Women in Fort Worth are shaking (and stirring) up the bar industry, with more female owners and operators gracing the libation landscape in recent years. Some purposely pay homage to famous ladies with themed drinks and décor, while others operate as welcoming watering holes for any ol’ guy or gal. For the March edition of Where to Drink – which happens to be Women’s History Month – we’re highlighting nine women-owned bars in Fort Worth to visit right now. Let’s go girls.

Sidesaddle Saloon
The creation of Fort Worth native Sarah Castillo (Taco Heads, Tinie’s, La Pulga Tequila), Sidesaddle Saloon (122 E. Exchange Ave.) will mark five years next month in Mule Alley. Equal parts feminine and outlaw, the cowgirl-themed bar is perhaps the prettiest “watering hole” to ever exist in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Modern fixtures intermingle with Old West-style furnishings amid cowgirl wall art. Suitably, cocktails are named for notable Western women, including hall-of-fame trick roper Dixie Mosley (shaken with spiced rum and egg white foam), champion bronc rider Vivian White (made with peach Schnapp’s and vodka), and even modern-day cowgirl Gigi Howell of Westland Hospitality (think strawberry vodka, coconut syrup, and lime).

Cowboy Channel Bar
While “cowboy” is in the title, this Stockyards sports bar (112 E. Exchange Ave.) is owned and operated by a sister act. Raquel Gottsch Koehler and Gatsby Gottsch Solheim co-own the Cowboy Channel Bar and its parent company, RFD-TV, which is headquartered in Nashville with production studios in the Stockyards. The sisters took the reins last year from their father, Patrick Gottsch, who founded the family-owned media company in 2000. The Cowboy Channel Bar is touted as the first and only sports bar dedicated solely to Western sports. From roping and reining to barrel racing to bull riding, there’s always rodeo action broadcasting from multiple TVs. Patrons can saddle up to the long wooden bar or sit at one of the copper-topped cocktail tables with cowhide seating to order some of the coldest longnecks on East Exchange Avenue.

The Bearded Lady
When Shannon Osbakken opened The Bearded Lady (300 S. Main St.) in 2013, craft beer bars with multiple taps were unusual, as was “The Lady’s” obscure location in a creaky old house. (It was where Gusto’s Burger Bar sits today.) A location change in 2019 gave the gastropub more space, leading to a larger menu, craft cocktails, and a very popular corner patio. Osbakken keeps the bar’s quirky roots alive through her menu specials (this month’s burger feature is the Paddy O’Reuben), cocktail of the month (March offers a pineapple ranch water called Tropic Like It’s Hot), and festive events.

Proper
Surviving a pandemic and a breast cancer diagnosis, Proper owner Lisa Little-Adams has weathered many storms in her small space at 409 W. Magnolia Ave., all while building a loyal clientele of cocktail enthusiasts looking for peace and quiet. Opened in 2014, Proper is one of Fort Worth’s original – and longest-running – craft cocktail bars thanks to Little-Adams’ unfussy service, cozy atmosphere, and creative cocktails. She was the first in the area to jump on the Christmas pop-up trend and still creates her own version of the themed bar takeover every year. Little-Adams is also credited with long highlighting local artists, displaying their art on her walls while not taking a cut if pieces are sold.

Wines from a Broad
This downtown wine bar is not only woman-owned but celebrates women in wine. Opened by chef-caterer-restaurateur Dena Shaskan in 2023, Wines From A Broad (317 Houston St.) exclusively serves wine from female winemakers, winery owners, and grape growers – with more than 150 wines offered. The aesthetic is girly pink, with pink velvet couches and artwork by female artists. Even the playlist is dominated by female musicians. Shaskan also features shareable bites showcasing her longtime culinary expertise. Visit on Sunday afternoons for an art collab with nearby Lookout Hill DIY featuring an art project paired with wine.

WineHaus
Originally opened by Lindsey Kohn in 2013, the Park Place Avenue wine chateau changed hands a couple of times before Deanna Stuart, a resident of the nearby Fairmount neighborhood, took the reins in 2024. Today WineHaus (1628 Park Place Ave.) sticks to Kohn’s original mission of supporting high quality small batch wineries from around the world while also keeping a full calendar of events, from Wine Down Wednesday Yoga to Sip Sessions: Song Writers and Wine on the patio. WineHaus was also one of the first in Fort Worth to offer wine on tap, boasting 16 taps total featuring a rotating lineup of independent producers.

Liberty Lounge
Jenna Hill-Higgs left her teaching career after nearly two decades to open Liberty Lounge (5156 S. Jennings St.) in Fort Worth’s South Side in 2020, initially delayed by the pandemic shutdown. With a wall-sized mural exclaiming, “Wild, Brave & Free” in bright colors, the bar was established to welcome all walks of life with a smile, an intentional objective by Hill-Higgs that’s resulted in rave reviews and a loyal customer base. With diverse wall art, eccentric light fixtures, bookshelves, and a checkered floor, the dive bar slings classic cocktails, signature shots, and offers daily happy hour featuring $3.75 wells and domestics. Paint-and-sip events and book club nights keep the calendar full.

The Boiled Owl Tavern
Pioneering bar owner Autumn Brackeen opened The Boiled Owl Tavern at 909 W. Magnolia Ave. in 2012, making her the longest-running Fort Worth female bar owner on this list. With experience in the service industry in New York City working at blue-collar bar neighborhood bars (she served many first responders of the 9/11 attacks), Brackeen returned to Fort Worth when Magnolia Avenue was just becoming a walkable hot spot. She opened with a lengthy menu of craft beers (and still offers more than 100 today) along with an impressive array of spirits in a laid-back atmosphere. Brackeen is also one of the owners of nearby Tarantula Tiki Lounge, opened in 2020 and located in the nearby South Main Street district.

Salute Wine Bar
Marking two years in business last month, Salute is currently Fort Worth’s only pour-your-own wine bar. The concept took over former the 38 & Vine space (212 Carroll St.) but kept the previous tenant’s innovative dispenser system. The Foundry District bar was opened by wife-and-husband duo, Jyl and John Lopez, but it’s Jyl who is widely recognized as the face of the business. Patrons can experience the freedom of trying more than 40 wines by small or large pours, with Jyl’s guidance if desired. Small plates like grazing boards, meatball marinara, chicken salad, and “dirty martini” crostinis provide sustenance for pairing.