23 Best & Fun Things to Do in Deep Ellum (TX)

Deep Ellum is a district in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, United States. It has a population of 2,743. Some refer to Deep Ellum as Deep Elem and Deep Elm; this place is located east of the I-45 freeway and connected to Exposition Avenue.

This community is mainly made up of Americans and has many art and entertainment establishments and organizations. This neighborhood was popular for blues and jazz artists in the 1920s.

The neighborhood houses more than 30 live music venues in a small area, making it one of Texas’s biggest entertainment districts.

This neighborhood also features many eateries, art galleries, unique stores, and more. Deep Ellum is a magnet for people because of its fun activities and festivals.

Are you planning an exploration of Deep Ellum? Here are the best and fun things to do in Deep Ellum, TX.

Things to Do in Deep Ellum, TX

1. Dealey Plaza

Dealey Plaza
Credits: Brodie319 / Public Domain
Dealey Plaza

Dealey Plaza is a historical city park situated near Deep Ellum. This place is often called the birthplace of Dallas. It can be found around Pacific avenue and Jackson Street.

This park is historic because it was the site of the assassination of famous former President John F. Kennedy in 1963. After being shot, he was taken to Parkland memorial hospital, where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.

This district was listed on the list of National Historic Landmarks 30 years after the assassination.

Address: Dealy Plaza, Dealy Plaza Historic District, Dallas, TX 75202, United States.

2. Outdoor Arts and Murals

Outdoor Arts and Murals
Credits: Allen Sheffield/ Flickr
Outdoor Arts and Murals

Deep Ellum is filled with various art shops and galleries containing unique and beautifully created artworks. This community has an artsy vibe and can be seen on your tour around the neighborhood.

A stroll through Elm Street will expose visitors and tourists to various stunning art pieces; you can also find artworks on Good Latimer and Malcolm X’s side streets.

Street art is used to display and communicate the history of the area. The murals also depict musical artists, from the greats to the newer artists and famous local musicians. SteamPunk sculptures can also be seen on the sidewalks in this area.

An annual art festival is held at this place; this festival gathers famous artists from around the country to Deep Ellum; this fun festival is held in April every year.

Exploring Deep Ellum art scenery is a beautiful way to engage yourself in this area and, thus, one of the best things to do in Deep Ellum, TX.

Address: Deep Ellum, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

3. Artistic Encounter

Artistic Encounter
Credits: Artistic Encounter #6 Deep Ellum/ Facebook
Artistic Encounter

As written earlier, this community’s artistic vibes and experience are legendary. A visit to Artistic Encounter is a unique way to harness this art. This place is a custom tattoo shop situated on Main Street.

Artistic Encounter, founded by Billy Jack and Stephanie Gunter, is filled with talented individuals ready to bring your famous artworks alive on your body. They also offer body piercings.

The founders and current owners of this tattoo shop have won multiple awards at tattoo conventions in the country and have also been featured in various art-related magazines.

Most tattoo artists employed at this shop are artistic award winners; this shop also houses a gallery. Artistic Encounter offers visitors an excellent opportunity to take Deep Ellum’s unique art home.

Address: 3417 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

4. Deep Ellum Distillery

Deep Ellum Distillery
Credits: NewFabrika / Shutterstock

Deep Ellum Distillery, situated on Clover street, has been operational since 2017. This place is the perfect place for wine and spirit lovers.

Deep Ellum Distillery has been a significant spirits distributor since its opening in 2017. This place features a bar where you can relax and taste various flavors of lemon, grapefruit, and blueberry vodkas.

The Distillery also offers popular cocktail options like My Paloma and Love Potion. Another unique feature of this Distillery is its events centre, where parties and private events can be hosted.

Address: 2880 Clover St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

5. Latino Cultural Center

Latino Cultural Center
Credits: Steve Rainwater/ Flickr
Latino Cultural Center

Latino Cultural Center is an events centre that hosts some of the most remarkable events and festivals in the state.

Latino Cultural Center manages a theatre with a seating capacity of 300. It also runs a sculpture garden, event spaces, and an art gallery in Texas.

This establishment was founded in 2003 and is highly recognized in Latino Art and Culture in the state. Latino Cultural Centre (LCC) is a member of the Dallas Art Dealers Association and has popular corporate sponsors, including American Airlines.

Latino Cultural Center in Deep Ellum offers a tour of their palatially constructed building designed by renowned and award-winning architect Ricardo Legorreta.

On the tours of this place, visitors will see some gallery exhibits and Murals made by popular Latino artists. Latino Cultural Center is one of the best places to visit in Deep Ellum, TX.

