Boasting the largest urban arts district in the nation and an array of vibrant and breathtaking visual and performing arts experiences across the city, Dallas offers world-class exhibits and adventures for culture lovers.
Breakfast at Breadwinners Cafe
This friendly and casual bakery-café with a French bistro feel is a Dallas favorite. Fried chicken and waffles are a popular choice. If available, grab a table on the patio to enjoy your coffee.
Explore the Arts
Start your visit in largest arts district in the country, the Dallas Arts District, which offers endless experiences ranging the spectrum of the arts. Step inside the Dallas Museum of Art for free, where there is something new to explore at every turn.
An Afternoon at the Museum
Step into the Nasher Sculpture Center and grab a quick lunch on the patio at the edge of the accompanying sculpture garden, where a vibrant live oak canopy sets off an impressive array of major contemporary and modern works. Walk amongst iconic works by internationally acclaimed artists including Alexander Calder, Picasso and Henry Moore.
Catch a Show
Continue your journey inside the Dallas Arts district by visiting the world's only vertical theater, the innovative Wyly Theatre. The Wyly Theater is home to the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folkorico.
Dinner at CBD Provisions
The restaurant, inside The Joule Hotel, is a must-try in Downtown Dallas. The spinach artichoke dip and pan-roasted salmon are a few highlights.
Midnight Rambler
This chic cocktail lounge at the Joule Hotel features neo-classical cocktails with innovative modern twists. Venture down to the underground salon for delicious drinks and bar bites.
Breakfast at Allgood Cafe
This hip joint in Deep Ellum serves breakfast and lunch to musicians, art folks and businesspeople alike. It's the perfect place for early birds or night owls. Migas and huevos rancheros headline breakfast.
Add Some Color to Your Day
Admire the colorful murals and other street art throughout Deep Ellum, a neighborhood with a rich history in the arts and a hotbed for jazz and blues since the 1920s. Don't miss the spectacular 42 Murals project, a series of stunning art murals on the walls of historic buildings throughout the area, or the striking stainless steel Traveling Man sculptures, created by the award-winning local artist Brad Oldham, that soar 38 feet.
Lunch at the Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus
Located in the flagship Neiman Marcus downtown, this is the ultimate lunch spot in Dallas. The second you sit down, you are served a soothing demitasse of rich chicken broth and a puffy popover with a side of creamy strawberry butter. The famous mandarin orange souffle is a must.
Explore the Design District
Find antique shops and upscale art galleries next door to high-end interior design show rooms in the Design District along Dragon Street, just two miles northwest of Downtown. Expand your personal collection at various galleries, featuring works of art including sculpture and jewelry at The Cameron Gallery and eclectic contemporary art at Galerie Zuger.
Dinner and Rooftop Cocktails
Return to One Arts Plaza to dine at chef Teichi Sakurai's incredible Japanese soba house Tei-An, indulging in the 90-minute omakase or chef's tasting menu. Be sure to make time for a drink at the restaurant's rooftop cocktail bar with breathtaking views of Downtown Dallas.
Brunch at Saint Ann
Enjoy one of Dallas' largest garden patios for brunch at Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar. The iconic "Our Lady of Guadalupe" mural providing a focal point on the patio was preserved by developers from the original 1927 school for Hispanic children that was located in the building.
The Samurai Collection
Head upstairs to tour The Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection. It is the only museum outside Japan to focus on samurai armor with nearly 1,000 pieces in the collection, making it one of the largest and most complete collections in the world.
Late Lunch and an Art Walk
Get a taste of Italy at Eataly inside NorthPark Center. Top off the meal by indulging in small batch gelato at the Il Gelato counter. Stroll through NorthPark, one of the best shopping destinations in the country, and browse an impressive array of designer stores, retail favorites and luxury boutiques while also admiring the center's remarkable art collection, featuring major works by renowned artists including Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Joel Shapiro and Jim Dine.
Enjoy One of Dallas’ Favorite Neighborhoods
Make your way to the Bishop Arts District, a not-so-secret Dallas gem in the heart of Oak Cliff, and drop into design and letterpress print studio "We are 1976" to design your own stationery or pick up handcrafted greeting cards. Next, browse through Artisan's Collective, an eclectic showroom of fine art and jewelry by more than 150 local artists. Don't miss the selection of Pinky Diablo skeleton watercolors and the 56-foot gallery wall, featuring a rotating roster of Texas artists.
A Leisurely Evening
Top off the evening at Lucia, a tiny Italian trattoria by chef David Uygur that continues to be one of the city's toughest reservations. Plan well in advance, or test your luck with the handful of bar seats available to walk-ins. Start with the house-made salumi to share with the table.
Finish with Pie
Leave room for homemade seasonal pies at Emporium Pies. The quaint shop has a small indoor seating area and various patio tables outside to enjoy your pie as you listen to a local musician play nearby.
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