The Texan Edit: Postcards from Fort Worth

Fort Worth: Where the West Begins 🤠

In the 1800s, Fort Worth began as a small military outpost at the western edge of the lonely frontier. Fort Worth later became the central hub where cowboys drove their herd of cattle to the Fort Worth Stockyards, the largest stockshow market at the time. Today, Fort Worth celebrates Western heritage, combining cowboy culture with a vibrant arts scene. 

🍔Food 🍔:

• Joe T Garcia’s - a Fort Worth icon with the most beautiful patio. Cash only! Only locals know to order a pitcher of margaritas while waiting in line. Their sister restaurant, Esperanza’s, is on Park Place Avenue and is owned by the same family, normally has a shorter wait, and has the same killer margaritas.

• The Woodshed - owned by Fort Worth icon, Tim Love, this smokehouse has one of the most creative menus I’ve ever tasted. Their rotating specials will wow your palette with authentic Western cuisine - think rattlesnake sausage!

• The Original - Fort Worth’s oldest restaurant, here you can find the classic family-style Mexican restaurant. The Original has been celebrated for generations, and there’s a reason this restaurant has become a Fort Worth staple - the food is just damn good.  

• Rodeo Goat - your favorite foodie would call this restaurant their new home. This isn’t a normal burger joint; they have creative burger combos - think candied bacon, jalapeno jam and grilled peaches on a mouthwatering burger - and a long list of craft beers and fun cocktails. Plus all burgers can be made vegan!

• Angelo’s - a hole-in-the-wall meets Texas barbecue. This is the place you’d take your dad, and he’d be so proud of you for finding this dive with incredible food. 

• Kincaid’s - Want to turn back time? Head over to Kincaid’s on Camp Bowie to relive the 1950’s in all its glory. Here you’ll enjoy the award-winning classic burger and milkshake. Best combo around!

🍸Drinks 🍸:

• The Usual - craft cocktails with unique spirits and fresh ingredients and a cool off-the-beaten-path atmosphere, this bar is a mecca for mixologists and foodies alike. I’d recommend sitting at the bar to watch the mixologists perform their magic!

• TX Whiskey Ranch - tour the distillery, where each detail is curated to be a nod to Fort Worth’s Western roots from the leather bottlecaps to the architecture of their distillery. It’s well worth a visit!

• Second Rodeo - ladies, please go to the restroom here. Trust me on this one. You’ll about pee your pants because you’re laughing so hard. 

📍Can’t Miss 📍:

• Stockyards: Here you can see real cowboys in action with the daily cattle drive at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM. Get there at least 15 minutes early to hear the story behind Fort Worth’s nickname, Cowtown. Walk along Mule Alley for prime Western shopping! 

• Billy Bob’s Texas - the world largest honkytonk aka Western dancehall! With tables and chairs for those that want to watch the show and a large dancefloor for those that’d rather twirl to the music, Billy Bob’s is a quintessential experience for country music aficionados. 

• Cowgirl Hall of Fame - Cowboys weren’t the only ones tackling the Wild West and tending cattle. The Cowgirl Hall of Fame celebrates female trailblazers from Sacagawea and Annie Oakley to Georgia O’Keeffe and U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Bonus: make sure to check out the gift shop for the cutest western finds!

• Historic Downtown: take a walk around Sundance Square (markets on the first Saturday of the month), see a show at the legendary Bass Hall, where the acoustics are unmatched and the architecture itself is a masterpiece, and enjoy the Water Gardens, an unexpected and calming water park. 

• Take a bike ride along the Trinity River to explore waterfront shops and restaurants and see how the Trinity River connects the city’s major destinations.

• Museum District: filled with world-class museums and different styles of art for everyone, this is sure to be a crowd favorite. Choose the Amon Carter for Western Americana scenes, the Modern for international modern and contemporary art from the 1950s onward, and the Kimbell for international art created before the 1950s. In the Kimbell, you’ll find work from Picasso, Monet, Michelangelo, Rembrandt - just to name a few. The Modern is home to work from Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon - again just to name a few. The Amon Carter includes work from Georgia O’Keefe, Frederic Remington, George Bellows, and many more. 

💎Hidden Gems 💎:

• Want to take a trail ride? Check out Benbrook stables for a scenic lakeside trail ride. Their horses are sweet and patient - ideal for beginners. 

• Want to learn to two-step? Here’s your weekly lineup for dance lessons: Billy Bob’s on Sunday evenings, Rodeo Exchange on Tuesday nights and at Pearl’s Saloon on Thursday and Sunday evenings. You’ll be a pro in a flash!

• While Central Market is a well-known high-end grocery store, few people know that there’s an upstairs with tables and chairs in their Fort Worth location. Here you can enjoy a lovely lunch, build your grocery list in peace, and people watch. I like to play ‘What’s in their basket?’. 

• White Elephant Saloon - a hole-in-the-wall honkytonk - with walls covered in cowboy hats from famous trailblazers, this saloon feels like you’re taking a walk back in time. Come for the live music, stay for the true Western vibes.