Fort Worth, Texas: A Weekend Getaway Itinerary
Published January 26, 2023
If you are planning a short trip to Fort Worth, you’ve come to the right place! My friend Ismael and I recently spent a three-day weekend in Texas’s fifth-largest metropolis. I was very impressed with Panther City’s food, architecture, and friendly vibe!
Fort Worth is a prime candidate for a weekend destination. That’s because it’s right in the middle of the US and is served by one of the busiest airports in the country. The city itself is large, but you can check out the main attractions in 48 or 72 hours. We didn’t do everything Fort Worth has to offer, but we did leave feeling like we had seen the major highlights.
Since it’s the start of a new year, I really want to change up my travel habits and do more long weekend getaways. That used to be my primary mode of travel back in 2017 and 2018, but the pandemic made short trips less feasible. Now that things are basically back to normal, I plan to get into it again!
This post is broken down into the following sections. While this itinerary is based on a three-day visit (Saturday morning arrival and Monday evening departure), we covered about 90% of what’s featured here within the first two days. To skip down to any section, click or tap the corresponding link below!
Explore Downtown Fort Worth
Some American city centers can be a little underwhelming, especially post-COVID. Luckily, that’s not the case for Fort Worth! Downtown is a compact and walkable district with some beautiful public spaces. This section will feature what I liked most about Downtown.
Amazing Architecture
Perhaps my favorite thing about Fort Worth is its very impressive architecture. This is something I wasn’t aware of before visiting, but Panther City is great if you love eye-catching, ornate buildings!
A variety of styles are represented Downtown. Apparently, many of the most prominent structures were built in the 1920s and 1930s. There are significant art deco elements, plus Southwestern stylistic motifs.
Sundance Square
This beautiful open-air plaza is the very center of Fort Worth. It’s a great place to explore first if you’re staying downtown. There’s a fountain, a mural on its north side, a giant shiny cowboy hat to take pictures with (although I’m not sure if that’s permanent or not), a stage for live music, and a pretty Art Deco building along its western edge.
Fort Worth Water Gardens
You can find this unique park on the south side of Downtown, but I recommend exercising caution if you decide to visit. That’s because the park actually seems pretty dangerous. We were shocked that the Water Gardens include massive steps and elevated sections with steep, multi-story drop-offs that have no guardrails.
In addition, one of the main attractions includes a fountain built into a depression in the ground with stone steps leading down into the center. It looks cool, but one misstep could easily result in injury. This part of the Water Gardens also has no handrails. Some of these steps are very small and wet due to splashing water. We saw parents carrying toddlers, elderly people, and women in high heels all descending precariously into the bottom of this basin.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens looks cool, and some of its pools and fountains are picturesque and serene. In spite of its aesthetic, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend this attraction.
West Lancaster Avenue (Fort Worth T&P)
This southern end of downtown feels pretty quiet, but I love the gorgeous architecture in this area. In particular, the Fort Worth T&P Station (Texas & Pacific Lofts), the Post Office, and the Old T&P Warehouse are three stunning historic structures all along the south side of West Lancaster Avenue.
According to Visit Fort Worth, the T&P Station is an example of Zigzag Moderne, a specific type of art deco. Both the station and the warehouse were originally built for the Texas and Pacific (T&P) Railway Company, dating back to the 1870s.
Other Neighborhoods to Visit
The city of Fort Worth is pretty spread out, so hopping between neighborhoods isn’t the easiest thing to do without a rental car. However, below are three additional areas that you could check out via Uber or Lyft.
Fort Worth Stockyards
The Stockyards are probably Fort Worth’s biggest tourist attraction. This area used to be one of the country’s biggest livestock markets along the old Chisholm Trail. Its history dates back to the 1840s, and its use has slowly shifted over the decades, especially once rail was replaced by trucking as a means of livestock transportation.
Today, the Stockyards are home to bars, restaurants, hotels, a rodeo arena, museums, and more. Centered around East Exchange Avenue, this district offers a fun but commercialized wild west experience. In all honesty, restaurants here seemed like tourist traps, so we never ate here. On top of that, the recommendation lists we saw online didn’t mention anything in the Stockyards.
