K.R.
"The Library" in the Melrose Hotel (Oak Lawn area) has live jazz, drinks, couches. The Bar at the Adolphus is the same kind of thing.
My hubby and I are having a date night on Saturday. We have reservations at a restaurant downtown, where can we go after dinner? We are not really looking for a nightclub but live music might be fun ,just somewhere new and interesting to go.
"The Library" in the Melrose Hotel (Oak Lawn area) has live jazz, drinks, couches. The Bar at the Adolphus is the same kind of thing.
If you like Independent films The Angelika is awesome. Also next door to it there is a really cool Irish Pub called Trinity Hall.
Lee Harveys will probably have a band and an eclectic crowd. If you like Blues/Alt Country try Poor David's Pub (It is a Dallas institution!)
If you want to just grab a drink, you could try getting into the Ghost Bar at the W. Could be a long line full of beautiful people though.
Near Fair Park I like Meridian Room. Lots of imported beers and old-fashioned and interesting cocktails.
You can find addresses for these at guidelive.com
Have fun!
The Library at the Melrose Hotel is nice...it's at Oaklawn & Cedar Springs. It's a nice old hotel with a piano bar....it's very relaxing to sit and listen and have a drink and great people watching. My husband & I used to enjoy going there when we used to live downtown.
Also, I forgot one of the best places....The Mansion on Turtle Creek. It's got a great bar area with a piano/sometimes a jazz trio and fantastic people watching. Also, The Ritz is brand new and I haven't been there yet, it probably has a great lounge, too. Have fun!
One of my favorite spots in dallas in called brooklyns jazz cafe,if you are wanting to hear nice Jazz(you can google the address). the other place which is in las colinas is cool river,1045 Hidden Ridge Irving, TX 75038.(this spot is great for dancing)
I can't remember the name of the club/lounge, but it is adjacent to Nick and Sam's restaurant. It's supposed to be very nice, very chic, very VIP'ish...not nightclub'ish at all. Not sure where you are dining--Nick and Sam's is very nice (although a bit pricey) for a special date night with the hubby, depending on what type of food you like. If you call Nick and Sam's, they would be able to tell you the name (there is some connection b/t the two...like it's easier to get into the club after you've dined at Nick & Sam's or something like that). Don't bother with the Ghost Bar at The W...I've heard it's very stuff, snobby, and totally overpriced and overrated.
Try House of Blues....Ally
If you like jazz music, there are a couple of good "date" spots:
Brooklyn Jazz Cafe, 1701 S. Lamar (in the Cedars on the south side of I30, downtown).
Or in the Lakewood neighborhood in east Dallas (about 10 min from d'town), there's the Balcony Club, 1825 Abrams Rd.
www.guidelive.com is a good website to checkout for reviews on restaurants & clubs.
I have to say avoid Ghostbar - it is totally overrated and overpriced and mostly techno music. However, the bar/lounge areas of the lobby at the W are cool to hang out and relax and have a drink. Along with Brooklyns, Sambucca is also very nice.
I have a couple of suggestions that are actually my favorites. Unfortunately, neither are considered "downtown dallas". Nonetheless, they are very close:
1.) Rattlesnake Bar at the Ritz Carlton -- beautifully done, great people watching, yet great place for a night-cap on date nite!
2.) The Mansion -- a little more sedate, yet once again beautifully done; romantic; great music and dancing!