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Get To Know Lockhart, Texas | Listen

By: Veronica Meewes

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Smoked meats and small-town charm beckon in the Barbecue Capital of Texas

Lockhart has long been celebrated as the Barbecue Capital of Texas, a legacy that started when meat markets arose from the Chisholm Trail cattle drives of the 19th century. And while that history is still a very robust part of the town’s identity, attracting smoked meat enthusiasts from all over the world to pay homage to its famous barbecue joints, Lockhart’s culinary landscape has greatly expanded in recent years. That evolution is thanks in part to a number of enterprising young entrepreneurs (many of them transplants from nearby Austin) breathing new life into the town, with concepts like a vegan sandwich trailer and a wine-and-book shop with a poke bar tucked in the back. The small Central Texas town of around 15,000 residents has shown it is willing to embrace new culinary influences while staying true to its cowtown roots.

Best Places to Eat and Drink

Best Place to Get a Lesson in BBQ History: Kreuz Market

In 1875, Jesse Swearingen opened Lockhart’s first meat market and adopted meat smoking as a means of preservation. The market was purchased by Charles Kreuz in 1900, becoming Kreuz Market, and the family then sold to employee Edgar Schmidt in 1948. Edgar’s son Rick still runs Kreuz Market today, and longtime pitmaster Roy Perez smokes their famous brisket, prime rib, pork chops, and sausage links over post oak coals on offset brick pits. kreuzmarket.com

Tastiest Pizzeria: Loop & Lil’s Pizza

One of the first in the new wave of Lockhart restaurants, Loop & Lil’s opened in 2015, boasting that they’re the “oldest best friend owned pizzeria in Lockhart.” They pour craft beer by the pint and shake up cocktails to accompany their inventive pizza by the pie and slice—plus salads, calzones, strombolis, and baked ciabatta sandwiches. Loop & Lil’s is known for their innovative pie specials, topped with everything from birria to Funyuns, and they’re open until midnight on the weekends—which is a big deal in a small town. loopandlilspizza.com

Coziest Homestyle Brunch: Market Street Cafe

Market Street opened as a café and apothecary on the square in a former bank building. As both the restaurant and their catering program grew in popularity, the owners discovered a need for a bigger space. Now, you can enjoy their homestyle breakfast and lunch dishes (and homemade sourdough) at a location just outside the entrance to Lockhart State Park. marketstreetlockhart.com

Hottest Social Spot: Chaparral Coffee

In 2016, Chaparral Coffee opened on Lockhart’s downtown square, bringing high-quality coffee to the town for the first time. Barrett’s Coffee, out of Austin, roasts their beans for drip coffee, cold brew, and a menu of espresso drinks. You’ll also find beverage offerings you’d be hard-pressed to find in most small Texas towns, from golden milk to matcha lattes, and breakfast options like bagel sandwiches, brisket and egg tacos, yogurt bowls, and pastries. chaparralcoffee.com

Best Bar to Make Friends: Lockhart Arts & Crafts

This bar just off the square features craft beer and creative cocktails, but it’s about so much more than that. True to its name, Lockhart Arts & Crafts was created to bring the community together for a spectrum of different events, from game nights and art workshops to live music performances and songwriting sessions. Settle in and get comfortable in the space known as “Lockhart’s living room,” and you’re bound to make some new friends. ltxac.com

Best Elevated Comfort Food: Commerce Cafe

The husband-and-wife chef team behind Austin’s Foreign & Domestic, Ned and Jodi Elliott opened Commerce Cafe on the town square in 2020. The elegant but accessible restaurant sources from local farms and ranches for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch offerings like roasted chicken with molasses carrots and onion jus, housemade rigatoni with eggplant and spicy tomato sauce, and chicken-fried steak with redeye cream gravy, smashed duck-fat potatoes, and lemon green beans. There’s also a well-priced wine list with plenty of natural options, and a case filled with homemade pies that are not to be missed. commerce-lockhart.com

Best Spot for an Accidental All-Nighter: Old Pal Texas Tavern

The owner of Nickel City (a beloved Austin bar, now with locations in Fort Worth and Houston, too) opened Old Pal on the square in 2021, and it quickly became the town’s favorite watering hole for its agave- and whiskey-focused beverage program and a menu featuring crispy fried chicken, buttery biscuits, and seasoned potato wedges called “jojos.” It’s also a great place to play shuffleboard and feed the jukebox—or enjoy the live music, karaoke, or jam sessions often happening on-stage. oldpalbartx.com

Best Place to Read and Sip: Best Little Wine & Books
In 2022, Lockhart gained this boutique bottle shop and bar specializing in wine made with minimal intervention. True to its name, Best Little packs a lot into its cozy space, including a collection of food- and beverage-focused books. There’s also a poke shop tucked in the back of the space (place your order at the register), with more seating, and they host regular nights featuring specials like steak or handrolls. bestlittlewine.com

Biggest Claim to Fame

Now in its 15th year, the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest brings together all the top-rated barbecue joints in the state for a weekend full of programming. In 2021, the fest relocated from Austin to its permanent home in the Barbecue Capital of Texas. The Saturday of the festival is an open-to-the public event that takes place on the town square, with live music, demos, and food from promising new barbecue concepts. On Sunday, the ticketed Top 50 Picnic takes place at City Park, bringing together Texas Monthly’s picks for the Top 50 joints in the state for a delicious celebration of barbecue culture. texasmonthly.com

Where to Stay

Vacation Rentals
Somewhat surprisingly, Lockhart’s hotel options are limited to a couple of very budget-friendly motels, so the best accommodations are actually found in locally owned homes rented on Airbnb. Mother-and-daughter team Carol Stonesifer and Tinisha Stone run the Ellison House, a renovated 1880 farmhouse originally built by Captain James Ellison, one of the cattle drivers on the Chisholm Trail. The entire pet-friendly house—which features an eclectic blend of classic and modern decor—sleeps 10, or you can just rent the Christopher Suite, which is perfect for solo travelers or couples.

The sprawling three-quarter-acre property features a gas grill, propane fire pit, Marantz sound system, yard games, and an incredible pool with Tunisian peacock tile and a solar-powered heating and chilling unit. There’s also Nightbirds Hospitality, which includes four different properties, like the Caroline, a colonial mansion that accommodates up to eight overnight guests and features a fire pit, huge screened-in porch, and saltwater pool.

Where to Shop

Rollfast Ranchwear
If you’re visiting Texas, you’ll look the part quickly after a visit to Rollfast Ranchwear, which specializes in cowboy boots, pearl snap shirts, bandannas, retro dresses, and western accessories. This also a great stop for Lockhart and barbecue-themed T-shirts. rollfastranchwear.com

The Culinary Room

Food lovers and home cooks flock to this gourmet market featuring grab-and-go meals, small-batch and locally crafted pantry items, and culinary gifts like ceramics and hand towels. There’s also an ice cream counter and a pudding bar where you can indulge in fresh banana pudding by the scoopful. theculinaryroom.com

Stampworthy Goods

This furniture-and-design shop specializes in hand-tiled pieces but also has a full inventory of vintage gems sourced by the owner and spanning the eras, from art deco to mid-century to craftsman. stampworthygoods.com