George Carranhco in their Rainbow Division !)
Everything is bigger in Texas, that’s for sure! Big Culture, Big City, Big Nightlife in Big gayborhoods and lots of BIG HEARTS and KINDNESS. What a friendly city! And coming from Chicago, where we have about 18 bars and nightclubs, I was impressed with the Dallas Tavern Guild and all their clubs in Cedar Springs and surrounding neighborhoods. Over 21 clubs – and several of them HUGE multi-leveled, multi-venued clubs! And we toured them ALL. In 4 days! My liver needed a rest, to say the least, when I got home.
And unlike many big cities, the cost of drinking in Dallas is releatively inexpensive. Where most big cities will charge you $6-$10 for weak cocktails, I don’t think I ever paid more than $4-6 for most any good strong drink. And many bars do promotional nights with 50% off and discounted drinks! So your dollars go a LONG way in Dallas! And while many clubs may have a theme like leather/levi or Abercrombie or lesbian, everyone is welcomed everywhere with a smile, which I found so refreshing!
In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be sharing all we discovered in this great city. From fabulous shopping, art, cultutre, and food to everything LGBT and LGBT friendly that Dallas has to offer!
So this week, we’ll give you the skinny on the BIG NIGHTLIFE and DALLAS LGBT BARS and CLUBS
Alexandre’s 4026 Cedar Springs Road 214-559-0720
An intimate club in the heart of Oaklawn with a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere. Great variety of live entertainment at this cozy yet chic Piano bar. Since we opened 2004, we have showcased numerous entertainers and have prided ourselves with featuring some of the best live entertainment Dallas has to offer! We offer a very friendly and laid back atmosphere where anyone can have a good time! Also check out our website at Alexandres.com for more info.
Barbaras Pavillion 325 Centre St 214-941-2145
Barbara’s Pavillion is Dallas’ friendliest neighborhood bar located in the heart of Oak Cliff/ Bishop Arts. It is a small neighborhood place to relax, unwind and meet your friends for a drink. Whatever you’re in the mood for…whether it’s a game of pool or just sitting and chatting with friends, you can enjoy it at Barbara’s Pavillion. It’s like being in someone’s house. They also have their own little urban oasis – an outdoor patio bar enjoyed year-round! – Technically, it is located in a “dry area”. So you will need a “membership”, which is free, to enjoy the spirits here.
BJs NXS ! 3215 N Fitzhugh Ave 214-526-9510
Uptown’s newest and hottest spot for male entertainment. I love me some go-go boys, and Dallas is full of them! This friendly big neighborhood club has a great staff and very handsome hot dancers. Nightly drink specials and always lots of great scenery. All this in a clean, cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Brick / Joes 2525 Wycliff Ave, #120 214-3521-3154
New location for popular Dallas club. The club is split into 2 sides. BRICK and JOES. Large club on one side, smaller, quieter on the other side. Upscale neighborhood setting with various events 7 nights a week including Broadway, Karaoke, Live Entertainment and male dancers. Dancing until 4 am on the weekends – Hip Hop Friday, Dance music Saturday, Retro Sunday. Multiple video screens and great Happy Hour crowd daily.
Dallas Eagle 5740 Maple Ave. 214-357-4375
Many big cities have an EAGLE, and I have seen about 6 of them, in various cities. This is by far the biggest Eagle and friendliest, I have ever been to. They welcome everyone whether you’re in Levis and leather, or designer jeans and Versace, as I was on my particular visit! They didn’t care. They welcomed us and made sure we had a good time. This Dallas popular leather/levis club located just 8 minutes from Cedar Springs. And while the main theme is of course leather/levi, everyone is welcomed and made to feel at home. The bar has Internet parties, weekly pool tournaments and plays host to many local regional and national leather events such as the Bear Round-Up and Mr. Southwest Leather .
Havana 4006 Cedar Springs Road 214-526-9494
A trendy, retro-style crowd populates this nightspot right in the heart of Oaklawn. Also serving dinner specials with a Cuban-Latin flavor. Inexpensive drinks, a good music system, and some pretty fun drag acts are part of the fun.
Hidden Door 5025 Bowser 214-526-0620
One of the oldest (since 1979) and still very popular neighborhood clubs in Dallas. Boasts a friendly, diverse crowd and an extremely popular patio. Hot spot on Sunday afternoons.
Illusions 4100 Maple Avenue 214-252-0552
This intimate club hosts regular show nights with great female impersonation and host to many fundraising events in Dallas. A great neighborhood crowd. Very friendly. Lots of great talent.
J.R.’s Bar 3923 Cedar Springs Rd 214-528-1004
The hot spot on Cedar Springs for the young, fun Abercrombie crowd. Named for the star of the infamous Dallas TV show of the 80’s, this huge club has a great video and sound system with the latest music and shows several nights and the outrageous Wanda Show every Sunday night. Also an extremely popular balcony and second deck bar area.
Old-fashioned decor, like the freestanding wooden bar and embossed tin ceilings, collides with modern accoutrements, including pool tables and a wall of TVs, creating a comfortable, friendly aura. A spacious downstairs, tiered levels and upstairs balcony provide patrons space to bond over a burger or mingle with a mixed drink in hand. With different DJs, drink specials and events every night, including drag shows and pool tournaments, JR’s keeps crowds coming back.Great fun!
Kaliente 4350 Maple Avenue 214-520-6676
A very hot and extremely popular Latino nightspot. Young crowd with show, karaoke, and a terrific dance floor. Multi-level. The latest in hot Latin and Salsa music.
