Entry No. 32 — the Dallas file — filed under: speakeasy
Jettison
An intimate cocktail den tucked behind the patio of Houndstooth Coffee in the Sylvan Thirty development, reached through an unmarked, blacked-out door. Inside is a dim, low-key room with leather stools, sofas and wood accents, serving an ever-evolving menu drawing on Texas, Mexico and Asia. After closing in 2024 it reopened with a new bar team, a no-reservations policy and a summer chef pop-up dinner series.
The story
You walk into Houndstooth Coffee in West Dallas's Sylvan Thirty complex, but you aren't there for a morning cold brew. Pass the patio and head down the back corridor past the restrooms until you hit an unmarked, blacked-out door. Don't knock; just push through. First designed in 2016 by Dallas architecture firm Official with a wood-slatted ceiling curved like the interior of an acoustic guitar, Jettison was built as a secluded, 20-capacity hideout where high-concept bartending quietly sidelined typical Dallas patio drinking.
After eight years of blending Texas mezcals, Spanish sherries, and Japanese whiskies—and building a cult following for coffee-infused drinks like the pour-over-laced BLVD P.O.—the bar went dark in late 2024, announcing it was time for a rest. But in summer 2025, Jettison quietly unbolted its black door under a fresh bar team. They scraped away the old reservation system in favor of a strict walk-in policy, introduced summer chef pop-up dinners, and returned to low-lit, high-precision mixing drawing across Texas, Mexico, and East Asia.
What it's like
Stepping inside feels like leaving a brightly lit retail strip for a dark, padded bunker lined with dark leather stools and low wood accents. Space is deliberately tiny—the main bar top seats max ten people and the entire room barely holds twenty—so expect a queue on weekend nights now that reservations are gone. Your move is to arrive right at 5 PM on a weeknight, grab a stool, and order drinks where Campari, Japanese whisky, and pour-over coffee collide while hushed jazz plays in the background.
The move: Find the unmarked blacked-out door tucked behind Houndstooth's coffee patio, post up at the bar, and order the BLVD P.O. (Japanese whisky, Campari, vermouth and pour-over coffee) in the dim leather-and-wood room.
📍 Before you go It hides inside the Sylvan Thirty development off Sylvan Avenue in West Dallas, just east of Trinity Groves and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Walk into Houndstooth Coffee first and head toward the back hallway by the restrooms; the blacked-out door sits at the end. The development has its own garage and surface lots, so parking is rarely a problem. Evenings are the play, and since reopening it runs no reservations, so arrive early or expect a wait on busy weekends, as the small room fills fast. Make a night of it by walking to Trinity Groves restaurants or heading a few minutes south to the Bishop Arts District.
- 📍 West Dallas (Sylvan Thirty)
- 💸 $$$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1888 Sylvan Ave, Dallas, TX 75208 (behind Houndstooth Coffee, Sylvan Thirty)
Hours: Evenings; no-reservations policy since the 2025 reopening. Check current hours and pop-up dinner dates.
Pair it with
- Another Round — Blow off steam over trippy mini-golf and drinks down Fort Worth Avenue before slinking away to Jettison for a quiet, dark nightcap.
- PRP (Permanent Research Project) — Pair an afternoon of contemporary art inside a converted 1930s residential house with Jettison's equally unconventional approach to cocktail craftsmanship.
- Western Heights Cemetery (Clyde Barrow's grave) — Pay your respects at Clyde Barrow's grave down the road before slipping behind the black door to toast West Dallas history.
- The Night Market at Trinity Groves — Graze street food and local maker stalls under the open sky at Trinity Groves before retreating into Jettison's dim, hushed lounge.
Good to know
How do I find the door?
Enter Houndstooth Coffee in the Sylvan Thirty development off Sylvan Avenue. Walk past the main counter toward the back hallway by the restrooms; the unmarked, blacked-out door sits right at the end.
Do I need a reservation?
No. When Jettison reopened in 2025, they dropped the reservation system entirely and switched to a first-come, first-served walk-in policy.
What kind of drinks do they serve?
An ever-evolving cocktail menu pulling from Texas, Mexican, and Asian ingredients, alongside classic builds and signature coffee-infused drinks like the BLVD P.O.
Where should I park?
Park in the dedicated parking garage or surface lots inside the Sylvan Thirty complex off Sylvan Avenue.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: dallas.culturemap.com · dallasobserver.com · dallas.axios.com
last checked: 2026-06-06