Arriving in Dallas on layover? Work conference? Or maybe you want to look around before you head to Fort Worth. Did you have a cereal bar on your menu? Well, keep reading… this guide covers the essentials you’ll want to check out.

Getting Started (Hour 0–1)

Touch Down & Refresh

You’ve just landed on your Delta flight, which puts you in Terminal E. Grab your luggage and arrange your rideshare to start exploring.

Morning Fuel (Hour 1–3)

Coffee First

Start with a fresh cup of coffee at Full City Rooster to get your day going.

Featured Gear

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Lunch Time (Hour 3–6)

El Rey Del Sabor

Craving Dominican and Honduran food? This spot makes everything fresh. Ask for Pollo con Tajadas. While there is a buffet-style bar for Dominican dishes, your plate will be cooked to order.

Quick Art Stop: Tureen Art Gallery

If you have time for local art, this gallery features up-and-coming local Dallas artists. Check their website for current showings. When I visited, up-and-coming artist Aliyah Cydonia. Perfect if you want to take home a piece of local art.

Sweet Indulgence

The Spelled Milk (Cereal Bar & Ice Cream Lounge)

Imagine a place where you can get all the cereal in the world in one place—a spot your dentist would hate to see you visiting. This lounge is the brainchild of the wonder Michael, who dreamed of opening it for years. The last cereal bar I visited was London’s now-closed Cereal Killer Café in Camden Market when I was a student at Imperial College London, so finding this in Dallas was a surprise.

Shout-out to Kiana, who stayed patient while I sampled a ridiculous number of flavors. I went overboard with two scoops. One with salted caramel and Honey Smacks The second scoop had Lucky Charms mixed with cookie dough. Growing up, I was the kid who added extra sugar to already-sweetened cereal milk—total overkill, but that’s exactly what I did here.

Essential Taco Stop

Taqueria El Si Hay (Cash Only)

You can’t visit Texas without getting tacos. A local recommended this spot and let’s just say I wish I visited this joint sooner. On arrival, I saw a paleta cart rolling by—this gave me instant flashbacks to Chicago’s 26th Street in Pilsen.

Evening Breweries

If you’re staying near the Renaissance Hotel (Old Design District): Peticolas Brewery – One of Dallas’s oldest breweries. Try the Great Scott or Thrilla in Brazilla.

For the best overall experience: Manhattan Project Beer Co.:The beer and food here were some of the best I had in Dallas. It’s easy to strike up conversations— I met some fascinating people here including those with archaeological backgrounds who recommended the Red Gate Beer. 

You can’t go wrong with a beer here or their chicken. I mean I could eat their chicken everyday. Make sure to look out for the Thai fried chicken with nam jim sauce (thai dipping sauce)—get it served traditional style.

If you’re staying downtown: Westlake Brewing Company: Great service and excellent beer. Say hi to John—he might convince you to try an improv class like he did with me (he’s also a Crunchyroll actor).

My recommendation: If you only have time for one brewery, choose Manhattan Project if you’re near the airport, or Westlake if you’re downtown. But if possible, hit both.

Additional Recommendations

These spots also came highly recommended (some you’ll find some of these in Austin, too):

BBQ:

• Terry Black’s Barbecue
• Pecan Lodge

Other Cuisines:

• Vidorra (Mexican)
• Kitchen + Kocktails (Soul Food & Southern)

Tips, Tricks, and Logistics

• General Layover Planning:
  • Plan for extra time during peak travel hours: Getting from DFW to downtown Dallas typically takes 45-60 minutes, but can extend significantly during rush hour (generally 7-9am and 4-7pm). I experienced major delays returning from Westlake Brewery during evening rush hour.
  • Check the Tureen Art Gallery website before your DFW layover to see current exhibitions and plan your Dallas airport stopover accordingly.
  • Delta Terminal E pickup for DFW layovers: Delta flights arrive at Terminal E, so schedule your Uber or Lyft pickup there when leaving Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
  • Choose breweries based on your Dallas layover time: Manhattan Project Beer Co. is closest to DFW Airport (ideal for short layovers), Westlake Brewing is downtown Dallas (perfect for longer airport stopovers), and Peticolas Brewing is in the Design District (best for extended Dallas layovers).
• Layover Duration Planning:
  • 2-4 hours: Stay near the airport – visit Manhattan Project Beer Co. for their Thai fried chicken and Red Gate beer, plus a quick coffee stop at Full City Rooster
  • 4-8 hours: Add downtown exploration – hit Westlake Brewing Company, grab tacos at Taqueria El Si Hay (cash only), and visit The Spelled Milk cereal bar for a unique Dallas experience
  • 8+ hours: Full city tour – include all breweries, check Tureen Art Gallery’s website for current shows, try El Rey Del Sabor for fresh Dominican/Honduran food, and explore the Design District with Peticolas Brewing

Trip Soundtrack

Because every adventure needs a soundtrack, each of my trips comes with a theme song. And for this trip's anthem? Well, it's...

Joey Fatts feat. Playboi Carti - "Dallas"

Departure (Hour 10–24)

Head Back to DFW

Return to the airport to continue your journey. If you’re lucky, Delta might upgrade you and provide even more food for the road.