The Art Cottage Guidebook
Food scene
Come here to cover all of your favorite “Texas staples” in one menu. We can never decide if we prefer this place for brunch or dinner, because we love them both so much! You can get Tex Mex and bbq in one place, how can that be beat? Plus it’s fun for kids, they can roam around the enclosed yard and the “house Mac” is a family favorite.
You can easily walk here, but there is free valet on site if you are in heels and that said, the dress code ranges from casual to fancy, so come as you are or you want to be!
They have a great patio or “yard” which is basically an uncovered patio, with lights and live music on weekends. The light is beautiful at sunset and it’s a great place to celebrate any occasion. We’ve been to birthdays, girls nights and just casual get togethers or last minute patio time at this place, it’s one of our favorites!
46 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Smoky Rose
8602 Garland RdCome here to cover all of your favorite “Texas staples” in one menu. We can never decide if we prefer this place for brunch or dinner, because we love them both so much! You can get Tex Mex and bbq in one place, how can that be beat? Plus it’s fun for kids, they can roam around the enclosed yard and the “house Mac” is a family favorite.
You can easily walk here, but there is free valet on site if you are in heels and that said, the dress code ranges from casual to fancy, so come as you are or you want to be!
They have a great patio or “yard” which is basically an uncovered patio, with lights and live music on weekends. The light is beautiful at sunset and it’s a great place to celebrate any occasion. We’ve been to birthdays, girls nights and just casual get togethers or last minute patio time at this place, it’s one of our favorites!
This place is truly a hidden gem in Dallas. It’s owned by Julie Doyle and Tim DeLaughter, founders of the musical groups Tripping Daisy and The Polyphonic Spree and also the record store Good Records next door.
Their vision was a place that would feel out of the ordinary, maybe a blast to another place and time, where you can relax with friends in a chic and casual atmosphere.
The food is Southern-inspired and always delights. Their cocktail menu is always innovative and perfect!
This is definitely a “must visit” for your time in Dallas!
42 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Lounge Here
9028 Garland RdThis place is truly a hidden gem in Dallas. It’s owned by Julie Doyle and Tim DeLaughter, founders of the musical groups Tripping Daisy and The Polyphonic Spree and also the record store Good Records next door.
Their vision was a place that would feel out of the ordinary, maybe a blast to another place and time, where you can relax with friends in a chic and casual atmosphere.
The food is Southern-inspired and always delights. Their cocktail menu is always innovative and perfect!
This is definitely a “must visit” for your time in Dallas!
This is our favorite coffee shop with its casual and convenient atmosphere. The brothers who started LDU came from Australia and brought the amazing Flat White with them. They’ll treat you kindly in there, and I have a feeling you will want to go more than just once!
Grab a coffee or a sandwich and stroll down to White Rock Lake which is right behind this location!
LDU Coffee To Go
9005 Garland RdThis is our favorite coffee shop with its casual and convenient atmosphere. The brothers who started LDU came from Australia and brought the amazing Flat White with them. They’ll treat you kindly in there, and I have a feeling you will want to go more than just once!
Grab a coffee or a sandwich and stroll down to White Rock Lake which is right behind this location!
Our favorite Sushi place! It’s intimate and delicious. Once we found this place we stopped going anywhere else!
13 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Sa Sa Sushi
6340 Gaston AveOur favorite Sushi place! It’s intimate and delicious. Once we found this place we stopped going anywhere else!
Listed as Zagat’s “Must Try Dumplings in 15 Cities Around the U.S” we would agree with everyone who voted this a “Neighborhood Favorite.”
The owner is kind and welcoming, and has made this such a special spot. She even remembers the dietary needs of repeat customers. Beyond that, the dumplings are fabulous!
8 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Hello Dumpling
1146 Peavy RdListed as Zagat’s “Must Try Dumplings in 15 Cities Around the U.S” we would agree with everyone who voted this a “Neighborhood Favorite.”
The owner is kind and welcoming, and has made this such a special spot. She even remembers the dietary needs of repeat customers. Beyond that, the dumplings are fabulous!
We were delighted when ZAAP Kitchen opened up at Casa Linda and probably order from here more than we’d like to admit. It’s some of the best Thai food in Dallas… just be warned that level 1 spice means they are adding spice. So if you don’t like spice at all, say “no spice.” Enjoy!!!
ZAAP Kitchen of Casa Linda
1152 North Buckner BoulevardWe were delighted when ZAAP Kitchen opened up at Casa Linda and probably order from here more than we’d like to admit. It’s some of the best Thai food in Dallas… just be warned that level 1 spice means they are adding spice. So if you don’t like spice at all, say “no spice.” Enjoy!!!
Another great coffee shop but we come here for the breakfast and the sandwiches at Good Friend Package which is in the same location.
You order your coffee and your food separately, so if you want to feel like a local, just walk in and stand in the coffee line or walk straight back to the food counter and crain your neck to see the food menu.
My favorite is the Avocado Toast and the Veginator, delish!!!
