North Texas is full of things to do, food to eat, and places to go. Many cities in the area boast thriving downtowns and historic districts and make great destinations for a romantic getaway or just a night out on the town. Wylie, Texas, has a quaint downtown with several unique experiences that you can only find in Wide Awake Wylie, and it’s the perfect destination for a night out. Here’s everything you need to know to plan a date night in Wylie, Texas.
Start off with lions (or, go shopping!)
Wylie is home to unique experiences that can extend your date night into a full day of fun.
Start the day off in downtown Wylie, supporting local small businesses and shopping at the local boutiques. You’ll find a variety of gifts, women and children clothing, and one-of-a-kind, artisan-made items in the shops lining Ballard Ave. Depending on the time of year it is, your visit might also align with popular local events, such as Bluegrass on Ballard, Boo on Ballard, or the Wylie Arts Festival. You can learn about all the big events happening in Wylie in 2025 here, or check weekly for smaller events on the Discover Wylie local events calendar.
If it’s a weekend, be sure to check out In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Education Center. The center is home to a wide variety of big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, and even cheetahs. The center is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the lifelong care of these animals. Be sure to look at the website for visiting hours, as they are limited to weekends and the occasional weekday, usually during Wylie ISD’s Spring Break.
Grab a nice dinner
In the last few years, Wylie has welcomed several new upscale restaurants to town. They are the perfect venue for a romantic dinner for two.
Creekside Fine Grill is centrally located on 544 and offers a wide variety of dinner options, from Pinot Noir Beef Short Rib to Spinach Dip Chicken Pasta (yum, right?). Service is friendly and attentive, and the ambiance is elevated. They also have a full bar and some great happy hour specials.
The South Southern Kitchen serves up southern cooking and can be found on Country Club. Owned by a Wylie family, the restaurant has a full bar and serves up homestyle southern cooking (Po’ Boyz, D’s Chicken, and The Dirty South being popular choices with locals).
Newest to town is Ferah Smokehouse and Cantina, a barbecue and Tex-Mex fusion restaurant with tasty cocktails and adventurous but still familiar menu items, like Brisket Lasagna, Airline Chicken (a personal favorite), and a Wedge Salad with queso fresco. You’ll also get some jalapeno cornbread to snack on while you wait for your meal.
If you’d prefer to stay downtown, you can never go wrong with Frankie’s Casa. This restaurant is always busy and packed with locals and people who drive from surrounding cities just to get their Frankie’s fix. Be sure to grab a famous Frankie’s premium margarita to sip on the patio. There’s also a good chance you’ll see Frankie!
Villa Vinci, also located downtown, is another great option if you’re craving Italian. Share a bottle of wine over a pizza or your favorite pasta.
Enjoy the entertainment
After dinner, take in a movie at Wylie B&B Theatres. Depending on the night, you might also be there for trivia, a popular event with a different topic each week. Wylie B&B is located in the same parking lot as Creekside Fine Grill. The movie theatre has a bar and a full selection of dinner food (pizza, fries, and chicken tenders being popular choices) that you can munch on while you watch the movie (in case you want to bypass a restaurant, or get your second wind while you’re watching the newest release!).
You can also find live music downtown. The Wylie Opry is open every Friday and Saturday night and is highly rated on Google by visitors. Friday night is bluegrass and gospel night, and Saturday night is country night. Enjoy local artists in this historic building.
Experience live local music on the weekends at Herman Marshall Whiskey, which is located just a short stroll from the Opry, or step across the street for the live acts at Bold BBQ (they even have a mid-week Open Mic night).
Finish with a nightcap
End the night with a nightcap at one of Wylie’s downtown adult beverage establishments (which are all family-friendly during the day, and all within walking distance of each other).
Enjoy a beer at Glen Echo Brewing, where you can sip on brews made here in Wylie from the comfort of its spacious taproom. If the weather is nice, take your beer outside and enjoy the patio seating. Depending on the night, you might catch a food truck or a special event.
Round out your date night with a glass (or a bottle) of wine at Landon Winery. If you’re still hungry, you can snack on a flatbread or a charcuterie board while you sip on a glass of your favorite wine (sweet wine lovers should try the Yellow Rose, and those who prefer a good red should reach for The Texan).
The Herman Marshall tasting room is just around the corner from Glen Echo. Whether you prefer a cocktail or like to take it neat, you’ll find something to drink at HM. If you’re not a whiskey fan, Herman Marshall also makes vodka and offers some very easy-to-drink vodka cocktails that are hard to resist.