26 Best Things To Do In Tulsa, Oklahoma

A hot music scene, history, architecture, and top-tier dining brings Tulsa into the spotlight.

Famous for its rocking performing arts scene, classic and original Art Deco architecture, world-class museums, and exciting dining scene, Tulsa is coming into the spotlight as one of Oklahoma's most vibrant areas to visit. It is also renowned for its role in Western history and as the birthplace of the "Mother Road" Route 66. Thinking of planning a trip to this Oklahoma gem? Read on to discover the best things to do when visiting Tulsa.

Related: The 35 Best Things To Do in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Taste Diverse Food And Drink

Pop Up with et al's Dining Concepts

One of the most unique dining experiences in Tulsa's dining scene comes from the et al. team, which currently runs six food concepts: Bischix, Butter Bar, Compaignon, Dumpling Night, Japanese Breakfast, and Pickles at the Barbecue.

A collective of chefs "working collaboratively to build a more delicious and equitable future for the food and beverage industry" in Tulsa, the team cooks weekly and monthly while holding one-time pop-ups out of Foolish Things Coffee.

"My personal favorite is Dumpling Night, which is a restaurant featuring handmade dumplings with all the sauces and sides to go with it," said Ashley Neal, co-owner and creative director for LocalFarmOK, a locally focused farm-to-home delivery service designed to make fresh produce more readily available across Oklahoma.

Revel in the Natural Flavors of FarmBar

FarmBar is a local agricultural food concept driven by Lisa Becklund, chef and co-owner of Living Kitchen Farm & Dairy in Depew, Oklahoma and FarmBar and il seme, both in Tulsa. Becklund was a semifinalist in 2020 for the James Beard Foundation Awards Best Chef-Southwest, which made her one of the first nominees from Oklahoma's second-largest city. She was also a semifinalist in the same category again in 2023.

"The Multi-Course Tasting Menu at FarmBar is not to be missed," said Neal. "Sourced from local farms, this ever-changing menu experience is always creative, beautiful, and tasty down to the last bite."

farmbartulsa.com, 1740 S Boston Ave, Tulsa, OK 74119

Get Local with Oren

Led by the ever-talented Matt and Yara Amberg, the progressive American restaurant Oren has a produce-filled and globally-influenced menu. Oren's most popular dishes strongly emphasize fruits and vegetables served in a family style, bringing high-quality cuisine to everyday Tulsans.

"Although it is hard to pick just a few, at the top of my personal favorites are the Roasted Beets with Citrus, Mint, and Feta; the Fried Brussels Sprouts with Pear and Hot and Sour Sauce; and the Whipped Feta with Honey, Lemon and Saffron with house-made sourdough," said Neal. Oren was also recognized by James Beard this past year as a semifinalist for best chef in the Southwest.

orenrestaurant.com, 3509 S Peoria Ave, Suite 161 Tulsa, OK 74105 

Taste the Fairy Tale Baked Goods at Country Bird

Country Bird Bakery's motto is "storytelling through baked goods," and baker extraordinaire Cat Cox has earned a cult-like following for her baked treasures. Only open a few days a week, lines form around the building with avid followers hoping to snag up their favorites before they disappear. While the menu is constantly changing, some of the staples to try include the fruit focaccia, the rye sourdough brownie, Mom's butterscotch brownies, a honey oat porridge loaf, and the olive, lemon, and millet porridge loaf.

For a hands-on experience, sign up for one of Country Bird Bakery's baking workshops.

countrybirdbakery.com, 1644 E 3rd St. Unit B, Tulsa OK 74120

Get Fresh on the Mother Road

Named the Best Food Hall in 2023 by USA Today, Mother Road Market is a central food hall with 20 different food and retail concepts. From authentic Mexican street food, fresh Japanese cuisine at Akira Sushi & Ramen, a taste of Brazil at Doctor Kustom to Tulsa's favorite brunch cuisine at Da Yolk, it's a fun gathering place offering up a wide variety of choices for everyone in your party.

However, one of the market's most unique concepts is Kitchen 66, a kickstart kitchen and Tulsa's first food incubator. Kitchen 66 hosts food entrepreneurs and provides affordable commercial kitchen space, business training programs, and ways to reach the public through the Kitchen 66 Takeover Cafe, Landmark Food Truck, and Kitchen 66 General Store.

motherroadmarket.com, 1124 S. Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74104

Sip From the Wings of the Valkyrie

Tulsa's Valkyrie Bar was recognized as a finalist this past year by the James Beard Foundation for its outstanding bar program. Located in the Tulsa Arts District in downtown Tulsa, Valkyrie is known for its "comfort and personality while serving top quality drinks without pretense."