Address: 2600 Live Oak St, Dallas, TX 75204, United States.

6. Lula B’s Antique Mall

Lula B's Antique Mall
Credits: Lula B’s Antique Mall / Facebook
Lula B’s Antique Mall

Deep Ellum houses many unique and exciting stores and Lula B’s Antique Mall is one of the best in the locality. Various gifts and unusual treasures can be found at this Mall.

Lula B’s Antique Mall features old collectibles, accessories, shiny items, home decoration materials, and antique pieces of furniture. The interior of this store immediately takes you back to your former years.

This Antique Mall is decorated with advertisements and road signs that were trending in the 1950s. Old furniture can also be found around this impressive store.

Lula B’s Antique Mall is a great place to shop for hours.

Address: 1010 N Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207, United States.

7. The Factory

The Factory
Credits: Sean Davis / Flickr
The Factory

The Factory is an entertaining concert and performing arts theatre in Deep Ellum. This place was formerly called The Bomb Factory, as it served as an ammunition and bomb factory and storage by the United States during World War 2.

It is the largest of all concert-holding venues in Deep Ellum, TX. This concert theatre, covering over 50,000 square feet of land, can house approximately 4,300 people. The event venue was built as a Ford Automobile plant in the 1900s.

This theatre came into the limelight in the 1990s, when it was a significant host of popular, incredible shows like Nine Inch Nails, Tool, The Ramones, Dave Matthews Band, The Vans Warped Tour, and more.

The Factory has currently begun to host major innovative and entertaining shows since the venue was taken over by AEG Presents in 2021.

AEG Presents is known to be one of the largest live performance companies; this company also books concerts in Grand Prairie, using the famous Texas Trust CU Theatre as their venue.

Enjoying a performance at The Factory is one of the fun things to do in Deep Ellum, TX. It is perfect for quality entertainment for the whole family.

Address: 2713 Canton St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

8. Will Call

Will Call
Credits: Marian Weyo / Shutterstock

Will Call is an exciting bar filled with your best drinks and delicacies. Will Call offers many tap beers and handmade cocktails; some tap beers featured at this place include Texas Lager and Mosaic IPA. It also serves delicious meals.

Some meal options available at Will Call are farm salads, coffee-candied bar nuts, and cheesesteaks. This bar hosts live performances by local bands, preserving the rock and roll spirit of the neighborhood in the process.

Many other fun performances are held at this bar, like Sports and Comedy. Will Call is one of the best places to visit in Deep Ellum, TX, for an exciting experience.

Address: 2712 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

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9. Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
Credits: Andreas Praefcke [CC BY-SA 3.0], Wikimedia Commons
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, a concert centre in Deep Ellum, is famously recognized as one of the greatest orchestra halls in the world.

This place attracts many tourists because of its magnificent building and beautiful construction. The architects that designed this concert hall are I.M. Pei and Russell Johnson’s Artec Consultants, Inc.

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center was established in 1989. This place has a seating capacity of over 2000. In 1986, this concert hall was named after the Former President of Electronic Data Systems, Morton Meyerson. He was also the former CEO of Perot systems.

The Center was named in his honor by H. Ross Perot, who had the naming rights due to his contributions to the building. Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Centre is home to many nationally recognized musical organizations.

This concert hall is owned by the city and managed by the City’s Symphony association. Attending a concert at this Center is one of the fun things to do in Deep Ellum, TX.

Address: 2301 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201, United States.

10. Crossroads Trading

Crossroads Trading
Credits: Creative Lab / Shutterstock

Crossroads Trading is another place to see in Deep Ellum. It is a shopping store on Main Street that offers enjoyable and favorable options to its various customers.

Crossroads Trading offers customers the ability to purchase items and sell used items as long as they are current and on-trend. Customers can sell accessories and clothing for either cash or store credits.

This store evaluates and negotiates item prices on the spot; you can also exchange items or collect the value of your items in cash.

Address: 2646 Main St #120, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

11. Kettle Art Gallery

Kettle Art Gallery
Credits: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A / Shutterstock

Kettle Art Gallery is known by most to be the cultural centre of Deep Ellum. Kettle Art Gallery was established in 2005.

This Gallery has moved to a larger venue on Main Street, and it’s one of the leaders in the preservation and education of Dallas Culture. Since the increased exhibition space, the Gallery has become the home of many aspiring and upcoming local artists.

Kettle Art Gallery features different sculptures, art pieces, contemporary paintings, and Installations.

