Purple Fiddle

After a 3-day hike at Dolly sods wilderness this was a beautiful welcoming respite! Delicious local craft beer, great live Bluegrass and folk music. The staff welcomed my dog and I who felt right at home on their patio with other friendly folks who had also brought their dogs and offered to watch mine while I ordered. The menu Isn't huge but it is varied and thoughtfully prepared. Vegetarian and vegan options are plentiful as well, in addition to a nicely done and healthy kids menu.

If you're ever in Thomas, WV and looking for the perfect way to spend a summer night, The Purple Fiddle delivers in every way. Tucked in the heart of this charming mountain town, it offered exactly what we needed—cold beer, live music, and that laid-back vibe you can't fake. The atmosphere is rustic, cozy, and full of soul—like stepping into a friend’s front porch jam session. The band was phenomenal, and you could tell this place is passionate about showcasing real, authentic talent. The music spilled out onto the street, and you couldn’t help but tap your foot or jump in and dance. Pair that with a local craft beer (ice-cold, thank goodness—because it was hot out), and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect Appalachian evening. Whether you're a local or just passing through, The Purple Fiddle is a must-stop for music lovers, beer sippers, and anyone chasing a good time. 🌄🍻🎻

A very nice place to eat to enjoy the town of Thomas WV. The menu is limited with mostly vegetarian items. I had the turkey 🦃 wray with cream cheese and cranberry which was excellent. Good selection of beer and other beverages. The ice cream 🍨 was really delicious. A fantastic spot to take a break and enjoy the town of Thomas, WV! While the menu focuses on vegetarian options, the dishes are excellent. I particularly recommend the turkey wrap with cream cheese and cranberry, it was superb! They also offer a great selection of beers and other beverages, and the ice cream is absolutely delicious.

Was not very busy on a Thursday night. Had vegan options and seemed knowledgeable about what could be removed from some dishes to make vegan. Everyone in my party enjoyed the food. Service was fairly quick. The high chair child seat they have does not work for . . . “active” children. Mine nearly flipped himself over. The chair was nice and clean and well maintained. Staff was friendly. Will come back next time we are in the area.

Famous venue/bar/ restaurant in these parts! The old wooden floors and tin ceilings add to the cool vibe. Weekdays no music, so enjoyed lunch. Modern menu. I got the World Peace Wrap. Very good. Feels like a local spot that we tourists have invaded. Tee-shirts for sale. Alcohol served. Outside is a large yard with seating. Accessible entrance. Parking out front. Clean bathrooms, but not wheelchair accessible. Everyone welcome!

Really nice vibe at the Purple Fiddle. Small town Americana feel with live music and beverages. Up close and personal atmosphere with the bands on stage and the audience. Seems like they get some really talented indie bands from all over the USA. This place is definitely a music venue, a true treasure that you should feel happy you discovered or if you're a local, you have right in your own backyard.

Great food and great atmosphere!! Dog friendly patio, free coffee refills, live music, affordable ice cream are all my favorite things about this place. Chicken salad sandwich was VERY good with fresh flavors and delicious rye bread

Fantastic venue for live music. Beer selection is excellent, and the sandwiches are quite good too. If you are going to a show and not from Davis/Thomas, go early. For seating. For weather, as the area has its own climate. Well worth the trip.

The Purple Fiddle is your stop for an amazing lunch in Thomas, West Virginia. Everything is very fresh and the Roasted Turkey is delicious. The wrap was Fresh Roasted Turkey, Homemade Cranberry Sauce with walnuts, lettuce and cream cheese. The Salsa is homemade and the ice cream comes in several flavors to choose from. You will be happy that you stopped in to visit the Purple Fiddle.

Purple Fiddle was a lot of fun! We went with family members, and enjoyed the music, as well as the food. Staff were helpful with drink refills, and the restaurant was clean. We would return.

