Had a great time while visiting for the weekend. Music and service was awesome. Definitely coming back next time we're in town

Very laid back bar where I feel safe. Staff is really outgoing & sweet. I love MJ the bartender!!

Lauren and Isaac are one of the greatest people with great service and hospitality. The ambience/atmosphere in this bar is astonishing as well! I highly recommend coming here for your drinks cravings when you are in deep ellum! read more

Walking around Deep Ellum and found this gem by accident. Seriously, I was venturing for something sweet and walked past only to have my shoulder do a quick bop from the music that was coming out of the place. Naturally, I had to check it out. This quaint bar offers a unique area in the back for those interested in vinyl for their personal collection or a spot at the bar to meet a new friend. There's also a a few tables if you're visiting with a few friends. They offer local and domestic brews or a quick cocktail. I decided to try a local brew and the bartender was sweet enough to offer a sample before giving me a full pour... it's the little things that are much appreciated. Overall, this is a bar I would definitely revisit should I find myself in the area! Save me a spot at the bar! read more

Vinyl store? Check. Bar with lots of beers on tap? Check. This was a great place to check out with my brother when I was visiting him in Dallas (my hometown) recently. The seating is pretty limited, but they have some seating on the back patio, as well. Music selection was pretty great (of course). Lots of Texas beers on tap (which I appreciated as I no longer live in Texas and have strong nostalgic and sentimental feelings about Texas beers) - I had a Big Bend hefeweizen. (You can walk through from Club Dada.) Cool spot. Fun place to spend a few hours shopping, drinking, chatting... read more

See all

Live DJ, friendly people, everyone dancing just having a good time. Definitely stop by and check it out !!! read more

Our experience here started out really well. We were drawn into Off the Record on a rainy Sunday evening by the music. The DJ was playing mostly 90s and early 00s rnb/hip hop and it was really good. The bar itself is fairly small but does offer quite a bit of seating for its size and has a patio with quite a bit of seating as well. They do offer records for sale but the variety for me was not my preference. The experience went bad when it came to the slender blond with shorter hair behind the bar. Someone we just met offered to buy us drinks so we followed him to the bar. We didn't hear the entire conversation but could tell the bartender was not happy with him for something. He told us that she was refusing to serve him unless he tipped her first. As he was telling us this she ran to the front door and grabbed the door guy to make him leave. The door man and the bartender we're both incredibly rude to him and kicked him out. We assumed it was a bigger issue that he wasn't telling us because who would kick someone out for not tipping?! We approach the bar ourselves and the same bartender asks us if we were friends with him and admitted that she told him she wouldn't serve him another round of drinks until he tipped her for the beer he purchased earlier. She went on and on about how she only makes $2 per hour and blah blah. If you don't want to WORK to earn your tips then don't bartend. Tips are earned for being friendly, helpful, speedy, kind, listening, etc. Not to be demanded for simply doing your job. I always tip as I know bartenders and servers don't make much as a standard amount per hour but she was above and beyond rude. I heard her yell at multiple other people the next hour for not tipping as well and complaining to her coworkers. There are multiple other reviews about this woman on yelp already.. how does she still work there? There was one man literally asleep at a table from drinking and another so wasted he couldn't stand up but they remained in the bar no problem without being kicked out. I would have given 5 stars if it weren't for her. 2 stars for great music and $3.25 Tito's drinks on a Sunday but she needs to go. read more

I seriously fangirled over this spot and have no problem deeming myself a groupie for Off the Record (OTR) after a night here. The vibe is just freaking badass and I loved the concept where you can not only have a few cocktails with live music, but pick up a vinyl to take home. It's amazing to see how much Deep Ellum has changed just within the past two years. We were heading to a different bar in this neighborhood when the doors of OTR opened as some folks were leaving and I immediately fell under her spell. The tantalizing music coming from within compelled me to tell my friends there was a change of plans and we needed to go in here immediately. Like the cool cousin at family reunions whom you want to get to know better- OTR is just like that. There's a few tables and seats at the bar; however, they have a great patio towards the back. The beer selection was impressive and their cocktail game is a strong one. I honestly could've stayed here the whole night had it not been for my friends dragging me out of here against my will. I'm counting down the days I get to come back here as I'll be back in Dallas in two weeks. read more