Stagger through the streets of Tokyo with the Kintsugi High Ball, a daring cocktail made with Japanese whisky, miso, lemon, ginger and seltzer, or take a more delicate route with Valkyrie's signature Whimsical Bee's Knees, an old classic made with Butterfly Pea Flower Gin, honey, lemon and sage.

valkyrietulsa.com, 13 East Reconciliation Way, Tulsa, OK 74103

Visit Tulsa's Favorite Dive Bar

Ask any local what the best dive bar is in Tulsa, and most will point you to The Starlight Bar. Along with themed dance nights and events held weekly, this Tulsa staple on Historic Route 66 hosts themed events like Trivia Night, Saturday Dance Parties and Comedy Nights.

"They have an extensive and delicious cocktails and mocktails menu," said Tulsa Chef Kate Atkinson, who not only holds a Cuisine Diplome from Le Cordon Bleu, Paris but worked as the personal chef to Martin Scorsese during the filming of his epic, "Killer's of the Flower Moon," and on multiple culinary projects for The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.

Get into the party mood with a Mr. Jiggles cocktail made with jalapeno and cucumber tequila, hibiscus habanero, strawberry, simple syrup, and pineapple juice.

thestarlitebar.com, 1902 East 11th Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104

Sip Tulsa's World Famous Root Beer

Weber's Superior Root Beer Drive-in has been a staple in the Tulsa area since 1933. Family-owned and operated, this drive-in is known for its homemade root beer, onion rings, freshly made hamburgers, and fresh-cut fries.

"I highly recommend trying them," said Danny O'Connor, executive director of The Outsiders House Museum, rapper, and founding member of the hip-hop group House of Pain. "Eating on their outdoor patio, located in the heart of Brookside, brings back memories of a bygone era. It's also a known fact that this is musician Jack White's favorite hamburger joint when he's in town."

webersoftulsa.com, 3817 S Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK 74105

Feel Like Family at Freeway Cafe

Freeway Cafe #2 has been O'Connor's favorite place for breakfast ever since he moved to Tulsa. The service and its classic diner menu that's both comprehensive and reasonably priced have made the little cafe a favorite for many locals.

"They have always made me feel like family here, and that goes a long way with me," O'Connor said. "I want to give a special thanks to the hardworking waitresses, staff, and the family that runs the Cafe. I've watched them consistently provide generous support to local first responders like the police, sheriff, fire department, and EMSA."

freewaycafeinc.com, 1547 E 3rd St, Tulsa, OK 74120. 

Take In The Local Arts & Music Scene

Catch a Concert at Cain's Ballroom

Since 1924, Cain's Ballroom has been Tulsa's most famous music venue and remains one of the top performance venues in the U.S. The little performance space became known as the "Home of Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys" from 1935 to 1942. Wills popularized a new sound of western music called western swing, and Wills was even more famous for his midnight radio show and a daily noon-hour program during those heady glory years.

While the original maple wood floors harken back to history, the concert hall has earned more recent fame with performances from Bob Dylan, rapper Tech N9ne, The Police, Pat Benatar, Van Halen, U2, the Pretenders and the Sex Pistols.

"Cain's Ballroom is undoubtedly one of my favorite live music and concert venues worldwide," said O'Connor. "There's nothing quite like the experience at Cain's. I love everything about it, which made moving to Tulsa an easy decision for me. Seeing a show here is like stepping back in time, capturing the essence of how shows were meant to be—authentic in every conceivable way. The highlight of my musical career was performing there in 2009 with my group La Coka Nostra and then again with House of Pain in 2010."

cainsballroom.com, 423 N. Main Street, Tulsa, OK

Ramble Around at the Woody Guthrie Center

Woodrow "Woody" Guthrie is one of Oklahoma's most creative native sons. In 2013, Tulsa's Kaiser Family Foundation helped open The Woody Guthrie Center, which houses the most extensive collection of Woody Guthrie memorabilia of his life and legacy.

As one of America's premiere singer-songwriters, Woody became one of the most significant figures in American folk music. Permanent exhibits at the center include a film highlighting the life of Woody Guthrie, an interactive timeline of his life, and a deep dive into his continued influence.

Pursue an interactive map that includes information about Woody's life, music history, and Oklahoma, U.S., and world history; a music bar for listening to Woody's recorded songs; the original handwritten lyrics of "This Land is Your Land; Woody's fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin; and more.

woodyguthriecenter.org, 102 E. Reconciliation Way, Tulsa, OK, 74103

Continue the Music Experience at the Bob Dylan Center

One of the reasons the Bob Dylan Center moved right next door was that Dylan was so impressed with the Woody Guthrie Center that he granted the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the University of Tulsa to acquire his archives for a similar center.

