Nightlife - Nightlife And Casinos
Remember, you’re in Oklahoma. This is not noted as being a swingin’ state. That said, you should be able to find enough after-dark excitement to keep you from watching reruns of I Love Lucy in your hotel room. If you’re just looking for an after-dinner drink, most of the big hotels have nice bars. Below you’ll find a list of the nightspots we’ve checked out. You’ll find a variety of music, dancing, and drinking venues. What’s hot this week may be gone next week, so check online or with your concierge (if your accommodation has one).
The main concentrations of night activities are in Brookside, on Cherry (East 15th) Street, and the Brady District. Almost all these places have minimum age limits that conform to the state liquor laws—21 and over, and picture ID, please.
When it’s operating—usually Thursday through Saturday nights from 6 p.m. until the wee hours—the free T-Town Trolley runs a loop around the main entertainment areas. Saves the parking hassle, helps keep you safe on the road, and is pretty much a party all its own. And it’s free. Check www.ttowntrolley.wordpress.com or call (918) 794-2485 for more information.
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Address: 951 W. 36th St. North
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Address: 8330 Riverside Parkway
3. Loony Bin
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 392-5653
Address: 6808 S. Memorial Dr. #234
Description: Be entertained by pros or maybe even get brave enough to sign up for an open-mic night. Munch on snacks and order a drink from the full bar. There are nonalcoholic beverages, too. Shows are Wednesday nights through Saturday nights. Check the Web site to see what’s coming up.
4. Arnie’S Bar
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918-583-0797
Address: 318 E. 2nd St.
Description: Right next door to the Blue Dome building, Arnie’s has been a fixture on the street for a long time. Small inside, it has a great little patio, it’s noted as Tulsa’s Irish pub. They serve not just Guinness but Southwick, Harp, and Killian’s Irish Red. There’s live music most Fridays and Saturdays and sometimes on Thursdays. Arnie’s has a very faithful following but folks are always friendly to new faces. Arnie’s opens at 2 p.m. daily.
5. The Bru House Bar And Grill
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 743-7200
Address: 3421 S. Peoria Ave.
Description: Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Bru House hosts happy hour every afternoon and all day Sunday. Its patio is particularly popular—maybe because that’s the smoking area. There’s live music Wed through Sat and an occasional DJ. Just a fun place to gather.
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Address: 209 N. Boulder Ave.
7. Crow Creek Tavern
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 749-9100
Address: 3534 S. Peoria Ave.
Description: In the popular Brookside area, Crow Creek offers live music seven nights a week with cover bands on Friday and Saturday nights. The clientele is a mix of professionals and bikers—and sometimes they’re both. There’s always dancing on the weekends, and the two big screen TVs keep up with sports action. They offer daily lunch specials and their full bar keeps happy hour happy.
8. Dirty’S Tavern
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Address: 325 E. 2nd St.
Description: Loud and popular with the college crowd who love the Dirty’s in Stillwater, Tulsa’s Dirty’s Tavern is located in the Blue Dome District. The music leans heavily toward red dirt and country with some rock thrown in. The building’s brick walls, bare floor, and wood ceiling fit in fine with the casual, country emphasis. Picnic tables provide lots of the seating, so if you’re not in a group when you come in, you soon will be. Pool tables, games, and darts are available, and there’s live music and a cover charge on Fri and Sat nights.
9. F .B. Oscar’S Gastro Pub
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 938-6960
Address: 1738 S. Boston Ave.
Description: A restaurant and pub by day, Oscar’s turns into a club Thursday through Saturday nights. Entertainment includes live bands and DJs. Music ranges from ’80s, rock, and blues to Latin music and jazz. The decor is attractive with wood floors, furniture with clean, contemporary lines, and a tin ceiling. The full bar includes about 40 beers, with half of them on tap. The noise level is conversational through dinnertime but gets loud later. Closed Sundays.
10. Gray Snail
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Address: 1334 E. 15th St.
Description: One of Tulsa’s current faves, dance-oriented Gray Snail serves up live music or DJs seven nights a week. Music here is mostly rock. You can order drinks on the huge patio when the weather’s nice. This is a popular place to get on the dance floor or simply people-watch.
11. James E. Mcnellie’S
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Address: 409 E. 1st St.
Description: Noted as a good place for a meal in the Restaurants chapter, McNellie’s stays open late seven nights a week and is a great stop for a brew. There’s live music upstairs several times a week. This is a fun family place to eat, but starting at 9 p.m. it’s for adults age 21 and over. Check the Web site for specifics.
12. Jewel
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 743-0600
Address: 3340 S. Peoria Ave.
Description: Advertised as an upscale dance club, the decor doesn’t disappoint. A chandelier hangs over the dance floor and laser and LED intelligent lighting offer special effects. There are reserved VIP areas and small, curtained lounges. Small plates and sushi from In the Raw are available. Live bands appear occasionally and there’s a DJ every night. Open seven nights a week, Jewel allows smoking on the patio only, and there is a cover charge.
13. Leon’S
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 933-5366
Address: 3301 S. Peoria Ave.
Description: This is a no-smoking sports bar with entrees named after sports stars. Open for lunch and dinner, there’s a special offer or entertainment for every night. Thurs and Sun, it’s live music. Happy hour is Mon through Fri. On nights when there’s no live music, recorded music or sports on TV keep things going. All the bands here are local and not cover bands. After 10 p.m. it’s strictly for adults age 21 and up. Fri and Sat, Leon’s is open until the wee hours, with pizza available after 10. The crowd is eclectic. There are 18 televisions and a pool table. Smoking is allowed on the patio.
14. Lola’S At The Bowery
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 592-7995
Address: 5 E. Brady
Description: Talk about mixed messages—between the Bowery name and the skeleton on the door, you may wonder about going in here. Here’s the scoop—the place was once called the Bowery Bar and the skeleton actually represents the Mexican Dia de los Muertos—remembrances of Lola’s days in New Mexico. Lola herself is an attractive blond whose breads and pastries are killer good.More of a restaurant than a club, it’s still a great place for nightlife—perhaps before or after a local concert. Or just enjoy the live music and a drink—you’ll find the schedule in the free Urban Tulsa that you can pick up around town. There’s often music with dinner. On the upscale side, Lola’s is nonsmoking and closed on Sunday. Check the Restaurants chapter for more information.
15. Majestic
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (918) 584-9494
Address: 124 N. Boston Ave.
Description: This is a large dance club catering to the GLBT community—but everyone’s welcome. With state-of-the-art sound and lighting and multiple bars, this is a busy place. There are drag shows on Thursday and Sunday nights, and on Friday nights it’s the “Hoe, You Think You Can Dance Contest.” Ages allowed are 18 and up, Thurs, Fri, and Sun, and 21 and over on Wed and Sat. There’s a small cover charge.Obviously, this club attracts a younger crowd. Some people dance, while most just stand to listen to the music, watch the shows, etc.