Hot List: 10 North Texas Restaurants That Go Big on Holiday Decor

Head to Fort Worth to meet Cowboy Santa or to Frisco for winter-themed high tea.

If you’re all in on holiday decor, you’ve come to the right place. These 10 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants have fluffed their Christmas trees, hung their wreaths and decked their halls. Some even added special winter-themed cocktails.

Tell us: What’s your favorite restaurant in North Texas that’s decorated for Christmas?

The Adolphus hotel in downtown Dallas

Your first stop at the Adolphus should be the Christmas tree, a tall beauty that rises high into the atrium. Then it’s a matter of preference: Holiday tea in the French Room? Drinks in the Cocoa Lounge? A burger at Rodeo Bar? Dinner at City Hall Bistro? A coveted seat at Sushi by Scratch, the hidden restaurant on the eighth floor? Feel free to dress fancy; everything goes at this historic hotel.

The Adolphus is at 1321 Commerce St., Dallas.

Campo Verde in Arlington

Christmas decorations cover the inside of Campo Verde. A staffer said in 2021 that it takes... — Christmas decorations cover the inside of Campo Verde. A staffer said in 2021 that it takes six weeks to decorate the restaurant with over 500,000 lights. (Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer)

Perhaps the most over-the-top Christmas-decorated restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth is Campo Verde in Arlington. This Tex-Mex restaurant has decked its halls since the 1980s with dozens of Santas and hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. Customers stand in line outside on Saturdays and Sundays prior to its opening at 11 a.m., waiting to get a seat during the holidays. When you do, you’d better get pictures.

Campo Verde is at 2918 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Closed Mondays.

CGB Coffee (formerly Fiction Coffee) in Deep Ellum

For a coffee shop that’s seriously in the spirit, pop into the Continental Gin building in Deep Ellum. About a dozen trees, many full sized, are situated stylishly around the room. You probably remember this room as Fiction Coffee; it’s since been bought by HG Sply parent company UNCO and is now called CGB Coffee.

CGB Coffee is at 3309 Elm St. (inside the Continental Gin building), Dallas.

Chelsea Corner in Dallas

We love the holiday cheer at Chelsea Corner, a bar on the north end of Dallas’ McKinney Avenue. Ornaments are artfully strung along the ceiling and snow-covered trees are perched near the booths. A new seasonal menu includes holiday indulgences like a Christmas Cookie Martini, Winter White Margarita and Spiced Pear Mule. My kids adored the new Thin Mint cheesecake.

Chelsea Corner is at 4830 McKinney Ave., Dallas. Open seven days a week.

Double Wide in Deep Ellum

For a dressed-down night out on the town, hit up Double Wide in Deep Ellum. They’ve got the tackiest tinsel and cheapest plastic snowmen in town.

Double Wide is at 3510 Commerce St., Dallas. Closed Mondays.

Hotel Drover in Fort Worth Stockyards

From Dec. 13 to Dec. 24, 2023, guests of the Hotel Drover can pet live reindeer and take a pic with Cowboy Santa. While you’re over there in the Fort Worth Stockyards, take a slippery spin on the Rodeo Rink, a temporary ice-skating rink. It stays open until Jan. 7, 2024. Throughout the Stockyards, attendees will find lit-up Christmas trees and carriage rides.

Hotel Drover is at 200 Mule Alley, Fort Worth.

Hudson House in University Park

One of Dallas’ prettiest Christmas restaurants is Hudson House on Lovers Lane. The upscale American restaurant is absolutely brimming with greenery, garlands and ornaments hung up high. Hudson House has several other locations in North Texas, but it’s the original restaurant on Lovers Lane that goes all-out with the decor.

Hudson House is at 4448 Lovers Lane, Dallas. Open seven days a week.

La Parisienne in Frisco

If it’s a holiday tea you’re looking for, La Parisienne at The Star in Frisco is here to serve. The owner visited Paris two years ago in the wintertime and was inspired by the snow-covered streets. The Frisco shop has flocked trees and wreaths. It also has a fleet of seasonal cocktails like the Snowstorm Margarita and Peppermint Old Fashioned Eggnog.

La Parisienne is at 6740 Winning Drive, Frisco. Open seven days a week. Tea served daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations required.

Leela’s Wine Bar in East Dallas

Leela's Wine Bar on Dallas' Greenville Avenue is back open after a renovation. It's been... — Leela’s Wine Bar on Dallas’ Greenville Avenue is back open after a renovation. It’s been covered in Christmas. (Leela’s Wine Bar)

Now through Jan. 1, 2024, those inside Leela’s Wine Bar are dreaming of a white Christmas. Designer Karla Gallegos’ darling display includes a village of snow-covered trinkets and wreaths covered in white and silver ornaments. All are hung in the newly-redesigned bar, which opened just a few weeks ago. Cleverly-named cocktails include Sweater Weather (wine with mulling spices) and the Polar Expresso (an espresso martini).

Leela’s is at 1914 Greenville Ave., Dallas. Open seven days a week.

Suburban Yacht Club in Plano

Call it a Cali Christmas in Plano, where Suburban Yacht Club has added light-up trees, lanterns and fake snow around the restaurant.

Families are welcome here, and they’ve got plenty of bites for littles like sugar-and-spice churros and a cup of hot cocoa with a peppermint stick. Moms and Dads can opt for a mug of Jingle Juice or a Ho, Ho, Hot Toddy.

Suburban Yacht Club is at 5872 State Highway 121, Plano. Open seven days a week. Holiday specials continue until Jan. 7, 2024.