The Bob Dylan Center officially opened in May 2022 as a fully immersive experience housing the collection of more than 100,000 of Dylan's items, including photographs, films, personal documents, manuscripts, notebooks, and correspondence; unreleased studio and concert recordings; musical instruments; and much more.

bobdylancenter.com, 116 E Reconciliation Way, Tulsa, OK 74103

Catch a Major Show at the BOK Center

Tulsa's largest concert venue, The BOK Center, regularly offers popular concerts, festivals, and top-tier performances. With its signature reflective dome structure, this 19199-seat multi-purpose arena hosts sporting events like arena football, hockey, and basketball, but has also hosted performing artists like Taylor Swift, Metallica, The Jonas Brothers, Kenny Chesney, Elton John, and more.

bokcenter.com, 200 S Denver Ave., Tulsa, OK 74103

Jazz it Up at Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

Located in Tulsa's historic Union Depot Building, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame features exhibits on the history of jazz and blues music, but it has plenty of concerts, classes, camps, and other types of jazz-centric programming. Undergoing significant renovations, the Jazz Hall of Fame is also home to the Jazz Depot, which holds weekly jazz jams and features various musicians.

jazzdepotlive.com, 5 S Boston Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103 

Make a Pilgrimage to the Shrine

The Venue Shrine in Tulsa is an absolute gem for live music, and the atmosphere is always buzzing. Locals love the Venue's ambiance and acoustics, which makes every show feel personal. Plus, the bar's got everything you need to keep the night going.

"It's the kind of place where you're guaranteed a great time with awesome tunes and a chill atmosphere," said O'Connor. "It is totally a go-to spot for a night out with friends or to catch your favorite band in action. Owner Donnie Rich is a big part of why local music is still alive and thriving in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Be sure to thank him for me if you see him."

tulsashrine.com, 112 E 18th St, Tulsa, OK 74119

Take In The Culture And History

Art at the Philbrook

The Philbrook Museum of Art is situated in the historic, beautiful home of Waite Phillips and includes 25 acres of gardens that have been lauded as the most beautiful and unique place in Oklahoma.

The Philbrook Collection features more than 16,000 American, Native American, and European art and objects, and the museum plays host to more than over 160,000 visitors annually,

"This is an amazing art museum and gardens located in the middle of midtown in a historic oil mansion," said Chase Healey, co-founder of American Solera, a Tulsa craft brewery that was named a James Beard Foundation Outstanding Bar 2023 Semifinalist and Best New Brewery in the United States by RateBeer.

philbrook.org, 2727 S Rockford Rd, Tulsa, OK 74114

Western Art at the Gilcrease

Currently in a massive renovation, which is said to take three to four years, The Gilcrease Museum is home to the most extensive collection of native art of the American West. Representing hundreds of Indigenous cultures across North and South America, the museum houses American paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, including "the largest public holdings of art of the American West."

Visitors can also enjoy curator talks, art classes with local artists, and Gilcrease Live musical performances.

gilcrease.org, 1400 N. Gilcrease Road, Tulsa, OK, 74127

Learn About Tulsa's Resilience at Greenwood Rising

After a century of silence following the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, history and celebration of resilience in the face of violence come to life at Greenwood Rising and The Black Wall Street History Center. This community museum and history center brings the story of Tulsa's Black Wall Street to life.

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, together with other community groups, developed the $5 million project Pathway to Hope as one of the many projects marking the 100th anniversary of the massacre, which destroyed the thriving Black community in Tulsa in 1921.

"Greenwood Rising is a museum that tells the story of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre," said Babcock, "It is so important to know what has happened in the City of Tulsa and what the city is doing to help Black Wall Street grow again. While you're there, you must stop at Silhouette Sneakers."

greenwoodrising.org, 23 North Greenwood Avenue, Tulsa, OK, 74120

Relive Your Youth at The Outsiders House Museum

The Outsiders House Museum is a passion project by O'Connor that pays homage to the legacy of The Outsiders book and movie with a museum to the iconic coming-of-age story by S.E. Hinton.

In 2009, while on tour, O'Connor stumbled upon the house featured in his favorite movie, Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders (1983). The story, set in mid-60s Tulsa, revolves around the conflict between two social groups. Envisioning the house as a museum, O'Connor purchased the house where the movie was filmed in 2016 and spearheaded a crowd-funded restoration project.