I stopped by the Purple Fiddle while visiting the town of Thomas for the first time. I had read a lot of positive things about this place so I had to check it out. I got there about 30 min before a free band was about to play so it wasn't crowded however, once the band started the line backed up and seats were getting full. The atmosphere is quite nice with indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich that came with chips and a pickle. It was pretty tasty but it did take about 30 minutes to come out of the kitchen. The staff were friendly. They have a nice selection of ice cream and t-shirts you can purchase. I would go back if I'm ever in the area again.

I've heard a lot about Purple Fiddle but never had the opportunity to make it out, until now. I didn't realize they do afternoon shows! Such a nice surprise. Lines can get long, so get there early. I ordered the turkey wrap, which came with chips and a pickle. Wrap was really good! Had cream cheese and a cranberry chutney, which was a nice balance or creamy and sweet. Food took a long time to come out after ordering which was my main disappointment. Looks like they might be understaffed. Otherwise a nice experience.

Local bar. Great beer list, fantastic live music, dancing and relaxing environment. Service is not bad. Some bands sell out, so worth buying tickets early. Not much seating. A great time, always. Highly recommended.

From out of town and just wanted to eat. But since there was a live music, that hadn't even started yet, I could only get it to go. Could you not let me sit down long enough to eat? Go somewhere else.

First time visiting WV. Came here with a friend as soon as they open to grab lunch and staff wasn't friendly. It seemed like the guy working there hates his job. The food was okay, nothing special. Cool ambiance but other than that i didn't care much for the place

I can't rate the food because after waiting for over an hour for the two sandwiches we ordered, we gave up and walked out. Even pita bread and hummus that can easily be prepared in advance took at least half an hour to be delivered to some nearby patrons. I will never attempt to eat here again. Go to Elender's on the higher part of town, although it is only open for lunch Friday and Saturday, but it has nuch better food that was delivered in 15 minutes.

We came during a snowy day for lunch and were allowed to sit out on the patio with our puppy and dine. The service was good and prompt. The bar had several options for beers. Unfortunately, the menu was not our cravings or palette at that time. Would have liked to see a few more options that fall more into the category of bar food while drinking as opposed to healthy/natural options.

Food was good. Atmosphere is great. Drinks were strong! The service was good, but be mindful when you come during show hours you also pay for the band. Food and drinks priced well, merchandise was a little expensive.

A hearty sandwich, great service... Then I think we met an angel at the Purple Fiddle today. Jessie saw my chilly pup and offered him a sweater her late pup had worn. Fit him perfectly, he was happy and toasty on the patio. She followed up with a collection of more sweaters looking for a good home. I offered to share with another family who had a dog of similar size (dang, didnt fit). Great food, hard working staff serving customers beautifully. Kindness and a touch of magic. What more can you ask of a community treasure?

BEST LIVE MUSIC & BEER SELECTION in the area. The talent level they source is impressive for such a small town. The Purple Fiddle has been going strong for 20 years and the owner, John, has developed a deep and wide network of musicians and bands. Definitely the place to check out in the evenings if you're staying in Thomas or Davis.

What an amazing place! Just a fun, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere! The music was jamming. We only came for drinks and enjoyed their beer menu, mostly from local craft. The food seemed limited to sandwiches; but I cannot speak to their quality. It's clear the staff take great pride in this groovy little gem.

We came for the music on Saturday night with the Mama Said String Band. Great venue for music. Recommend the Grateful Dead cocktail.

My friends and I stopped in after hiking at nearby Swallows Falls State Park. I had heard good things about the Purple Fiddle from a friend who went to school in the area, and was looking forward to the experience. To our disappointment, the staff were very unfriendly and the drinks were subpar. Our food was tasty, the funky decor and historic setting were unique. We were heading to our next hiking destination shortly after the live performer went on stage, but she sounded quite good. The venue seems to offer a lot of great live music.

