Summary
When one thinks of Downtown Dallas, numerous associations may arise. The historical events that have etched a somber mark upon the city, the opulence linked to its prosperous oil industry, and the cultural archetype popularized through the 1980s television series “Dallas.” Additionally, the renowned football franchise and its iconic cheerleading squad come to mind. However, Downtown Dallas encompasses far more than just a tapestry of poignant memories and an array of cheerleaders. Indeed, it has much to offer.
Downtown Dallas serves as the cultural and geographical nucleus of the city. Encompassing an area of just one and a half square miles, it boasts the largest art district in North America, complemented by an impressive number of museums that can hardly be counted on two hands. Moreover, it features a selection of distinctive public art installations that are truly must-see attractions.
As night falls, Downtown Dallas illuminates with a brilliance almost rivaling that of Las Vegas, yet offers a more refined entertainment environment. Exceptional dining establishments, chic bars, and elegant nightclubs promise an exhilarating experience that will last until dawn. Rather than creating a wish list, simply consider the following fifteen prime activities to engage in while visiting Downtown Dallas, and you will surely enjoy your time in the Big D.
1. Reunion Tower GeO Deck
Reunion Tower, located on Reunion Boulevard, dominates the skyline of Downtown Dallas, resembling a colossal Golden Globe Award. This striking structure, capped with an aluminum globe, rises to just over five hundred and sixty feet, making it the fifteenth tallest building in Dallas.
The tower, part of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, features a 360-degree observation deck. Visitors can ascend during the day to take in breathtaking views of Downtown, and subsequently return at night on the same ticket to witness the stunning nighttime illuminations of DT Dallas.
Additionally, the tower houses a revolving restaurant, Five Sixty, situated fifty floors above the ground, with a stationary glass-walled bar at its center. Dining here while enjoying the panoramic views is a truly dizzying experience.
2. EFrog It
Uncover the hidden gems of Downtown Dallas while being chauffeured in an EFrog. An EFrog is an ecological, elongated, four-wheeled electric vehicle that exudes a quirky charm. Picture a brightly painted, economy-sized limousine with zero emissions, and you will grasp its essence. It provides a fun mode of transportation for touring Downtown or moving from one bar to another.
Guests can enjoy an hour-long tour that highlights some of DT Dallas’s most popular attractions or choose a historical tour centered on JFK. Alternatively, indulge in an extensive four-hour brewery tour that includes drinks.
While prices may apply for the tours, the shuttle service is complimentary. The drivers operate on a gratuity basis, so be sure to show your appreciation in both instances.
3. 6th Floor Museum
A pivotal event in the history of Downtown Dallas occurred in Dealey Plaza in 1963. The 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is situated in the very location from which the sniper assassinated then-President John F. Kennedy.
Located in the Dallas County Administration Building on Elm Street, the museum showcases original newsreel footage, an authentic recreation of the crime scene based on police photographs, and various related artifacts. Visitors will find extensive information about JFK, including his life, political influence, and the profound impact of his assassination on the world.
4. Dallas Farmers Market
In operation since the early 1940s, the Dallas Farmers Market on Harwood Street stands as a staple of Downtown Dallas, welcoming visitors seven days a week.
The primary building, referred to as The Market, spans twenty-six thousand square feet, featuring numerous vendors offering a diverse array of products ranging from spices and seafood to household goods. It also hosts four main restaurants and various pop-up vendors.
For those interested in learning about the origins of their produce or the bees that produced their honey, The Shed offers a direct purchasing experience from growers, bakers, ranchers, and confectioners from Friday to Sunday.
5. Pioneer Plaza
A visit to Pioneer Plaza in Downtown Dallas transports you into a unique interpretation of the Wild West. Although the figures in the plaza are made of bronze and are not animated beings, the experience can be reminiscent of walking among the preserved figures of Pompeii.
This remarkable fifty-two piece sculpture is the largest of its kind globally, depicting three cowboys on horseback herding forty-nine life-sized steers through an artificial landscape featuring cliffs, a functional stream, and a waterfall—an awe-inspiring sight.
6. Dakota’s Restaurant
Dakota’s Restaurant may be located underground, yet it is far from being a hidden gem. This steakhouse has been a cherished establishment in Downtown Dallas for over thirty years, found on North Akard Street.
Visitors travel down via a glass elevator and are welcomed into a beautifully adorned dining area featuring a roaring fire pit and a tiered waterfall—an excellent atmosphere for savoring a forty-five-day aged Cowboy ribeye or a Kansas City strip. They also deliver exceptional seafood options.
