Some places, as soon as you walk in, feel comfortable. Maybe because, as Owl Tavern owner Robin Mooney says, “I often call it the living room of the highlands.” The historic tavern – built in 1908 as a general store – sits high on the south side of Geneva Lake, at W. 4120 Southland Road, tucked away from the usual hustle of the popular tourist destination.
Upon approach, the building has an old-fashioned look and appeal. A vintage Miller High Life sign perches high on the roof. Walk in the door and be greeted by the close and cozy feel of low ceilings, the historic U-shaped bar, muted lighting and history hanging from every inch of the walls. Old vanity license plates donated by regulars occupy prominent spaces. Another niche is adorned with police and fire patches, courtesy of first-responder customers.
We arrived early, before opening, for a conversation with Robin – who has owned the Owl since 2019 – and Risa Roberts, bar manager. The ladies greeted us like old friends, insisting they set us up with a drink before getting down to the interview. Great. Get the party started. The colorful history of Owl Tavern is somewhat shrouded by time, but the business became a bar somewhere around the end of Prohibition and has gone through ownership changes over the years. We wondered what prompted Robin to buy the place. Other than doing a little bartending in her 20s, she had no experience in the field.
Robin, who grew up in suburban Chicago, told us she had always loved the Lake Geneva area and eventually moved here. She and her late husband, Dan, who passed away in 2024, became regular patrons at the Owl. “I always wanted to own a little bar. But I didn’t, I just worked in financial services like every other boring person with a generic English major degree,” she joked, explaining how she jumped at the chance when the Owl became available. “I’m not good at a lot of things but I think I can throw a pretty good party seven days a week.”
It’s clear the women love what they do and take great pride in serving the eclectic mix of customers, a steady stream of tourists in-season along with regulars who have made the Owl their favorite for years. We asked what they liked best. “The people,” Risa quickly answered. “I started working here in 2018. I would network. I would find out you’re an HVAC guy, you’re a plumber, you’re a dog sitter. Somebody would come in, some random person, and ask if I knew anybody that does painting. And I have a guy. There are so many good people who come into this bar.”
Robin echoes the sentiment. “One of the things I love about the bar is the totally diverse group,” she told us. “We get regulars. We get bikers. We get families. We get tourists. We get a little bit of everything.”
Both women rave about the food, a tasty twist in recent years. The menu is wildly diverse and fun, from creative appetizers and sandwiches to popular specials such as Taco Tuesday and Fish Fry Friday. A big attraction is the smoked meats, prepared on-premises. Chef Robyn Smith is the wizard of the kitchen. “We have a giant smoker, where we smoke all our meats in-house,” owner Robin said. “We’re pretty much a fresh kitchen now. Everything that Chef Robyn and her team are putting out is almost all completely house-made. We do brisket and pulled pork and we smoke that slow.”
Chef Robyn has been at the Owl just short of a year and “grew up just down the street,” Risa said. “She’s always loved the Owl. She used to ride her bike here to get candy and ice cream. She was one of those kids. She has put her heart and soul into this place.” One of those kids? There’s a story. Long ago a candy store occupied part of the building, next to the bar. Kids would get off the bus or ride their bikes to get penny candies. The store may be long gone, but there’s an ice cream chest in a corner at the business. “As an homage we have a Good Humor thing,” Robin said. “Honest to God, six generations later, kids still get off the bus and come up here and buy ice cream.”
The Owl is open seven days a week, starting at 3 p.m. during the week and 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesday through Sunday is a full kitchen, partial on Monday. The best days for smoked meats are Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Ribs make the menu in the summer.
Robin believes in helping the community, so patrons see drop-off boxes for such charities as Toys for Tots and Lake Geneva Food Pantry. Talking about serving the community and building relationships, both women choke up and need to take a moment. “We feel very passionately about this place,” Robin explains. “Being part of the community. I love living up here. I could cry.” The silence that follows speaks volumes.
We’ve found a new hideaway. And, yes, it feels like a living room. For more information go to the website (owltavernlg. com) or find Owl Tavern on Facebook and Instagram.