We did have a great time on the Saturday we popped in. We went just to eat but stayed for the music. We are glad we did but it started late. The food is ok. I was a little ill the next morning. Maybe the beer or the sandwich. The atmosphere was good. Friendly but

Great place to visit. They have quite a bit of live music here. Check their website for a line up. The foods always good and the staff helpful and kind. Don't skip the ice cream counter.

Great ambience and amazing live bands and delicious cheese cakes for dessert Thank you very much for the nice time

Love listening to all the talented artists they invite to town. Lots of beer and tasty treats too. Davis is a special place to really get some unique and personal experiences.

Great place to get a beer and enjoy some very good music and company. Great selections of beer and owners/ staff are great. Small town charm at its best here.

I could probably spend every day just sitting inside or outside of this place sipping some cool beer I've never had before or a Pabst Blue Ribbon because it's hipster af and delicious and enjoying this place for what it is, Amazing! The people who work here are all cool cats and the people I have met here over the years when traveling through or visiting are too. The music I've listened to here has always been mellow and relaxing and the food which I mostly always get the same items; the hummus platter, the veggie wrap, chips and artichoke dip or a veggie burger and they are always great. Towns like this and places like this make my heart smile and should exist in more states across America. Thank you to the town of Thomas and Thank you Purple Fiddle for being cool as a cucumber on ice on a hot summer day. Much love, See ya soon enough...

The fiddle is always enjoyable. You always see a lot of friends and they share is great.

We stopped in for a Saturday night show. Like other reviews, the space is very unique and almost seems to take you back in time. The menu is very basic, and a bit overpriced. They also didn't have what we initially wanted to order (spinach and artichoke dip) The cover to get in was $10 per person, which was surprising because there was barely anyone there. The band arrived on time but didn't start until 15 minutes after the show was supposed to start. They kind of just hung out with each other in the corner, drinking and talking. They were great once they got going, but the vibe of place just really put me to sleep, we ended up leaving super early. Like I had mentioned, there were only a handful of people there. Honestly this place wasn't really for us, it was very hipster and we would probably only come back for a free afternoon show.

I've been coming here for years, discovering the wonderful towns of Davis and Thomas, WV. The vibe in the Fiddle is so warm and inviting. The clientele is a great range of people, and it makes everything so interesting and intimate. The food and drinks are great and plentiful. Stop by, and you'll be a fan for life!

My small group visited on a late afternoon May Sunday with beautiful weather so we sat outside. We had sadly just missed the day's entertainment which we heard was very good. We didn't eat, only had a few beers. My friends are all IPA drinkers but I had an old favorite: PBR in a can. We sat for a couple hours and enjoyed our beers and on this day that was all we needed. Thomas and the Purple Fiddle are West Virginia treasures.

Awesome venue- doesn't get much better than this to see some music! The people there for the music were also all so pleasant to be around. During the show, you can get drinks and they have a great cocktail, beer, and wine list. Their menu options are just a few small things so def hit up dinner before coming to the show!

I wish this venue were in my home city!! The talent that's on the schedule is incredible. I love a good funky, soulful or folk music kind of night in a laid-back venue. Purple Fiddle is what small venue dreams are made of and worth the drive to the middle-of-no-where. Make sure you come a little bit hungry. The artichoke dip we ordered was delicious. Plus they serve booze AND you can bring your young offspring along too! Warning: bring earplugs if you are one for protecting your hearing. Small venue means you can't escape the loudness. Thank you to the folks that opened this place up and brought life back to a small town. Thomas is truly an American gem.

Stopped by this place today after a hike in Douglas falls and it's a really great spot. We ordered the fiddle platter which was pita and dips. Everything was really fresh, they had live music which was nice and the service was really good. You have to order at the counter before you sit down and they were clearly understaffed in the kitchen but that's ok it's a great spot with good service.

Masks up! They have gluten free bread!!! No indoor dining but the outdoor space is fantastic! Friendly staff. There was a live band making an enjoyable experience.