Klub Hot 4207 Maple Ave. @ Knight St. 214-520-3900
A hot new Latino nightclub with a slick industrial look. It features a huge dancefloor, a VIP area and a large patio. Friday night drag show.
Los Rieles 600 S. Industrial Blvd. 214-741-2125
A fun new Latino/Latina club with a large dance floor, great music and lost of weekly events including karaoke, drag shows and male dancers.
Pekers 2615 Oak Lawn Avenue 214-528-3333
Pekers is a Gay/Lesbian neighborhood bar with live entertainment and karaoke. Pool tables and video poker. Just two blocks from the Cedar Springs strip. Super-friendly staff and clean, newly decorated space is welcoming to everyone. They host lots of community fundraising events.
The Rose Room 3912 Cedar Springs Road 214-526-7171
Located in the beautiful newly remodeled Station 4 nightclub, the Rose Room is a first-class, entertainment showroom with the very finest in the art of female impersonation. Shows by a regular cast of highly talented performers and many nationally known female impersonators in an upscale cabaret nightclub setting. Cover charge.
Round-Up Saloon 3911 Cedar Springs Road 214-522-9611
This is the LARGEST country-western dance club in the Southwest. An iconic institution. Round-Up opened 1980. It has been dubbed the home of Good Times and Good People for many years and has some of the best dancers and Best Looking Cowboys in DFW and the country! A sumptuous hardwood dance floor is the centerpiece of this club with six different themed drink stations. Hot cowboy bartenders welcome you nightly. Karaoke is featured five nights a week in the Parlor Bar. Jello shots are popular here! Last year they served up 67,000!
In 1998, the Round Up was purchased by Gary Miller and Alan Pierce. They made lots of improvements to the club, like a premium Tequila Shack, The Loft, The Tool Shed, covered the patio, reopened the Day Bar( now called the Parlor.) “And we ain’t done yet!” – Watch for ever changing and improving the joint. Be assured that The Round Up will ALWAYS be a clean and friendly atmosphere, where you can kick up your heels and feel at home in the COUNTRY!!
Rush 3903 Lemmon Avenue 214-780-0955
A recent addition to the Oaklawn neighborhood, this club has great live entertainment and nightly drink specials. Occasional karaoke and feature performers. Great weekends.
Sisters Club 4025 – 4103 Maple Ave 214-559-2511
The hot new women’s club in Dallas. And brothers are always welcome!
“Although this is primarily a Womans Club we always want our gay brothers to feel comfortable and welcome. Sisters Club is the place to come be yourself, always feel like you are among family and friends.From the time you enter through the door you will notice and be welcomed by a warm, friendly, no attitude staff.”
There are a couple buildings on the property . It’s quite huge. And out back is a great patio / deck / pool PLUS a sand-filled area for vollyball!
Station 4 3912 Cedar Springs Road 214-559-0650
This is the newest jewel on the Cedar Springs strip.HUGE! Formerly the Village Station, this recently remodeled hi-tech, mega dance club is stunning in it’s size, scope and technical features. Amazing light show, large dance floor, and large second floor balcony. A hot spot with the younger dance crowd. This is the flagship of the Caven Enterprises nightclubs . Multi-level, multi-venues. Cover charge.
Sue Ellen’s 3014 Throckmorton St 214-559-0707
The sister club to J’R’s and appropriately named for the female star of the Dallas TV show, this upscale women’s club is also welcoming to all guest and hosts great pool tournaments, karaoke, comedy shows and the best in local live female bands and musicians. In the very center of the Cedar Springs strip. It is another huge multi-level space with lots of different rooms and music, depending on your mood. Dallas’ premiere lesbian nightclub – but everyone is welcome.
Throckmorton Mining Company (TMC)
3903 Cedar Springs Rd 214-521-4205
An institution since 1978! This is a very popular club with hot music, featuring a more intimate atmosphere with low lighting, ice cold drinks, and a crowd of “very” friendly regulars who know how to have fun. Outdoor patio. Two levels of this club add to the visual entertainment.
Tin Room 2514 Hudnall Street 214-526-6365
Another friendly, neighborhood hot-spot club with a warm, cozy atmosphere. Good regular crowd during the week, pool table, karaoke, occasional shows and a welcoming staff. At The Tin Room you will find a unique blend of gorgeous people, great music, go-go guys 7 nights a week, entertainment and spirits. The Tin Room offers a variety of contemporary cocktails, an impressive wine selection and signature sips. Some say it’s the hottest Saturday night in Dallas. It’s a little off the beaten path, in an up and coming gay area. Saturdays are a packed house! State-of-the-art sound, video and lighting, and chart-topping dance music from some of the hottest DJs around.
Woodys Sports and Video Bar 4011 Cedar Springs Road 214-520-6629
One of the newer club additions to Cedar Springs, this hot spot for sports and video fans host multiple screens upstairs and down featuring the latest music videos and live sporting events as well as weekly entertainment and karaoke on the downstairs stage. There is a full patio downstairs, facing the Cedar Springs strip and a second floor balcony with great cook-outs in the summer. Home to many of the local sports organizations.
visit the interactive Club map page
Dallas has some of the hottest and most fun clubs in the state of Texas.
No matter where you decide to go in Dallas, YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME.
If you show up alone, you are sure to make new friends here in this city!
More information on clubs and news and happenings at Dallas Tavern Guild .
Book Your next trip to Texas (or anywhere!) via American Airlines Rainbow Department !