29 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Cultivar Coffee Bar & Roaster
313 JeffersonAnother great coffee shop but we come here for the breakfast and the sandwiches at Good Friend Package which is in the same location.
You order your coffee and your food separately, so if you want to feel like a local, just walk in and stand in the coffee line or walk straight back to the food counter and crain your neck to see the food menu.
My favorite is the Avocado Toast and the Veginator, delish!!!
Baldo's Ice Cream
9440 Garland RdOur favorite ice cream place, so delicious!!!
The line might feel daunting but it moves fast. This frozen custard joint is popular for a reason, it’s delicious! Good luck on deciding which toppings you’ll want, there are so many options and all so great!
9 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Andy's Frozen Custard
9655 Audelia RdThe line might feel daunting but it moves fast. This frozen custard joint is popular for a reason, it’s delicious! Good luck on deciding which toppings you’ll want, there are so many options and all so great!
Every local knows this is the best place for a hamburger in Dallas. It’s an institution, and nothing much has changed since it opened.
Trust us and order the #5 with the secret sauce. The onion rings can’t be beat either!
Pull up and park and the server will come to you. This place draws people from all walks of life, nobody can say no to the #5!
14 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Keller's
6537 E NW HwyEvery local knows this is the best place for a hamburger in Dallas. It’s an institution, and nothing much has changed since it opened.
Trust us and order the #5 with the secret sauce. The onion rings can’t be beat either!
Pull up and park and the server will come to you. This place draws people from all walks of life, nobody can say no to the #5!
Great place to sit outside on the patio surrounded by the garden where they source a lot of their food! If you bring kids, they can play in the playground nearby, or check out the chickens and the garden.
It’s so relaxing and peaceful, one of our favorite brunch spots for sure! I’d recommend the cheese grits and substituting their biscuit for toast. Come on, you only live once!
48 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Garden Cafe
5310 Junius StGreat place to sit outside on the patio surrounded by the garden where they source a lot of their food! If you bring kids, they can play in the playground nearby, or check out the chickens and the garden.
It’s so relaxing and peaceful, one of our favorite brunch spots for sure! I’d recommend the cheese grits and substituting their biscuit for toast. Come on, you only live once!
Oishii - SMU Blvd
5627 SMU BoulevardDelicious sushi, family favorite
Great place for a date! Happy hour is worth a visit for sure. We love this place for a special night out.
71 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Uchi Dallas
2817 Maple AveGreat place for a date! Happy hour is worth a visit for sure. We love this place for a special night out.
Fount Board & Table
2414 Routh StreetA foodie’s favorite place for delicious and considered meals
HOME MADE ROOT BEER, our favorite place for a classic burger and root beer float. Easy peasy and delicious!
Dairy-Ette
9785 Ferguson RdHOME MADE ROOT BEER, our favorite place for a classic burger and root beer float. Easy peasy and delicious!
Great place to bring kids… they can play while you talk, great food to keep you coming back!
Hat Creek Burger Company
8185 Walnut Hl LnGreat place to bring kids… they can play while you talk, great food to keep you coming back!
MAYA'S MODERN MEDITERRANEAN
9540 Garland RoadDelicious Mediterranean food, locally owned and operated by neighbors!
Our favorite natural grocery store. Great prices on eggs, nuts and grains.
21 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Natural Grocers
9440 Garland RdOur favorite natural grocery store. Great prices on eggs, nuts and grains.
Neighborhoods
Little Forest Hills is known for its eclectic flair and creative vibe. It’s home to artists of all kinds and some of Dallas’ most well known musicians. Near White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum, two of Dallas’ biggest nature attractions, LFH is popular with nature lovers and people who love to be outside biking, running or simply taking a stroll.
It’s great fun to walk around and see the unique houses or yard art. For kids, see if they can spot the dinosaur on Diceman or Texas Longhorn and Giraffe on Eustis. You can walk to Casa Linda Park which is surrounded by huge trees and wide fields. The park is popular with the neighborhood and very much loved. It has tennis courts and a basketball court that are open to the public.
Our neighbors in LFH love being off the beaten path yet close to the action of downtown. They are friendly, inclusive and community minded, cultivate gardens, raise chickens and grow wildflowers and native plants.
You’ll love getting to experience a part of Dallas that lies outside the bounds of what most people expect when they think of Big D, truly a small town feel within the big city.
Little Forest Hills
Little Forest Hills is known for its eclectic flair and creative vibe. It’s home to artists of all kinds and some of Dallas’ most well known musicians. Near White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum, two of Dallas’ biggest nature attractions, LFH is popular with nature lovers and people who love to be outside biking, running or simply taking a stroll.
It’s great fun to walk around and see the unique houses or yard art. For kids, see if they can spot the dinosaur on Diceman or Texas Longhorn and Giraffe on Eustis. You can walk to Casa Linda Park which is surrounded by huge trees and wide fields. The park is popular with the neighborhood and very much loved. It has tennis courts and a basketball court that are open to the public.
Our neighbors in LFH love being off the beaten path yet close to the action of downtown. They are friendly, inclusive and community minded, cultivate gardens, raise chickens and grow wildflowers and native plants.
