Expansive Views Abound at Happiest Hour

Photo Credit: Coeval

A decade ago we didn’t have districts, we had a long commute to work where we anxiously awaited 5PM so that we could head back to our homes in the more civilized areas of town and leave downtown Dallas to the derelicts and criminals. That was then and this is now – we’ve turned all of those crumbling urban areas into trendy places to work, live, shop, and eat. We walk our dogs, have drinks with our friends, and play frisbee in Klyde Warren Park, dolling out large amounts of cash for the privilege of living in the heart of the city.

Dallas’s Newest Haute Spot

The Harwood District is Dallas’s newest trendy area and Happiest Hour is the district’s newest trendy restaurant and bar. It’s Texas sized with 12,000 square feet of drinking room located in the two story establishment. We counted three bars with enough beer on tap to make Milwaukee jealous. 17 flat screen TV’s mean we can not get away from the bloodbath on the football field that’s been happening lately but it also means that when Romo returns, presumably riding a white horse and wearing shiny armor, we’ll be able to watch the Cowboys eventual triumph. If that doesn’t happen, well three bars with 50 beers on tap will likely be able to soften the blow.

It’s the view that always gets us. The rooftop patio offers expansive views of the Dallas skyline. At night the glow of the city lights is just beautiful and you’ll be able to enjoy it in cooler weather thanks to a number of fire pits. A street level outdoor area has spots for lounging as well as yard games to make things fun. The whole ambiance is industrial chic but you should have guessed that. It is the decor du jour around town.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Zizzo

Food and Drinks with Texas Style

The food shines with Texas style, from Frito Pie to the Loaded Layered Queso with brisket, guacamole, sour cream, and chips. We steered clear of the Whistle Stop Sandwich as we could not stop thinking about the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes. Perhaps a name change is in order for this particular dish. Cajun waffle fries are an exuberant yes but we’ll steer clear of the mac and cheese in the future.

Our favorite cocktail was the Cowboy Crush made with spice rum, coconut rum, blue Curaçao, lemonade, lime juice, simple syrup, and blueberries which tastes a little like a Mai Tai. There are plenty more to choose from with cheesy Texas-centric names — just don’t sit the Longhorn Libation and the Aggie Pick Me Up next to each other and you should be OK.

All in all it’s a great addition to the area and, with it being right by the American Airlines Center, it’s perfect for celebrating a Mavericks win.