Deep Ellum Dallas guide — live music venues, BBQ and late-night food, the Traveling Man and the murals, and how to park (or skip parking with DART), including the new meter hours starting October 15.
Deep Ellum Dallas — Quick Picks
Dallas’s live-music neighborhood, just east of downtown. Founded in 1873 and originally called “Deep Elm.”
Check Deep Ellum Parking →DART Green Line
Deep Ellum Station, 450 N. Good-Latimer Expwy. $6 day pass.
City Lots Under I-345
$2 weekday days, $5 evenings and weekends, along Good-Latimer.
Pecan Lodge or Terry Black’s
Two of Dallas’s best-known BBQ spots, a few blocks apart.
Meters Until Midnight
Deep Ellum meters go to $1.25/hour, 7 a.m.–midnight.
Day or Night?
Daytime is for murals, shops, galleries, BBQ, and coffee — it’s the easier visit with kids, and parking is simpler. After dark, especially Friday and Saturday, Deep Ellum turns into Dallas’s main live music and bar district, and the crowd skews adult.
The Traveling Man & the Murals
Start at The Traveling Man, three stainless steel robot sculptures by Brad Oldham and Brandon Oldenburg — the tallest stands 38 feet — a few steps from the DART station. From there, walk Elm, Main, and Commerce streets for the murals, including tributes to the neighborhood’s musicians such as Lead Belly and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Live Music Venues
| Venue | What It’s Like |
|---|---|
| Trees | Long-running club for touring acts; opened in 1990 |
| The Factory in Deep Ellum | The big room — the former Bomb Factory, a onetime Ford plant, reopened as a concert hall |
| Club Dada | Nightly shows and a big patio. Door tickets are cash only. |
| Three Links | Neighborhood bar and venue, indie to punk, plenty of craft beer |
| Adair’s Saloon | Graffiti-covered honky-tonk dive with live bands every day |
| Sons of Hermann Hall | Historic hall from 1910 with swing dance lessons and acoustic shows |
| Deep Ellum Art Co. | Gallery, music stage, bar, and outdoor art yard |
| Louie Louie’s Piano Bar | Dueling pianos that take requests |
Lineups change nightly, so check each venue’s calendar before you go.
Where to Eat & Drink
- Pecan Lodge — Dallas-famous barbecue. Expect a line, especially for brisket.
- Terry Black’s Barbecue — A big smokehouse with a beer garden; easier for groups.
- Serious Pizza — Big New York-style slices.
- Hawkers — Shared-plate Asian street food.
- Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken — Memphis-style fried chicken.
- Angry Dog — Burgers, dogs, and lots of draft beer since 1990.
- Pepe’s & Mito’s — Tex-Mex, as seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
- Vidorra — Rooftop Mexican with a retractable roof.
- Twilite Lounge — Laid-back cocktail bar with a courtyard.
Shops & Other Stops
- Warstic — Dallas maker of hand-crafted wooden baseball bats.
- Deep Vellum — Bookstore and nonprofit publisher of translated literature.
- Kettle Art Gallery — Work by North Texas artists.
- Dallas Comedy Club — Stand-up, improv, and sketch.
- Undermain Theatre — Small theater for original and world-premiere plays.
Deep Ellum Parking
| Option | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Street meters | Elm, Main, Commerce, Canton, Indiana, and cross streets | $1/hour, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. through Oct 14. Starting Oct 15, 2026: $1.25/hour, 7 a.m.–midnight. Pay with ParkMobile. |
| City lots | Three public lots under or near I-345 along Good-Latimer Expwy. | Weekdays 5 a.m.–5 p.m.: $2/day. Weekday evenings: $5. Weekends: $5/day. |
| The Stack garage | 2700 Commerce St. (enter on Henry St.) | Varies; higher on weekends and event nights |
| The Epic garage | 2550 Pacific Ave. | Varies; higher on weekends and event nights |
Read private lot signs carefully. Deep Ellum has many small private surface lots, each with its own rules and towing company. Pay exactly as posted, keep your receipt, and if you’re towed from a private lot, call the towing company listed on the sign. See our Dallas parking tickets & towing guide.
Getting Here Without a Car
The DART Green Line stops at Deep Ellum Station (450 N. Good-Latimer Expwy.), steps from the Traveling Man. Baylor University Medical Center Station, also on the Green Line, works for the east end. A $6 DART Local Day Pass covers the round trip. On busy nights, Uber and Lyft may direct you to a set pickup spot a short walk away — check the pin in your app.
Staying the Night?
Stay Close to Deep Ellum
A downtown hotel puts Deep Ellum a short ride away on the Green Line. See Dallas hotels by neighborhood.
Search Dallas Hotels → Check Parking →Deep Ellum Dallas — FAQ
Where should I park in Deep Ellum?
The cheapest option is the City of Dallas lots under I-345 along Good-Latimer Expressway — $2 a day on weekdays, $5 evenings and weekends. Garages include The Stack (2700 Commerce St.) and The Epic (2550 Pacific Ave.). Or take the DART Green Line to Deep Ellum Station.
How much are Deep Ellum parking meters?
$1 an hour, 7 a.m.–6 p.m., through Oct 14, 2026. Starting Oct 15, 2026, Deep Ellum meters are $1.25 an hour, 7 a.m. to midnight. Many meters take ParkMobile.
What DART station is in Deep Ellum?
Deep Ellum Station on the Green Line, at 450 N. Good-Latimer Expressway, a few steps from the Traveling Man sculptures.
Is Deep Ellum good for kids?
During the day, yes — murals, the Traveling Man, BBQ, and shops. At night it’s mainly bars and live music for adults.
More Dallas Neighborhood Guides
- → Downtown & West End
- → Bishop Arts District
- → Arts District & Uptown
- → Downtown Dallas Parking
- → Parking Tickets & Towing
Dallas Unscripted is an independent guide, not affiliated with any business listed. Venues, hours, parking rates, and rules change — follow posted signs and verify before you go. This post contains affiliate links; if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.