Visit McKinney’s Downtown Square For Good Eats, Charming Hotels And Mom-And-Pop Shopping

“The downtown square maintains an authentic look and feel from the early 1900s, but it isn’t the sleepy, antique-filled square it was just 15 years ago.”

By Marika FlattNovember 1, 2018 12:05 pm,

If you love the throwback feeling of the movies “Back to the Future” and “Pleasantville,” then you need to add a weekend trip to McKinney to your must-do list!

Located just 30 miles from downtown Dallas, McKinney’s historic downtown square is a short but beautiful one-mile drive east of U.S. Highway 75 that takes you past homes in the city’s picturesque historic district. The downtown square maintains an authentic look and feel from the early 1900s, but it isn’t the sleepy, antique-filled square it was just 15 years ago. The 100 or so mom and pop businesses that fill the square offer a wide range of specialty shops, boutiques, wineries and more. You’ll even find a comedy club and an escape room here for evening entertainment.

You can spend the entire weekend on the square by booking a room at the boutique Grand Hotel & Ballroom. The Grand offers 45 plush rooms – ask for one that overlooks the square – and is attached to the four-star Rick’s Chophouse. The lounge at Rick’s offers live music and is perfect for adult beverages before or after dinner.

If you like bed-and-breakfasts, McKinney Bed and Breakfast, the Neathery Estate and the Red Gate Inn are all about a 10-minute walk from the square. They serve robust breakfasts or lighter fare for those who just like coffee or tea, and a bit of something sweet in the morning.

Back on the square, find treats for Fido at the Canine Cookie Company, beautiful gift items at A Number of Things, or fair-trade jewelry and more at Fair & Square Imports, to name a few.

If vintage is your thing, check out The Groovy Coop where you’ll find vinyl records, vintage clothing and décor and novelty items. Or tickle your taste buds at Loco Cowpoke Salsa Shop, Mom & Popcorn and Goodies Texas.

Shopping and exploring will no doubt make you hungry, and in downtown McKinney, you’ll have 20 or so locally owned restaurants that offer a wide range of delicious cuisines.

For farm-to-table options, try Harvest Seasonal Kitchen or Patina Green Home and Market. Other tasty choices include Spoons Café for comfort food, soups and salads; Sugarbacon Proper Kitchen for American cuisine with a Texas twist; or the Butcher Board for hearty, hand-carved artisanal sandwiches. For fish and chips, a beer and a game of darts, try The Celt Irish Pub, or enjoy an intimate French dinner at Éclair Bistro.

You can learn more about these and other Texas destinations in the travel issue of Texas Lifestyle magazine.