Blackfriar in Uptown Dallas is moving up

by Sarah Blaskovich

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Upstairs, that is.

Photo by Sarah Blaskovich

There are even a few precious seats left on this particular day at Blackfriar Pub.

Blackfriar Pub on McKinney Avenue is expanding to the second story of their three-story building, an old house converted into a bar. The general manager hopes the second story will be open by the end of June.

Owner Feargal McKinney, who also owns Idle Rich Pub, Renfield's Corner, and the Old Monk, owns the entire three-story structure. The second story was previously rented by Dallas Apartment Finders. When their lease was up, McKinney decided to convert it into an upstairs bar with a patio. Upstairs, the existing patio on the east side (facing McKinney Avenue) will wrap around to the south side.

The space will have room for special tastings and tappings, but it will otherwise look like the rest of the bar. "It's going to be very similar -- a lot of wood, a European pub feel," said Charles Ries, general manager. "The view from upstairs is especially amazing ... so it looks out on a great view; good energy from Uptown, bustling McKinney Avenue; and it makes it a lot more fun." The area upstairs will have a full bar with draft beer and liquor. Construction has already begun.

For now, they have no plans to convert the third story of the building. It's currently a residential apartment, and Ries says he's already talked to the owner to explain that the bar (and the noise that comes with it) will move up one level.