Kevin Gray

Dallas is big, diverse and ever-changing, and that dynamic character is reflected across all the fun attractions and activities available in the city. Yes, there’s some cowboy culture here, but the old tropes are outnumbered by world-class art, vibrant neighborhoods, a compelling culinary scene and a surprising amount of green space. Make the most of your summer and experience it all with this guide to the best things to do in Dallas right now. May 2025: This month, we’ve added a new pool bar and a tiki pop-up, plus some of our favorite summer concerts. RECOMMENDED: 🥩 The best restaurants in Dallas🍹 The best bars in Dallas🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Dallas🏨 The best hotels in Dallas This guide was updated by Dallas-based writers Alex Temblador and Kevin Gray. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Houston is a foodie city, something residents have known for years. But the arrival of the Michelin Guide in Texas last year—and the Michelin ceremony honoring the first recipients right here in Houston—has made it official. The prestigious guide recognizes chefs who elevate the dining experience, and with the ever-expanding and creative food scene in Space City, the possibilities are endless. Of course, you don’t need an international guide to tell you that Houston is a top-tier dining destination.  Houston’s diverse population is reflected in its cuisine—you’ll find everything here, from Viet-Cajun, Chinese and Indian to Japanese, Italian and Mexican, with offerings running the gamut from ultra casual to multi-course tasting menus served alongside fine wines and craft cocktails. Thankfully, you can judge the restaurant scene for yourself. Whether you’re searching for a steak so tender you can cut it with a butter knife, comforting pastas or perfect pastries, these are the 12 best restaurants in Houston right now.  April 2025: For this most recent update, we polished each entry to ensure everything is accurate and current, removed a few restaurants that don’t reflect the current dining scene, and added three restaurants to the list: Belly of the Beast, Ema and Milton’s. We’ll continue to update this list each month. For more on our process, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Houston🏘️ The best Houston Airbnbs🏛 The best

Dallas is rightfully famous for its steakhouses, barbecue and Tex-Mex, but there’s a lot more to eat across this big and diverse city. Some of its best restaurants are serving excellent Japanese, Italian, French and more world cuisines, with a mix of a la carte and tasting menus to keep things interesting. Many lauded staples still stand the test of time, but the dining scene is ever changing, as young chefs bring their own talent and perspectives to new kitchens and concepts.  And while the city is often recognized by national media for its fine-dining institutions, locals know that some of the most compelling cooking is happening in more casual kitchens, where chefs highlight seasonal ingredients and create produce-driven menus that don’t fit into tidy boxes. For some inspiration on where to enjoy your next meal, these are 17 of the best restaurants in Dallas right now. Collect them all. April 2025: In this most recent update, we ensured that entries are current and accurate. We added Sanjh, Purépecha and Quarter Acre to the list and removed Knife Italian. We’ll continue to update this guide each month. For more on our process, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Dallas🍹 The best bars in Dallas🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Dallas🏨 The best hotels in Dallas

They say everything’s bigger in Texas. This goes double for Houston, whose massive borders contain a little something for everyone. The city rightfully gets praise for its amazing restaurant scene, and that preternatural talent for hospitality extends to the bars, with compelling options peppered all across the city, from downtown, midtown and uptown to bar-heavy neighborhoods like Montrose and the Heights. With so many great bars to choose from, cold beers, craft cocktails and eclectic wines are never out of reach. Houstonians can just as easily camp out on a shady patio, as they can hole up in a beloved dive. Rooftop bars abound, and upscale cocktail lounges and hidden speakeasies are popping up seemingly every week. Keep your head on a swivel, because there’s always something new to try, but don’t miss the long-standing classics that give the city its trademark charm.  Houston’s best bars combine great drinks, warm service and killer ambiance, and they can deliver whatever experience you’re looking to have. These are 10 great places to drink right now. April 2025: We’re kicking off this guide with a 10-pack of great bars. Moving forward, we’ll update this list each month to best reflect the Houston bar scene. For more on our process, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out. 

In Dallas, ice-cold beers and Margaritas are mandatory staples in the nightlife scene, but the city has bars—and drinks—for every situation and every type of drinker. Looking for a casual spot to post up with colleagues during happy hour? That’s easy. How about a wine bar that goes beyond the usual-suspect labels and offers varietals you won’t find at every steakhouse in town? That can be arranged. The same goes for upscale cocktail lounges enlisting centrifuges and sous vide machines, and stuck-in-time dive bars where the beers are cheap and the furniture was presumably acquired secondhand in the 1960s. The point is: We’ve got a lot of good bars here. The best of the bunch nail the drinks and the ambiance, so you can be sure that your time and money are well-spent, no matter what kind of night you’re after. Now, go forth and start a tab at some of the best bars in Dallas. April 2025: In this most recent update, we've polished each entry to ensure they’re accurate and current, and we added two bars to the list: Bar Colette and Saint Valentine. We’ll continue to make updates each month to best reflect the Dallas bar scene. For more on our process, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out.  RECOMMENDED: 🪩 The best Dallas nightlife spots🥩 The best restaurants in Dallas📍 The best things to do in Dallas🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Dallas