The food menu should be called Hummus and sides. There is not a lot on the menu to begin with but all seems to be contingent on you loving hummus as much as the owner. The ice cream is great though. The live acts are better. The vibe inside is pretty great as well. So to summarize come for the music and drinks or maybe an ice cream cone. Eat somewhere else unless you have to have hummus.

Cool place. Lots of unique decorations and a decent sized stage for live entertainment. Large beer selection, small food menu. Not the place to go if you're looking for a hearty meal, the options are pretty light. The food was decent, but not what i was hoping for as we had been traveling and I was starving (but we were meeting family and this is their favorite spot). Lots of seating available. Very popular spot for local beer and live entertainment

This is such a cool place for food, drink and music. We had grilled cheese sandwiches that were over the top amazing.

I enjoyed the food very much. The staff left a lot to be desired. The location and decor was very nice.

Good beer selection and lots of live music. Servers could be more friendly. I do want to try their food on next visit.

Nice venue but kind of like a Chuck E Cheese with the little kids running around during the bands' performances

We came here Saturday night for a show. There was a band, Radiator King, from NY that was in town and they had a $10 cover for the night. I enjoyed the band. It was cool because the first portion was rock/punk music, then the singer took over in the middle and played some acoustic stuff that was real good. You order food and drinks up at the counter and pay when you're done for the night. We were hungry, so we ordered their grilled cheese sandwich and some artichoke/asiago dip and chips. The dip was good. There were way more chips than there was dip though. The grilled cheese was okay. It was on rye bread with a couple kinds of cheese, to include cream cheese, along with peppers and onions. There were huge chunks of onions in the grilled cheese, so I had to take them out. It was just too much. And there was more cream cheese than stringy cheese, so the sandwich was real oozy. The dessert was delicious though. We both got a caramel brownie. I got mine with some vanilla icecream. It was so good! Chocolately and gooey in the right way. The drink selections were good. Lots of options to choose from. Beers, ciders, wines. The band stayed on for a long time. It was definitely worth the $10 to get in. There were a few people standing outside listening to the band because the place is nowhere near sound proof! The seats were kind of uncomfortable though. I sat on a chair and then switched over to a bench seat. I had ants in my pants the whole time and had to get up and move around after a while. I would recommend checking this place out if you're in town. It was the best place I went for nighttime entertainment when I was in the area!

We were excited to go here because we had heard lots of good things about this place. And the musician on the patio sounded great. Apparently our downfall was not being aware of the shortened COVID-related hours, as we arrived about 30 minutes before closing. The server told us that the manager had decided to close down the kitchen already, so all we could get were drinks and chips/salsa. Obviously we were disappointed but understanding. We had resigned ourselves to going to another restaurant after we had our beers but then waited more than 20 minutes before we headed to the counter to find out what had happened to our food. We had finished our drinks and decided that we would take the chips and salsa to go. The server turned around, grabbed the food that was sitting behind her to be delivered, and shoved them into a box. And the proceeded to tell us that we shouldn't have expected to get our food any quicker since they "are not a fast food restaurant". Cold chips and salsa in less than 20 minutes seemed pretty reasonable to me. Of course the kicker, besides her horribly rude attitude, was that what prompted me to check on our food in the first place was that she was presently taking a sandwich order from a couple that arrived 5 minutes before closing after refusing to take a food order from us previously. One of the worst dining/bar experiences ever, besides the time I got food positing. I waited a month to write this review so it is pretty toned down from what I was feeling that night. Thankfully we were able to get a meal at another restaurant that night. That server was very grateful for our patronage and was tipped very well.

This is a place you come for good drinks and good music. The food does satisfy you but the beer and music is what keeps us coming backing. I have the turkey wrap and it was ok but the cranberry sauce was really think on one side of the wrap but still tasty. The service is a wee slow when its busy but the great music will keep you occupied.

