Oklahoma City/Downtown

Oklahoma City/Downtown

Myriad Botanical Gardens Crystal Bridge and fountain

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.

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 located in downtown Oklahoma City.

  • Amtrak train station, 100 South E.K. Gaylord Boulevard, 35.4655°, -97.5127°. Daily 7:30–8:45AM, 9–11PM. 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. 2018-10-07

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.

  • EmbarkOK (Metro Transit). Route 50, which runs from the Transit Center through the OKC Museum of Art, Red Earth Museum, Bricktown, Bricktown Landing, and Chesapeake Energy Arena to Myriad Gardens, stops at several attractions and sightseeing opportunities. 2018-10-08

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

Oklahoma City National Memorial chairs

  • Oklahoma City National Memorial, 620 N Harvey Ave (between N. Harvey Ave and N. Robinson Ave at NW 5th St.), 35.472778°, -97.517222°, +1 405-235-3313. 24 hr. Park rangers on site 8:30AM- 5PM, daily. 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. Outdoor memorial is free
  • Memorial Museum, 620 Harvey Ave, 35.47314°, -97.51706°. M-Sa 9AM–6PM, Su noon–6PM. Last ticket sold at 5PM. The average visit lasts an hour and a half. The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Adult $15, senior (62+) $12, student (6-17 or college student with current ID) $12, 5 years and under are free
  • Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 West Reno, 35.465027°, -97.517932°, +1 405-297-3995. M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM. Adults $6, students 13-18 & College ID $5, children 4-12 $3, children under 4 free

Bricktown canal with Bricktown Ballpark in the background

  • American Banjo Museum, 9 E Sheridan (Bricktown), 35.466692°, -97.511529°, +1 405-604-2793. 11AM-6PM. 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. Adults $8, seniors (55+) and students $7, youth (5-17) $6 2021-02-09
  • Bricktown Mosaic Murals. Painted on the buildings in Bricktown.
  • Oklahoma Buffalo Corral, 1 East Main (Bricktown), 35.46829°, -97.51179°. 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.

Do

Oklahoma City National Memorial 9:01 Gate of Time

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.

  • Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker, 35.469°, -97.5234°, +1 405-297-2264. Various performances and home for The Oklahoma City Philharmonic.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder, 100 W. Reno Ave (Paycom Center in Bricktown), 35.46342°, -97.51512°, +1 405-208-4800. 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.
  • Oklahoma City Dodgers, 2 South Mickey Mantle Drive (Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Bricktown), 35.46519°, -97.50776°, +1 405-218-1000. Attend a Dodgers baseball game.
  • Water Taxi of Oklahoma, 111 Mickey Mantle Dr (Bricktown), 35.46524°, -97.50926°, +1 405-234-8294, okinfo@bricktownwatertaxi.com. Narrated canal cruise on the Bricktown canal. Round trip is about 40 minutes and all-day passes are available.
  • 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.
  • 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

Eat

Budget

Coney Island Wieners

  • The Buzz Coffee and Café, 120 N Robinson (in downtown's underground tunnels; enter at BancFirst and take elevators down to the lower level), 35.46791°, -97.51619°, +1 405-232-1109. M–F 8AM–4PM. Breakfast, lunch, coffee, and ice cream in an unusual location. $5 2018-10-07
  • Coney Island, 428 W Main St, 35.46765°, -97.52085°, +1 405-239-8568. M–Sat 9:30AM–5PM. 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. $5, cash only 2018-10-07
  • Greek & Seafood, 119 N Robinson (in the Robinson Renaissance Building), 35.46849°, -97.51677°, +1 405-235-3115, arashm405@gmail.com. M–F 10:30AM–2PM. Mediterranean, Greek and Persian food. Lunch only. $8 2018-10-07
  • Ground Floor Café & Bakery, 211 N.Robinson (Leadership Square), 35.46948°, -97.51691°, +1 405-232-2233. M–F 7AM–3PM. Breakfast and lunch. Short orders, soup, sandwiches, bagels and coffee. Also, Krispy Kreme doughnuts. $6–10 2018-10-07
  • Marble Slab Creamery, 216 Johnny Bench Dr.
  • Someplace Else Deli and Bakery, 2310 N. Western Ave. Get a nice kraut dog or reuben here.

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

Coffee houses

  • Coffee Slingers, 1015 N Broadway. Coffees roasted in-house, espresso bar and French pressed coffee 7 days a week
  • Elemental Coffee, 815 N Hudson. High quality coffees roasted in-house, espresso bar, pour overs, vegan pastries, breakfast and lunch served 7 days a week

Sleep

Connect