7. The Old Red Museum
The Old Red Museum is an impressive structure styled like a Disney fairytale castle, featuring multiple turrets and constructed from red brick, situated on Houston Street in Downtown Dallas.
This building was originally erected to serve as the Dallas County Courthouse and now provides a vibrant showcase of Dallas’s history and culture throughout the ages.
The museum’s exhibits are varied, including fossils, bicycles, banjos, the county’s inaugural traffic lights, and even the handcuffs used to detain JFK’s assassin.
8. One Eyed Penguin
A visit to the One Eyed Penguin on Main Street will provide everything necessary for an enjoyable night out in one location. Patrons can enjoy a beer, engage in a game of pool, or partake in a round of golf on the Golden Tee Live.
As a favored dive bar in DT Dallas, the One Eyed Penguin serves an extensive selection of beverages amid its 1990s décor. The venue frequently hosts event nights featuring stand-up comedians and DJs, and it is renowned for broadcasting Dallas Cowboys NFL games every Sunday on their oversized televisions.
9. Dallas Arts District
Comfortable footwear is advisable if you plan to explore the Dallas Arts District on foot, which spans over sixty-eight acres. This extensive area is rich with artistic installations.
The Arts District comprises thirteen main facilities, including a five-acre park, a performing arts center, a symphony center, an opera house, a sculpture center, and two galleries.
A Roman Catholic cathedral and Dallas’s sixth tallest structure, the fifty-story Trammell Crow Center, also reside within the district.
10. The Giant Eyeball
Impress your friends and Instagram followers by sharing a photo of the Giant Eyeball, a striking piece of art in Downtown Dallas.
Considered one of Dallas’s most eccentric art installations, this colossal eye resides on the grounds of the Joule Hotel on Main Street. Crafted by a sculptor from Chicago, the blue-irised eye is a striking thirty feet tall and certainly captures attention, appearing more bloodshot than any partygoer at a downtown celebration.
The piece is not only fun but also intriguingly different.
11. Downtown Dallas Trolley Tour
Board a vibrant red trolley at Dealey Plaza or any of the fourteen other trolley stops in Downtown Dallas and feel free to disembark whenever you wish.
The trolley service operates daily from ten in the morning until shortly after four in the afternoon, providing regular thirty-minute intervals that cover all major attractions in Downtown Dallas.
Guests can choose to remain onboard for a full tour narration, which lasts approximately an hour and twenty minutes, and then hop off for explorations during the next circuit.
12. Dallas Museum Of Art
The Dallas Museum of Art, located on North Harwood Street in the Arts District, spans almost one hundred and sixty thousand square feet, accommodating galleries, exhibition venues, a sculpture garden, and a library, making it one of the largest museums in the United States.
The collection includes over twenty-four thousand items from various genres and regions around the world, featuring notable works by artists such as Rodin, Van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, and Cézanne.
The museum regularly hosts late-night openings until midnight, as well as weekly presentations from writers, artists, and musicians, along with live jazz performances every Thursday.
13. Downtown Dallas Ghost Hunt
Although Downtown Dallas is a contemporary urban environment, its extensive history has fostered several locations reported to be haunted—often pubs.
Commence your supernatural exploration at the Green Door Pub on Harwood Street, where the staff will share chilling tales to set the mood while you enjoy a drink or two before proceeding to three or four other purportedly haunted bars.
The entertaining and occasionally hair-raising tours typically last between two and a half to three hours.
14. The Majestic
The Majestic is a historic theater located on Elm Street, built in the 1920s for vaudeville performances and later converted into a cinema in the early 1930s. Today, The Majestic remains the sole theater left on what was once Dallas’s esteemed Theater Row.
The elaborately designed façade features a seating capacity of one thousand seven hundred and offers a diverse range of shows, including stand-up comedy, musicals, individual music performances, and films. The Majestic is undoubtedly one of the premier venues for live entertainment in Downtown Dallas.
15. Wild Bill’s Western Store
The history of Downtown Dallas can be traced back to the days of pioneers, cowboys rounding up cattle, and cooking meals over open flames. This heritage is evident in the apparel available in the area today.
Visit Wild Bill’s Western Store on North Market Street, in operation for over forty years, and gear up just as any style-savvy cowboy would—complete with a plaid shirt, engraved leather boots, fitted jeans, and the essential Stetson hat.
Do not forget that a visit to Downtown Dallas would be incomplete without taking home a JR Ewing-style ten-gallon hat. Enjoy your time in the Big D.
