New Trends on the Prairie
Southlake brings style, fun and classic Texas barbeque (with a twist) to the North Texas prairielands
Find old-world charm and upscale shopping at Southlake's open-air Town Square.
Southlake is one DFW suburb that offers so much more than convenient airport access. Its wildflower- and winery-dotted North Texas prairies, charming style and impressive range of restaurants has made it one of the area’s most desirable places to live—and a hidden gem for travelers.
Enjoy live music and delicious Tex-Italian food at Southlake's Taverna Rossa. Photo courtesy of Taverna Rossa.
Get a Taste of Texas
Tommy Tamale Market and Café: A Tex-Mex Must-Try
A stay in Texas isn’t complete without a healthy serving of Tex-Mex. To sample some of the state’s finest, stop at Tommy Tamale Market and Café. The Barker family’s mission to create and share “the best tamales on the planet” with their community led them to open the unassuming grocery store and café in 2009. Today, it’s practically a household name in the Southlake-Grapevine area. Taste what the buzz is about with their line of gourmet tamales—options range from classic habanero pork to BBQ beef to cream cheese pumpkin.
Taverna Rossa: The Tex-Italian Trend
Southlake’s Taverna Rossa is trying to make Tex-Italian happen (and it’s working). Try the Smokey Pie, a pizza topped with sweet Texas BBQ sauce, local smoked brisket and bacon, or the TX Lasagna filled with brisket slow-braised in Lakewood Brewing Co.’s Temptress Stout. Pair your carbs with one of the 30 craft beers on tap or a craft cocktail. Live music is another Taverna Rossa specialty—bands play everything from blues to country once or twice week.
Feedstore BBQ & More: The Local Spot
The family-run Feedstore BBQ has been a Southlake local favorite since 2001, but its history goes back to its establishment as a feed store in the late 1950s, when the town’s cows outnumbered people. When the population of Southlake began to boom, the Lafavers family converted the store into the crowd-pleasing BBQ restaurant it is today. If you’re searching for a delicious introduction to classic Texas fare—from ribs to brisket and catfish to cobbler—look no further than the Lafaver family recipes.
Southlake Scenery, Style and Sips
The Urban Wine Trail: Wine Down to Grapevine
Thanks to its dry, sunny climate, Texas is one of the country’s biggest wine producers, and the Southlake-Grapevine area has cultivated a reputation as a wine tasting destination. Nine tasting rooms line nearby Grapevine’s Main Street, known as the Urban Wine Trail (just 3 miles down the road from the Cambria Hotel Southlake DFW North). Pair Texas wines with tapas at Umbra Winery’s Spanish villa-inspired tasting room, sip award-winning at varietals in a charming, 1890s Victorian home at Homestead Winery or enjoy the modern aesthetic and social atmosphere at one of the area’s latest additions, Wine Fusion.
Bob Jones Nature Center: Natural Beauty in North Texas
The Cross Timbers ecosystem—characterized by a mix of forests and prairies—makes the landscape surrounding Southlake unique. The Bob Jones Nature Center encompasses more than 750 acres of natural beauty, including more than 20 miles of hiking trails. (Check their event calendar during your visit if you’re interested in finding a guided ecology hike or a stargazing party.) The easy, .8-mile Bluebird Trail offers a taste of what makes the region special—wildflowers, oak trees and migratory birds abound. You can also access the 6-mile Walnut Grove National Recreation Trail, which winds through the surrounding woodlands and prairies, ending at beautiful Lake Grapevine.
Southlake Town Square: A Shopper’s Great Outdoors
If you packed heels instead of hiking boots (or need to buy a new pair of either), Southlake Town Square might be your ideal outdoor experience. The open-air shopping and dining district stretches on for 130 acres, with more than 120 boutique, mid-range and high-end shops and dozens of foodie-friendly restaurant options. The square’s quaint, old-world charm is amplified by its tree-lined paths, gardens, parks and fountains. Catch entertainment here year-round, including concerts, festivals, and the annual Art-in-the Square and Oktoberfest events.
Make time to wander down nearby Grapevine’s Main Street, known as the Urban Wine Trail, just 3 miles down the road from the Southlake Cambria hotel.
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