However, we did happen to catch the cattle drive! Apparently, it happens at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. every day. An announcer gave a brief introduction, then the cattle came through. Stand anywhere along East Exchange Avenue a few minutes before the scheduled time. Other visitors had already started clearing the streets and finding a place on the sidewalk to watch a few minutes before it started.
In terms of going out, the Stockyards just wasn’t my vibe. The western end where the bars are (at the intersection of North Main Street and East Exchange Avenue) felt rowdy and chaotic on a Saturday night. Someone spilled a beer on my leg out on the street. On top of that, we felt a little underdressed.
I’m sure many people would find the Stockyards to be a fun place to bar-hop, but I liked going out more on Magnolia (more on that neighborhood below) and Downtown.
Cultural District
This neighborhood west of Downtown feels like an up-and-coming area. We didn’t have time to visit any of the museums located along Gendy Street, nor did we go out for drinks on West 7th Street (which we heard was a popular area for nightlife). However, we did get lunch here one day. I also enjoyed seeing the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Address: 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://fwbg.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortWorthBotanicGarden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortworthbotanicgarden/
Even though we visited in January when the trees were barren, this huge garden was still pretty cool. In particular, the Japanese Garden here is absolutely stunning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more impressive Japanese garden anywhere else!
There are koi ponds where you can feed the fish, beautiful bridges, a gift shop, and lots of little nooks and crannies to explore in the Japanese Garden. I loved that it was still beautiful despite the mostly barren trees.
In addition to the Japanese Garden, the Lower Rose Garden is another highlight of the Botanic Garden. However, workers were landscaping it when we passed by. I’m sure it’s even prettier in spring when the flowers are blooming and no longer under construction.
West Magnolia Avenue
The commercial strip along West Magnolia Avenue between 8th Avenue and Hemphill Street has lots of interesting bars and restaurants. It’s got more of a laid-back vibe than the Stockyards, and it feels more walkable than the Cultural District.
If you plan to spend a night bar hopping on Magnolia, try to arrive a little early. Many places here seem to do last call around 11:00 p.m. or earlier.
Fort Worth's Food Scene
The two things I absolutely loved about Fort Worth were the architecture and the food! There are so many delicious, decadent Southern and Southwestern specialties to try here. Below are some of my recommendations.
BBQ
I will try barbecue almost anywhere I can find it. I love that so many US states and cities have their own unique style. The brisket and ribs we had in Fort Worth were excellent! We tried two different places: Panther City BBQ and Heim BBQ.
Panther City BBQ
Address: 201 E Hattie St, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Website: https://www.panthercitybbq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/817PantherCityBBQ/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panthercitybbq/
This BBQ joint ended up being our first impression of Fort Worth, and it was an excellent one! There was a somewhat slow-moving line to order, but it was absolutely worth the wait. I loved the ribs, brisket, pork belly burnt ends, mac and cheese, and smoked pecan bread pudding. Their collard greens were a little salty but still had a ton of flavor.
Heim BBQ
Address: 1109 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Website: https://heimbbq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heimbarbecue
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heimbarbecue/
We ended up trying Heim because it’s centrally located on Magnolia, and they’re open longer hours and more days than most other places. However, we did encounter much of their menu sold out when we tried to go for a slightly late lunch. Nonetheless, we still managed to get some delicious smoked meats! As a general rule, it might be a good idea to go for an early barbecue lunch. Some other places are only open for a few hours on the weekends.
Burgers
Another classic Fort Worth specialty is a good old-fashioned cheeseburger. This is probably because the city’s history is deeply intertwined with cattle ranching! We only had time to try one place, but it was amazing!
Rodeo Goat
Address: 2836 Bledsoe St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://www.rodeogoat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodeoGoat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodeogoatfortworth/
Rodeo Goat is a chain, but they only have locations in Texas. Their large menu of unique burgers made my mouth water, and we took a while to decide what we wanted. I got a seasonal one with jalapeño. It was so tasty and juicy! Ismael and I also split a “Cheese Fries Surprise” (pictured below) that was just as good as the burgs.
On top of amazing food, Rodeo Goat offered excellent, friendly service and delicious cocktails. We couldn’t stop ordering them (more on that below)!
