6. OKC Grub
Vast
Nestled at the top of the 50-story Devon Tower, Vast offers fine dining and an exquisite panorama of the city. vastokc.com
Patrono
Patrono is a fantastic place to nab sophisticated yet affordable Italian fare before a show at the Civic Center Music Hall. patronookc.com
Kitchen 324
Another feather in the cap of the Good Egg Dining Group, Kitchen 324 is a favorite for creative breakfasts, locally roasted coffee and elegant American dinners. kitchen324.com
Packard’s
This joint, in the old Packard automobile showroom, offers new American cuisine and imaginative cocktails in the heart of downtown. packardsokc.com
Nonesuch
Recently called America’s Best New Restaurant by Bon Appétit magazine, this 20-seat eatery provides unique, 10-course tasting menus by appointment only. nonesuchokc.com
Ludivine
Ludivine is the OKC byword for classic, local haute cuisine with a seasonal rotating menu, themed cocktails and an intimate setting. ludivineokc.com
The Jones Assembly
If you’ve ever wondered where you can indulge watching national music acts while eating a funnel cake ice cream sandwich, fantasize no more. thejonesassembly.com
Flint
A linchpin of the historic Colcord Hotel, Flint takes dining to the next level with stylish dishes and arguably the best patio downtown. flintokc.com
Barrios
Named after a beloved family who helped build the success of the Good Egg Dining Group, Barrios features fresh takes on traditional Mexican fare in a casual neighborhood environment. barriosmexicanokc.com
Tamashii Ramen House
Tamashii led the OKC ramen revolution with its authentic Japanese offerings; don’t miss the spicy ramen with ground pork or the mochi ice cream. tamashiiokc.com
The Manhattan
This staple is a favorite for after-work drinks and bites with downtown workers. themanhattanokc.com
Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse
Since 2000, this upscale steakhouse, named for the baseball Hall of Famer from Commerce, has been a go-to for those looking for a classic dining experience in Bricktown. mickeymantlesteakhouse.com
Mary Eddy’s
In the flashy 21c Museum and Hotel (formerly the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant), Mary Eddy’s has tasty takes on new American cuisine in a vibrant setting. maryeddysokc.com
5. OKC Pubs
The Yard
This pet-friendly, open-air beer garden has covered seating, local food vendors and activities for the whole family. theyardokc.com
O Bar
Have a drink at one of the best rooftop bars in OKC and enjoy local jazz; on Wednesday, select wines are $5 a glass. obarokc.com
JJ’s Alley
This beloved local institution has live music every night, as well as a full bar and late-night bites. visitokc.com/listings/jjs-alley-bricktown-pub/1067
Bricktown Brewery
This rowdy, energetic joint is where you can meet friends for a pint of local suds, like the Single-String Stout or Wiley’s One-Eyed Wheat. bricktownbrewery.com
Flashback Retropub
Channel your childhood with more than 60 classic, free-to-play arcade games to enjoy as you toss one back. flashbackretropub.com
Sidecar Barley and Wine Bar
This classy locale in Automobile Alley specializes in wine and beer while also offering scotch and small plates. sidecarbarleyandwine.com
TapWerks
Enjoy 212 taps and more than 100 bottled beers in this classic Bricktown pub. tapwerks.com
Bleu Garten
This oasis of flavor in the heart of downtown has a casual environment in which to enjoy the many food trucks the city has to offer. bleugarten.com
Bar Arbolada
Opened by local-boy-made-good-in-Los Angeles Dustin Lancaster, Bar Arbolada brings simple West Coast elegance to central OKC. facebook.com/bararbolada
Skinny Slim’s
This classic sports pub has a comfy atmosphere, plenty of brews and all the games on the tube. facebook.com/SkinnySlimsOkc
Twisted Spike Brewery
This is an excellent place to grab a growler of vanilla coffee porter or blood orange IPA while stuck for the train. twistedspike.com
4. OKC sites
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Enjoy botanical wonders, cross the famous Crystal Bridge, laugh and cry at Shakespeare in the Park, or try your hand at gardening classes at this park. oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com
Scissortail Park
It’s not too soon to get excited about this 70-acre urban wonderland, set to open phase I this fall. scissortailpark.org
Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar
Head to Bricktown to catch piano
performers taking audience requests and engaging in verbal friendly fire, along with a selection of cocktails and wine. murphyspianobar.com
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Catch some of the most popular music acts in the nation or watch the best NBA team* in the Western Conference dominate the boards (*in our opinion). chesapeakearena.com