I have worked in this neighborhood for quite some time. I like to visit bars and catch the vibes and enjoy the staff and their libations. Off the record is near and dear to my heart. The staff (shadow, Dani, and Isaac) are always welcoming. They greet me and other customers with an authenticity that I can't help but want to come back. If it's slow, you can chat with them and really get to know them and build an awesome relationship. If it's busy, you can guarantee they are all about getting you your drinks as fast as possible. This place and it's staff are a deep ellum treasure! read more

Located in the heart of Deep Ellum, Off the Record definitely got the night started off right. Being from Cali, the local hip hop club has a line out the door starting at 9pm. Not seeing much of that in San Marcos or Austin, I am so glad to see that this place had a line out of the door starting at 10pm... Always a good sign when it comes to going to a bar/lounge/club. This place is known as a craft beer and record/vinyl place, and although that may be so, the night scene is definitely not what I expected. To be honest, I didn't try any of their craft beer. It didn't seem fitting for dancing in a packed room full of people drinking hard liquor. Towards the back of the bar, there are vinyl records (how none of them were stolen during the night, is a miracle to me) and an outside patio for smoking. The dj was positioned up front and I was so relieved to see two turntables and a battle mixer. Being a DJ myself, controllers are cool, but they do not get as much respect as turntables. The Music was straight fire! the DJ played old school, early 2000s, late 90s, not that Migos trap crap... just feel good hip hop. If you are looking for a spot to hit up with lots of party people, good drinks, but most importantly good music? Then this is definitely a spot to hit up. End the night at OTR or stay the whole time, you can't go wrong with this place. I will advise you though, it does get packed and because of that, drink service was a little slow (as expected) and there may be situations of rowdy folks. Other than that, dance the night away at this dope little bar! read more

After a good Sunday Funday I accidentally left my wallet here. When I returned Tuesday night for it the amazing bartender returned it to me! I can't say enough good things about my experience here! THANK YOU! read more

This is one of those places you go to late at night when you've already been drinking and hanging out, but you aren't quite ready to call it a night. A crowded good time with good music and somewhat cheap drinks (compared to the other bars in the area) in a tiny space. read more

[Out-of-Towner Review] This is based on less than a 2 hour hang out sesh here, just a side note if you're really relying on this review. We'd chosen Deep Ellum to hang out in for the evening, after stuffing our faces, we thought more booze would help our full stomachs. This was our last stop of the night and we enjoyed it. We all ordered Moscow mules. We tried to hang out near the bar, but it was crowded and you are sandwiched between the bar fly's and those sitting in seats. I enjoyed that they had a live DJ there and it got even better as we walked back toward the patio and I saw racks of records. Are they for sale? I'm assuming they are. There were a lot of people milling about there, so I didn't peruse anything. I did use the facilities and I think they were pretty on-par with a bar bano. They weren't clean, but they weren't too scary either. We enjoyed the patio for most of our stay, even though it was kind of a chilly night. They have a few different layers to the patio, so it was fun people watching for sure. They had a huge TV screen, but nothing was playing. You could also enjoy the music outside, so that was a nice touch too. First timer awww-ness probably clouds my judgement here... read more

Four stars until I go back on a night when they have the DJ spinning :) Went this past Thursday for their crate dating event. The turnout was so small! It was just my group of friends and another group of friends. That's ok though! We still enjoyed this bar. The bartender did mention that some nights the turnout is 40 people and other nights it's not. Basically hit or miss. It's super chill and the bartender (I don't know his name) but he was great. Really personable and funny! I don't drink but I had an OJ while my friend had a beer on tap and I didn't hear her complain! Cool concept and I will def be going back either to chill with the girls during the weekday or to socialize with the weekend crowd. I'm big on going to places with a diverse crowd because that's where I'm most comfortable, and this place was exactly that. I'll be back OTR! I may have found my chill spot read more

