ˈLəkē sells gluten-free pastries and coffee in the morning, cocktails at night.
Alisha McCasland, the general manager of ˈLəkē in Dallas' Bishop Arts District, pours a Rose Water Sour at the new gin bar. It opened May 23, 2024.Bartenders at a new bar called ˈLəkē — pronounced “lucky” — are pouring gin cocktails and serving gluten-free pastries in Dallas’ Oak Cliff, right under the “Bishop Arts District” name painted on the historic brick building on W. Seventh Street.
The draw to this shop will likely be its classroom, where adult students can pay $125 per person to learn to distill gin. Customers will choose from the nearly 80 botanicals hanging on the wall, like basil, peppercorns, hibiscus, coconut flakes, lavender and mango, to make a gin flavored to their liking. By the end of the two-and-a-half-hour class, each student will take home a gin all their own.
Really, ˈLəkē was opened to be a gin school, but Scott decided to tack on the bar and snacks. She converted a former hair salon into a glammy spot with charcoal-colored walls and green-gray tufted loveseats. Glittery chandeliers and gold-painted millwork give the room a feminine feeling, which makes sense because ˈLəkē has a nearly-all-female staff. The business “started as one thing” — a boozy classroom — “and has snowballed into so many other things,” Scott said.
Even outside of the classroom, drinks can be hands-on. Those who order a gin and tonic will choose a ˈLəkē gin, then pick up to two syrups for a do-it-yourself flavor station. Options include basil, strawberry, passionfruit, mango, elderflower and the like. Bartenders will offer tips on how to make a balanced gin and tonic, your way. Too much sugary stuff and it’ll taste more like a kids’ snow cone.Gin can be versatile, Scott wants customers to know. “It can be floral, citrusy, even spicy.
ˈLəkē is at 390 W. Seventh St., Dallas . It opened May 23, 2024. Closed Mondays. We’ll update this story when gin classes open., Senior Food Reporter. Sarah writes about restaurants, bars and culture in Dallas. Follow @sblaskovich on Twitter and ask her what to do, where to eat or where to drink in your area.