Nightlife in Oklahoma City: Best Bars, Clubs and More

Nightlife in the Modern Frontier heats up when the sun goes down. Whether you’re in Oklahoma City for business or for pleasure, this thriving metropolis invites visitors to get out there in the evenings to mix and mingle. From honky tonk bars, sophisticated rooftop hotspots, and friendly neighborhood pubs to intimate dives, casual taprooms, and trendy dance clubs, OKC delivers a wide range of venues to explore where good times are guaranteed. 

Packed with restaurants, bars, and entertainment options, Oklahoma City’s Bricktown district is a one-stop shop for all things nightlife, a choice spot to either kick off or wind down a night on the town. Other pockets of the city to check out include the legendary Deep Deuce neighborhood (a booming blues/jazz hot spot back in its 1940s and 1950s heyday), the nostalgic Americana-rich Uptown 23rd district where historic Route 66 passes through town, and the vibrant Midtown community recognized for its preservation efforts. The N.W. 39th District—“the Strip” to locals—rolls out a warm welcome to the LGBTQ community with inclusive bars and clubs, in addition to hosting the annual OKC Pride Parade and Festival.  

Set a course to some of these after-dark destinations to make the most of your nights in Oklahoma City.

Bars and Lounges

Looking for a chill spot to meet a friend? Something active to do while enjoying a few adult beverages? A coveted see-and-be-seen cocktail lounge? Oklahoma City’s got it all covered.

• If the weather’s nice, grab a seat around the fire pit where you can rub elbows with the locals over ice-cold beers and old-school cocktails on the Deep Deuce Grill patio, where happy “hour” lasts from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week.
• OKC’s rooftop lounges reveal stunning panoramic skyline views (and thoughtful wine lists) that are sure to impress your date. Take your pick from Vast on the 49^th floor of the Devon Tower downtown, the Ambassador Hotel’s chic 7th floor O Bar, or Packard’s New American Kitchen in the Midtown district’s historic Packard Building.
• Make the most of the great outdoors at the Pump in the Uptown 23rd district, a former Texaco station turned buzzy gaming go-to where customers congregate to sip Tiki drinks, cold beer, classic highballs, and inventive craft cocktails while pitching some cornhole beanbags or catching an outdoor movie on the airy 9,000-square-foot patio. Well-behaved pets are allowed outside, but you’ll have to leave the kiddos at home—the clientele here is strictly 21 and up only. 

Live Music

Visitors can get a sampling of some of Oklahoma City’s most distinctive musical stylings at these and other clubs, theaters and venues. 

• One of OKC’s most prestigious live music destinations and one of Bricktown district anchors, the Criterion assembles a calendar of shows from a wide array of performers across all genres with space to seat up to 4,000 attendees per gig. The two-story structure shape-shifts by event to accommodate audiences for an impressive roster of national, regional and local acts. 
• An edgy all-ages showplace, 89th Street is the latest incarnation of a longstanding musical landmark in Oklahoma City, sited in the same location that has previously housed other well-known live music venues like the Conservatory and the Green Door. 
• Get into the act at Michael Murphy’s Rock and Roll Dueling Pianos in Bricktown. Bring your song requests, sing along with the crowd-engaging pianists, and be prepared to have a rowdy, rollicking good time.  
• In addition to live musical performances, the historic neon-clad Tower Theatre in the Uptown 23rd district also offers gallery space, film screenings and local events in a vintage space that originally served as one of the city’s first movie houses. Before or after the show, grab a drink at the divey Cold War-themed Bunker Club a few doors down. 

Dance the Night Away

If getting down tonight is in order, you’re in luck in OKC. Put on your dancing shoes and make your way to the floor at these high-energy clubs. 

• You might think you’ve been magically transported to Las Vegas when you step foot in the flashy Dollhouse Lounge, where the resident Dollhouse Dolls take the stage for burlesque shows before opening up the dance floor for everyone to enjoy. 
• No wallflowers allowed at the Club One15 ultra lounge. Showy LED-lighted walls, European-style furnishings, a dress code, a smoking lounge and DJ-curated beats encourage guests to hang out and experience the scene. 
• Flashback to good times at Groovy’s dance club on the north side, where familiar favorite '70s, '80s and '90s tunes live on.
• On Friday and Saturday nights, the NorthPark Mall-based Liszt nightclub and lounge caters to a fun-loving crowd with elegant décor, pop cover bands, and DJ-ed dance tunes. 

Beer Halls and Taprooms

Raise a (pint) glass to Oklahoma City’s flourishing craft beer industry. Cheers! 

• With more than 200 selections on tap and 100 bottled beers to browse, you might have trouble deciding what to drink at TapWerks Ale House in Bricktown. Despite its size, the city’s oldest tap house still manages to exude a cozy pub-style vibe. 
• Not to be outdone, McNellie’s Public House in the Midtown district maintains a dizzying inventory of 350 different beers to consider. Fortunately, the menu is structured by draught, bottle, and country of origin to help guests narrow down the choices, with a special emphasis on Oklahoma-produced brews.
• COOP Ale Works has been brewing up tasty local craft beers since it opened in 2009. Visitors can taste core products like the F5 IPA, Spare Rib pale ale, and Saturday Siren pilsner along with some creatively flavored seasonal products at the flagship taproom.
• The Plaza District’s Oak and Ore offers a well-vetted lineup of local craft beers and ciders poured by savvy staffers who really know their stuff and stand ready with suggestions. 

Late Night

Everyone’s having a good time and no one’s ready to go home yet. Why not keep the party going and linger a little bit longer? These late-night hangs stay open into the wee hours to accommodate nightcaps and night owls. 

• In Midtown, the retro-cool R&J Lounge and Supper Club sees the most traffic earlier at night, but stays open until 2 a.m. shaking and stirring Manhattans, martinis, and other quintessential classics. 
• Most OKC visitors head to the Adventure District to enjoy kid-friendly attractions like the Oklahoma City Zoo and the Science Museum Oklahoma, but Remington Park race track and casino is geared more toward grown-up entertainment. Try your luck on more than 750 electronic gaming machines and grab a beer at the Bricktown Brewery satellite location on site if you get thirsty. (P.S. The snack bar on the casino floor stays open around the clock.)
• Looking for a cigar and one for the road? Head to the Stag Lounge in the storied Deep Deuce neighborhood, where you can order up a stogie alongside a craft cocktail composed of made-in-house syrups, shrubs, tinctures, and other ingredients. The joint remains open until 2 a.m. nightly.

Tips for Going Out in Oklahoma City

• Parking is readily available throughout the city in paid garages and lots or at metered spaces (many of which you can now pay for and monitor via an app). 
• Oklahoma City offers several public transportation options for those who prefer to leave the driving to someone else. EMBARK system buses run weekday and weekend routes all across the city; at $4 per adult, an unlimited day pass is your best bet. Another dependable choice, the Oklahoma City Streetcar follows Bricktown, Downtown and Midtown loops.
• The Spokies Bike Share program maintains grab-and-go stations where guests can pick up or drop off two-wheelers for cruising throughout the city’s most popular areas and districts. 
• Although 18-year-olds are allowed to work in establishments that serve alcohol, the legal drinking age in Oklahoma is 21, and ID is required to make purchases.