Best Historically Significant Bars In DFW

Lee Harvey's probably has no connection to the infamous man who shot president Kennedy, but this bar is still historic because of its location and its age. The bar is downtown, in the general vicinity of where Kennedy was shot, but other that that, it is a 50-year-old dive that retains charm no matter the season. There are faced beer signs on the walls that date back 50 years, and the inside has picnic tables near fireplaces, as well as couches for relaxing and visiting with friends. There is a full kitchen open seven days a week. The rustic atmosphere is great, the beer is relatively cheap and the bar serves up some of the best burgers and onion rings anywhere.

Fort Worth was built on cowboys, and cowboys and bars have always gone together.  This bar is said to be the sight of a famous shootout during the Old West days. The bar was located in the "Hells Half Acre" area of Forth Worth, which was the red light district and where cowboys did their carousing.  The bar was moved to the historic stockyards around 1970 and retains that Old West flavor. There is live music every night, and a real wood dance floor along with pool tables, shuffleboard, plenty of beer and food service from a nearby restaurant.

This bar has been in operation since 1971 and is where the frozen margarita was invented. Mariano Martinez used a modified Slurpee machine to create deliciously frozen margs for his customers, and the all-important creation now resides in the Smithsonian. The bar was originally a Tex-Mex restaurant, and still makes some great food. They were the first to make the frozen margarita, and they believe they still make the best one, with several variations to choose from. The bar also has a couple of rooms for private parties of up to 60 people.

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This place dates back to the early 1930s when it opened as a restaurant and newsstand. It was part of the T&P Railway Station and maintains the charm an atmosphere of a railroad station of that era.  Entertainers and presidents have passed through here, adding to its historic charm. They take their wide variety of beer seriously and have a rotating tap wall—there are literally hundreds of beers to choose from. The bar is on the ground floor of the railway station, and has a large covered outdoor patio. There is also a full kitchen that stays open until 10 p.m.

Ships Lounge is one of the oldest "dive" bars in Dallas. It is a no-frills place, with a nice juke box, and lots of relatively inexpensive beer and other drinks. Its one quirk is that it accepts cash only as payment. There are people who have been frequenting the bar for 50 years or so since it opened, and on the other end are the hipsters who are newbies enjoying the rustic atmosphere.

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