Dallas’ next generation of nightlife has entered the chat. Sexy, female-forward cocktail lounge Ritual opens Wednesday, February 4 in Old East Dallas, taking over the former Alice space and ushering in a new era of lounge-driven nightlife.
“This is what people need: more inclusivity, loungey, and where they can have a conversation with no strobe lights in their eyes,” says Ritual partner, Chris Evans.
Founded in collaboration with Justiin Kalhoff, manager partner of Colombian Country Club, Ritual marks the ownership debut of Evans and Cole Howard. While first-time owners, the duo bring more than a decade of industry experience across Texas.
“No matter where you’re from, what you’ve been through, if you work your ass off, do the work, you can accomplish whatever you want in this life,” Howard expressed on Instagram. “Ritual is the embodiment of it, a commitment to the process.”
Evans’ magnetic personality has taken him from working the door at establishments on Austin’s Sixth Street to joining the opening team at Dallas’ Green Light Social. Howard began his career behind the bar before moving into leadership roles across Dallas’s dining scene. He served as a managing partner of Komodo Dallas, joined Green Light Social’s opening team, and was the former general manager of Hendy’s on Henderson—one of 2025’s breakout hits.
Drawing on years of frontline experience, the partners have pinpointed a shift in Dallas nightlife, one that blends old school with new school through a hyper-feminine lens.
“The girls are the ones who want to go out and grab drinks with their friends,” says Hannah Sharpe, Ritual’s general manager. “The girls come, and guys will want to come. The girls are driving the nightlife.”
Dallas’ nightlife and culinary culture are increasingly centered on the female gaze. The glamorous Evelyn, a feminine-forward steakhouse in the Design District, emerged as 2025’s it girl. Delilah’s Dallas outpost promises maximum glitz and is already topping lists of anticipated 2026 openings for the city’s elite female tastemakers.
Ritual debuts with a sultry ambiance designed for moments when a sexy alter ego takes over. The former Alice space, which permanently closed in 2025 due to extensive storm damage, has been reimaged with red velvet draping, candlelight, plush banquettes, and signature red roses.
The lounge balances moody, late-night ease with dialed up weekend energy powered by a state-of-the-art sound system. DJs will set the tone, including Evelyn’s DJ Em.e and Sinclair, a Dallas-based DJ known for blending turntables with live guitar.
“Now with owning, you can really appreciate it, and that resonates not only with the staff, but with the customers,” Evans says. “We know what the customer needs, and we know what the staff needs, and that’s culture.”
The space is dedicated to “giving women their flowers,” pairing an intimate backdrop with world-class cocktails by Paul Ramon, a Top 50 World Class U.S. Bartender. His menu includes a sophisticated lineup of cocktails, mocktails, and cocktail-style shots. The Happy Birthday Mr. President cocktail nods to Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 serenade to President John. F. Kennedy with a baby’s breath-granished passion fruit and vanilla Grey Goose spritzer. The Two Tone taps into matcha’s chic rise with Grey Goose, soju, strawberry purée, and matcha cold foam, while the Preston Road offers a local shoutout with Aperol blackberry sherbert, and lemon soda.
The menu is the epitome of girl dinner, living up to the lounge’s slogan “Small Bites, Late Nights.” Expect savory meatballs, parmesan-sprinkled fries, three cheese éclairs, and maple carbonara made with bucatini and maple guanciale.
Every detail is intentional. A forthcoming floral vending machine will feature bouquets from Dallas-based Lane Florist, while a patio photo booth has already taken over social media, with VIPs flaunting analog keepsakes. And, programming will include “Been a Day,” a happy hour dedicated to those draining afternoons that call for a cocktail, fries, and a stress-melting yap session.
“We want to be a ritual in everybody’s lives,” says Evans.
Ritual, 1623 N. Hall St., Ste. 108, ritualdallas.com
