Where to drink
Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 5 best new bars for February
Amid the hubbub of the holidays - which around here include Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Rodeo Season - a fresh batch of bars opened quietly in Fort Worth. The lineup ranges from a game-watching adults-only playground to a modern whiskey bar where guests can customize and infuse their own bottle to go. Here are five new and cool watering holes to hit this month.
Atlas
Take a trip around the world with a visit to this new South Main Village bar, which opened in January serving globally-inspired cocktails in a sophisticated setting. Atlas (located at 314 S. Main St.) originates from Dallas, where the first location opened in Oak Cliff in 2020. Both locations offer food and drink inspired by owner Dan Bui's worldly travels. Think: Singapore Sling, Pompeiian gin martini, traditional Cuban daiquiri, and Peruvian pisco sour, among several other custom concoctions on the drink menu. Beers come from Japan, Italy, Jamaica, and beyond, and wines are from as far as South Africa, Australia, and Argentina.
On the "Global Bites" menu, guests will find German brats, carnitas tacos, Greek gryo, Canadian poutine, and even Vietnamese pho. Even the interiors take guests on a voyage overseas with Persian rugs, plush seating, and decor acquired from Bui's travels. (Check out the "speakeasy" room when it's open.) Open 4 pm-2 pm Monday and Wednesday-Friday, and 12 pm-2 am Saturday-Sunday (closed Tuesday).
Little Woodrow's
With colorful indoor-outdoor seating, 36 TVs, yard games, and a 400-inch "Woodytron" for game-watching, this 21-and-up backyard-themed patio and bar opened in January in the former America Gardens corner spot (2833 Morton St). in the West 7th district. Little Woodrow's is based in Houston, but has 23 outlets in Texas spanning from Lubbock to Corpus Christi. The 5,799-square-foot Fort Worth location is the first for the brand in DFW.
Snag a hammock chair on the lawn and sip one of the bar's interesting cocktails, like the Southside of Heaven, featuring country singer and Yellowstone star Ryan Bingham's Bourbon shaken with bitters, grenadine, and lemonade. Or try the Iced Mangonada made with Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind Vodka, mango puree, freshly squeezed limes, Chamoy, and rimmed with Tajin. There are also 24 beers on tap, and Lone Star and Coors Banquet bottles are $3 every day. A small food menu offers pretzels, pizzas, and sandwiches. Little Woodrow's is also dog-friendly. Open 4 pm-2 am Monday-Friday and 12 pm-2 am Saturday-Sunday.
Low Doubt Bar
From the team behind Tulips comes Low Doubt Bar, a place where owner Jason Suder says folks can "drink cheap high-end cocktails" and gab with bartenders after work. Since opening last month, it's been just that. The menu offers $11 Sazeracs and $9 Palomas along with $4.20 Miller High Life and even $3 Chicken E sweet tea and $3 corn dogs.
The vibe is cozy, with space for about 40 amid busy patterns of gold and black, booth seating, a red felt top pool table, and local art (available for sale) adorning the walls. While Suder says he's going for "New York punk" regarding the aesthetic, don't miss Low Doubt on Wednesdays for "Country Gold" night. A DJ plays classic country tunes and customers are encouraged to don their Western best duds. Open 4:20 pm-2 am daily.
Oak & Eden
An innovative new whiskey bar that lets customers create their own bottle has debuted in The Shops at Clearfork. Part tasting room, part retail store, and part craft cocktail bar, Oak & Eden opened this month at 5289 Marathon Ave. next to Plank Seafood Provisions. With a flagship outpost and micro distillery in Bridgeport, Oak & Eden has a lineup of finished whiskeys, infused whiskeys, and collaborative whiskeys, the latter of which feature custom infusions from celebs like Yellowstone actor Forrie J. Smith and musicians like Jamestown Revival.
The hour-long customization experience ($120-$150) lets guests choose their base whiskey, wooden spiral infusion, proof, and custom label with their signature. Also included is a complimentary craft cocktail at the wraparound bar. Oak & Eden also offers 30-minute guided tasting journeys ($16-$18). Or choose from one of 16 whiskey cocktails, including classics like the Paper Plane, Old Fashioned, and Sazerac. Don't miss the tropical Good Neighbor, made with pineapple and lime juice, cold brew coffee, and coconut bitters. Open 11 am-10 pm Monday-Thursday and 11 am-11 pm Friday-Saturday.
Salute Wine Bar
The pour-your-own-wine bar concept is back in Fort Worth thanks to Salute Wine Bar, opened late last month at 212 Carroll St. in the Foundry District. The space formerly housed 38 & Vine, another self-pour wine bar that closed in April 2023. Salute comes from husband-and-wife duo and Aledo residents Jyl and John Lopez, who named the bar as a toast to good health but also in recognition of John's military service. The renovated space now features an L-shaped bar, high-back booth seating, and rapid-cook oven for flatbreads and meatballs.
As for the wine, the space still has the previous tenant's innovative dispenser system, which allows customers to pour a taste to a full glass. There are more than 40 options from around the world (including Texas) and pours range from $1.40 to $10. Customers can also order wines by the glass or the bottle. Open 1-9 pm Tuesday-Thursday, 12-10 pm Friday-Saturday, and 2-6 pm Sunday.