McNellie's Public House ★ 4.1
Gastropub$$MidtownMon-Thu 11:00-02:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-02:00, Sun 11:00-00:00
McNellie's Public House is a Midtown Oklahoma City gastropub with 100-plus beers and a late kitchen, the city's top destination for a post-dinner pint.
Order: Ask the bar staff for a recommendation from the rotating Oklahoma craft beer taps, or the house fish and chips with the house-made tartar sauce
Tip: McNellie's keeps the kitchen running later than most OKC restaurants, making it the go-to spot for a full meal after 22:00. The bar can get loud on weekends; the back room is quieter.
Angles ★ 4.2
Dance club$$39th Street DistrictFri 18:00-02:00, Sat 21:00-02:00
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 Mexican Kitchen and Cantina ★ 3.9
Latin dance club$$BricktownWed-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri 11:00-00:00, Sat 11:00-02:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Santos on the Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City serves Mexican food by day and becomes a Latin dance venue Friday and Saturday nights until 2 a.m.
Order: House margarita or the Santos michelada
Tip: The nightlife hours on Saturday (10 pm to 2 am) are separate from the restaurant service window; arrive after 10 pm for the full dance-club experience.
The Criterion ★ 4.3
Live music venue$$BricktownEvent nights only; box office Tue-Fri 11:00-16:00
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 ★ 4.5
Listening room$GatewoodConcert nights only; doors open 30 min before showtime
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 ★ 4.4
Live music venue$$Uptown 23rdEvent nights only
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.