Whether you’re looking for a rowdy dive, classic cocktails or DJ-fueled dancing, Dallas knows how to party. But when your plans call for a big night out, set your sights—and hard-earned dough—on the city’s club scene. There’s a little something for everyone, from bottle service and sparklers to cowboy culture, moody lounges and high-energy LGBTQ+ bars, so pick your favorite, then get ready to mix it up on the dance floor. These are the 11 best clubs in Dallas right now. RECOMMENDED:🥩 The best restaurants in Dallas🍹 The best bars in Dallas🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Dallas🏨 The best hotels in Dallas This guide was updated by our Texas-based freelance writers. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Whether it’s flights, hotels or on-the-ground activities, priorities vary among travelers. Some want to experience the best, most luxurious options across all categories, while others are happy cramming into middle seats and sleeping on a budget, caring more about the destination than the details. There’s no wrong answer. But when your trip demands a fine hotel, you can answer the call with these top-notch properties in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.  Each offers more than just a place to rest your head at night. With award-winning restaurants and bars, rooftop pools, luxe spas and other amenities to improve stays, these are 20 of the best hotels in Texas.

Whether your 2024 was a year to remember or one to forget, it’s quickly coming to an end. So either way you look at it, that’s cause for celebration. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of ways to ring in the new year because bars, restaurants and other venues across Texas are gearing up to host the season’s biggest parties. We’re talking champagne-fueled rooftop soirees with fancy finger foods and DJs spinning records. We’re talking sprawling bacchanals with live music and fireworks. And, yes, we’re also talking about seated, multi-course dinners—because you’ve got to eat. Revelers in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio have plenty to choose from, even getting a handful of fun themes to explore as the clock strikes midnight, from a New York-style disco to a party inspired by Spotify Wrapped. So there really is something for everyone. That means whether you're looking to dance the night away, enjoy an over-the-top meal or keep things a bit more low-key this year, Texas has a New Year’s Eve party to fit your vibe.  We’ve done the legwork to round up a dozen of the best New Year’s Eve party options across the state, so all you have to do is put on your best party attire, gather your favorite people and score tickets to one of these champagne-popping experiences. That last part is key, lest you’re forced to stay home and scroll through your social feeds as everyone else has fun without you. You can try that “quiet night at home” thing next year.

Texas knows how to celebrate, no matter the occasion. That’s evident more than ever when the holidays roll around, as each day presents a new opportunity to visit a festive bar pop-up, see a light show or join a Santa-themed costume party. It’s enough to overwhelm even the most yuletide-spirited among us. But in recent years, hotels have claimed the mantle as the ideal headquarters for enjoying the season, transforming their rooftops into snowy chalets, their grounds into winter wonderlands, and their lobbies into decorative scenes fit for the North Pole. These 10 Texas hotels are hosting holiday celebrations you don’t want to miss.

This trippy, immersive art installation hails from Sante Fe and debuted in DFW in 2023 as the brand’s fourth permanent exhibit. Dubbed “the Real Unreal,” it tells the story of a suburban family that went missing after unlocking portals to a different world. You can explore their home, where nothing is as it seems, to unravel a series of clues across more than 30 rooms. It’s weird, wild and worth a visit.

Fiji gets a lot of attention for its beaches, and rightfully so. The island nation was immortalized on screen 25 years ago by Tom Hanks and his trusty volleyball in “Cast Away,” and it’s been a popular destination among honeymooners and scuba divers for decades. American travelers have no shortage of beaches to choose from when planning a vacation, including lots that are closer to home, like Hawaii and Mexico. But it’s hard to beat Fiji’s adventurous spirit. The island is well suited for intrepid travelers who want to explore its many islands, dive or snorkel its gorgeous reefs, hike and bike through its verdant mountains, and chase its rushing waterfalls.  With a new flight providing direct access for Texans, and Fiji Airlines recently joining the AAdvantage program, it's now easier than ever to go. Here’s what to know before planning your trip.  How to get to Fiji Fiji Airways recently launched a direct flight from DFW to Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NAN), so that’s the best bet for Texas travelers. Non-stop service operates three times per week— Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It’s about 13 hours each way, so wear something comfortable, download the latest season of your favorite series and settle in. Travelers not departing from DFW can also fly direct from LAX, SFO and HNL in the U.S., or connect through one of these airports to reach the destination. Fiji Airways recently joined the AAdvantage program, so DFW-based travelers—or anyone who typically flies Ameri