Austin Summer Getaways: Lockhart
South of Austin, this town is famous for its charming square and legendary barbecue
Old Pal Bar
Austin’s Nickel City owner Travis Tober has teamed up with Rich Reimbolt of Better Half for the honky-tonk collaboration we didn’t know we needed. While Tober has curated an agave- and whiskey-focused cocktail menu, Reimbolt brings his creative talents to the kitchen as consulting chef with a menu featuring hearty selections like sweet potato fries and delicious chicken tenders. Paul Fusheck of Arts and Recreation is the brains behind branding, interior design and the bar’s iconic sign.
Walk the Square
Barbecue has long reigned as the main reason to set your GPS to Lockhart, but a trio of new businesses have popped up over the past year as destinations in their own right. Anytime is a good time to wander the historic downtown square, admiring the Caldwell County Courthouse, but First Fridays is a fun monthly event with live music in the square. Grab dinner at one of these new restaurants or make a pit stop for snacks and drinks at all three.
Little Trouble
Located in the historic 1898 Brock Building in downtown Lockhart, Little Trouble features American-style cuisine from chef Casey
Wilcox. The restored and renovated space has a speakeasy ambiance thanks to its underground locale, accessed by a street-level staircase under the glowing “Little Trouble” neon sign. Grab a cozy spot at a table or pull up a seat at the venue’s centerpiece: a show-stopping custom-made bar built by Wilcox.
Commerce Cafe
Situated kitty-corner from Little Trouble is Commerce Cafe, the second outpost for Austin chefs Sarah Herd and Nathan Lemley of Foreign & Domestic. You’ll recognize the flying pig emblem from their iconic North Loop neighborhood spot, and the same nose-to-tail ethos of farm-fresh menu items. Don’t skip dessert: The root beer floats are the perfect antidote to a hot summer night.