If you’ve lived in Dallas for longer then 10 years you might remember when Oak Cliff was not the place to take your family for a day of fun. But by now you’ve probably heard that this neighborhood in south Dallas has done a total 180 and is the new happening place to be.
From family friendly restaurants to awesome events, like Yoga on the Bridge (so cool!), – if you haven’t been to Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts/Trinity Grove yet – it’s time to check it out!
Living 10 minutes away and having several great friends who live there — we’ve had a chance to really get to know the neighborhood. And here are the reasons (both kid friendly and date night friendly) we have to visit again and again and again and again and again… well, you get the idea!
Walking Bishop Arts – Bishop Ave is the street that everyone talks about! Here you can spend all day walking from shop to shop, checking out the awesome local clothing and furniture stores. Then stop at Eno’s for pizza and awesome beers on tap. Hunkies is a favorite for the kids — with arguably the best burgers in Dallas! Emporium Pies is right across the street – I can’t even begin to explain how this place will change your life. Or there’s Dude, Sweet Chocolate around the corner, but only if you want gourmet chocolate that will blow your mind. Don’t forget to check out Lockharts for some good old fashion TX BBQ. And Cafe Brazil for brunch – you will not be disappointed!
Down the street on Davis you’ll find a plethora of restaurants you have to try. New ones and Oak Cliff favorites. If you haven’t been to Bolsa yet – it’s been a favorite of ours for at least 7 year now! And if you are looking for an awesome date night, please please please catch a show at The Kessler. There’s something amazing about those smaller venues that makes you feel like an artist is performing just for you!
Kidd Springs Park and Recreation Center – from fishing to dance classes to a fun area for kids to play, Kidd Springs Rec Center is a great place to take the kids before or after stopping to eat at Bishop Arts!
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge – Besides being a gorgeous addition to the Dallas skyline, this bridge has a cool walk-able area to take your kids, ride bikes and just have fun. Not to mention the events and cool things they host here. Last month I attended Yoga on the Bridge – they shut down the west bound lane and almost 1,000 people did yoga together where the cars normally drive. While I did yoga, my husband and kids played on the bridge playground. If you haven’t visited yet, make it a priority this summer!
Trinity Grove just west of the bridge holds a ton of amazing eating places! (Bethany’s post provides a great guide!) Two of our family favorite places to eat – Chicken Scratch and CiboDivino. Both with awesome patios, a place for the kids to run and play — it’s like they made these restaurants just for families, and you will not be disappointed with the food, drinks and atmosphere at either!
Those who live there will be quick to brag about their frequent wine walks around Bishop Arts, their awesome holiday parades (Mardi Gras, Halloween, Cinco de Mayo), great public schools, and amazing local shops. Not to mention how great it is to be 5 minutes from the Dallas Zoo, Klyde Warren Park, Perot Museum and all of Downtown Dallas.
Desiree told us 4 short years ago that Oak Cliff was the new cool place to live! Who knew it would just keep getting better and better!! Did you listen? How many Oak Cliff mommas are out there? What other places in the neighborhood should we check out?
Thank you for representing Oak Cliff! A few additional places are Davis Street Expresso (the kids can play in the vintage bus out back while you sip your local coffee), next door is Oil and Cotton that offers adult and kid art classes, skip across the street to bbbop for lunch and a game of bocce ball, and finish it off with a fresh, natural popsicle from Encanto Pops!
We just found bbbop and LOVE it! I’ll definite make note of Davis Street Espresso for our next trip there! Thanks! 🙂