16 Best Things to Do in Richardson, Texas

By VacationIdea Staff on March 6, 2023 - Updated

Courtesy of Studio Romantic - Fotolia.com

Richardson, TX is an inner suburb of Dallas> that is modern and affluent. It is home of The University of Texas at Dallas and over 5,000 businesses, mostly in the telecommunication field. Richardson is also a cultural center, especially since the opening of the huge Charles W. Eisemann Center. Visitors can enjoy 40 miles of hiking and biking trails and 23 miles of walkways through serene Galatyn Woodland Preserve and the Spring Creek Nature Area. Here are the best things to do in Richardson, TX.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Charles W. Eisemann Center

The Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations is a modern performance hall that opened in 2002 in Richardson. The building is an architectural jewel that won a number of awards. It consists of Margaret and Al Hill Performance Hall, the Bank of America Hall, and the Bank of America Theatre. They are all connected by a magnificent three-story high lobby.

The Margaret and Al Hill Performance Hall is a 1,563-seat theatre designed to serve the needs for any opera, dance, musical, or theatre-performing group. The Bank of America Theatre can seat up to 400 people and is designed to be a versatile and flexible performance space. The Bank of America Hall is a 3,150 square foot room with barrel vaulted ceilings, and it is used to host private receptions, meetings, banquets, seminars, exhibits, and small tradeshows.

2351 Performance Dr, Richardson, TX 75082, Phone: 972-744-4650

2.Visual Arts Building - The University of Texas at Dallas

The Visual Arts Building is home to galleries, studios, and photography labs. Guests are invited to tour the Main Exhibition Gallery where there are always great works of art on display. Mediums include paint, sculpture, photography, and print-making.

Exhibitions may feature student or faculty works, graduate theses, or invitationals.

3.Sherrill Park Golf Course

Located in the outskirts of Richardson and built in 1980, Sherrill Park Golf Course is considered one of the top 100 golf courses in Texas. It offers magnificent views and a fairly challenging game regardless of your skill level. The fairways and greens are very well groomed, and the professional staff is available to offer you tips and tricks to help you improve your game or play your best round yet.

The Course No 1 has been fully renovated and now offers even more challenging conditions. The Course No 2 is known for its wide-open fairways with water hazards on many holes. The course features a Club House, a Pro Shop, and a Tournament Pavilion.

2001 E Lookout Dr, Richardson, TX 75082, Phone: 972-234-1416

4.Four Bullets Brewery, Richardson, Texas

Four Bullets Brewery is Richardson's first craft brewery, and it is quickly becoming a favorite neighborhood hangout not only for beer fans but for anyone who enjoys spending Saturday afternoon in a fun pub atmosphere. The brewery is cozy and inviting with quirky décor filled with art, beer paraphernalia, and a fun fake fireplace.

Well-crafted beers range from Royal Flush Red (Irish red ale) and Two Pairs Pale Ale (American pale ale) to Black Jack Brown (English brown ale). Their English Brewmaster Andrew Smeeton is working on a true English bitter. There is an oversized Jenga set for those who want a fun activity and a few outside picnic tables for those who want to enjoy their beer with food truck offerings. Don't miss a brewery tour given by one of the brew masters, as they are always willing to talk about the brewing process and what is in the making.

640 N Interurban St, Richardson, TX 75081

5.AMF Bowling Center, Richardson, Texas

AMF Bowling Centers provide a fun, fresh bowling experience for children and adults. At the AMF Center in Richardson, 40 state-of-the-art lanes with lights and digital displays are available. In addition, the center offers billiards and a video game arcade, and their snack bar provides classic bowling alley favorites such as pizza, buffalo wings, sandwiches, beer, and cocktails. They will even bring your order right to your lane. League bowling, private parties, and food and drink specials are available every week.

2101 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080, Phone: 972-231-2695

6.Haystack Burgers & Barley

Decorated in a fun Western motif, Haystack Burgers & Barley is a relaxed family-run burger joint that serves fancy, handcrafted burgers, sandwiches, and salads you can wash down with a nice choice of beers on tap. There is a cozy outdoor patio that is great for nice days.

Their burgers are imaginative, fresh, and delicious. The signature Haystack Burger, for example, consists of a large juicy patty covered with deep-fried onion strings, hickory-smoked bacon, and BBQ sauce, and it comes with the standard tomato, lettuce, and a pickle on a fresh bun. Another big seller is the Chicken Fried Burger, a chicken fried steak drenched in bacon-jalapeno gravy on a delicious bun.

Richardson Heights Village, 100 S Central Expy #17, Richardson, TX 75080, Phone: 972-479-9424

7.Free Play Arcade, Richardson, Texas

It's the arcade for children and adults! The Richardson Free Play Arcade features over 80 retro arcade games, including classics such as Donkey Kong, Dr. Mario, Ms. Pacman, and Space Invaders. There are also cocktail games and pinball machines.

All games are set to “free play,” so there's no need to bring quarters! Free Play also offers a wide selection of beers and a variety of snacks and arcade foods. Free Play is also available for parties and group events.

1730 East Belt Line Road, Richardson, TX 75081, Phone: 469-828-1639

8.City Line

City Line is the urban neighborhood that has it all; shopping, dining, office and retail space, parks, and a contemporary hotel are all here. A variety of restaurants serving everything from sushi to barbeque to donuts can be found in the area, and events such as free yoga classes, food tastings, and concerts take place here throughout the year.

City Line even offers luxury apartments for those who want to live in the heart of the city. The neighborhood is located at the intersection of US-75 and the George Bush Turnpike. It is easily accessible by car, bus, or train to the Dallas metro area.

