The Wild Detectives
Book store · Bishop Arts District
314 W Eighth St, Dallas, TX 75208
Highlights
Indie bookstore & cafe with author readings, music, cocktails
Indie bookstore & cafe with author readings, music, cocktails
"A bookshop that doubles as a full-service coffee shop and cocktail bar, featuring homey wood interiors and numerous nooks to sit, read, work, or people-watch. It can make nearly any coffee drink you can imagine and offers a creative cocktail list, including the Saturnine (guava, tequila, pink peppercorn orgeat, rhum, and lime) and the War of the Roses (rose bud‑infused gin, lychee, lime, and a touch of sugar); classics like Spanish gin and tonics and Texas Ranch Waters are also commonly available." - Courtney E. Smith
"What a person reads can say a lot about them, and for that reason, the indie bookstore Wild Detectives in Bishop Arts is a great place to meet for a first date. Pop in for a classic cocktail, such as a pisco sour — there are also mocktails and coffees for those who don’t drink — and browse the shelves to decode how well-read they are and if your book collections match. There’s outdoor seating out back for when the weather is nice or when the date turns more to conversation than browsing the stacks. For evening meet-ups, there are comfy spots to nestle into, and sometimes, the store hosts author events and live music. This neighborhood is super walkable, so a stroll to a second location or just around for people-watching is an option if things go well. Parking can be a beast, so plan to arrive early so you have time to find a spot or a lot." - Rachel Pinn
"The Wild Detectives is a fabulous bookstore, but it also serves beverages and snacks such as cheese boards and toasts to help fuel essential studies. This spot also serves good cocktails and a solid wine list, but fair warning: The Wi-Fi is turned off on the weekends. You’ll find all sorts of folks parked with laptops and books during workdays, but it can get noisy so bring headphones if you need to go heads-down in deep work." - Courtney E. Smith
"What a person reads can say a lot about them. The indie bookstore Wild Detectives in Bishop Arts is a great place to meet for a first date. Pop in for a classic cocktail, such as a pisco sour or a coffee and browse the shelves to decode how well-read they are — or attend an author event together." - Rachel Pinn, Leslie Chatman
"The Wild Detectives is a fabulous bookstore, but it also serves beverages and snacks such as cheese boards and toasts to help fuel important studies. This spot also serves good cocktails and a solid wine list, but fair warning, the Wi-Fi is turned off on the weekends." - Courtney E. Smith, Molly Wolchansky
