Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Dallas
Many people who consider their dogs to be their babies have a high bar for pet services. The Urban Dogg clears our bar with flying colors, and we're not just referring to the vibrant interior. The staff at Urban Dogg provide more than just high-quality cuts in a timely manner. The staff is attentive to the needs of their dog clients and make sure their experience before and after grooming is as high-caliber as the service itself. Your dog will return to you fresh as a daisy as well as fast friends with their groomer. That tells you all you need to know.
Both buying and maintaining camera equipment can be costly and time-consuming, especially if your technical know-how isn't at quite the same level as your creative skills. Competitive Cameras is a one-stop shop for solutions to all your camera woes. If you're looking to buy new gear, the knowledgeable staff can help you make sure you're walking away with exactly what you need. If you can't afford a piece of equipment you need, they have a variety of rentals to choose from. On top of that, they clean and repair the stuff you already have. All of these services have prices that feel fair and reasonable, which is always welcome to photographers.
Good things come in small packages. Even better things come in luxurious, experiential packages wrapped in the finest paper and bows. This seems to be the philosophy at Dallas Gift Wrap Creations, concierge gift wrapper to the stars. We mean this quite literally, as a photo of one of their creations, a birthday present to Taylor Swift from Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, was splashed across national headlines last year. CEO Anita Invancevic sources her rare materials from all over the world, including opulent wrapping paper all the way from Switzerland. When you're wanting to go above and beyond with a gift, sometimes what's on the outside counts as well.
In the age of AI-generated art and the gig economy, there's never been a more crucial time to support local artists. Deep Ellum retailer Everything Ellum has been making space for such artists since 2021. The "wearable art" they have for sale (shirts, stickers, accessories and more) is emblazoned with the work of established and up-and-coming Dallas artists and is handmade locally, providing an ideal and ethical alternative to mass-produced graphic tees.
A few blocks off the Denton square, True Leaf Studio is worth the trek if plants and tattoos are your thing. Owners Taylor and Michael Bales can usually be found at the shop. Taylor is the plant and terrarium expert while Michael is the tattoo artist who specializes in black and gray botanical tattoos. They occasionally host events where you can get walk-in flash tattoos, but you'll want to book an appointment if you have a specific design in mind. If you want to build a terrarium, there's a station where you can customize your own. Keep an eye on their Instagram for events because there's almost always something fun happening there on the weekends.
High-quality, cute activewear from a shop that is locally owned is hard to come by, but Revolted Soul offers just that, plus they donate a portion of all sales to cancer awareness efforts. The brand offers gym wear for men and women, and the designs rival that of Alphalete, another big Texas activewear brand. Founder and owner Alexis Nosrati created the brand in solidarity with others living with, recovering from and surviving cancer. This is clearly a passion project for Nosrati as she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 16 and was treated at Children's Health in Dallas. In 2023, she was able to give back by donating over $1,000 to Children's Health CCBD.
We know you love weird little shops with weird little trinkets. At Dolly Python and its sister shop, Dolly on Bishop, you can find the coolest, weirdest stuff. There's a reason that they were recognized by (even though we must interject that we covered the shops first). It's the perfect place to find gifts for the eclectic person in your life (who is probably yourself). For example, we found a bucket full of plaster dental molds for just $5 a pop. Score! If assortments of dental molds aren't your thing, that's OK. The main store on Haskell Avenue is known for its incredible cowboy boot collection, so if you're looking for some sweet new boots, vintage clothes and weird things, this is the place to go.
Miriam Ortega is an Oak Cliff veteran with 23 years of experience in the multiple specialties of color-correction, blonding blends and custom-curated cuts (especially those blunt bobs that are all the rage right now). For 16 years she owned and operated Studio 410 on Davis Street in the heart of the Bishop Arts District, and in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, she relocated within the neighborhood to the corner of Madison Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard and opened Art On Hair Collective. The intimate three-chair salon experience includes complimentary custom cocktails, a luxurious service-forward approach to pampering and only the highest-end hair products. The proof is in her Instagram feed, which displays an astounding collection of before-and-after hair transformations. Ortega is truly an artist who has mastered the medium of hair. Let yourself be her canvas.
Everything's bigger in Dallas, especially when it comes to fashion. The bigger, the bolder, the bossier the look, the more we love it. That's why when it comes to artist-turned-designer Alexis Daniels and her label AND-Made , her larger-than-life earrings and accessories automatically fit in a Big D way. This vibrant fashionista is growing in popularity as celebrities such as Tabitha Brown, SWV, Jekalyn Carr and even Dallas "it" girl Tashara Parker don her wearable art for the ultimate statement. These delicately handcrafted, oversized earrings will undoubtedly turn heads when you sport them.
Whether you're flying to the Maldives or a staycation in Paris (Texas, that is) the Annia Louisa collection oozes luxury appeal with well-traveled vibes. Curated by Dallas socialite Annia Jenkins, this award-nominated ready-to-wear collection is inspired by her worldly travels, with an upscale flair. Animal prints, vibrant hues and golden embellishments adorn the silhouettes of kaftans, kimonos, swimwear and dresses, which can all be dressed up or down to the occasion. If it's the yacht life by day and the beach club by night, this Dallas brand is always willing and ready to take you away.
