Swanky resto/bar/lounge serving modern comfort food and cocktails into the wee hours.
Indie wine shop and bar with select small bites like cured meats and stinky cheese. Low-end to luxury bottles line the space. Check out the super-cool tasting menu that lets you pick your poison by computer.
Cozy bar with an old Irish pub feel. Expect an extensive appetizer menu and weekday happy hour drink specials, 4-7 p.m. When the weather’s nice, retreat to the rooftop patio for charming Uptown views.
Downtown watering hole for winos. The bar serves only Texas wines and the 30-plus made in-house. Pro vintners are also on hand to help patrons craft their own batch of vino with snazzy personalized labels.
Affordable wood-fire pizzeria with surprisingly fancy starters. Top billing goes to 32 Degrees, the rooftop bar with a huge chunk of ice to keep sips (don’t miss the fruitinis made from local produce) chill.
Old-school country-style bar and music venue for Red Dirt bands passing through town. Shiner and pizza (delivered from DiTerra’s and Greenville Avenue) is the name of the game, so don’t expect to sip any lavender martinis.
Indie java hut swarming with hipsters. Blame it on the free Wi-Fi, mod decor, artsy drinks, homemade treats (rosemary scones, yum!), and undeniably cool zip code.
Photo: Courtesy of The Pearl Cup Espresso Bar
The Snider Plaza shop stocks vintage candies like Pop Rocks, Big Hunk, and Gobstoppers, along with hard-to-find sweets such as gummy Coke bottles, candy-coated sunflower seeds, and chocolate-covered nuts. There’s a gourmet popcorn bar in back (think jalapeno ranch and dill).
Owned by a couple of lawyers, the Knox/Henderson wine bar has more than 150 boutique labels and a Texas-centric menu. Think cheeses from Veldhuizen in Dublin, bison jerky from Hamilton, and Wiseman House chocolates from Hico.
Popular Tex-Mex resto known for its strong Mambo Taxi frozen margaritas with a splash of sangria. Ernie’s Chicken is yum; the queso is some of the best in town. Just expect a wait since reservations are not allowed (park it at the tiny third-floor bar with gorg treetop views).