OKC Dodgers Baseball
If basketball is not your love, grab a hot dog and catch a baseball game at the home of the OKC Dodgers. okcballparkevents.com
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
On the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, this memorial commemorates the spirits of those who died, those who lived and how OKC survived and has flourished since then. oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Home to some of the most famous Dale Chihuly collections in the United States, current and upcoming exhibitions include the photographic legacy of Ansel Adams and works by Impressionist titans Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. okcmoa.com
Red Earth Art Center
Explore rotating exhibits of both contemporary and traditional Native American creations. redearth.org
American Banjo Museum
This quirky, beloved museum holds fascinating secrets and exhibits, including one featuring Kermit the Frog’s banjo and the life of Muppets creator Jim Henson. americanbanjomuseum.com
Riversport Adventures
Enjoy whitewater rafting, kayaking and tubing in the Oklahoma River. riversportokc.org
3. Tulsa Grub
Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano
Three decades of tradition go into this eatery’s decadent Mediterranean cuisine, seafood and steaks. tiamotulsa.com
Yokozuna
Yokozuna beckons Asian fusion lovers to this Blue Dome District gem with the motto “noodles, sushi, happiness.” yokozunasushi.com
Juniper
Award-winning, farm-to-table Juniper emphasizes creative, modern cuisine that changes with the seasons. junipertulsa.com
Sisserou’s Caribbean Restaurant
Sisserou’s has a colorful atmosphere, replete with the cuisine of the island of Dominica, with European and American influences. sisserousrestaurant.com
Tavolo
The Deco District is home to an authentic taste of Italy with Tavolo, complete with handmade pastas and seasonal, chef-inspired dishes. tavolotulsa.com
Jinya Ramen Bar
Jinya starts with the star of stock broths and an array of Japanese-style ingredients for a memorable dining experience. jinya-ramenbar.com
El Guapo’s Cantina
El Guapo’s features Tex Mex food, bar creations and Tulsa’s only rooftop cantina with views of downtown. elguaposcantina.com
Amelia’s
Amelia’s is an intriguing addition to the first-rate restaurant scene with creatively constructed, wood-fired cuisine. amelias.us
McNellie’s Pub
This brewery-style, Irish-American bar has classic pub grub, more than 350 beers and special tastings. mcnellies.com
Dilly Diner
For fresh, made-from-scratch breads, pastries, pies and house-cured meats, visit Dilly Diner, with its all-day breakfasts and fully stocked bar. dillydiner.com
Bull in the Alley
This stealthy, hard-to-find steakhouse and cocktail bar is the stop for stylish, New American cuisine with live music most evenings. bullinthealley.com
Duet
Reservations are not required, but they are suggested for Tulsa’s only traditional jazz club and restaurant. It’s in the historic Archer Building. duetjazz.com
Laffa Medi-Eastern Restaurant and Bar
Laffa offers a large, exotic menu with meaty and vegetarian fare in an upscale, lush environment. laffatulsa.com
Andolini’s Sliced
Andolini’s Sliced uses traditional Italian ovens to create authentic Naples, Roman and New York styles of pizza. andopizza.com
Glacier Bean to Bar
This is a wonderland of edible chocolate art, caramels, toffee, coffees and build-a-box gifts. glacierbeantobar.flywheelsites.com
Topeca Coffee
With brews sold worldwide, Topeca Coffee is in the historic Philcade Building with baristas serving pastries and coffee every day. topecacoffee.com
Foolish Things Coffee
For almost a decade, the multi-roaster shop has featured a changing menu of house-made syrups and fine coffee selections. foolishthingscoffee.com
Doubleshot Coffee
This shop takes coffee to a beloved craft level with curated, fresh-roasted beans. doubleshotcoffee.com
Burn Co. Barbecue
Worth the wait in line, Burn is known for award-winning, uniquely flavored, house-cured meats, which are also available from a to-go market. burnbbq.com
Ike’s Chili House
Founded in 1908, this Tulsa icon uses the same chili recipe today as that served to stars of yesteryear, such as Will Rogers. It also has burgers, fries and sandwiches. ikeschilius.com
Wanda J’s Next Generation
For five generations, this family-owned joint in the Greenwood District has featured southern and soul food favorites, including greens, fried cabbage, sweet potatoes, catfish and fried chicken. wandajs.com
Deco Deli
In the historic Atlas Life Building, Deco Deli has gourmet grilled sandwiches, salads, smoothies, desserts, handmade chips and grab-and-go items. facebook.com/DecoDeliTulsa
Billy’s on the Square
