With just one small window in the entire bar (2 ft × 1 ft), the Loon, much like Vegas, allows no natural light to enter and somehow always has you leaving blacked-out, cashless, and promising you will never go back. With that said, I love this concrete hole in the wall!
This watering hole has turned trendy out of Uptown’s need for more dive bars (Yeah I talking to you AURA). They are located at the end of a somewhat urban (okay ghetto) strip center in the middle of perfect (okay pretentious) Uptown. If there is a homeless man singing on the curb past the subway on McKinney and Lemmon then you have arrived. The main bar is situated in the middle of the two rooms where a nice bartender is waiting to completely F*** you up (warning #1). This dive bar offers a vibrant feel as people (or local drunks) pack into the multiple leather booths and attempt to yell over the jukebox (Yeah, I played Prince on repeat - so what). They have lots of tables for seating but after 10pm you better be quick (CP3 quick) to even think about getting a booth!
Your alcoholism (thanks Dallas) has funded their new flat screens so this is a great sports bar on a rainy day. The food is actually (surprised?) very good bar food - I strongly recommend the cheeseburger now that there is no smoking in the Loon (before it was like eating in the middle of that fog thing from LOST).
The crowd is a good mixture of young professionals, older college kids, and Dallas locals that are all brought together by a common bond . . . they know they are about to get extremely intoxicated (warning #2).
The Loon is notorious for serving beer in cans and pouring the stiffest cocktails west of the Mississippi. Just be prepared to go to the Loon and then all the sudden wake up at a random Post Property where you are trying to find your boxers (the dog had them last) before you wake up a girl that kind of looks like Blossom (warning #3). Also, cops that are looking to make their DWI quota for the month will line up behind this place waiting for Loon rookies to jump in a car and turn the key. I recommend taking a cab home, specifically Karaoke Cab.
So if you just got laid off, want to turn that special someone from a 6 to a 10, or just need a stiff one then there is no better place than the Loon.
You have been warned.
The Loon
3531 Mckinney Ave
Dallas, TX 75204
