A Musical Instrument Store Opens a New Elegant Cocktail Bar in Lockhart

A Lockhart stringed musical instrument store opened a new cocktail bar within its downtown space this fall. Fiddler’s Green expanded with the Case Room at 108 North Main Street on October 27.

The new bar, from co-owners and married couple Jenn Hodges and Ben Hodges, focuses on well-made classic and house cocktails. Its tagline is “the finest of spirits in pleasant surroundings,” with a cute logo of a penguin walking with a giant pimento-stuffed olive.

Of the former, there are martinis and Manhattans. The latter includes country music references. There are drinks named after pedal-steel guitarists like the Speedy West (mezcal, espresso, orgeat, and xocolatl mole bitters) and the Lloyd Green (gin, basil, lime juice, and an herbal liqueur). There’s also the Corn Pony, named after Jenn’s honky-tonk band Jenny and the Corn Ponies, with bourbon, lemon, and maple syrup.

Then there’s a selection of Italian vermouths, aperitivi, and amari; as well as shots and beers with options like the Spaghett Western or German-style gose beer with Fernet. There’s also Champagne, sherry, and nonalcoholic options.

Lisa Hause Photography

Food-wise, the bar is all about snacks, including small ham sandwiches served with potato chips, olives, and tinned fish with bread and butter. The snaquiri (aka the little shot-sized daiquiri) is thoughtfully listed under the snacks menu.)

The physical space is dimly lit and intimate. There are wooden floors, a jukebox with older R&B and country songs, plush bar stools with backs, booths, and a piano (naturally). The entrance is found through the alley.

Fiddler’s Green opened in Austin in 2008, where Ben worked and met Jenn. In 2020, he purchased the store from founder Clay Levit and relocated it to Lockhart with his wife, Jenn in 2023. The married couple had thought about opening a nighttime cocktail bar in the store’s workshop space — the bar’s name refers to musical instruments’ physical storage contraptions.

Case Room’s hours are from 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday, it’s only open for walk-ins (read: no reservations), and there are indoor dine-in services.

Lisa Hause Photography