Since 1984, Billy’s on the Square has been a stop for great eats, including its famous charburger. Its food is also at the BOK Center concessions court. billysonthesquare.com
Albert G’s Barbecue
Albert G’s Barbecue started slow-smoking meats in 1992 and hasn’t stopped. Every item is made from scratch daily for lunch, dinner or carry-out. albertgs.com
2. Tulsa pubs
Cellar Dweller
Literally in a basement, this speakeasy has a low-key, intimate atmosphere complete with softly glowing red lights. downtowntulsaok.com/listing/cellar-dweller
Hodges Bend
Hodges Bend is an old-school, jazz-era, New Orleans-inspired cocktail bar and coffee shop with frequent live music and a memorable food-truck menu. hodges-bend.com
Valkyrie
With a bold flair, this destination bar playfully serves serious drinks, including a connoisseur’s selection of bourbon. valkyrietulsa.com
Saturn Room
Founded on laid-back hospitality, Saturn exudes a Caribbean spirit with hand-crafted cocktails and a tiki flair. saturnroom.com
MixCo
This award-winning speakeasy is steps away from the BOK Center with the kitchen usually open until 2 a.m. and the bar hopping with spirits, wines and beer. mixcotulsa.com
The Max Retropub
Travel back in time at this hip watering hole, Tulsa’s only 1980s- and ’90s-motif arcade bar for live music, pub grub and frequent theme events. facebook.com/TheMaxRetropub
Inner Circle Vodka Bar
Inner Circle Vodka Bar offers live music, DJ-spun tunes, outdoor games and theme events, such as Pajama Onesies Night. icvodkabar.com
Open Container
On the second floor of the Boxyard in the Blue Dome District, Open Container has bar food classics, creative cocktails and a great view of downtown. facebook.com/opencontainertulsa
Vintage Wine Bar
Known for supporting boutique wineries around the globe, Vintage Wine Bar has a cozy, throw-back vibe with plenty of wines to sip. winebartulsa.com
1. Tulsa sites
Henry Zarrow Center for Art and Education
A branch of Gilcrease Museum, the Zarrow Center presents exhibitions created by the University of Tulsa’s School of Art. gilcrease.org/zarrow
The Districts
The Blue Dome, Arena, Tulsa Arts, Cathedral, East Village, Greenwood and Deco districts can be explored on foot or by riding rentable bicycles and scooters. Customized tours are available. The free Old Urban Downtown Trolley is another way to get around Friday and Saturday evenings. downtowntulsaok.com/downtown-districts
Architectural Tours
Architecture tours are a popular way to take in downtown’s many structural wonders. Explore downtown, the tunnels underneath it, various murals and stories of Tulsa’s past. tulsaarchitecture.org and toursoftulsa.com
First Friday Art Crawl
On the first Friday of each month, the Arts District encourages visitors to explore its venues – art galleries, creative dining, cocktails and shopping. It’s perfect for a date on one of many patios. thetulsaartsdistrict.org/first-friday-art-crawl
Woody Guthrie Center
This interactive museum, dedicated to the Okemah-born American folk songwriter and social activist, has special exhibits on other musicians with similar worldviews. woodyguthriecenter.org
Philbrook Downtown
The world-renowned Philbrook Museum of Art has a downtown satellite with a focus on contemporary and Native American art. philbrook.org
ahha Tulsa
Artistic opportunities abound at ahha Tulsa, all included with admission, including a contemporary art gallery, a studio with a hands-on maker space and The Experience, a multi-sensory immersive art environment. ahhatulsa.org
Guthrie Green
Food trucks gather at Guthrie Green, an urban garden and performance space in the Arts District with free performances, patios, seating, a splash pad, a pavilion, shady expanses and acres of lawn. guthriegreen.com
Drillers Baseball
Cheer the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field and enjoy abundant food choices, a gift shop, craft beer and post game fireworks. milb.com/tulsa
Tulsa PAC
Take in a show at the Performing Arts Center or simply visit its acclaimed public art exhibitions. The venue features shows from Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Symphony and Celebrity Attractions. tulsapac.com
Dust Bowl Lanes and Bar
This is the place for a nostalgic vibe, tasty bar food, cocktails and several lanes of bowling. dustbowllounge.com/locations/tulsa
Cain’s Ballroom
On the National Register of Historic Places, the Cain’s is on many a music-lover’s bucket list. cainsballroom.com
Brady Theater
Rich in history – and some say haunted – the Brady Theater opened in 1914. Due to controversies surrounding the Brady name, it’s to become the Tulsa Theater this year. bradytheater.com
BOK Center
The Bank of Oklahoma Center seats nearly 20,000 for indoor sports, concerts and other events. bokcenter.com
