Whether you are coming for a bachelorette, a fun girls’ trip, or just looking for a staycation, this itinerary includes the chicest Dallas restaurants, shops, and hotels, plus a few insider tips and menu favorites.
Check-In
Check-In Friday afternoon at Hotel Crescent Court in Uptown. Enjoy the traditional architecture and and chic rooms at this well-known luxury hotel with an amazing rooftop pool and steps from a fabulous shopping at Stanley Korshak. You can often find discounted rates online when you book in the off season. A few of my other favorite places to stay in Dallas are The Joule downtown and The Stoneleigh. (The Rosewood Mansion has that old Dallas feel, but it feels a little dated to me.) When my sister comes to town, she likes to stay at The Lumen, a popular boutique hotel near SMU.
Tip: Some of the modern hotels like The Joule and The Lumen have more open concept bathrooms so not always ideal if sharing a room and need a bit of privacy! Just be sure to check on what kind of room you are booking!
Happy Hour
Meet the rest of your group at happy hour at Stirr in Deep Ellum (trendy/artsy part of town). Their rooftop has an amazing skyline view and they are known for their unique cocktails and delicious happy hour menu. If you are looking to stay more towards uptown and upscale, Saint Ann is the place to go. Located in the Harwood district, their patio is frequently voted the “Best Outdoor Patio” by D Magazine. Definitely try one of their Wine Flights.
Friday Dinner
You may want to have a cocktail in the hotel lobby and then head to Uchi, right around the corner from the Hotel Crescent Court. Here you will find the most unique sushi options. The best way to order is to skip the menu entirely. Tell your waiter how much you are looking to spend, any allergies or dislikes, and they will curate your dinner completely. This is the best way to experience it! Make sure to let him or her know that you want the Fried Milk at the end though! If you are looking for a fabulous Dallas atmosphere (and great patio dining) Dolce Riviera is also a great spot. It’s a great place to celebrate a birthday with their Roman candle-like birthday candles (they do charge a fee if you bring your own cake.)
Late Night
If your group wants to keep the fun going, you’ll find the best people watching at Bistro 31’s upstairs bar Lounge 31. Or have your Uber driver make a stop at the Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM.
Tip: Ubering or using Alto (code DOSAYGIVE for $50 toward first round trip) is often the best way to get around Dallas because many restaurants are valet only and figuring out Dallas traffic is not for the faint of heart!
Saturday Morning
Start at blogger-favorite BIRD Bakery for coffee and a light breakfast (or The Juice Bar across the way) and then walk around the country’s oldest outdoor shopping center. If you are familiar with Dallas, you probably know that Highland Park Village is great place for shopping (or just window shopping!) with stores like Tory Burch, Christian Louboutin, Alice & Olivia, The Tot, MADISON, Blue Mercury, and Draper James. Make sure to pop in St. Michaels Women’s Exchange for unique and Dallas-themed gifts!
Saturday Lunch
If the weather is nice you could sit outside at the Honor Bar or Bistro 31. Or pop over to Inwood Village and eat at Flowerchild, one of Dallas’ most popular destinations for clean and casual eating. For something ladylike and unique, Rise No. 1 is right around the corner. It’s probably my favorite place to take visitors and has the best soufflés. MUST ORDER CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉ. Afterward you can stop in Saint Bernard, Wisteria, Liz and Honey (yes, they have a store now!) and some of the darling shops along Lovers Lane like Madre, The Greenway Shop (clean beauty), Ellis Hill (stationery and gifts) Cabana (pricey). Another lunch favorite set between all the Lovers Lane shops is Hudson House. I could eat the Hudson salad everyday and do not leave without ordering the key lime pie. It’s also a great dinner location!
If you are feeling super fancy for lunch, head to Forty Five Ten downtown for an unforgettable experience. Marie Gabrielle is a lovely lunch place as well and back towards the hotel.
Saturday Afternoon
Option 1: Hit the Spa
Hit the spa for manicures and massages or just hang by the beautiful pool. The ESPA Spa at the Joule Hotel and the Ritz Carlton spa are amazing, too.
Option 2: Shopping!
