Adair's Saloon   

This legendary honky-tonk is one of the last remaining bars of its kind. With an ambience that directly recalls the well-worn, bittersweet existence found in a Larry McMurtry novel, Adair's is a refreshingly atypical Dallas destination. Graffiti-covered walls surround age-old barstools and tables, while a jukebox cranks out loud country music. The menu is strictly of the greasy-spoon variety with inexpensive burgers and fries, but nobody really comes here for the food. Every weekend an eclectic group of revelers gathers (including the country crowd, Deep Ellum hipsters and nostalgia buffs) for a little two-stepping, a lot of drinking and a raucous good time. This nearly 20-year-old establishment (not counting its pre-Deep Ellum location) also has a couple of pool tables in the back, an appropriate accent for that perfect 'Last Picture Show'-type evening. -- Bradley Harding