Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
The Dallas-Fort Worth area is sprawling and packed with cool places to hang out, like outdoor patio bars. We’ve found DFW’s best patios, including bougie spots, popular watering holes, the area’s best brewery and playful backyard bars. So grab your friends and start planning your next night out.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
Truck Yard The Colony
Truck Yard The Colony is a chill place to hang out with a little bit of everything, including it’s own unique version of the Cadillac Ranch. As you enter, the sidewalk is lined with old trucks sticking up out of the ground. You’re then greeted by the ultimate bar.
They’ve got a massive yard with lawn games, chairs placed throughout and a handful of bars. Downstairs is a cheesesteak restaurant, plus there’s an assortment of rotating food trucks always on hand. Upstairs is a toilet seat museum, another bar and some shaded seating areas. They always have live music and it’s okay to bring your kids.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
Desert Racer
Desert Racer in lower Greenville has a chill, southwestern ’80s vibe inside and out. On their large 8,000-square-foot, mostly-covered patio is an assortment of seating options, as well as games including foosball and cornhole.
You can’t go wrong with a hibiscus El Tesoro Hi-Ball and an order of loaded tater tots. They also serve lots of Tex-Mex food, margaritas, cold beer and other boozy refreshments.
They have free parking available just outside the entrance.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
Maggie’s R&R
Maggie’s R&R has a solid beachy, yet rustic vibe out on their patio. They’re dishing up farm-fresh Southern cuisine, such as chicken fried steak, alongside an assortment of patio punches to wash it down.
Maggie’s R&R also has one the best happy hours in Fort Worth, Monday-Friday from 11 am-6 pm. On Friday nights, they typically have live music.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
Happiest Hour
The Happiest Hour is in the heart of downtown Dallas with a a large outdoor yard and a rooftop bar. From the roof, you can enjoy fantastic views of the city. Out on the patio, you can play cornhole and enjoy the fire pits on a brisk evening.
The food is wonderful and they have a nice variety of drinks. They also offer happy hour Monday-Thursday from 4-7 pm, unless there’s a major event going on at nearby American Airlines Center.
There is a parking lot with free parking across the street.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
HG Sply Co.
HG Sply Co Trophy Club boasts an excellent indoor/outdoor space with cornhole, shuffleboard, foosball and more. They have happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm and an awesome bougie brunch on the weekends.
They have two other locations that are equally as fun, one in Dallas in lower Greenville and one in Fort Worth in the West Bend shopping complex. The Fort Worth location has a lovely patio overlooking the river.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
Marty B’s
Marty B’s up in Bartonville is your quintessential Texas bar and restaurant – meaning it’s got a ranch-like vibe with BBQ, Tex-Mex, craft beer, live music, fire pits and a rooftop bar. The outdoor patio is large and always has live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
For groups, they have cabanas you can rent which accommodate up to 8 people. It’s family-friendly, and your kids will enjoy making s’mores at a fire pit or playing a lawn game like cornhole.
The food and drinks here are outstanding, especially the strawberry wine cocktail and the pulled pork tacos.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
The Tipsy Oak
Down in Arlington is The Tipsy Oak, a scratch kitchen and bar with a stellar patio. The food is certainly not your typical bar food; instead, there are options like lobster rolls or a blackened salmon BLT. The drink menu offers a wide selection of beer wine and cocktails.
You can enjoy live music on Wednesday-Saturday, electric fire pits and picnic tables in a casual, welcoming environment.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Wristen
3 Nations Brewing
This casual and family-friendly Carrollton brewery has a large enjoyable outdoor patio space. 3 Nations has 11 beers on tap, and on Fridays, they release a unique small batch that is available until it sells out.
Until recently, they only served beer, but with the addition of 3 Nations Biergarten Grill out on the shaded patio, they now have food options such as street tacos and burgers. You’re also allowed to bring in your own food, like a gourmet Neapolitan-style pizza pie from Cane Rosso next door.
Entertainment includes live music on Saturdays, bingo and trivia nights, cornhole and board games.
Press Cafe
Press Cafe‘s beautiful patio overlooks the Trinity River, with ample seating and a fire pit. The cafe has a good selection of wine and beer on tap. Plus, the food is fantastic with bites like charcuterie boards and avocado toast.
Whether heading here for brunch with the fam or hanging out with friends at night, this patio is the perfect spot. Happy hour is Monday-Thursday from 3 pm-5:30 pm.
Photo courtesy of Kirsten Maxwell of Kids Are a Trip
The Junction
The Junction in Grapevine, just steps away from the historic downtown, features live music every Friday and Saturday in their inviting atmosphere. Guests can enjoy small plates and cocktails at the walk-up bar.
Those looking for a more substantial meal can grab something at one of the seven eateries inside Harvest Hall, an upscale dining hall featuring food from local chefs. You can bring your bites outside to enjoy on the patio.
They often host fun wine events out on the green space, and a few need an advance reservation. For the most part, it’s open and available to anyone – whether a hotel guest or not.