Off the Record - Crate dating! Can't go wrong with Al Green and Bob Marley. - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

I was just visiting Dallas to check out the city that I will be moving to soon. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MY GO TO SPOT! This place was so chill and the vibe was great. Norelle was soooooo welcoming. His presence and outgoing personality already made us feel welcome but on top of that he gave us free shots! Great guy! Definitely coming back. :) read more

The staff was rude and it was apparent they were only concerned with leaving for the night. As I was leaving one of the bar tenders shouted at me "don't give me that look". Completely immature and unnecessary. I will not back and will make sure no I know is exposed to this type of behavior. read more

Off the Record - Rude staff and mediocre venue. The staff was rude and it was apparent they were only concerned e With closing down for the night. - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

We'd pre-arranged 10-days prior to hold an event here; we were expecting at LEAST 20 people. None of the arrangements on the part of Off the Record happened. They did nothing promised. Our people showed up... and waited and waited and waited - and finally just left. So not only did our group get screwed yesterday, but we won't be attempting to do anything here ever again. Not even going to discuss the lost revenue you could have had from us. There were also a lot of spilled drinks all over the floor; no one bothers to clean them up. The women's restroom has one door that is at least 1/2" too big for the door opening and won't shut; the other stall has no door at all. The entire room is about the size of a closet. As for the record selection/collection, it seems an afterthought - and not maintained. read more

What a cool experience. Who thought it would be a good idea to mix a vinyl shop with a bar? Well, whoever thought of it is a genius. Full disclosure: I am a vinyl fanatic. It wouldn't have taken much to sell me on this place. I have bought a record during every visit. (Which has only be twice but you have to admit, 2 out of 2 ain't bad). The bar is standard with drink specials and I like the aesthetics. It's dark, with the help of natural lighting. Each of the two times I've visited (once in 2013 and the other time in 2018), there has been a DJ and the patio is open if the weather is nice. Inside the bar, there is not that much seating but I'm a fan of such open space. Even when it's packed, people aren't stacked on top of one another which is comforting. read more

Off the Record - You can shop vinyl while drinking. - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This is a dodgy bar, definitely the place to go if you want weird service and the obvious clubbing songs. 10 dollar minimum on card for drinks and the porch smells like weed. All of that aside the drinks drinks were strong and the bartenders were cute and edgy. I had fun and spent most time of the porch. read more

Off the Record - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Borrrring. The drinks were average and the record selection looked like a bad b-side hipster clearance rack. I feel like the records were there to pretend it's a record store/bar but it's more like a window display to fool people into coming in. P.S. - Try to find a record of a black artist too. I dare you. It's like hip-hop, jazz and blues never existed. read more

THEY. SELL. VINYL. in the bar. Right there in the bar. You really need no other reasons to come here. That is more than enough reason. I was in town visiting my brother and we decided to find a place that he and his friends had never been to. I had mentioned I wanted to go somewhere that I would not be the oldest one in the bar, listen to some music and not be pretentious. This, of course, nixed every single place in Uptown so we decided to give Deep Ellum a visit. This place was everything I wanted it to be. There's a bad ass patio out back for the smokers. A DJ was spinning 80s tunes and it totally fit the vibe. It was packed (Saturday night problems) but we got our drinks super quickly. I will definitely be back here. read more