"The support from the Tulsa community was overwhelming, leading me to move from California to Oklahoma over six years ago," O'Connor said. "Oklahoma has become my home, and life here has been truly fulfilling, especially as the No. 1 fan of The Outsiders."

theoutsidershouse.com, 731 N Saint Louis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74106 

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

For those looking for a nostalgic journey back in time along Route 66 Mother Road, you're in luck. The famed road from Chicago to Los Angeles runs right through the heart of Tulsa and includes some of the highway's most recognizable landmarks.

The U.S. Highway 66 Association was also founded in Tulsa, and the city is known as the Capital of Route 66. Along Tulsa's stretch, be sure to visit the Gateway Arches, which bookend the city at each end of town, the original Admiral Twin Drive-In (featured in the movie "The Outsiders"), the towering Golden Driller statue, and Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios with its vintage neon sign and custom Muffler Man statue.

Tulsa's Outdoor Activities

Gather at the Gathering Place

"A park like no other," the Gathering Place is a sprawling outdoor public space that was voted USA Today's Best City Park in 2021. Funding from more than 80 corporate and philanthropic organizations helped create the park, which Michael Van Valkenburgh designed. The public park includes art exhibits, dining, an exploration station for kids, a discovery lab, a mobile library, free outdoor classes and education, concerts, and more.

gatheringplace.org, 2650 S John Williams Way, Tulsa, OK 74114

Related: 10 Of Oklahoma’s Prettiest State Parks

Soak It Up On Guthrie Green at The Tulsa Arts District

Located in the heart of Tulsa's Arts District, Guthrie Green is a community park that hosts community events, Food Truck Wednesdays, fitness and meditation classes and live music. It's a little relaxation and rejuvenation in the middle of Tulsa's busy downtown area, where you can unwind before the next adventure, and sample fare at the newly-opened En Fuego, a Baja-inspired restaurant.

guthriegreen.com, 111 E Brady St, Tulsa, OK 74103

thetulsaartsdistrict.org, 15 S Main St, Tulsa, OK 74103

Get Wild on Turkey Mountain

You won't feel anywhere close to a city at the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, which includes more than 600 acres of wilderness and trails in the heart of urban Tulsa. A favorite destination for locals thanks to its outdoor exploration and dog-friendly trails, the 12.69 miles of formally mapped trails on Turkey Mountain is a perfect place for hiking, walking, or biking. Downloadable maps are available, especially for those looking to tackle the summit, which rises 300 feet above the Arkansas River and offers a panoramic view of Tulsa.

Bloom at Tulsa Botanic Gardens

The Tulsa Botanic Gardens is a relaxing spot to contemplate, enjoy the native flora of Osage country, and escape the noise of the day. These gardens, including a children's discovery garden, also serve as an outdoor classroom, abundant with plant life and conservation.

While the gardens are constantly evolving, the land erupts in color during the spring, with more than 200,000 bulbs of daffodils, orchids, and tulips in bloom.

tulsabotanic.org, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr, Tulsa, OK 74127 

Stay Under the Stars at Post Oak Lodge

Post Oak Lodge & Retreat is an outdoor lodging and conference center situated within the Osage Hill's woodlands, valleys, and ponds. Built in 1983 as a Catholic retreat and summer camp, the property is now a conference center, retreat, wedding destination, and natural getaway. Just minutes from downtown Tulsa, this lodge sits on 1,000 acres of gorgeous landscape and is one of Babcock's favorite destinations.

"Post Oak Lodge is a magical piece of land located on the outskirts of Tulsa. You can book a cabin and stay overnight and hike their property, have a get-together with friends out there, or enjoy the peace and quiet," Babcock said. "It is tucked back in the woods, so it's a great place to recharge."

postoaklodge.com, 323 W 31st Street N, Tulsa, OK 74127

Visit the Animals at the Tulsa Zoo

More than 84 acres of adventure and over 2,000 animals worldwide await at the award-winning Tulsa Zoo. In addition to natural settings and live creatures to learn about, the Tulsa Zoo also boasts a Safari Train, a Wildlife Carousel, a Gem Dig and Sluice exhibit, plenty of dining options, Zookeeper Chats, walking tours, and a nature center.

Visitors can even take a trip to the Amazon at the 15,000 square-foot Tropical American Rainforests exhibit, an immersive walkthrough recreation with an indoor temperature ranging from 72-82 degrees year-round.

tulsazoo.org, 6421 East 36th Street N, Tulsa, OK 74115

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