Oklahoma City has been busy finishing up several new attractions, restaurants and hotels this summer. Looking towards the fall, OKC can anticipate several more projects that will improve the metro and enhance visitor and residents’ experience.
What’s New
The First National Center, originally built in 1931, was a focal point of downtown activity for decades. After several years of renovation and restoration, the First National Center has reopened with a brand-new personality and purpose. The Library of Distilled Spirits is located on the basement level inside the old bank vault. This cocktail bar has over 1,500 distilled spirits for guests to choose from. Tellers Wood-Fired Italian Grill serves regional Italian cuisine in a stunning atmosphere. The restaurant is located on the second floor of the First National Center in the former Great Banking Hall. Lastly, The National, Autograph Collection Hotel has 146 guest rooms and puts you only steps away from these fantastic food and beverage options in Downtown Oklahoma City.
Flamingo Tiki is a new, hip bar located in the Paseo Arts District. This baja tikki-inspired bar and restaurant is decked out in island themed décor, and the outside is bright pink! Come for fantastic tropical cocktails, and stay for the food created next door at OSO on Paseo.
In June 2022, “Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty” opened to the public. It features new works on loan from Chihuly Studio in Seattle, as well as visitor favorites from OKCMOA’s permanent collection. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to walk through Chihuly’s extensive career and gain insight into his techniques and processes. Beginning on September 4, the museum will also house The Rose Family Glass Collection, which will provide visitors with a deeper contextual understanding of the collection of Chihuly glass by showcasing the broader story of the Studio Glass movement. Visit the Oklahoma City Museum of Art for Chihuly’s glass art and other exhibits by artists from around the world.
The new 10-story, 182-room Renaissance Hotel is the first full-service hotel in Bricktown. The Renaissance offers guests a three-meal restaurant and full bar on the ground level. The hotel also has a complete fitness center and a 3,000-square-foot sports court for guests to utilize.
Saj Lebanese Cuisine recently opened in Automobile Alley and started with a simple premise about Lebanese food: nothing’s better than the food cooked at home by your mother or grandmother. They strive to create that same nostalgia by using family recipes passed down through generations and crafted with fresh, authentic ingredients.
What’s Coming
The Gilded Acorn is situated on the ground floor of the First National Center, offering an urban embrace through an interesting and elegant atmosphere. A custom champagne tower, sleek lighting, gold foil and hand-painted elements reflect the Art Deco motif of the era when the building was originally crafted. The restaurant is slated to open in September 2022.
The Inasmuch Foundation has committed $2.5 million to the second phase of a capital campaign to renovate the Crystal Bridge Conservatory at Myriad Botanical Gardens. This phase features a complete renovation of the interior conservatory spaces to enhance visitor engagement with a more diverse plant collection, interactive educational exhibits, improved ADA accessibility and a museum-quality gift shop. The Crystal Bridge Conservatory is currently closed for renovation, and a grand re-opening will take place in November 2022.
Construction is wrapping up on Scissortail Park’s 30-acre Lower Park in the heart of Oklahoma City. The Lower Park is intended to have more open and natural spaces than the Upper Park. There will be a focus on space for athletic events and pickup sports, with a soccer field, sports pavilion, pickleball courts, futsal court and two basketball courts. The grand opening is tentatively scheduled for September 23, 2022.
