Anything that seems exclusive or, better yet, forbidden is intriguing. Enter the back bar, a speakeasy-style lounge that offers a clubbier experience than mainstream wining and dining.

1. Beverley’s new, private bar is a sexier sibling of the bright, high-polish bistro at the fore. Accessible through a semiseparated courtyard, the cozy event space sports lagoon-hued velvet banquettes, deep-blue walls and jungle print wildcat wallpaper. 3215 N. Fitzhugh Ave., 214.915.8840, beverleysdallas.com

2. Taipei Room, the hideaway bar at Alice, is a sake-fueled karaoke hub. The graffiti-accented urban space does triple duty as a late-night hangout, private party room and spillover dining area on particularly busy nights. 1623 N. Hall St., 469.872.0001, alicedallas.com

3. ABV Establishment services the vibe of a private club with plush jewel-tone sofas and plenty of leather. Every Thursday is jazz night at ABV, which awaits up the back staircase from Leela’s Wine Bar. 1914 Greenville Ave., 469.778.0201, abvestablishment.com

4. Akai means “red” in Japanese and such is the glamorous decor in this moody lounge cached behind the kitchen at Musumé. A sinewy dragon curls overhead as guests sip creative after-dinner cocktails blended with Japanese whisky and other spirits. Be sure to ask for Akai by name or you may not gain entry. 2330 Flora St., 214.871.8883, musumedallas.‌com