Other Burger Joints to Consider
If we had an extra day or two, we probably would’ve also tried M&O Station Grill and Fuego Burger. Based on photos online, all of these burger joints seem to add their own flair to America’s most iconic meal, and all are highly rated.
Mexican & Tex-Mex
After researching Fort Worth’s food scene, we basically came to the realization that the three must-try dishes here are BBQ, burgers, and Tex-Mex. (I guess if you don’t eat meat, that’s something to keep in mind! We did see one or two vegan restaurants on Magnolia, but not a ton of options.) We had a delicious Mexican dinner at Los Asaderos, a little bit south of the Stockyards.
Los Asaderos
Address: 1535 N Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76164
Website: https://losasaderos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asaderos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asaderosfw/
This cozy place is known for their margaritas and tasty Mexican food. Both Ismael and I ordered the chicken and beef fajita combo with rice and beans. The meat was tender and flavorful, and their house margaritas were just right – not too sweet, which is a major plus in my book!
Local Fine Dining
I typically look for casual restaurants when I travel. But I’m always open to splurging at least once per trip, especially for a nice meal that you can’t get anywhere else. The obvious choice for a fancy dinner was Reata, which you can read about below!
Reata Restaurant
Address: 310 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://www.reata.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReataRestaurant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reatarestaurant/
Reata’s website says that they specialize in “legendary Texas cuisine,” which immediately piqued my interest when we were looking for an upscale place to have dinner. Their menu is a nice mix of homestyle southern cooking, Mexican-inspired dishes, and steaks.
One appetizer here really stood out to me: the calf fries (pictured in the foreground below). The menu doesn’t explain what they are, but our waiter made sure to ask us if we knew what we were getting. We looked it up earlier, so we did! I suggest you do the same if you’re curious, because the name is definitely a euphemism. With that said, I am the type of adventurous eater that would definitely have to try them!
They were a little chewy, but other than that, the dish sort of reminded me of popcorn chicken. They came in two giant onion rings (perhaps symbolically?) and were served with a sort of unusual gravy that looked like ranch dressing. We also shared a starter of bacon-wrapped shrimp that was deliciously crunchy.
For our main dishes, I got a blackened buffalo rib eye and Ismael ordered a cowboy bone-in rib eye. I honestly thought his steak was a little better, but I still liked my dish. Our waiter advised that buffalo is a leaner meat, and this was definitely true.
Note that Reata is likely moving locations in the next year or two, so check their website or confirm over the phone before heading this way. That’ll be too bad if they do, since their dining room has a lot of southern charm to it, and their rooftop bar is modern yet cozy.
Pearl Snap Kolaches
Address: 4006 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://pskolaches.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PearlSnapKolaches/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pearlsnapkolaches/
This rich Czech pastry is apparently a Texas thing, so we had to get some! Fort Worth’s best-known shop is Pearl Snap Kolaches, which is named after the type of button that can often be found on cowboy western shirts.
Kolaches come in sweet varieties (the four on the left with fruit filling in the picture above) and as a savory sausage roll (the two on the right). All of them were great and made for an excellent breakfast.
Drinks & Bars
In Fort Worth, we did our fair share of drinking, but the weekend didn’t center around alcohol. Instead, we used bars as a kind of baseline for getting a sense of some of the neighborhoods discussed above. Below, you’ll find some fun places to consider.
Cocktails at Rodeo Goat
Address: 2836 Bledsoe St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://www.rodeogoat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodeoGoat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodeogoatfortworth/
All of the drinks we tried at this popular burger place tasted amazing and packed a punch! We tried a couple fruity and sweet cocktails, so they were all easy to drink. This is a great place to have a few rounds while enjoying a filling meal.
Rooftop – Reata Restaurant
Address: 310 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://www.reata.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReataRestaurant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reatarestaurant/
The rooftop bar at Reata Restaurant offered a good view of the city as well as a standard list of cocktails. I enjoyed an espresso martini here with a backdrop of the Bank of America Tower and Wells Fargo Tower while we waited for our table downstairs to open up.
