Hey friends! I was born and raised in Dallas and love living here. I get a lot of emails when readers are traveling to the area always want to know where to go eat, what to see etc. So today I am sharing MY Dallas city guide with you guys. These are my favorite places, favorite things, and can’t misses.
Dallas City Guide
Stay: There are a ton of amazing hotels in Dallas. Some of my favorites include the Omni Downtown, The Crescent Hotel, The Joule, The Statler, The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Hall Arts, The Adolphus, The Ritz, and The Thompson.
Eat/Drink: For a great patio environment check out Hillstone, Chelsea Corner, Nova, and The Rustic. For delicious Mexican food go to Mi Cocina(lots of locations), Odelay, Masero, or Jose. For fun dinners check out National Anthem, Neighborhood Services, Town Hearth, Monarch, El Carlos Elegante, Las Palmas, Carbone or Carbone Vino, Il Bracco. For great brunch check out Taverna, Yolk, Sadelles, La Bilboquet, or Buzzbrews. Other favorites: RH Rooftop, Honor Bar, Bistro 31, Bird Bakery, Yardbird, Sister, Shinsei, Saint Anne.
Shop: There are great places to shop that have tons of stores as well as great boutiques. Here are some of my favorites: Northpark Center if you want a big mall with lots of luxurious stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom. It also has stores like Athleta, Outdoor Voices, J.Crew, Madewell, Lululemon, and Zara. There are also great restaurants as Nothpark as well! Highland Park Village is majorly upscale. Stores like Chanel, Jimmy Choo, Hermes, and more. The Galleria is a bit more touristy in my opinion and has a lot of the same types of stores as Northpark. It’s connected to a hotel so if you are staying at the Westin it’s a great option. Bonus, there is a Mi Cocina! For more boutiques check out Snider Plaza, Lovers Lane, Shops at Legacy.
See: Make sure to visit where JFK was assassinated (because when in Dallas). The Dallas Zoo and Dallas World Aquarium are great places to take kids as well as The Perot Museum. We love the George Bush Library at SMU. The SMU campus is also gorgeous and great to walk around. Klyde Warren Park is always fun and there’s always something going on. Downtown there are also tons of museums both small and big. The Katy Trail is a great place to walk/run and there are restaurants all up and down the trail. You can also go to White Rock Lake to go for a walk/run and check out the Dallas Arboretum, which is nearby.
These are my favorite things in Dallas and my version of a Dallas City Guide. If I had friends visiting these are the things I would point out!
Have you been to Dallas?
This post was written in 2018 and has been updated for 2023.
I’ve never been to Dallas but I’ll definitely stop by if I’m ever in the area! It sounds like an exciting place to check out. Thanks for your recommendations, Neely. 🙂
I love visiting Dallas!!!! The Omni downtown is my fave place to stay 🙂 I’m an Omni fan though. Great city guide, I’ll have to come back to it next time I’m coming into town.
I get emails when people come to Clearwater and Tampa areas, I need to pick back up on my city guides for here too! Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Nothing beats tips from a local! When we visit a new city we try and do as locals do and avoid all (ok, some lol) the tourist traps. Hope to visit one day!
This is very helpful although I haven’t been there yet I’d like to! It is always good to know from a local what the best places to eat and shop really are!
I was in Dallas in October for the FinCon conference. I’ve visited before but it had been YEARS. I really enjoyed it and had the opportunity to enjoy a posh dinner at Mirador above the 4510 Boutique.
I have a couple cousins that actually live in Dallas! I’ve been once but probably need to go back again, see more of the city, and spend some time with family.
I’ve never been to Dallas but heard many great things about this place. I hope to visit someday and this list compilation will be helpful. Thanks so much for sharing!
I have been to Dallas once before and loved it. But, this is a lot more helpful than just going to destination needed such as mall or airport. I will have to save this post for future traveling.
I’ve never been to Dallas but I’ll definitely stop by if I’m ever in the area! It sounds like an exciting place to check out. Thanks for your recommendations, Neely. 🙂
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Pinning this to my Travel board. Great recommendations! Very helpful.
Thanks so much for sharing! I haven’t been to Dallas but I’m dying to go!
Love this! Being from Houston, I tend to travel to Dallas a lot to see friends, so I will have to try some of these places out!
We love Klyde Warren Park as well! For Mexican food our favorite place is El Fenix. 🙂
I have never been Dallas, would be great to visit
I love visiting Dallas!!!! The Omni downtown is my fave place to stay 🙂 I’m an Omni fan though. Great city guide, I’ll have to come back to it next time I’m coming into town.
I get emails when people come to Clearwater and Tampa areas, I need to pick back up on my city guides for here too! Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
I was in Dallas once about 15 years ago Forbes a few days and loved it. Keeping this post for when I go back
Nothing beats tips from a local! When we visit a new city we try and do as locals do and avoid all (ok, some lol) the tourist traps. Hope to visit one day!
I am adding few of your recs on the list when I am on the other side of the town.
This is very helpful although I haven’t been there yet I’d like to! It is always good to know from a local what the best places to eat and shop really are!
I was in Dallas in October for the FinCon conference. I’ve visited before but it had been YEARS. I really enjoyed it and had the opportunity to enjoy a posh dinner at Mirador above the 4510 Boutique.
I have a couple cousins that actually live in Dallas! I’ve been once but probably need to go back again, see more of the city, and spend some time with family.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been to Texas, but never Dallas. Someday perhaps!
Good travel guide! I’ll definitely be sure to check some of these places out if I ever visit 🙂
I’ve never been to Texas. This guide would be worth the trip just because. I don’t know anyone in Texas and that is one reason I have never been.
I’ve been to Dallas twice and loved it. I’m bookmarking this for next time I get there. It’s a fun place and the restaurants rock!
I’ve never been to Dallas but heard many great things about this place. I hope to visit someday and this list compilation will be helpful. Thanks so much for sharing!
I haven’t been to Dallas since college. I would love to go back and this is an amazing list of to-do! Thanks 🙂
I haven’t been to Dallas yet but I have always wanted to go. I hope I can visit sometime soon and I will totally use this guide,
I’ve never been to Dallas before and Texas for that matter. My girls would definitely love going to the Dallas zoo and aquarium.
Dallas sounds like a lot of fun! I’d love to see a Stars game if I ever went to Dallas.
Such a great guide!! I’ve always wanted to visit Dallas. I always hear so many great things about it. I just pinned this for future reference 🙂
I’ve only been to Austin and it was a lovely place to travel and shop!
My sister went to SMU. I wish we had your post when I would go to visit her! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Dallas looks like such a great place to stay. I love that it has so many hotels for families to choose from.
I have been to Dallas once before and loved it. But, this is a lot more helpful than just going to destination needed such as mall or airport. I will have to save this post for future traveling.
I’ve been to Dallas a ton of times over the years and still haven’t made my way to Mi Cocina. All that’s changing the next time I head that way.
next time we are going!!!