Really fun venue for live music in the high mountain town of Thomas, WV! They bring in some great acts for bluegrass, americana, folk, and down home country! There is an entrance fee at the door, which isn't outrageous. Beer selection is good and they feature WV & other craft brews. In the day time they also offer good sandwiches (some vegan) & great ice cream in the daytime.

The Purple Fiddle is one of those bars in America everyone needs to see while traveling. The homemade ice cream is the bomb. I had blueberry, which was great, and the waffle cone is perfect. You can bite into it just right without it falling apart. But what sets this place apart is that it's a renowned music venue. Which was a surprise from a small mountain town like Thomas. I was here for Moutaineers parade and the night time fireworks (which btw may be the best fireworks in America), and walked in for Ice Cream, and heard a fantastic band playing. Make sure you check out the bear statues in the back patio. It's a super unque place, you need to see for yourself to understand. I'll be back to Thomas as soon as I can, and I will have my beer right here!

Great food, cool environment. Very kid friendly! Had a visit while we were staying at nearby lodge.

Fun evening with an interesting menu. Veggie burger and beer, what could be better. Nice little place and super pleasant staff. Would like to come back for music.

I enjoyed stopping in over the weekend for live music, especially during the day! Quaint and sunny, a cafe feel most of all with beer and cider as an alternative to coffee. The menu looked good but I only opted for an apple pie ice cream cone to go with the chocolate porter beer I enjoyed. Just to note: if you pay cash you do get a small discount (which I put towards tipping the musicians who played).

The food is amazing. It came out real fast. The lady that runs the kitchen does a dynamite job. Awesome atmosphere.

I was traveling through to visit family and have stopped several times before. The food has always been good, but!!!! This day was a Saturday and after waiting in line for over 10 minutes it finally came to my turn to order, what I assume was the manager, approached the cashier and stated that she was not to take any more food orders. So I and the rest of the line just left. I understand that they were busy but I will not be returning.

If I had to make a list of my top 10 favorite places in the world (and I've been quite a few places), The Purple Fiddle would make that list. "...there is some essential dysfunction in this place..." (says a previous reviewer). It's true. THAT is why I love this place so much. It's what commercialized hipster wishes it was. The food is okay--it's sandwiches, hommus, and PB&Js. Solid. The beer list is a winner. They generally have good wines available too. Try the desserts. It is a mix of unhurried and kitschy antique united with a great sense of community between the Front Street businesses. I like that too. While here, I saw what appeared to be two works by Nathan Baker who is an owner of the White Room Art Gallery. (Go there too) I'm happy knowing a place like this exists, where the open hours signs have 5PM- ish on them. Regarding service, that's not where this place's charm comes from. That being said, I've never had an issue. It's not super fast. It's not highly responsive. But, it also doesn't demand much from you either...a beer is like...$3/$4. Not at happy hour. Like, all the time. It's fine. It can get warm inside because it gets packed. It can be a challenge to move around when it's crowded (that's a tautology, right?). No surprises here. I stayed at the hostel once too. It's $25/night. You get what you pay for. It's old and kind of dirty. But, it's charming and you can sit outside and hear the insects and the music. That's lovely. Last thing and best thing, MUSIC. They have it. Genres I adore too: singer-songwriter, folk, bluegrass, etc. When you come here, leave your pretension and hurry at the door. If you don't, you might not fit in.

Food seems like an afterthought. Hommus plate was ok, but fiance commented hommus did not have enough garlic or lemon, and I concur. Everything else on it was fine. Great local beers, but only 5 to pick from. Did not delve into the sandwiches, but felt like they weren't all that enticing. Would love to see them offer a wider selection of grub, or more appetizer options. Would also like to see more along the lines of finger food like the hommus plate. Food tasted very fresh.

Attracts nice people and most importantly we got to see Parker Millsap in an intimate setting. Serves locally brewed beers.

We came for the ice cream and it did not disappoint. Live entertainment, good food, fun decor and a great to eat after walking around Thomas.