Entry No. 3 — the Dallas file — filed under: speakeasy
The Stache at Renny's
A 1920s-inspired, 30-seat speakeasy tucked inside Renny's American restaurant in Preston Forest Village, named for owner Mark Maguire's father's legendary mustache. The entrance looks like a break-room door, and to get in you solve a nightly-changing riddle whose answers are famous mustachioed figures, then find the keycard that unlocks it. It's only open to the public Wednesdays and Thursdays; other nights are invite-only.
The story
Behind what looks like an unassuming break-room door inside Renny's American restaurant sits a 30-seat lounge built around a single family trait: notable facial hair. Restaurateur Mark Maguire—who operated North Dallas staple Maguire’s for 24 years before opening Renny’s in 2023—named the main dining room after his father, Renny, whose mustache has been a neighborhood fixture for over six decades. For the back-room lounge, Mark’s daughter Maddy, a hospitality interior designer, transformed the space into a 1920s-style den with velvet couches, exposed brick, and subtle mustache motifs hidden in the artwork.
You don't just open a door to get in. Public access is limited to Wednesdays and Thursdays by reservation, and entry requires decoding a whiteboard riddle outside the door. The answer changes nightly, but it always points to a famous historical figure with notable mustache credentials. Crack the clue, locate the keycard left nearby, and badge your way inside before your 90-minute reservation window begins.
What it's like
Park in the free surface lot at Preston Forest Village—the shopping center anchored by Whole Foods at Preston Road and Forest Lane—and walk into Renny's main dining room. Head past the tables to locate the break-room door in the back. You'll need to solve the historical mustache riddle scribbled on the whiteboard outside to retrieve the hidden keycard and buzz into the room. Inside, the space is dimly lit and compact, fitting only 30 guests across lounge seats and tiny tables. Parties are strictly capped around six people, so arrive with a small group or date, order dishes like truffle fries or ahi tuna nachos from the kitchen, and try house cocktails like the Brambling Man or a mezcal Last Word. Book well in advance for Wednesday or Thursday nights; walk-ins will not make it past the door.
The move: RSVP for a Wednesday or Thursday, have dinner at Renny's, then work together to crack the mustache riddle on the whiteboard to find the keycard and slip into the dim 30-seat bar for cocktails like the Brambling Man.
📍 Before you go Aim for Preston Forest Village, the Whole Foods-anchored shopping center at the southeast corner of Preston Road and Forest Lane in North Dallas; park in the free surface lot and head into Renny's, the visible restaurant out front, since the bar lives entirely inside it. Public nights are few and the room is genuinely tiny, with parties capped around half a dozen, so this is a book-well-ahead spot built for couples and very small groups rather than a walk-up. Treat dinner at Renny's as part of the plan, both to settle in and to scope the puzzle. NorthPark Center sits a short drive south if you want to make a longer evening of it.
- 📍 Preston Hollow
- 💸 $$$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 11661 Preston Rd #135, Dallas, TX 75230 (inside Renny's)
Hours: Public access Wednesday and Thursday 6:30pm-12am by reservation only; other nights invite/private events. Parties capped around six.
Pair it with
- Sound Bath Dallas — Pair a high-frequency gong and singing bowl session in Hillcrest with a low-lit cocktail inside a secret 30-seat room.
- Temporary Reality — Spend the afternoon soldering custom stained glass in Farmers Branch before testing your mustache trivia at the whiteboard in Preston Hollow.
- Candlelight Concerts at Frontiers of Flight Museum — Combine a string quartet performance under vintage aircraft wings at Love Field with a quiet nightcap behind a break-room door.
- Lakeside Park Teddy Bears — Take a late afternoon walk past Highland Park's oversized granite bears along Turtle Creek before heading north to crack the entry keycard puzzle.
Good to know
How do you open the hidden entrance?
Look for the door formatted like a break-room in the back of Renny's. Read the whiteboard riddle, guess the famous mustachioed figure of the night, locate the keycard, and tap it to unlock the door.
When is The Stache open to the public?
Public reservations are available only on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 PM to midnight. Other nights are strictly invite-only or booked for private events.
Where is it located and where do I park?
It sits inside Renny's at 11661 Preston Rd #135 in Preston Forest Village (at Preston Rd and Forest Lane). Free surface lot parking is available directly out front.
Are there restrictions on group sizes or stay limits?
Yes. Because the room holds just 30 seats total, party sizes are capped at six guests and visits are limited to 90 minutes unless arranged in advance.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: dallas.culturemap.com · Official site · dallasites101.com
last checked: 2026-06-06