The sign provides the only real indication that any kind of business operates here, itself seemingly broken, the words Fireplace Lounge perched atop a metal pole that looks like it once had a little more going on. The pole is rusted and connected to a long stretch of metal that connects to a separate pole, a contraption that I don’t understand and only adds to the allure of the Dallas dive bar from outside. Parking surrounds three exterior walls, the area in back instead a free form (loose term) patio, a collection of scattered tables and chairs.
All that preamble is to say that Fireplace Lounge is a legit dive bar from the exterior alone, let alone what turns out to be a pretty glorious interior space. And I know the first question on your mind, “is there, indeed, a fireplace here?” Mercifully and from the looks of the building, pretty improbably, the answer is yes, one wall almost hiding a small fireplace that comes to knee level. The setup seems to be ornamental in nature, a set of Christmas lights dipping in the fireplace.
Simply put, the space inside is dive bar perfect, a mixture of beer flags, strung lights, metal signs and a yellow, stucco-style roof that has certainly seen a night or two of heavy drinking. That’s not to say that a modern touch can’t be found inside, some fresh furniture and a refinished surface or two are evident, but on balance, this is dive bar original and untouched by time for quite awhile. The bar itself is a short, classic-style bar with room for a handful of stools and sporting red, white and blue fringe above. A wood grid of sorts has been crafted to house the bar’s liquor bottles in front of mirrored displays.