Most people who want easy access to nightclubs expect that they’ll need to live in busy urban  neighborhoods around other party-goers. In North Texas, the biggest concentrations of nightlife are in the expected neighborhoods: Uptown Dallas, Lower Greenville, Deep Ellum, Downtown Fort Worth, and in the near Southside area of Fort Worth. But millions of people in North Texas live in one of the many suburbs outside Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton. And let’s face it: sometimes you just want to enjoy a night out closer to home instead of traveling into the city. Lucky for you, there are plenty of nightlife spots in the suburbs. 

Blue Martini Lounge – Plano

Photo courtesy of Blue Martini Lounge

Plano is one of the most booming places to be, especially if you’re an executive at one of the many new businesses in the Legacy West area. There’s no question that Plano is an upscale kind of suburb, so you’ll be surrounded by professional types at the bars here. The Blue Martini Lounge is located in The Shops at Legacy and it’s open until 2 a.m., which isn’t always common in the suburbs. Cover bands play favorite pop tunes while bartenders pour tasty drinks. Tip: there’s a dress code here, so leave your hoodies at home and dress to impress. 

City Night KTV & Cafe – Carrollton

Photo courtesy of City Night KTV & Cafe

When you like your nightlife a little rowdier and more casual, it doesn’t get much more fun than City Night KTV in Carrollton. You can dance the night away to the sounds of the DJ in the main room, or rent a private room to get your karaoke on. There’s a cafe serving up tasty Asian fusion dishes as well as a full bar to give you some liquid courage to sing karaoke. Rumor has it that on some nights, the DJ exclusively plays Korean pop tunes.

The Londoner Pub – Addison

Photo courtesy of The Londoner Pub

If you’ve ever been to London, this Addison spot is about as close to the experience as you can get in DFW. Like a true British pub, The Londoner Pub serves as a neighborhood hangout where you can find a variety of beers and British food like fish and chips. There’s even a dog-friendly patio. Be warned that smoking is allowed in here, though the pub keeps a lot of fans running to circulate the air. Sometimes you’ll even find some of the same popular local bands playing here as you’d normally hear in Dallas clubs like Trees and the Granada, only without the usual cover charge. Save some money on live music and enjoy the vibe of a neighborhood pub with a great beer selection.

Caves Lounge – Arlington

Photo courtesy of Caves Lounge

Who would have guessed that there was a hipster scene in Arlington? Located on Division Street near UTA, Caves Lounge is a laid-back dive with a fun and funky crowd. Some nights will seem like college night when big crowds of students come here to hang out, but people of all ages are welcome. The drinks here are cheap but strong and the music is provided by both local bands and an eclectic jukebox. There’s a definite grungy vibe here, so don’t feel like you need to dress up. The patio is always hopping, since it’s triple the size of the actual inside of the bar.

The Glass Cactus – Grapevine

Photo courtesy of The Glass Cactus

In the suburbs, you wouldn’t expect to find a bar where famous musicians drop in for surprise sets, but it’s happened at this Grapevine spot. Located inside the massive Gaylord Texan Resort along the lake, The Glass Cactus is the kind of place where anything can happen. Most nights have either a DJ or a live cover band playing anything from pop tunes to Latin and merengue—but they’ve also had surprise shows by the rapper Big Boi and guest celebrity DJs. 

Hat Tricks Sports Bar & Grill – Lewisville

Photo courtesy of Hat Tricks Sports Bar & Grill

Hat Tricks Sports Bar & Grill is the kind of place that’s hard to categorize. The Lewisville restaurant’s signage pays tribute to former Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Joe Avezzano. There’s a selection of better-than-average bar food and great drinks. But it’s also a music venue where you never know who will be playing: sometimes it’s 90s artists like Filter or Aaron Carter, other times it’s a local country band. This divey venue is eclectic enough to warrant more than one visit.