They gave my debit card to a stranger! I went there on a very slow Saturday afternoon (maybe 10 people were there, at the very most). I opened up a tab and just purchased 2 drinks. When I went to close my bar the bartender literally spoke over me to other customers, even though I was waiting there for a while. I then told her that I just wanted to close my tab. She then began looking everywhere for my card. At one point she just left the bar to go and find my card, because she had closed a tab with it by mistake. Now, the bartender who did that...terrible. But the worse part of it all...the other bartender. When I was visibly upset she said, 'She just made a mistake, calm down.' She then kept on doing that. Not once was I apologized to by this bartender. It was pretty awful. Never going to open a tab there again. read more

Walking around Deep Ellum, we ran across this spot. What a hidden gem! I love their vinyl records collection (perhaps more pop/soul bands could be added)!! The DJ was good. They also have a bar in there and a large patio. I definitely want to come back just to browse more of their vinyls. It would be cool if they had a record player where we could play some of the vinyls. read more

Last night after waiting in line in the freezing cold for 20 minutes the security guy let his six friends skipped us and told us we could either deal with it or get the hell out. He claimed his name was Rick and the guy checking ID dint say anything. I'm a local who frequented the place regularly and I will never again. read more

This is one of my favorite bars in Deep Ellum. It's a super chill place to go grab drinks. To be honest, I'm not big on the crowded bar scene and I tend to stay away on weekends so I can't speak to that, but I go in the evenings on weeknights to relax and hang out with friends and we love this place. Prices are generally good and we like to go on Wednesday's for $4 drafts. They also have a solid variety of options. It's a pretty small location but they have a cool patio area out back with picnic tables. Some nights you can even hear live music playing from other places nearby. They play live music on weekends but again, I can't speak much to that. They have a small selection of vinyl records that's neat. There isn't a ton there but the space is limited so it's just cool little addition to the place. The main reason I keep going back is the staff, particularly the main guy that's usually there. He's friendly and easy going and just a really nice guy to talk to. Since we are there during the week it's usually empty enough to have a good conversation. My coworker and i went for the first time and he served us and we ended up going back the next week and he recognized us and even remembered our drink orders. When he is there he quickly gets us our "usual" right as we walk in. Awesome customer service! read more

Off the Record - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

If you're looking for a place where you can sit, talk, mingle with friends, this is definitely a great place to try out. They don't blast the music like other places where you have to shout across the table. It has a rustic feel, and two rows of music records located in the back. You will not find any vintage vinyls, they only have new ones. Records prices vary and thought they're a bit pricey for some. There is a patio in the back with some tables and TVs. Awesome to go in and out of the patio if weather permits. Their draft selection varies with some local brewery flavors. I love they have a wide selection of drinks and beers they promote seasonally. This is a great place in Deep Ellum. But if you're looking for food, they don't offer any. I went on a Friday and they had a local musician playing an acoustic set. It didn't get too loud and loved the atmosphere it gave to the place! I don't really have too many complaints about the service. There are no cocktail waitresses so you'll have to order at the bar, but what I liked about this place, is that it did not get too busy (when I went between 9-11 pm.) and they'll serve your drinks right away. read more

Off the Record - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

Hip hop music on a Friday night. Cool spot with Vinyl to peruse and long beer list. Not the best beer but at least there's selection and a few local IPA on tap. Outdoor area is cozy and has a park kind of feel and you can even hear live music from next door if you time it right. read more

First time visitor to Deep Ellum on a Saturday night so of course this place was packed! As a lover of records I absolutely loved this place. Great drinks are always a plus too! read more

Off the Record - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Very decent beer selection, cute little place with a nice patio. The records are from Good Records and the prices and selection reflect that! I love the concept, and didn't find it confusing at all. (To be fair, it is perhaps a little unusual.) I may be biased since I had heard of this place previously, but when perusing the records, you can see that they're all sealed and many with heftier price tags (some upwards of $35), so it would never cross my mind to ask if I could play one? Plus I can't imagine the bartenders having time for that. But in any case: big fan of spreading the vinyl love. No food service, but you're allowed to bring food in. We came on a Sunday afternoon when the crowd was small-to-medium, mostly on the patio. Great vibe, friendly bartender, and if you're not in the patio mood, the inside is nice and dark for the proper bar atmosphere. Not a huge place, just the right size. I certainly wouldn't mind popping in again! read more