9.Jeng Chi, Richardson, Texas

Located in the Richardson Terrace Shopping Center, Jeng Chi is a spacious, tastefully decorated Chinese restaurant with a classic Chinese menu that does not disappoint. It is one of those rare Chinese restaurants that sees an equal number of Chinese and non-Chinese clients - they found a perfect balance between authenticity and adapted cuisine to suit a Western palate.

Noodles and dumpling dough are made fresh by hand on the premises. Vegetarian dumplings are filled with wood ear mushrooms, tofu, and rice vermicelli, and they are pieces of art. The most popular dish is pork soup dumpling (xiao long bao) - slurping the broth from these noodle puffs is an absolute treat. The restaurant serves a selection of import and domestic beers, and wines from California, Chile, Argentina and Italy.

Richardson Terrace Shopping Center, 400 N Greenville Ave #11, Richardson, TX 75081, Phone: 972-669-9094

10.Ali Baba Mediterranean Grill

Ali Baba is a spacious Mediterranean-Lebanese restaurant that is so popular you might find it hard to get a table for lunch. One big reason is their enormous lunch buffet, which allows you to sample the wonderful variety Mediterranean cuisine offers. Fresh and intensely flavored, Mediterranean food is delicious and healthy, with a mix of grilled meats and interesting salads.

If you are new to this exquisite cuisine, start with mezze, a mix of small plates that usually consist of lot of fresh pita bread that you dip in savory delights such as hummus, a chickpeas paste with ground sesame and garlic, baba ghanosh, a puree of eggplant and tahini sauce, and tabouleh, a flavorful salad of burghul (cracked wheat), garlic, parsley, tomato, and lemon juice. The menu boasts delightful Mediterranean favorites, made from top quality ingredients, using old family recipes - it's good enough to make you a fan forever.

2103 N Central Expy, Richardson, TX 75080, Phone: 972-437-1222

11.The Spa at II Creeks

The Spa at II Creeks has consistently been voted the best in Richardson for quality of services and environment. This spa offers an extensive list of both traditional spa treatments and alternative therapies. Indulge in a classic relaxation or deep tissue massage, or try something new with reflexology or Reiki sessions.

The spa also offers skincare treatments for the face, eyes, and hands, as well as body wraps, detoxification, and nail treatments. A full range of spa treatments for men and for pregnant women are also available. Appointments can be made by phon.

2701 Custer Parkway, Ste 702, Richardson, TX 75080, Phone: 972-231-8731

12.Fun Asia, Richardson, Texas

Fun Asia is a multimedia company that brings the best of South Asian arts and entertainment to the Richardson area. Their 3-screen theatre shows a variety of Indian films and concerts with digital projection, Dolby surround sound, and stadium seating.

Fun Asia also maintains a large website and email service, a 24-hour Bollywood radio station, and a 196-page monthly print magazine. You can find movie showtimes online or by calling the theatre's hotline. Things to do in Texas

1210 E.Beltline Rd., Richardson, TX 75081, Phone: 972-889-8000

13.Fish and Fizz, Richardson, TX

Fish and Fizz brings classic British fare to Dallas, opened in 2019 by married duo Kelli and Nick Barclay. The restaurant specializes in entrees prepared with sustainably-caught Marine Stewardship Certified fish and seafood, caught within deep waters in Alaska and the Atlantic Ocean. Terrific classic fish and chips entrees are served up throughout the week, available baked or gluten-free and served up with hand-cut fries. British classics like bangers and mash, steak and ale pies, and cheese and potato pasties are also served, along with chip shop favorite additions like classic curry sauce, mushy peas, Guinness gravy, and Heinz English baked beans. Delicious British-style desserts end every meal with a sweet treat, including selections like bakewell tarts, Cornish cream tea ice cream bowls, and bread and butter puddings with double Devon cream.

400 N Coit Rd #1908, Richardson, TX 75080, Phone: 469-687-0022

14.Snuffer's, Richardson, Texas

Snuffer's is a delicious American-style restaurant and bar chain in the Dallas region, originally opened in the city's Lower Greenville district in 1978. Today, the restaurant offers several locations throughout the greater Dallas area, including a location in Richardson, and serves a signature menu of classic American fare in an old-school dining environment. High-quality burgers are prepared fresh and cooked to order, ranging from classic bacon cheeseburgers to creative preparations with toppings such as fried jalapenos, green chiles, chili, guacamole, and hickory barbecue sauce. Diners can also enjoy favorites such as patty melts, hand-battered chicken strips, Texas giant chili dogs, and hand-battered black Angus chicken fried steak.

300 W Campbell Rd #100, Richardson, TX 75080, Phone: 469-998-1479

15.Breckenridge Park

At over 400 acres, Breckenridge Park is the largest of the parks maintained by the City of Richardson, and itcontains a large sports complex with 12 soccer fields and 2 softball fields. Visitors can hike along the park's 4.5 miles of hiking trails or enjoy a picnic at one of the picnic tables or two covered pavilions.

There are also playground structures, ponds, a gazebo, and on-site restrooms. Breckenridge Park is open 365 days a year free of charge. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.

3555 Brand Rd, Richardson, TX 75080

16.Alamo Draft House Cinema, Richardson, TX

The Alamo Draft House provides patrons with a unique movie-going experience. Guests can watch the latest releases or a selection from the cinema's classic repertory on a state-of-the-art screen while enjoying delicious food and beverages. The Draft House prides itself on serving fresh, made-to-order movie snacks such as burgers and fresh chocolate chip cookies.

They also serve a variety of craft beers and cocktails. The cinema has a no texting or talking policy that is strictly enforced, allowing guests to enjoy films without interruptions.

100 South Central Expressway, Richardson Heights Village, Richardson, TX 75080, Phone: 972-534-2120