West Dallas doesn’t have the attraction of Downtown Dallas, Deep Ellum, Uptown, or even the East Side—yet. Things have been changing for West Dallas in the past 10 years, like the development of the Trinity River Corridor and the opening of Trinity Groves. Apartments and condos are rising left and right almost as quickly as restaurants and bars. Here are the surprising things you’ll find there.

The Coolest Vintage Motel Around

The Belmont Hotel photo courtesy of Nan Palmero

Most boutique hotels in Dallas are luxurious and concentrated around downtown—but not The Belmont Hotel. Built in 1946, The Belmont is a vintage motel-style property with a chic design and a creative atmosphere. They’re best known for their pool which has splendid views of downtown Dallas and their many on-site events that include everything from art shows to live music and pool parties. A lobby bar and barbecue restaurant, SMOKE, add to the appeal.

A Free Graffiti Wall for Artists and Taggers

Deep Ellum mural wall photo courtesy of Shiva Shenoy

Despite the growing trend of street art and murals in different neighborhoods like Deep Ellum and Oak Cliff, graffiti is still technically illegal—which makes the Fabrication Yard so appealing. The Fabrication Yard is Dallas’ only free and legal public tagging site in West Dallas. Located at 621 Fabrication St., the Fabrication Yard is a selection of old warehouse buildings with graffiti that changes almost daily. Artists and taggers—whether new or old—can visit and create designs on a large space without the fear of being arrested.

A 15-Acre Entertainment Area with Great Dallas Views

Resto Gastro Bistro at Trinity Groves photo courtesy of David Hale Smith

While Trinity Groves has been around for the last few years, you’d be surprised by how many people still don’t know about it. This 15-acre entertainment area in West Dallas is right next to the Trinity River, and it’s home to a number of restaurants redefining West Dallas. The cuisine varies from Asian fusion and seafood to gourmet American food and Italian delicacies. It’s best characterized by their indoor and outdoor seating complex, live entertainment on offer, and splendid views of Downtown Dallas.

Amazing Selection of Outdoor Patios

Photo courtesy of The Foundry

Trinity Groves has a dynamic patio scene with two distinct levels—the lower patio that runs along the length of one side of Trinity Groves and the rooftop patio at Saint Rocco’s New York Italian Restaurant which has uninterrupted views of the Dallas skyline. The Belmont Hotel lobby bar has a covered patio that hosts many events. The Chicken Scratch, known for their fried chicken biscuits, has an expansive patio with communal tables. It shares a backyard with The Foundry, a laid-back bar that sometimes offers live music on the weekends. Cibo Divino, an Italian grocery and cafe, has a lovely covered patio—the perfect spot to enjoy a scoop of gelato. For a cold margarita and Tex-Mex eats, head to Herrera’s Cafe’s patio which has been serving the West Dallas community since 1971.

A Fantastic Outdoor Fitness and Adventure Scene

On the Trinity Skyline Trail photo courtesy of Luis Tamayo

White Rock Lake may attract the Eastsiders but West Dallas is home to a great outdoor fitness scene thanks to the Trinity River Corridor. The Trinity Skyline Trail consists of 4.6 miles of paved trails for biking or walking within the Dallas Floodway. There are also free fitness classes like yoga and Zumba on the Ronald Kirk Bridge. Trammell Crow Park lies within the Floodway and has a small lake for kayaking and 6.2 miles of trails that are part of the Trinity Levee Top Loop Trail. If all that wasn’t enough, there are multiple gyms and crossfit studios in the area like OAKFIT, CrossFit Aesthetics, and Clairevista Vitality Club.

An Experimental Theater

Photo courtesy of Dead White Zombies

Dead White Zombies labels itself as an “experimental site-specific meta theater performance installation media.” In other words, they put on experimental performances that push the envelope of what we think of as “theater.” They’ve been around since 2011 and often provide an immersive experience with sounds, videos, dark comedy, music, and even horror. It’s hard to describe their theater performances as all are quite unique and sure to be one of the most memorable theater performances you’ll ever attend. 

Dallas’ Newest Brewery

Photo courtesy of Steam Theory Brewing Company

Steam Theory Brewing Company just opened in June 2018 in the Trinity Groves area of West Dallas. They have as many as 24 of their own beers available at one time, and a full dinner menu including everything from charcuterie boards to cheeseburgers.