Refinery 714
Address: 714 Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76102 (Kimpton Harper Hotel Lobby, 24th Floor)
Website: https://www.theharperfortworth.com/restaurants-fort-worth/refinery-714/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kimpton/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimpton/
Refinery 714 is another bar that offers panoramic views of Fort Worth, located in the lobby of the Kimpton Harper Hotel. Look out the south windows to see the Fort Worth Convention Center, or peer north to see some of the impressive architecture surrounding Sundance Square.
Thompson's Bookstore
Address: 900 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://thompsonsbookstore.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thompsonsbookstore/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thompsonsftw/
This book-themed bar with a speakeasy (which unfortunately was not open when we visited) is one of the more memorable places we found. I ordered a “From Dusk Till Dawn,” which included mezcal, cold brew, mole bitters, and a smoked chili. It was definitely complex, and its dark brown color was striking.
The Magnolia Wine Bar
Address: 1101 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Website: https://themagnoliawinebar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMagnoliafw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themagnoliafw/
When we realized that Magnolia has a few wine bars, we figured we’d try one. Their chardonnay flight seemed like an interesting option. I’m no wine expert, but trying to discern the different subtle flavors was fun!
The Chat Room Pub
Address: 1263 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
The Chat Room Pub is a casual, cozy bar: the perfect place to get a few rounds of vodka soda. They have an outdoor patio and an indoor section with a sporty vibe.
Coffee Ideas
I’m always looking for cool coffee shops whenever I travel! I liked the two mentioned below that are both Downtown.
Pax & Beneficia Coffee
Address: 101 W 5th St Suite 105, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://paxandbeneficia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paxandbeneficia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paxandbeneficia/
This modern cafe was right next to our Airbnb, so I got a cold brew here one afternoon. I loved that even in January, Fort Worth was warm enough for an iced coffee beverage! That simply isn’t the case for Chicago where I currently live.
Vaquero Coffee Co.
Address: 109 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://www.vaquerocoffeeco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaqueroCoffeeCo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaquerocoffeeco/
This coffee shop near the Tarrant County Courthouse has a retro vibe and a lot of charm. I ordered an iced lavender oat milk latte here (yeah, I know, I’m basic sometimes). It was delicious!
Transportation, Where to Stay, and Other Tips
Allow me to be upfront: Fort Worth is lacking in public transportation (like many American cities). We used Uber and Lyft to get from one part of town to another, and found that this was significantly cheaper than renting a car. However, we never ventured super far (i.e. more than a twenty-minute drive) from the city center.
The one nice thing that Fort Worth has is a train (TEXRail Trinity Metro) that travels between Downtown and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. We took it both ways and enjoyed the ride! You’ll get to see some of the north suburbs on the way if you decide to try the train.
In terms of where to stay, we chose an Airbnb in the Kress Building. This beautiful example of art deco architecture is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also in the very heart of Downtown, which meant we could reach any part of the central business district on foot within about ten minutes.
Other places you might stay include the Stockyards and the Cultural District. However, I’m glad we found a beautiful, spacious loft in the city center.
Should You Visit Fort Worth or Dallas?
I spent a weekend in Dallas back in 2019, and I have to admit that I liked Fort Worth more. Now, keep in mind that I’ve only spent one weekend in each city, so I’m basing this on first impressions. With that said, I found Fort Worth to have a more unique overall vibe. The food scene and the architecture really stood out to me.
If you’re a travel enthusiast like I am, you should eventually see both Dallas and Fort Worth. Someday I hope to become acquainted with all of Texas’s major cities, including San Antonio and Houston. I’m also intrigued by the geography of West Texas, and would love to check out the Rio Grande Valley at some point!
Enjoy Your Weekend in Fort Worth!
Hopefully this travel guide serves as a starting point for anyone who already has tickets to visit Fort Worth! And if you’re on the fence about a weekend here, I hope this blog post convinced you to go immerse yourself in Panther City’s unique buckaroo vibe.
Have you been to Fort Worth? Is there anything I missed that you recommend? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading, y’all!
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This post was published on Jan 26, 2023
The Caffeinated Man Behind The Blog
Where I’ve Been
Wow, I really want to explore more of Texas now, I can’t believe I’ve only been to Austin! The food looked amazing, Mexican and BBQ are definitely some of my favorites!