1. C
urrently one of the fastest
growing cities in the US,
Dallas’recent development
boom has injected a healthy dose of
art, culture and modern design into
its once sleepy streets, transforming
it into a collection of vibrant and
pedestrian-friendly districts.
1
KATY TRAIL
Built along the old Missouri-
Kansas-Texas train line,
known as the MKT or ‘Katy’Line,
the 5km tree-lined Katy Trail
(katytraildallas.org) is a pleasant
and convenient way to wander
through the heart of Dallas.
Teeming with health-conscious
joggers from sunrise to sunset, the
trail cuts through the ritzy urban
districts of Uptown Dallas and
Knox-Henderson, connecting the
SMU campus to the American
Airlines Stadium, home of the
Dallas Cowboys, Mavericks, and
Stars.The trail will take you roughly
an hour to walk from one end to
the other – stop along the way for a
cold one at the Katy Trail Ice House,
a low-key outdoor bar tucked under
a canopy of tree branches adorned
with fairy lights.
2
HIGHLAND PARK
VILLAGE
Dallas’answer to Beverly
Hills (and the setting for 80s
primetime soap Dallas), the affluent
county of Highland Park is an
idyllic suburb of neatly manicured
gardens and sprawling mansions
that eventually leads to Highland
ParkVillage (http://hpvillage.com)
– to continue the analogy, the city’s
Rodeo Drive. Here you’ll find all the
couture boutiques, Chanel, Dior,
Louboutin, and bespoke men’s suit
maker Hadleigh’s. After browsing
the shops, rest those tired feet
above the crowds at the swanky
Lounge 31 (lounge31dallas.com)
Caitlin Cheadle explores the US city’s natural, retail and artistic attractions
Dallas
and feast on Japanese-American
small plates as you people watch.
3
DESIGN DISTRICT
Two decades ago, what
is now known as the
Dallas Design District (http://
dallasdesigndistrict.com) was
no more than a collection of
warehouses; today this chic urban
enclave is reminiscent of LA’s
Melrose Avenue. Similarly, you can
expect to valet at most of its interior
design shops, restaurants, and art
galleries. Some of Dallas’best coffee
is served here, at Australian coffee
house Ascension (ascensiondallas.
com), where a fledgling population
of hipsters stands out amongst the
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crowds of expensive suits.The Design District
is also home to a number of the city’s best
contemporary art galleries, including local
artist Carol Benson-Cobb’s (bensoncobb.com)
flagship store, as well as some of its hottest
new restaurants.Try Quill (quilldallas.com)
for craft cocktails and gourmet bar bites in an
elegant setting, or sample from a selection
of more than 140 beers at New American
gastropub Meddlesome Moth (mothinthe.net).
4
BISHOP ARTS DISTRICT
Once Dallas’busiest trolley stop, this
historic brick-walled marketplace fell
into disrepair after buses replaced trolleys in
the 1960s. In the late 90s, the original structure
was converted into a walkable shopping
complex known as the Bishop Arts District
(bishopartsdistrict.com), beloved by locals
and tourists alike for its eclectic blend of
independent shops, restaurants, cafes
and galleries.
5
UPTOWN DALLAS
This is where the city’s young
professionals live and hang out: think
modern mixed-use residential towers, organic
grocery stores, and al fresco shopping at the
WestVillage (westvillagedallas.com), an
assortment of independent boutiques and
mid-range labels such as Banana Republic and
Club Monaco. If you’re dining Uptown, reserve
at Uchi Dallas (uchirestaurants.com), the
newest outpost of chef Tyson Cole’s award-
winning upscale Japanese concept that could
give Zuma a run for its money. Be sure to
sample the Wagyu Nigiri and a few items from
the“Tsukiji”menu – featuring the freshest
sashimi, flown in daily from Japan’s Tsukiji
fish markets.
6
DEEP ELLUM
Considered the creative and cultural
hub of the city, Deep Ellum has gone
through many ups and downs during the
last century, but maintained its reputation as
the epicentre of live music in Dallas.Today
it’s home to a vibrant collection of street art,
artisan shops and the city’s most iconic live
music venues including Trees (treesdallas.
com), Dada Dallas (dadadallas.com), and The
Bomb Factory (thebombfactory.com). Be sure
to pop into one of Deep Ellum’s craft brew
pubs before queuing up for award-winning
BBQ at Pecan Lodge (pecanlodge.com),
famous for its mesquite slow roasted brisket
and house-made sausages. n