City Tavern was one of the few laid-back spots to grab a beer in downtown Dallas when it opened four years ago.

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JASON JANIK/Special Contributor

Guests chill out with drinks and a smoke at the bar inside City Tavern.

--> image1 ends here -->That's still the case today, and it may be why the bar is still around. Many of its Main Street neighbors – including nightclub Euphoria and upscale restaurant Jeroboam – haven't been so lucky.

The bar always seemed to exist quietly, but a change in ownership about a year ago has given City Tavern new life. Owner Joshua Florence, a former Road Rules cast member (the Latin America season), has brought in live music five days a week and restocked the jukebox to include bands such as the Shins and the Flaming Lips.

The new mix has created a lively pool of regulars and spawned a new motto: "Home of the free high-fives." Cheesy, but sincere.

Around 11 p.m. on a recent Saturday, the pub was crowded with mid- to late-twentysomethings, most casually dressed in jeans and sweaters. A handful wore blazers, but they all left by 11:30. (Off to Uptown, perhaps?)

Two-dollar bills were taped around the bar, each with different messages. One read: "Owww! My liver!" On a liquor shelf, we noticed a near-empty bottle of Herradura tequila. Good sign.

This isn't really a place to people-watch, so for the next hour or so, we amused ourselves. We watched Wheel of Fortune and derided the dumb contestants, and we played game after game of Photo Hunt (which isn't the same now that they've removed the X-rated version).

The bartender kept our glasses full of Widmer, an Oregon Hefeweizen. It paired well with City Tavern's quesadillas. The kitchen's open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

City Tavern has arcade games, too, but we'll have to save those for next time. Photo Hunt had zapped our observation skills.

Lesley has her eye on Big Buck Hunter. E-mail her at ltellez@quickdfw.com.

City Tavern

1402 Main St.

214-745-1402

What to wear: Whatever you want.

What the music is like: The jukebox plays only when someone requests a song; otherwise, adult alternative music is piped in from satellite radio. (We heard My Chemical Romance.) Live music includes rock, blues, funk and acoustic.

Drink of choice: A Dirty Dusty Special – it's a can of Pabst and a shot of Jack Daniels. It's $4.

Seen/heard: From a 30-ish bald man: "I don't need a body bag, I need a [unintelligible]!"

Smoking: After 2 p.m. only.

Cover charge: None.

Bottom line: Perfect if you want to hang out downtown but don't want to get dressed up. --> Image2 start //

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