Art takes center stage, and center plate, in the Paseo Arts District, a vibrant neighborhood marked by colorful adobe-style buildings, more than 20 galleries and an array of restaurants and bars. Located just north of downtown and famed for its monthly First Fridays art walks, culinary art is just as prolific as the gallery work, with a wide range of cuisines (and cocktails) as vibrant as the pastel-hued studios, making this one of the best dining destinations in OKC.
Cocktail Hotspots
From community cornerstones to tropical oases, the bar scene in the Paseo is a fun choose-your-own-adventure. It’s home to staples like The Other Room, a come-one-and-all watering hole with affordable cocktails and beer, weekend drag brunch and free late-night hot dogs.
Around the corner, follow the hot-pink building to Flamingo TIKI. With thatched umbrellas on the patio, Gilligan’s Island often playing behind the bar and beachy cocktails like Mai Tais and Piña Coladas, it’s a taste of the tropics in the heart of OKC.
A relative newcomer, Barseo quickly established itself as a neighborhood fixture, providing eclectic food and drink menus in a lively corner location. Look for inventive cocktails and mocktails, like the Poblano Margarita or a non-alcoholic French 75, and pair them with Mexican pizza and oaxacan cheese skewers.
Trendy Bites & Vibes
OKC restaurants in the Paseo are as artsy as their gallery neighbors, such as the aptly dubbed Picasso Cafe. Known as the place where “great food is art” and where vegetarian-friendly dishes are abundant, this long standing favorite (since 2009) complements the local art on the walls with internationally inspired art on the plate—like smoked salmon spring rolls, mustard-glazed salmon and honey walnut cauliflower.
Another mainstay, Paseo Grill is at once casual and elegant with a tried-and-true menu of classic American cuisine in a cozy space filled with intimate dining tables. The chicken pot pie is a fan favorite, along with other requisites, like shrimp cocktails, blackened trout and Southwest meatloaf.
Speaking of the Southwest, regional American cuisine doesn’t get any finer than FRIDA Southwest. This chic and seasonally inspired restaurant pairs intricate cocktails with elevated Southwestern dishes, like slow-braised short ribs in ancho red wine sauce and Mexican hot chocolate cheesecake.
Culinary inspiration comes from the other side of the globe at trendy Goro Ramen, a dark and intimate noodle parlor that transports guests to Tokyo. The food is as vibey as the decor, from the Tokyo hot chicken and the pork belly steam buns to the thick ramen noodles in rich curry sauce.
Artsy Comfort Food
In the Paseo, even classic comfort food comes with an artsy twist. Morning spots like Holey Rollers, a whimsical little donut shop where everything is scratch-made and vegan-friendly, offer both baked and fried donuts. Flavors rotate regularly, with always-fun options like chocolate pomegranate, coconut cream pie and maple pecan sage.
There’s something for everyone at 30th Street Market, an all-day eatery, bottle shop and market that serves locally roasted coffee by day and locally brewed beer in the evening. In between, snack on crafty pastries and sandwiches, like caramel apple scones or a breakfast sausage sandwich on a house-baked English muffin with blueberry jam.
Two more quintessential comfort foods–pizza and tacos–get their spotlight at Sauced on Paseo and OSO Paseo. The former features daily slices, like a vegan “chicken” parmesan, in a retro space with an attached arcade. The latter offers creative tacos (like a sweet potato taco with fried kale) alongside “Baja Tiki” cocktails and frozen margaritas.
In a neighborhood known for its art, the Paseo Arts District's restaurants and bars showcase the creativity and diversity within the OKC dining scene, making it an absolute essential for any foodie.
