Dallas offers many unique neighbors I never knew existed. My view of Dallas before I visited was simple - boring and flat. I pictured pretentious people, barbecue and a lot of cowboy hats. To my surprise, this was very inaccurate. Dallas offers a wide variety of eclectic neighborhoods with thriving artistic scenes. Urban art is huge in Dallas. Murals are displayed along the side of buildings and rustic statues frequent the streets.

If you are looking for a cool place to escape and experience some friendly, artistic culture, then I definitely recommend exploring the “Big D”. Dallas has something to offer everyone and in it, you will find that people are genuinely happy. I explored the area for one day, and found myself meeting a variety of friendly people who were all willing to help me out.

If you are interested in exploring the surprising neighborhoods of Dallas, check out a few of these neighborhoods, you will be surprised by what you find.

Deep Ellum

Urban murals, barbecue, recording studios, soda shops, eclectic breweries, large sculptures, and second hand shops- if any of these things sounds interesting to you, Deep Ellum is a scene that you will definitely want to check out. Around every corner of the heart of Deep Ellum, you will find something interesting.

It is home to one of the best barbecue places in Dallas - The Pecan Lodge. This is a place that you will need to get to early. Hours of operation are 11a.m.-3p.m. on weekdays, and you have to get there early because the line will be out the door for lunch before 11.

After you grab some good food at Pecan Lodge, be sure to walk over to Rockett Fizz and check out the assortment of candies and sodas that they have to offer. Along the same street are second hand stores and a recording studio that you will hear and see a band recording live right through the studio’s front window. The combination of music and murals along the street are enough to feed your culture craving in this unique part of Dallas.

Bishop Arts District

If cute houses turned into coffee shop-libraries, modern art stores, and a store that is dedicated to baking pies interests you, then Bishop Arts District deserves your attention. As you drive into this neighborhood, you immediately notice a change of pace while pulling onto Main Street. The neighborhood is set up to be extremely pedestrian friendly. Take your time strolling the streets of this unique district.

Along with the fun shops to see, there are also unique artistic finds along the streets. Similar to Deep Ellum, you will find murals. These murals are a bit more conservative in nature. They all have a message that flows with the neighborhood. If you are exploring Dallas in the Summer, walking the streets will get hot after a while.

Make sure you pop into Old Fellows and The Wild Detectives to grab a refreshing ice coffee. Almost every store is decorated with a modern western theme. You will find deep wood and string light fixtures in just about every Cafe in the area, and in Dallas.

Knox / Greenville

The restaurants in this cute little neighborhood speak for itself- this is the place to eat. Similar to Bishop Arts District, this is a pedestrian friendly area. The restaurants to see here offer roof top views of Dallas and a Western Food Truck Yard decorated with knick knacks and random scraps from bikes, cars, and road signs. Exploring these unique shops and restaurants are just as important as exploring the housing areas that surround it. Houses are cute and vary from size and style. There is a section of this neighborhood that just about everyone will love and enjoy.

Along with these neighborhoods, also be sure to check out downtown Dallas and the JFK Assassination Location while you are there. It is a piece of history that is well worth seeing.