Great spot to hang out. Easy parking, and it's right next to the venue. Deep Ellum has become a thriving part of Dallas again and as a Dallasite I'm excited. Off the Record has drink specials as well as craft beers for your pleasure. Even on gloomy day newbies and regulars crowded into the bar. The staff is small but you wouldn't know it. Before I could wonder about a empty glass or a crumpled napkin it was gone. Viola your wish is your command. They also have BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl)! The host is Kevin Walker DJ Killer Kev. This is for novice DJ's and those who have the desire to hear those 12 inches play and no opportunities. Bring your own or purchase (they have records for sale) Hey if you get hungry use an app or turn a corner and bring in some grub. Let the good times roll... Of The Record. read more

Bartender recommended "Rumble-mans" and it was some perfect shots. Never heard of it but loved it. Great music and decor in the bar- creating an awesome atmosphere. Good service would come again! :) read more

My type of bar since I'm a dj...live dj spinning throwback and current hits. Nice simple place with a patio in the back... read more

Off the Record - And it has a collection of vinyl records to look through... - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I like the concept, I think. I want to see some record players though! I sifted through the crates of records..noting some Kanye but no Peter Paul and Mary. It made me want a record player again and something to store all of the records I would then buy and Peter, Paul, and Mary was probably the most played in my household growing up. (: Plenty on tap but they taps were down. Plenty in bottles too. I settled for a dos equis. Bartender was super nice. I asked if they had any OTR stickers and they didn't so she gave me a coozy and let me use the ATM at dada next door (the businesses had a shared door). The bar was filled but not much business. It was around 6pm on a Saturday during the outdoor market. I like the concept so hope they have busier times indicating they are here to stay. read more

Went here last night and granted my friends and I were faded but the vibe was really cool. The DJolayed our kinda music which is definitely why we stayed for so long and had such a awesome time. read more

It's my first visit to the Deep Ellum and Off the Record has given me a decent start. Grab your drink and enjoy the music. Great place to hangout. Perfect atmosphere in the weekends. Will visit again for sure. read more

Off the Record - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This is one of the coolest places I have ever been...and the concept is so simple. Take a really chill bar with local beers and some even chiller music and mix that with a record store that has a very eclectic selection of vinyl... ...and thus you have Off the Record. Stumbled upon this place while exploring the Deep Ellum district in Dallas...which by the way...is a really cool little area. Anywho, I decided first to check the vinyl section. It had a wide array of vinyl ranging from classic rock to folk rock and everything in between. I decided to buy a Sufjan Stevens album and proceeded to the bar to have a beer. OTR had a full bar and nice selection of domestic and local craft beers. The prices were very fair and the service was friendly and prompt. I do plan on returning to Dallas and this will be on the list of places to revisit! read more

Great atmosphere here with music played at a reasonable volume for even those approaching 40. They were out of 11 of their at-1st-glance-impressive 24-strong tap wall of craft beer but they still get high marks for overall atmosphere & laid back Deep Ellum vibe. read more

Off the Record - Friendly local bar vibe. - Sports Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

One of my favorite bars in Deep Ellum because of the wide array of music played.

A little surprised by how small the record selection was here (just two rows of records). The bar was cool and there was plenty of seating but I'm pretty sure something was wrong with their heat when we came last week because it was almost colder inside the bar than it was outside and everyone (including the bartender) was bundled up in jackets and sweatshirts. They have a great special on Thursday where cocktails are half-priced, which is neat and so I had the bartender make something new for me and it was only $4! Friendly service and cool concept, but I'm not sure I would make a special trip back to this bar just for two extra rows of records. read more

First time here. Wide range of craft beers. Friendly and attentive staff. Great drinks. Not a lot of sitting space tho.