Overview
Downtown in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the central business district and has several areas, including the Plaza district, Midtown, Automobile Alley, Metro Park, Film Row, Riverside and Bricktown. It is an area of several square miles between Pennsylvania Avenue and I-235, bounded by NW 23rd on the north and the river on the south.
15 sights · 7 things to do · 30 places to eat · 8 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Downtown
Oklahoma City National Memorial
This is the memorial for the Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that occurred at 9:02AM on April 19th, 1995. At each end of the memorial are the bronze 'Gates of Time'. At one end 9:01 for bef…
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Myriad Botanical Gardens
American Banjo Museum
A world class museum dedicated to celebrating the music and heritage of America's Instrument - the banjo. See the largest collection of banjos on public display in the world and witness the history of the banjo from its …
Civic Center Music Hall
Various performances and home for The Oklahoma City Philharmonic.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The city's NBA team is likely the toughest ticket in town, thanks to a roster loaded with young talent, most notably Shae Gilgeous-Alexander.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Oklahoma City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- OKC OKC Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City — 7 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SWO Stillwater Regional Airport, Stillwater — 53 mi away. Directions
Interstate 40 (I-40), also called the Crosstown Expressway, runs along the southern side of the downtown area. Downtown is located just west of Interstate 235 (I-235). The city bus service downtown is better than in the rest of the city, but most people drive. The city's Amtrak train station is in downtown Oklahoma City.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $15 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Myriad Botanical Gardens, Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Lunch Flint
- Afternoon Paycom Center, Cox Convention Center
- Dinner Vast
- Evening Bricktown Brewery
Day 2
- Morning Oklahoma City National Memorial, Memorial Museum, Oklahoma City Museum of Art
- Lunch Thai Kitchen Cafe
- Afternoon Canterbury Choral Society, Civic Center Music Hall
- Dinner Coney Island
- Evening City Walk
Day 3
- Morning Centennial Land Run Monument, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Oklahoma City Comets
- Lunch Earl's Rib Palace
- Afternoon Water Taxi of Oklahoma, Cocktail Cruises
- Dinner HeyDay Bowling and Arcade
- Evening Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grille
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Interstate 40 (I-40), also called the Crosstown Expressway, runs along the southern side of the downtown area. Downtown is located just west of Interstate 235 (I-235). The city bus service downtown is better than in the rest of the city, but most people drive. The city's Amtrak train station is in downtown Oklahoma City.
Go Amtrak train station
Historic train station that may expand to connect better with local transit options. The Heartland Flyer makes the four-hour trip to Fort Worth, Texas every morning, and then returns every evening.
Get around
Most people drive cars in this city. As of 2018, parking in city-operated parking garages costs $2/hour, with a $10 maximum each day.
Neighborhoods of particular interest to visitors include:
- Bricktown: a former warehouse district that has been converted into a restaurant and night club hot spot adjacent to downtown. This area is home to the Bricktown Ballpark, several live music venues, the Harkins movie theatre, and Mickey Mantle's steakhouse. On the east side of downtown, between E.K. Gaylord Ave. and Lincoln Blvd. and includes Reno Ave., Sheridan Ave. and Main street.
- Plaza District: Offers art galleries, restaurants, and performance arts. Named after the historic Plaza Theatre, where Lyric Theatre performs. Block party on the second Friday evening of each month. Near the theatre on NW 16th Ave.
- Midtown: Near NW 10th and Walker, Midtown boasts Brasilian, Latin, and American food restaurants, as well as OKC's oldest boutique ice creamery and a bakery. On weekends, a rooftop bossa nova bar offers a beautiful view of this area's interesting architecture.
See
See Oklahoma City National Memorial
This is the memorial for the Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that occurred at 9:02AM on April 19th, 1995. At each end of the memorial are the bronze 'Gates of Time'. At one end 9:01 for before and the other 9:03 for after. Between the gates is a reflecting pool and on the south side are the 168 memorial chairs, one for each person that perished and smaller chairs for the children. On the north side of the pool is the Survivor Tree, an American elm that survived the blast. At the west end along Harvey Ave. is the fence where visitors leave memorabilia.
See American Banjo Museum
A world class museum dedicated to celebrating the music and heritage of America's Instrument - the banjo. See the largest collection of banjos on public display in the world and witness the history of the banjo from its humble African roots, throughout its heyday during the Roaring 20s to its present day voice in Bluegrass, folk and world music.
See Oklahoma Buffalo Corral
There used to be a herd of buffalo on Main St near the Amtrak tracks, however now there's only one left there. Each buffalo was decorated by artists. The project was by The Nature Conservancy to raise money. There are still several throughout Oklahoma City.
Performing arts
Do
This is the business district of Oklahoma City. Many people work in this area during the day and then head out for an evening drink or meal.
Do Cocktail Cruises
On the Water Taxi in season cruises run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings beginning around 6:30PM and run until about 10:30PM.
Do Buggy Rides
Around Bricktown and downtown Oklahoma City. Bricktown is host to both human powered and horse powered buggies and carriages. The horse carriages are generally seen on family oriented event nights, although they are open for business all days of the week if there is a demand. Their hours of operation generally end at midnight. The pedal-cab companies generally come out Tu-Sa between 4PM and 2AM, and are often seen on event nights any day of the week as well. The pedal cab companies also attend local sports games by transporting their bikes to Norman and Stillwater.