Some Dallas favorites for interiors include the Blue Print Store, Caitlin Wilson Design, Serena & Lily and (new!) Amy Berry Home. Of course, there’s the Dallas Design District.
For children’s stores, my favorites include Hip Hip Hooray (that has the royal blanket I wrote about here), Layette, Dondolo, and The Tot. Mi Golondrina is not usually open on Saturdays unless for a special event event. They are known for their hand-embroidered dresses that are a staple of many Dallas moms during the summer.
For teen/young adult (i.e. hip!) clothing, try The Impeccable Pig (near SMU), Sofie Grey, Adeline, Favor the Kind, and Saint Bernard. The Biz has cute tween clothing.
You can spend an entire afternoon or even day at Northpark Center. It’s not your typical shopping mall, but a collection of stores, artwork, events, and green space that is unlike any other. Some of the fabulous stores include Neiman Marcus, Zara, Tory Burch, Rebecca Taylor, Lilly Pulitzer, James Avery, Free People, Madewell, and AG. Grab some Kate Wesier Chocolates or a Sugarfina bento box as a little treat to bring home to loved ones. Oh and my mom and I like the Nordstrom restaurant for a good iced tea and salad in between marathon shopping like during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!
Insider Tips: Partners Card is a great time to come to Dallas if you plan to shop as many of these amazing stores will offer 20% off and it’s for a great cause. This year the dates are October 25th – November 3rd!
Option 3: A Fun Class!
If you are shopped out or the spa isn’t your speed, there are so many other fun Dallas activities that are sure to entertain your group. Book a flower arranging class at Dr. Delphinium or a cooking class at Sur La Table. There’s also the The Candle Bar in Deep Ellum. This spot is new to Dallas and is such a fun way for a group of friends to spend an afternoon.
Option 4: Museums!
The Dallas Museum of Art is one our city’s many treasures. And from May 1 – September 1 they are having the House of Dior Collection that is sure to be spectacular! FYI, permanent exhibits are always free at the DMA!
The George W. Bush Presidential Library is fantastic and can be walked through pretty quickly as can the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza where you can learn all about the day that President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas. There are so many museums in Dallas but these are the ones I like to recommend to Dallas visitors!
Option 5: House Hunting
Okay maybe not actual house hunting, but driving through the streets of Highland Park and Preston Hollow will definitely make you feel like you’re living in The Potted Boxwood‘s Instagram feed. Drive down Armstrong and Beverly and neighboring streets or through the area around Meadowbrook in Preston Hollow for major house and landscape inspiration. On that note, if you’re here in early December the ABPA House Tour is amazing! Last year Caitlin Wilson’s house was on the tour!
Saturday Dinner
After a busy day it may be time for a Mambo Taxi at Mi Cocina! There are lots of locations but Highland Park Village has a great atmosphere but just ask to sit downstairs. They don’t take reservations but you can wait at the upstairs bar that a lot of people don’t know about. Locals also love bringing out of town visitors to Javier’s, another Dallas institution. For a more low key dinner, my friends love R&D Kitchen. If you are staying at Hotel Crescent Court and want to eat closer to the hotel, Sixty Vines is quickly becoming a staple in Dallas with their impressive wine list.
Sunday Brunch
Brunch is big in Dallas! While there are so many brunch spots, I love Mercat. Their french cuisine is perfect for brunch and the atmosphere is oh so chic. Don’t forget to order their signature cocktail, the Peche Mignon. Waiters add champagne to a frozen ball of fruit that dissolves into a delicious mixture that rivals a mimosa. Yes, please!
My other favorites for Dallas Brunch are Le Bilboquet on Knox and Hattie’s in the Bishop Arts District. If you choose Hattie’s, make sure to walk around the neighborhood after and stop for a piece of pie at Emporium Pies.
If you are here during the holiday season, brunch at the iconic Zodiac Room is in order at the original Neiman Marcus downtown where you are sure to do some fabulous shopping as well!
That’s it! I hope this helped you plan your Dallas girls’ weekend! This itinerary hits some of my favorite spots in Dallas, but there are so many more that I could have included. This post has a lot more.
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