This Gallery has been very successful in promoting local artists and their artwork.

It has received several awards and recognitions, including being featured in the USA Today list of Top 10 Best Dallas Galleries. Exploring this Gallery should be on your list of what to do in Deep Ellum, TX.

Address: 2650 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

12. Deep Ellum Art Co.

Deep Ellum Art Co.
Credits: Matthew Rutledge / Flickr
Deep Ellum Art Co.

Deep Ellum Art Co. is another art organization in Deep Ellum. This art gallery can be found on Commerce Street and is available every day.

Deep Ellum Art Co. features an ample interior space of over 5,000 square feet and also an outdoor area of about 15,000 square feet.

Apart from its usage as a visitor’s welcoming area, the outdoor yard also hosts various fun activities and amenities. John and Kari LaRue founded this innovative art industry.

Deep Ellum Art Co. was established to bring together creative individuals and use their creativity to preserve this neighborhood’s artistic history and culture.

Various stunning art pieces can be bought at this gallery; other fun activities to enjoy at this place are live music, art classes, a variety of wines and beers, and many dining trucks.

Your kids are not left out of the fun, as kids can participate in yard games and adventures in the sprawling outdoor area. A visit to this destination is one of the top things to do in Deep Ellum, TX.

Address: 3200 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

13. Deep Vellum

Deep Vellum
Credits: Jure Divich / Shutterstock

Deep Vellum is the perfect place for book lovers in the community. This place is a famous bookstore on Commerce Street. Deep Vellum was created as a non-profit organization in 2015.

This library/bookstore has various categories and genres of books like fiction, Non-fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Drama, Photography, and more.

Deep Vellum has collated a variety of books and topics, and it’s known to have books written by various authors around the world.

Deep Vellum has some translated literature pieces and also publishes some English-original books. A Historic Site Plaque honoring Huddie William Ledbetter, a blues musician, and famous name in the society, can be found at the bookstore.

Address: 3000 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

14. Giant Eyeball

If you are looking for a fun tourist destination in Deep Ellum, Dallas, you should see the Giant Eyeball. This incredible attraction is situated on the main street.

The Giant Eyeball is a unique 30-foot-tall realistic sculpture of a human eyeball that is located within a fenced garden on Main Street. This place is a popular tourist attraction in the neighborhood.

The Giant Eyeball sculpture was created with realistic fiberglass; this place is well-visited as many struggles to understand the mysteries of this sculpture.

Address: 1601 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75201, United States.

15. Barrington Gifts

Barrington Gifts
Credits: Gerain0812 / Shutterstock

Deep Ellum is a unique community with its cultures and traditions, so when visiting the city, souvenirs and gifts that remind you of the incredible experience should be bought.

Barrington Gifts is a shopping store and gift shop; as such, visiting this shop is one of the top things to do in Deep Ellum, TX. Barrington Gifts in Deep Ellum was established in 2016.

It features cabin bags, high-quality leather bags, totes, wallets, leather passport cases, cross-body bags, laptop cases, writing instruments, and leather duffle bags.

This unique shopping establishment is specialized in leather goods and materials. Barrington Gifts can be compared to many other large establishments involved with leather goods, establishments like Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Fossil.

This unique shopping store has a motto stating” Valuable Gifts made by Valuable People.”

This establishment also offers rentals of spaces for events; the events centers come with drinks and party food.

Address: 3209 Canton St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

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16. Angry Dog

Angry Dog
Credits: Tim Sulov / Shutterstock

Another place to enjoy delicacies and drinks in Deep Ellum, TX, is Angry Dog. This restaurant is a friendly, historical, and popular diner on Commerce Street. It is well-visited by locals of this region.

Depending on what visitors want, Angry Dog can have two different purposes; for anyone looking for great drinks, beers, wines, and products from local breweries and wineries, Angry Dog offers all of those.

And for visitors looking for a place to enjoy tasty and sumptuous delicacies, Angry Dog is also a perfect place for them. This diner offers light snacks and non-alcoholic drinks with their meals.

This well-known dining establishment has won several awards for its superb service and quality meals. The establishment also features sports Tvs.

Their Sports TVs and helpful staff are significant contributors to their popularity and the comfort of the customers.

Address: 2726 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

17. The Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge

The Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge
Credits: The Free Man / Facebook
The Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge

The Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge is a relaxing location. This place hosts and offers many fun activities and events.

This cafe and lounge have one of the best Cajun meals in Dallas, with varieties like gumbo, boudin balls, crawfish etouffee, voodoo chicken, and more.

The Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge also hosts live music every day from 7-10 pm. This place is a great place to hang out with friends and family. Sweet treats, Tasty appetizers, and Cajun Entrees are also available at this Cafe and Lounge.

Address: 2626 – 2630, Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

18. Deep Ellum Denim and Vintage

Deep Ellum Denim and Vintage
Credits: Creative Lab / Shutterstock

Deep Ellum Denim and Vintage is another must-visit location in this neighborhood. This place features many quality and rare denim materials.

This Denim and Vintage boutique is known for its specialty Japanese Denim, one of the rarest items to find in the region. The co-founders of this reputable establishment are Jeff Kauffman and Bennie Reed.

Jeff Kauffman and Bennie Reed have explored Japan and searched for some of the best materials in the country. Deep Ellum Denim and Vintage started crafting its denim materials in 2019, and as of 2020 has released many high-quality vintage goods.

Deep Ellum Denim and Vintage provides an incredible shopping experience for its customers who seek to purchase clothing items that fit perfectly.

This place is ideally situated next to a diner, Purify Bowls and Smoothies; it has juices, smoothies, shakes, acai bowls, and more on its menu.

Address: 3107 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

19. Dallas Pinup

Dallas Pinup
Credits: Creative Lab / Shutterstock

Dallas Pinup is a female-oriented shopping centre located on Main Street, mainly comprising female designers and artists. This place hosts over 20 local female-managed business establishments.

Most businesses situated at the Dallas Pinup offer products and services relating to burlesque, pinup, and glamour. Women can purchase their cosmetics, lingerie, jewelry, burlesque clothing, and accessories at Dallas Pinup.

Notable among the service providers within the Dallas Pinup include Jill Rasco pin-up photography, LaDonna Stein Hair and Make-up shop, and Unruly Dame Salon.

Address: 2928 Main St #102, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

20. Deep Ellum Brewing Company Taproom

Deep Ellum Brewing Company Taproom
Credits: NaturalBox / Shutterstock

Wondering what to do in Deep Ellum, TX? Have a drink at Deep Ellum Brewing Company Taproom.

Deep Ellum Brewing Company is a must-visit place, as it features a comprehensive and immersing taproom experience.

This Brewing Company and Taproom is actually the first craft brewery in the whole of Dallas. Deep Ellum Brewing Company, founded in 2011, has produced various quality and healthy brews.

The main inspiration and motivation of this brewing company is the neighborhood itself. The establishment strives to be as resilient and bold as Deep Ellum.

Address: 2823 St Louis Street, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

21. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Credits: Michael Barera [CC BY-SA 4.0], Wikimedia Commons
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza records and tell the story of the assassination of popular President John. F. Kennedy. This place also talks about his legacy and other things of historical significance from 1960.

Various collections, programs, and events that inform visitors about history can be found at this museum.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza is an educative place to visit. It features over 90,000 items connected to the assassination of President Kennedy, 

This museum can be found within the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District.

Address: 411 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75202, United States.

22. Amor y Quezo

Amor y Quezo
Credits: Stone36 / Shutterstock

Amor y Quezo is a fun dining establishment in Deep Ellum. Sara Carlock, an initiative mom, established this place.

This restaurant is the perfect place to visit if you need a quick afternoon snack. They offer treats and snacks in mini-sized boxes. They keep their box contents regularly updated with great and healthy snack options.

Some of the popular snacks available at this eatery are Dried apricots, Candied Oranges, Rosemary Flatbread, Corn nuts, and glazed maple pecans.

Amor y Quezo is a great place to taste a variety of locally sourced delicacies in Deep Ellum.

Address: 2932 Main St Suite 102, Dallas, TX 75226, United States.

23. Majestic Theatre

Majestic Theatre
Credits: Dfwcre8tive [CC BY-SA 3.0], Wikimedia Commons
Majestic Theatre
Majestic Theatre is another lovely performing arts theatre. It was founded in 1921 and has been a place to have fun since its inception.

The Majestic Theatre was designed by John Ebersom and built by Karl Hoblitzelle. It was operated by Hoblitzelle’s interstate Amusement company, which managed other theatres in Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.

This Theatre currently hosts national events or performing arts events, comedy shows, and concerts. Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs now runs the Majestic Theatre.

Address: 1925 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75201, United States.

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Plan Your Trip to Deep Ellum

Deep Ellum is a neighborhood filled with art, culture, and music. In other words, this neighborhood is filled with fun places, activities, and things to do.

Above are some of the best places to visit and activities; add them to your checklist, and check them out on your visit to Deep Ellum, TX. Have fun!