Survey: Deep Ellum in Dallas Texas among top U.S. nightlife spots

Texas had one other destination included in the top 150 areas in the U.S. for nightlife: the South Congress neighborhood in Austin.

dallas — Dallas’ historic Deep Ellum neighborhood, long known as the hub for the city’s music and arts scene and nightlife, can count itself a national destination, according to a new survey

Deep Ellum ranked in the top 10 nightlife destinations in the country in a survey of 3,000 travelers by the photobook company Mixbook, coming in ninth. Survey takers were asked to help determine the top 150 areas in the U.S. for nightlife.

“Deep Ellum comes alive at night with a wide array of live music venues, bars, and clubs. This neighborhood is a central point for nightlife, drawing enthusiastic crowds who come to enjoy its diverse musical offerings and vibrant street life. The district is a dynamic and energetic place, reflecting the spirited life of a bustling cultural hub,” Mixbook wrote.

Texas had one other destination included in the top 150 areas in the U.S. for nightlife: the South Congress neighborhood in Austin, known for its coffee shops, music venues, and boutiques, which ranked 58.

Here are the top 10 U.S. destinations for nightlife, according to the survey:

Downtown Las Vegas, NevadaThe French Quarter in New Orleans, LouisianaKailua-Kona on the Big Island in HawaiiSoHo in Manhattan in New YorkDowntown Anchorage, AlaskaSavannah Historic District in GeorgiaOld Colorado City in Colorado SpringsDowntown Nashville in TennesseeDeep Ellum in DallasWaikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii

Deep Ellum’s music scene has a long history. It was a hotbed for early jazz and blues musicians in the 1920s, and hosted the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, Texas Bill Day, Blind Willie Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Alex Moore and Bessie Smith, among others, according to the Deep Ellum Texas website.

Many of its businesses closed after the proliferation of the automobile led to the removal of the Houston and Texas Central railroad tracks to make way for Central Expressway after World War II and during the '50s. By the 1970s, few original businesses remained.

The neighborhood experienced a resurgence in the ‘80s, when it served as a launching pad for local bands like Old 97s, Toadies, Tripping Daisy, the New Bohemians, and more. The ‘90s saw the opening of hotspots like the music venue Trees, Club Dada, Deep Ellum Live, and more. Other popular venues in the neighborhood include he nearly 100-year-old Sons of Hermann Hall, Adair’s Saloon, The Bomb Factory, Ruins, Three Links, Reno’s, the intimate AllGood Cafe, jazz and blues destination The Free Man, and more.

Deep Ellum was named a Cultural District by the State of Texas in 2020. The Deep Ellum Historic District encompasses the area bounded by the DART Green line to the north, South Hall Street to the south, I-345 to the west, and I-30 to the east.

The Deep Ellum Historic District joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2023 in celebration of Deep Ellum’s 150th anniversary.

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