Entry No. 65 — the Dallas file — filed under: speakeasy
Snug Space
“the private salon bars where women once drank”
Zero-proof speakeasy and rotating art gallery hidden behind a secret bookcase, modeled on Victorian 'snugs' (the private salon bars where women once drank), serving craft mocktails alongside DJ nights and monthly sober karaoke.
The story
In 19th-century pubs, a 'snug' was a frosted-glass, pocket-sized sanctuary tucked behind the main bar—a private salon where women or discreet local politicians could sip without the public bar room watching their every move. Former Richardson bar owners Julie and Reid Robinson revived that exact architectural secrecy at 101 South Sherman Street, but stripped out the ethanol entirely.
Walk into Beyond the Bar—DFW’s first zero-proof bottle shop in downtown Richardson's CORE District—and it looks like a mid-century modern retail room stocked with adaptogenic elixirs and de-alcoholized wines. But push open the secret bookcase inside the shop, and you're through the looking glass into Snug Space: an intimate zero-proof speakeasy lounge and gallery where craft mixology relies on layered botanical shrubs, peppered spirits, and elderberry bitters rather than booze.
You didn't hear it from us, but the space doubles as a rotating cabinet of curiosities: the gallery walls are curated in direct partnership with Lakewood's iconic Curiosities Antiques, meaning the art and objects rotate between visits. Instead of sticky floors and late-night regrets, you get local DJ sets, mocktail mixology classes, and fourth-Saturday sober karaoke nights that prove you don't need liquid courage to sing in public.
What it's like
Expect to walk through a bright, mid-century bottle shop full of non-alcoholic spirits and adaptogenic cans before spotting the hidden bookcase in the back. Once through the secret door, the lighting drops and the atmosphere shifts into a cozy lounge surrounded by antique art and vintage curiosities. The drink menu steers completely clear of sugary juices, serving complex, layered mocktails like smoked whiskey alternatives and tart botanical shrubs. The room is intimate and fills up fast on event nights—especially for monthly sober karaoke—so plan to get there early if you want a couch spot.
The move: Slip through the bookcase for the last-Saturday sober karaoke night, share a flight of artisan non-alcoholic cocktails, and wander the current gallery show between songs.
📍 Before you go The door you want is Beyond the Bar, the zero-proof bottle shop at the same address — the snug itself is through a bookcase inside the shop. You're in downtown Richardson's CORE District, so it pairs easily with dinner at one of the area restaurants the shop already does pop-ups with. Karaoke follows a fourth-Saturday-of-the-month pattern, and Sunday sober socials and mocktail-making classes rotate through; the gallery wall is curated with Dallas antique dealer Curiosities, so the art changes between visits.
- 📍 Richardson (Sherman St)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 101 S. Sherman St., Richardson, TX 75081
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Curiosities Antiques — Curiosities curates the rotating art on Snug Space's gallery walls, making a visit to their full Lakewood antique shop a natural sister trip.
- Temporary Reality — Pair a zero-proof evening out in Richardson with a hands-on afternoon stained-glass workshop just 10 minutes west in Farmers Branch.
- Sound Bath Dallas — Continue the booze-free reset with an acoustic relaxation session at this sister-run sound studio less than four miles away.
Good to know
How do I enter Snug Space?
Enter through Beyond the Bar Bottle Shop at 101 S. Sherman St. in Richardson's CORE District; Snug Space is hidden behind a secret bookcase inside the shop.
What kind of drinks do they serve?
The menu features craft zero-proof cocktails, botanical shrubs, de-alcoholized wines, adaptogenic elixirs, and spirit alternatives designed to replicate classic drink flavor profiles without alcohol.
When is the sober karaoke held?
Sober karaoke generally takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month, alongside rotating Sunday sober socials, DJ nights, and mixology workshops.
Is the art inside Snug Space permanent?
No, the gallery wall rotates continuously in partnership with East Dallas antique shop Curiosities, so the art changes between visits.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: communityimpact.com · dallas.culturemap.com · dallasobserver.com · dallasinnovates.com
last checked: 2026-06-09