Despite its suggestive name, Double D’s isn’t a strip club. The unforgettable slogan, “This is not a titty bar!,” will remind you so. But on April 1, the Design District cocktail lounge traded its dance floor for a runway, where bartenders sent out drinks crafted with purpose, and each rooted in memory.
Double D’s hosted its third annual Spring/Summer Cocktail Showcase, transforming the well-loved room into a fashion show where mixology moved with intention, personality, and a heavy pour of nostalgia.
“This is a super important thing for us, in our space,” said operating partner Jermey Elliot, at the start of the night. “A lot of people roll out new menus, new cocktails, and it’s kind of stuffy and kind of lame, and they’re very serious about it. We want to do something fun for the homies to showcase our bartenders and our local space.”
Even without the extravagant launch, the new cocktail menu is already a guaranteed hit. Named after the neighborhood it calls home, the Design District lounge is a collaboration between Elliot, Sung Joon Koo, and This and That concepts, the hospitality group behind Tiny Victories, Burger Schmurger, Hendys on Henderson, and Boogies. The group is led by Phil Schanbaum and Brandon Hays.
Since opening in late 2022, Double D’s has been deliberate in every way. The 1970s-inspired room mixes a basement-style lounge area complete with wood paneling and worn-in couches, pool tables, a dance floor, and a glowing neon sign that reads “Welcome to Double D’s All The Love.” In three years, it has grown into a hub for dancing, community, and unparalleled mixology. The 2026 spring and summer menu underscores that focus. “The homies work really, really hard on this,” Elliot said.
The ease is deceptive. Behind the scenes, menu development starts three months out, moving through ideation, experimentation, tastings, refinement, and cost analysis before landing on the final lineup that routinely draws lines that curve around the building. For this year’s showcase, the Double D’s bar team turned to sentimentality. “Every cocktail was created with a childhood memory or really good, fond memory of our staff,” Koo said.
With DJ Dezi 5 providing the soundtrack, nine new cocktails and three house favorites catwalked down the runway. Violet Breeze, created by bar staff member Glory Kaiser, opened the show. The lavender-forward refresher blends Lunazul Reposado, lavender, lemon, and soda, inspired by the scent of her mother, who recently moved to Mexico. It sips floral and bright, with soft citrus notes. It’s a reminder of her mother every day she’s making and serving her drink, Kaiser noted.
First Bloom—a mix of Lunazul Blanco, Jasmine, citrus oleo, cranberry, and lime mix—draws inspiration from bartender Jaylen Freeman’s gender discovery journey. The aromatic cocktail is a layered tribute to childhood self expression. “It’s delicate and sweet, yet strong and fragrant,” Koo said.
Arcade Dreams taps into Dustin Doan’s love of 90s gaming, pulling its neon glow from consoles like the Nintendo Game Boy Color. Model Tori Pimentel struck a pose in a sequined martini skirt paired with a Double D’s t-shirt from the bar’s latest merch drop, sipping the Detonator. The sour apple martini riff nods to Warheads, bar team member Scott Pyzik’s favorite childhood candy. Just like its muse, it goes down with a sharp, electric pucker that hits immediately. Koo expressed tha that’s exactly what he wants everyone to feel with every sip.
Additional standouts include Dear Evelyn, a boozy apricot whiskey tea; El Despertar, a creamy añejo cocktail with mango toasted rice milk; Sugar Land Summer, a gin, Aperol, orange cordial, vanilla, lime, and vanilla foam concoction; and My Sweet Surrender, bartender Jarred Daniels’ brown butter-washed Bacardi cocktail compiled with Frangelico, Averna, and pecan.
By the end of the night, the runway blurred back into a jam-packed dance floor, cocktails in hand, and a disco ball sparkling overhead. For a laid back vibe, stop by Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. for discounted cocktails and all the love.
“Our wonderful staff is awesome, and we are really excited about you guys seeing what they have to offer,” Elliot says.
Double D’s, 1404 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, doubledsdallas.com
