Dance clubs, live music, rooftop bars, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ venues, listening bars and late-night dives in Oklahoma City.
Dance clubs, live music, rooftop bars, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ nightlife, listening bars and late-night dives across Oklahoma City, with where to go and what is worth the late night.
Angles is Oklahoma City's premier LGBTQ+ dance club on 39th Street, drawing diverse crowds to drag pageant nights and themed parties with live DJs.
Order: House specialty cocktail or themed event drink of the night
Tip: Drag pageant nights and themed party weekends sell out; check their Facebook page in advance for the event calendar.
Santos on the Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City serves Mexican food by day and becomes a Latin dance venue Friday and Saturday nights until 2 a.m.
Order: House margarita or the Santos michelada
Tip: The nightlife hours on Saturday (10 pm to 2 am) are separate from the restaurant service window; arrive after 10 pm for the full dance-club experience.
The Criterion is a 3,500-capacity live music hall in Bricktown, Oklahoma City's main venue for national touring acts across rock, country, and hip-hop genres.
Order: Draft beer from the main floor bar before doors open to avoid the show-time rush
Tip: The floor converts between general admission and fully reserved seating depending on the show; check the seating configuration when buying tickets.
The Blue Door is a 150-seat listening room in Oklahoma City hosting singer-songwriters and acoustic acts in an intimate BYOB setting since the 1990s.
Order: BYOB (beer and wine only); pick up supplies before arriving as no alcohol is sold on site
Tip: Arrive early for front-row seats at this small venue. Tickets are sold only through Ticketstorm.com and student discounts are available at the door with valid ID.
Tower Theatre is a restored 1930s cinema in Oklahoma City's Uptown 23rd district, a 1,000-capacity home for indie and alternative touring acts.
Order: Well cocktail or domestic draft; the bar prices are notably affordable compared to other OKC venues
Tip: The venue is cashless and parking is available in the lot directly across the street. Nearby restaurants on NW 23rd make it easy to eat before a show.
O Bar sits seven stories above Midtown atop the Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City, serving craft cocktails and bistro bites with panoramic skyline views.
Order: The O Bar signature cocktail or a glass from their curated wine list paired with the charcuterie board
Tip: Sunday evenings are the best time for a rooftop cocktail when the weekend crowd thins and you can secure the best skyline-facing seats without waiting.
The Vault at The National in Oklahoma City occupies a former bank vault basement, pouring barrel-aged cocktails and rare spirits in an intimate setting.
Order: One of the barrel-aged cocktails drawn from the in-house aging program, or a rare pour from the extensive fine spirits archive
Tip: Reservations via OpenTable are strongly recommended on weekends; the intimate space fills quickly and walk-in space is limited.
Lunar Lounge is a hidden celestial-themed bar in Midtown Oklahoma City, entered via a moon-shaped button in a hallway, with a rotating cocktail menu.
Order: Ask the bartender for the current seasonal special; the menu changes regularly and often features unexpected flavor combinations
Tip: Look for the small moon-shaped button or knob in the hallway connecting to the main Midtown Plaza Court corridor. There is no sign outside.
The 51st Street Speakeasy in Oklahoma City hosts themed dance parties, live music on weekends, and a comfort food kitchen in a two-story historic house.
Order: The house old fashioned or a classic cocktail from their extensive spirits menu
Tip: The kitchen serves food Tuesday through Saturday, but closes earlier than the bar. If you want dinner and drinks, arrive before 22:00 on weekdays or midnight on weekends.
The Boom is Oklahoma City's drag bar and dinner theatre on 39th Street, running the Sunday Gospel Brunch drag comedy show since 2009 with weekly trivia.
Order: Sunday Gospel Brunch ticket for the signature drag comedy show
Tip: The Sunday Gospel Brunch, hosted by drag queens Rev. Kitty Bob Aimes and Rev. Norma Jean Goldstein, is a beloved Oklahoma City institution. Book tickets in advance as it sells out regularly.
Tramps is Oklahoma City's oldest gay bar and the oldest LGBTQ+ venue on Route 66, a cash-only dive with a sprawling back patio and stiff poured drinks.
Order: Well cocktail or domestic beer; the low prices and no-frills atmosphere are the point
Tip: Tramps is cash only, so stop at an ATM before arriving. The large patio out back fills up on warm evenings and is the best seat in the house.
Frankie's OKC is a lesbian-owned dive bar open since 2017, hosting darts, drag shows, and live music on North May Avenue in northwest Oklahoma City.
Order: Rotating cocktail specials or a cold domestic beer from the well-stocked cooler
Tip: Frankie's hosts occasional live music and comedy nights that are announced on Facebook. The atmosphere is inclusive and welcoming to all identities.
Good For A Few is a hidden cocktail bar in Oklahoma City's Plaza District, named by USA Today among America's best bars, accessed via a bookshelf door.
Order: The Reverse New York Sour or ask the bartender for the current seasonal special from the 14-cocktail rotating menu
Tip: The entrance is tucked inside or adjacent to New State Burgers and Spirits on NW 16th. No reservations, first-come seating only; arrive before 17:00 on weekends for the best chance at a spot.
Lost Highway Bar is an alien-themed dive bar in Oklahoma City with strong cocktails, darts, daily specials, and karaoke nights running until 2 a.m.
Order: House well cocktail or a cold local beer; the karaoke nights and daily specials are the draw
Tip: The bar hosts karaoke on specific nights of the week, announced on their social media. Parking is available on the street and the adjacent lot.
McNellie's Public House is a Midtown Oklahoma City gastropub with 100-plus beers and a late kitchen, the city's top destination for a post-dinner pint.
Order: Ask the bar staff for a recommendation from the rotating Oklahoma craft beer taps, or the house fish and chips with the house-made tartar sauce
Tip: McNellie's keeps the kitchen running later than most OKC restaurants, making it the go-to spot for a full meal after 22:00. The bar can get loud on weekends; the back room is quieter.