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Lockbox, the much anticipated downtown restaurant and bar located inside Lexington’s 21C Museum Hotel, has officially opened its doors to the public. The attached 88-room boutique hotel and contemporary art museum are slated to open in the coming weeks.
Under the helm of executive chef Jonathan Searle, Lockbox features a chef-driven menu that pays homage to Lexington’s cultural identity, in a unique setting that blends restored historic details – including the original marble floors and wainscoting – with modern art and design. A prominent contemporary light installation hanging over the dining and bar area features acrylic orb-shaped lights that change and shift according to the following day’s local weather forecast, and cooks work around a four-sided, open kitchen suite fully visible from the dining room.
While Lockbox’s menu will change seasonally to highlight local ingredients, current offerings range from homemade pimento cheese served with pepper jam, chicken liver mousse and saltines to Kentucky silver carp with farro, mushroom broth and Kentucky soy. In an ode to the prominent local Mexican culture, cornmeal gnocchi is served with lamb ragu, green chili and buttermilk.
“Jonathan and his team at Lockbox are really going to be focused on developing relationships with local suppliers in order to provide guests with food that's indicative of the region,” said Molly Swyers, senior vice president of design and communications for 21C, which is based out of Louisville and features locations in that city as well as Cincinnati; Bentonville, Arkansas; and Durham, North Carolina.
In another regional nod, Lockbox’s bar offers a selection of over 60 bourbons and ryes; a cocktail menu crafted by beverage manager Brandon Judd will also rotate seasonally. Spirits are all offered in half ounce, 1.5 ounce or 2.5 ounce pours, encouraging guests to explore new spirits and build their own flights.
Lockbox and 21C are located in a historic building designed by the prominent architecture firm McKim, Mead and White, who also designed Penn Station. Built in 1914, the building originally served as the Fayette National Bank and most recently served as an office building.
Once it opens, the hotel will bring 8,000 square feel of exhibition, meeting and event space to downtown Lexington. A multi-venue museum, each 21C property features contemporary art exhibition space open free of charge to the public, combined with a chef-driven restaurant. The Lexington museum will present a range of arts programming in its three galleries, curated by museum director Alice Gray Stites. Programming will include solo and group exhibitions that reflect the global nature of art today, as well as site-specific, commissioned installations, and a variety of cultural events. Both local and international artists will be featured in the galleries and throughout the hotel.
Lockbox is now open for dinner seven days a week, and is slated to expand for lunch and breakfast hours soon. The menu and more information are available at www.lockboxlex.com.