Your Lower Greenville Guide — the Best Restaurants, Bars, Coffee, Shopping and More in This Lively Dallas Neighborhood

Greenville Avenue’s lively nightlife scene began in the 1940s when the Granada Theater originally opened as a movie house. It was eventually transformed into an indie/folksy music venue that brought late-night vibes to Lower Greenville, along with a swarm of bars and restaurants.

The neighborhood has seen lots of changes in the past few years with the recent departure news of St. Martins (don’t worry, it’s just moving to East Dallas), as well as the 39-year-old Blue Goose Cantina, and the previous closures of iconic American bistro, The Grape, and Rapscallion.

But it’s also seen plenty of new restaurants and bars, such as Quarter Acre, Rye, Apothecary, HIDE, as well as the upcoming Via Triozzi.

This is your guide to the best restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping and entertainment in Lower Greenville:

Restaurants

Carte Blanche, is arguably the best place to start your morning in Lower Greenville. Grab a pastry from the bakery which boasts butter and almond croissants, cinnamon rolls, scones, danishes, and so much more. They also offer tasting menus for dinner ranging from $145 (six courses) to $225 (full chef’s tour) per person.

Right down the street, Shoyo is one of Dallas’ most popular new (and hard-to-get-into) sushi restaurants. Book well in advance to get a table.

Terilli’s is a classic Italian Greenville Avenue restaurant and a must-visit on live jazz nights.

A newer addition to the neighborhood dining scene, Sister is one of our favorite new restaurants that have opened in the past couple of years. From the owners of The Charles, this Italian-ish sister concept is a stunner for ambiance and great cuisine.

Lower Greenville Bars

The bar scene is quite saturated in Lower Greenville so we’ve just included a few favorites. Apothecary (from the owners of Rye next door) is a moody, experimental bar in Lower Greenville. It’s a must-visit before or after (or for — they have great bites as well) dinner.

HG SPLY CO has one of the best rooftop bars in Dallas. The bar is a fun place to hang out on a sunny day, or sip on some late-night cocktails. Recently, HIDE moved over from Deep Ellum and is situated nearby. It also boasts a rooftop and stellar craft cocktails. Both are great options.

If you’re looking to feel like you’ve been transported to an island, check out Swizzle — a tiki lounge with rum cocktails and Polynesian food.

Last, but definitely not least, Ships Lounge is one of Dallas’ most reliable dive bars. A Greenville Avenue landmark, the bar has been around since 1947. Grab a drink, play pool, and take in all of the vintage nautical paraphernalia.

Coffee

If you’re looking for a good cup of coffee and a great place to hang out or work, Halcyon is your coffee shop in Lower Greenville. A hybrid coffee shop and bar, Halcyon also serves brunch and breakfast tacos. It’s the kind of place you can start out your day working with a latte or cold brew then transition over to happy hour drinks at 4 pm.

La La Land Kind Cafe is also a great place to hang out, but doesn’t offer as much seating when it comes to working (you’ll still see crowds of people trying to find a place to hunker down with their laptop though). But what it lacks in space, it makes up for with charm. Along with being aesthetically charming, the concept from Francois Reihani (who was inspired after volunteering with Dallas CASA) hires and mentors foster youth who are aging out of the system.

Newcomer Café Duro offers the classics, as well as a few signature drinks and treats like the 007 Espresso — shaken over ice and lightly sweetened —, Nutella Blackberry Nitro Cold Brew, affogato, and more. Pair an Italian sausage kolache or apple cinnamon cake with your coffee. It’s also a wine shop if you’re looking to sip on something a bit stronger.

Desserts

For lovers of the cheesy dessert,  Val’s Cheesecakes is a must. Order by the slice, the jar, or go all in on an entire cheesecake. Flavors range from classic strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry to a red velvet, cookies ‘n cream, and sea salt mocha. There are even some savory concoctions like taco, bacon cheddar, and smoked salmon.

Botolino Gelato Artigianale is another must-visit dessert spot and one of our best ice cream shops in Dallas. The shop serves authentic Italian gelato and a rotating selection of sixteen flavors, ranging from Matcha and Tiramisu to Mascarpone & Figs and Dallas Honey depending on the day.

Lower Greenville Shopping

There are a few fun shops in Lower Greenville, including Bullzerk — the spot for hyper local swag. Established in 2014, the family-run t-shirts and accessory brand offers quirky items just for Dallasites and other Texans.

The Labyrinth is another quirky spot — otherwise known as, Dallas Oldest Witch Shop. The store sells everything you may need for healing or spell casting such as crystals, powders, salts, and oils.

For all of your plant needs, The Planting Hand is a nursery that offers pots, plant care products, and courses. Learn how to care for your succulent or arrange lithops.

And there are a couple of second hand clothing stores like 2nd Street, Crossroads Trading, and Buffalo Exchange if you’re looking for something more vintage to wear.

Entertainment

With food trucks, trailer bars, and a beer garden, there’s a lot to do at Truck Yard, essentially a playground for adults. Food trucks rotate between Easy Slider, Dallas Grilled Cheese Co., Azucar, Halal Mother Truckers and more. You can see the schedule online. You can catch live music from 4 pm to 7 pm every Friday.

And of course, Granada Theater is a must-visit attraction in Lower Greenville. A live music staple in Dallas, the venue showcases all kind of acts on a weekly basis. From singer-songwriters like Ron Pope to alternative rock group Colony House, Granada features some of the best indie and up-and-coming artists out there.