You’ll love getting to experience a part of Dallas that lies outside the bounds of what most people expect when they think of Big D, truly a small town feel within the big city.
Sightseeing
A fun place to bring kids that’s out of the ordinary, an immersive shopping and playing experience!
CAMP, A Family Experience Store
9830 N US 75-Central Expy 1000A fun place to bring kids that’s out of the ordinary, an immersive shopping and playing experience!
Great for all people. Kids love the sculpture garden and free activities on the first Saturday of the month. Awesome date place next to fun restaurants and other activities in the Arts District.
240 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Nasher Sculpture Center
2001 Flora StGreat for all people. Kids love the sculpture garden and free activities on the first Saturday of the month. Awesome date place next to fun restaurants and other activities in the Arts District.
Local kids favorite thing to do, ride a trolley through uptown for free! These trolleys have been “rescued” and now delight in taking visitors around downtown and uptown dallas on a big loop. Catch a ride to Klyde Warren Park or just do the whole loop! Always a hit.
27 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
McKinney Avenue Trolley Uptown Station
2700 Cityplace W BlvdLocal kids favorite thing to do, ride a trolley through uptown for free! These trolleys have been “rescued” and now delight in taking visitors around downtown and uptown dallas on a big loop. Catch a ride to Klyde Warren Park or just do the whole loop! Always a hit.
Great for kids! Eat from the food trucks, sit under the shade trees, play on the playground or splash in the fountains.
They always have free activities or entertainment on the weekends and was created to bring all of Dallas together, which it certainly does!
884 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers FwyGreat for kids! Eat from the food trucks, sit under the shade trees, play on the playground or splash in the fountains.
They always have free activities or entertainment on the weekends and was created to bring all of Dallas together, which it certainly does!
Free admission except for special exhibits, great place to beat the heat and take in some of the awesome exhibits they have.
The kids area has activities available and it’s a relaxing place to hang out.
790 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Museo de Arte de Dallas
1717 N Harwood StFree admission except for special exhibits, great place to beat the heat and take in some of the awesome exhibits they have.
The kids area has activities available and it’s a relaxing place to hang out.
Rated “best swimming pool” by the Dallas Observer, this public pool is a great place to cool off on a hot Dallas day. Run by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, they welcome everyone to come visit their pool, buy food and drinks, and have a great time. (you’ll see a little bit of everyone for sure.)
It’s fun for kids (pirate ship climbing structure is awesome,) but there is no life guard, FYI.
It’s very popular with the young and old, hip and square.
20 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Fraternal Order of Eagles
8500 Arturo DrRated “best swimming pool” by the Dallas Observer, this public pool is a great place to cool off on a hot Dallas day. Run by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, they welcome everyone to come visit their pool, buy food and drinks, and have a great time. (you’ll see a little bit of everyone for sure.)
It’s fun for kids (pirate ship climbing structure is awesome,) but there is no life guard, FYI.
It’s very popular with the young and old, hip and square.
Awesome public pool recently updated with slides, climbing wall, lazy river, toddler pool, and diving board. Kids are always asking to go.
Admission is $6 each.
Choose to swim during one of the two public swim sessions 6 days a week.
12:30-3:30pm | 4:00-7:00pm
(I suggest arriving right at the start of the swim session to make sure you get in.)
CLOSED THURSDAYS
The Cove Aquatic Center at Samuell Grand
3201 Samuell BoulevardAwesome public pool recently updated with slides, climbing wall, lazy river, toddler pool, and diving board. Kids are always asking to go.
Admission is $6 each.
Choose to swim during one of the two public swim sessions 6 days a week.
12:30-3:30pm | 4:00-7:00pm
(I suggest arriving right at the start of the swim session to make sure you get in.)
CLOSED THURSDAYS
Walk or bike the 12 mile trail around the lake which splinters off into other trails that lead to other parts of Dallas.
Great place to wander around, take a picnic, go fishing, or enjoy the many parks around the lake.
502 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
White Rock Lake
2810 White Rock RdWalk or bike the 12 mile trail around the lake which splinters off into other trails that lead to other parts of Dallas.
Great place to wander around, take a picnic, go fishing, or enjoy the many parks around the lake.
Rent a kayak and explore the lake with your paddles!
18 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
White Rock Paddle Co.
389 E Lawther DrRent a kayak and explore the lake with your paddles!
Best nearby hiking spot. About 25 minutes away, southwest of downtown Dallas. Great for trail running or hiking with kids, always something to explore!!
78 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Reserva Cedar Ridge
7171 Mountain Creek PkwyBest nearby hiking spot. About 25 minutes away, southwest of downtown Dallas. Great for trail running or hiking with kids, always something to explore!!
Consejos sobre la ciudad
Cómo moverse
Cars are the easiest transportation.
There are a lot of things accessible with a 15-30 minute walk and there are lots of bike trails close by. But to explore the city beyond our immediate neighborhood, the use of a car will be most convenient.
No te lo pierdas
Good Local Markets on Saturday Mornings
You can walk three blocks down to the farmers market, what a treat!