Buy
Shop Exhibit C Gallery
Exhibit C houses an art gallery, which features hand-crafted art pieces created by Chickasaw and southeastern Native American artists. Exhibit C also serves as a visitor information center for Chickasaw Country. The large gallery features art for display and also for sale, with a new artist featured every four months. Jewelry, pottery, painting, clothing and more are available in the retail portion of Exhibit C. Also offered are a wide selection of Bedré Fine Chocolate, chocolate barks and cold chocolate soda.
Eat
Budget
Eat The Buzz Coffee and Café
Breakfast, lunch, coffee, and ice cream in an unusual location.
Eat Coney Island
Family-owned local place that is nearly a century old. Offers great wieners (hot dogs) for a low price. All kinds of OU Sooner memorabilia on the walls, and football scores on the wall going back to the 1940s.
Eat Greek & Seafood
Mediterranean, Greek and Persian food. Lunch only.
Eat Ground Floor Café & Bakery
Breakfast and lunch. Short orders, soup, sandwiches, bagels and coffee. Also, Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Eat Someplace Else Deli and Bakery
Get a nice kraut dog or reuben here.
Mid-range
Eat Thai Kitchen Cafe
Phat thai noodles, curries, and other Thai foods. Busier at lunch than in the evening.
Eat HeyDay Bowling and Arcade
An upscale version of bowling, dining and bar. Parking validation.
Eat Anchor Down
Gourmet corn dogs and full bar.
Eat Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy
Eat Bourbon Street Café
N'awlins style dining.
Eat Cafe Do Brasil
Brazilian bakery and deli with live music on some weekends.
Eat Joey's Pizzeria
Salads, pastas, toasted subs, appetizers, homemade desserts, and pizzas.
Eat Thai House
Thai dishes and a lunch buffet.
Eat Sala Thai
This is one of the city's finest restaurant, and is completely vegetarian-friendly. Also has a buffet.
Eat McNellie's Public House
They go a little wild with the beer with more than 350 different options.
Eat Taj Cuisine of India
A sumptuous Indian buffet.
Splurge
Eat Park Avenue Grill
This upscale restaurant features contemporary cuisine and a modern take on Southern traditions. Full-service hotel restaurant.
Eat Red PrimeSteak
Fine-dining steak house.
Eat Flint
Upscale casual restaurant and lounge featuring contemporary American cuisine; takes a direct and simple approach to cooking, using the best available ingredients. Full-service fine-dining hotel restaurant offering breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner, plus a "small bites" menu served from 2–5PM every afternoon. Valet parking validation.
Eat Café Cuvée
Formerly known as the Viceroy Grille, Café Cuvée is a bistro that serves authentic French comfort food. Offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday, and breakfast, brunch, and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays.
Eat Vast
Fresh fare and cool cocktails. Date-night dinners and leisure lunches. Smiling staff and vast views in the heart of downtown. Good food, sourced from local producers, and even better service.
Eat Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse
They have a very nice bar with $1.50 domestics and hors d'oeuvres from 4-7PM weeknights (no hors d'oeuvres on Hornets nights).
Eat The Mantel
Another nice upscale dining location.
Eat The Museum Café
A classy restaurant accompanying the Oklahoma City Museum of Art where you can enjoy a drink, or a brunch on certain days.
Drink
Drink Bricktown Brewery
They have free Wi-Fi, also a happy hour special from 4-7PM weeknights and pints are $1.75
Drink Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grille
One huge room with two bars and a huge stage. A bus is coming out of the wall next to the stage.
Drink JJ's Alley
Small local bar which has live acoustic music every night and never charges a cover. It was built in an alley between two buildings and manages to have two downstairs non-smoking and one upstairs smoking bar. This is the closest Bricktown has to a dive bar.
Drink Drinkz
Drinkz is a casual bar with a very extensive liquor selection, knowledgeable bartenders, and a comfortable atmosphere. Live bands every weekend are usually contemporary rock.
Coffee houses
Drink Coffee Slingers
Coffees roasted in-house, espresso bar and French pressed coffee 7 days a week
Drink Elemental Coffee
High quality coffees roasted in-house, espresso bar, pour overs, vegan pastries, breakfast and lunch served 7 days a week
Sleep
Stay The Skirvin Hilton
This renovated hotel features an elegant lobby and new restaurant, the Park Avenue Grill. It features 225 guestrooms, including 20 suites and one Presidential suite. It is a short walk to the Cox Business Services Convention Center in Oklahoma City Meeting rooms incorporate state of the art technology including high speed internet throughout. The historic fourteenth floor Venetian room has been restored to its former glory and is available for events. The stylish and comfortable Red Piano lounge is just off the lobby.
Nearby
Del City
City / town · 3 listings · 5 mi away
Nichols Hills
City / town · 3 listings · 5 mi away
Midwest City
City / town · 9 listings · 7 mi away
Bethany
City / town · 3 listings · 7 mi away
Moore
City / town · 3 listings · 10 mi away
Edmond
City / town · 25 listings · 12 mi away
Yukon
City / town · 3 listings · 13 mi away
Newcastle
City / town · 1 listings · 16 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.