Preston Center has been missing a rooftop bar for about twenty years. CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market showed up on April 1 and fixed that, along with a few other things the neighborhood did not know it needed.
The concept started in Calgary in 2011, built by PJ L’Heureux into nine Canadian locations before he decided Dallas was where to make the American move. His partner here is Tom Gaglardi — owner of the Dallas Stars, the man who brought Moxie’s to Dallas years ago and knows how to read this market. The two of them landed at 5974 W. Northwest Highway in the old medical office space across from the Starbucks on Kate Street, gutted it, and built a 10,500-square-foot room with a 360-degree bar at the center and 5,250 square feet of rooftop patio on top. The rooftop is one of the first of that size in Preston Center. On a clear May evening it is the best outdoor seat in this part of Dallas.
Before you get to the beer and the food, here is the thing worth knowing first. Every beer sold at CRAFT Dallas sends $1 to the Heaven’s 27 Foundation, established to honor the 27 girls lost in the Kerr County floods. The money goes toward scholarships and community programs. That is not a footnote. It is the reason the place opened the way it did.
The bar runs 100-plus taps with real attention to what is happening locally. Peticolas Brewing Company and Celestial Beerworks both have dedicated lines. The wall rotates with the seasons and what the Texas brewery scene is producing. Cocktails get equal footing — the Strawberry Mezcalrita is the most ordered drink since opening, a mezcal margarita with fresh strawberry that earns the attention. The Frozen Sangarita is the rooftop drink. The Strawberry Yuzu Pisco Sour is the one that surprises people — bright and tart, the yuzu making it lighter than the name suggests. Happy hour runs weekdays 3 to 6 p.m. with the Spicy Ahi Tacos, Queen Bee Pizza, and CRAFT Smash Burger all discounted alongside a rotating drink list.
The food goes further than a beer hall needs to. The menu covers Miso Salmon, Sushi, Steak Bites, pastas, bowls, and burgers — globally minded, made from scratch, the kind of menu that gives you a reason to come back on a Tuesday night and order something different than you had on Saturday. Weekend brunch runs until 2 p.m. The rooftop has bocce and cornhole in the games area. The room holds 500-plus guests and does not feel like it does.
CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market is at 5974 W. Northwest Highway in Preston Center. Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight. More at craftbeermarket.com.
This was a really enjoyable read! Craft looks like the kind of place that combines a relaxed atmosphere with genuinely creative food and drinks. The way you described the experience made it feel welcoming and worth checking out for anyone visiting the area. run 3