Lockwood Distilling | Downtown Garland | Dallas

Cocktails + French Fries

If you’re looking for a Casual Neighborhood Hangout, this is it!

Did I really just suggest a field trip to downtown Garland?
Yes. Yes, I did.

Hear me out…

This area has had quite the glow up  over the last few years, and if you haven’t been lately, you’re missing out. It feels like you’ve left Dallas, even though you’re barely 15 minutes from the heart of Lake Highlands. The square has been remodeled into an awesome family friendly gathering space with a huge playground, and a wave of new restaurants has completely changed the energy downtown.

And right in the middle of it is Lockwood Distilling. Lockwood is the spot you wish was within walking distance of your house.

It manages to hit that sweet spot between casual and quality without trying too hard. You can show up in workout clothes after errands, meet a friend for cocktails, bring a date, or post up for a laid back evening with family, and somehow it all works.

The energy feels warm and neighborhood y in the best way. A little bit of everyone. Moderate noise. No pressure. Just good drinks, good food, and people lingering longer than they planned to.

And because it’s a working distillery, the whole space has a little extra personality. The bottle wall alone is worth the visit.

What to Drink

Their cocktail menu makes choosing genuinely difficult.

If I have to narrow it down:

• Hibiscus Heatwave (seasonal)
  Hibiscus vodka, lime juice, chipotle mango syrup, and Topo Chico. Bright, refreshing, slightly spicy, and dangerously easy to drink.

• Texas Sized 10-4
  Texas pecan-infused rye whiskey, maple simple syrup, spiced bitters, toasted pecans. Cozy without feeling heavy.

• Espresso Yourself Martini
  Their house Bourbon Cream gives it a richness that makes it stand out from the sea of espresso martinis currently flooding Dallas.

The happy hour is solid, too, which makes Lockwood an easy repeat visit instead of a “special occasion only” place.

The “Fries”

Technically… there are no fries on the menu.

But I have never once been to Lockwood without ordering the Southern Bean Dip.

And honestly? I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Creamy butter bean dip topped with whole marinated butter beans, infused olive oil, arugula, and pickled red onions, served with grilled bread for scooping.

It’s rich without being heavy, bright from the greens and onions, and totally shareable. The kind of appetizer where everyone says, “okay wait… this is REALLY good.”

Top 10 Dallas-area restaurant appetizers for me personally. (Bonus - it's only $5 on the happy hour menu)

Insider Move

Anytime I need a unique host gift, I pop into Lockwood for a bottle of their Bourbon Cream or Cinnamon Rum.

And someday soon, I’ll share my nontraditional espresso martini recipe that uses both.

It’s become a little legendary in my friend group.

My most frequent use case for Lockwood is meeting a friend to catch up over cocktails.

But I’ve also met a date there. And one of these days, I’ll bring my boys.

That’s kind of the beauty of the place. It flexes easily depending on what you need from it.

Would I bring a girlfriend here? Yes.
Good for date night? Also yes.
The fam? Yep.
The whole team? Maybe. Depends on the squad.