As we get closer to resuming something like a normal routine, I recently took a weekend trip up to Tulsa to help remind me of what the pre-pandemic world felt like. There are several restaurants and nightspots that I go to regularly when I find myself in the 918. However, for this trip I decided to look for the city’s hidden gems: the cool, tucked-away places where the locals go.  

First and foremost: If you plan to stay overnight, which I did, you need a good base of operations. It has to be a location where you can lay your head in comfort at the end of a long day, but also one that makes the experience special. For me, there is no better option than the Tulsa Club. Centrally located in the heart of downtown, it is within walking distance of many of the city’s top-tier restaurants. 

More than anything else, the Tulsa Club offers a level of luxury that can transform a quick road trip into one that feels like a getaway to Chicago or Seattle. An example: the Charcuterie board and bottle of wine waiting for me in the spacious suite epitomized luxury and class.

Next step: If you’re like me, you will want to make sure you are impeccably groomed and feeling splendid before stepping out for the evening. You will be hard-pressed to find a better grooming shop than Black Label Men’s Grooming, 8316 E. 61st. While a variety of services is offered, including tapers, fades, undercuts, Afros, combovers and more, The Clean Up ($40) is my top choice. It includes an edge up of the hairline and a hot towel beard shave with a straight razor. This service, perfect for a night on the town, does not include a full haircut; it is a service to keep you clean in-between. 

Before heading out on the town, the Tulsa Club offers a particularly epic and hidden experience: If you ask the right staffer, you can grab a drink (or two) and head up to the Sky Terrace on the 11th floor. From there, you can watch the sunset over the Tulsa skyline from the outdoor balcony. It’s a definite mood-setter for the rest of the evening. 

A hidden gem that is within walking distance of the Tulsa Club is The Local Bison (522 S. Boston Avenue). The locally owned kitchen and bar features local beer, wine, spirits and farm-fresh food. Located under an apartment complex, it can be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.  While The Local Bison is not very big and can fill up quickly, the service is stellar. The self-described healthy eatery’s menu is full of unique and flavorful dishes, including the Sweet Tea Brined Statler Chicken ($28), the Bison Bolognese ($22) and Lemongrass Jackfruit Banh Mi ($14). 

Close out the evening at a nice cigar bar like Classic Cigars & Lounge (118 N. Boston Avenue, ) or maybe coffee and desserts at PRHYME Downtown Steakhouse (111 N. Main Street).  

While PRHYME is certainly best known for its impressive entrees, don’t overlook its dessert menu. The Chocolate Midnight Cake ($13) is the ultimate capper to a low-key evening in Tulsa.  

The Bull in the Alley: IYKYK

In its six short years, the Bull in the Alley has become something akin to an urban myth. While many people know of its existence, pinning down information on the restaurant and bar can feel like an episode of “Mission Impossible.” Not even Google Maps can get you to the front door, and nobody who works there is talking.

Located in the Brady District near downtown Tulsa, The Bull in The Alley is part speakeasy and part steakhouse with a big dash of style. It’s obvious that the owners enjoy their anonymity and secrecy. They do not give interviews or publicly speak about their creation. They’re happy to let the food and atmosphere speak for themselves, for those who find the place.

When scouring the internet for a scrap of information, you are likely to come up empty-handed except for a few reviews and photos. Even its own website is of little help: it’s a picture of a chandelier and a number to call to make reservations. No menu or location. 

One of the bartenders told me that one day he was taking the trash out when he spotted a young lady roaming up and down the alley looking at each door. She finally came up to him with a confused look on her face and asked him if he knew where the Bull in the Alley was. Because the staff uniforms do not have names or logos, she obviously didn’t know he was an employee. He politely pointed to the little copper bull hanging over the large green door, leading her to smack her forehead at the obviousness of the revelation.    

While the treasure-map-style journey to find the elusive spot can be daunting, once inside, customers will understand quickly the experience is worth it. From its dark mood lighting to old-school booths, it gives off an intimate and cozy feel from a bygone era. 

The most popular dish on the Bull in the Alley menu is the Porterhouse Table Steak ($108). It’s hefty enough to share between two people, but the staff claims they have watched quite a few diners tackle the meal by themselves. For those not looking to devour a side of beef, Bull in the Alley also offers Prime Petit Filet ($50) and Market Fish (Market Price) on its main menu. As far as entrees go, it keeps the choices simple. Other exquisitely prepared mainstays include Seafood Bisque ($7/$12), Shrimp Cocktail ($19), Crab Cakes ($26) and a majestic Seafood Tower ($108/$185). Do not miss the infamous hand-cut bacon ($4 per slice). Crispy and burned just enough, these go great as a side dish or on their own, especially with a glass of bourbon.  

The clientele that gathers at the Bull in The Alley can range from large families celebrating a special occasion to a couple on a date night away from the children. It also works for anyone going solo and just looking for a great meal and smooth drink before heading out. In-house entertainment is offered on Friday and Saturday evenings.  

If you can’t find the place, or can’t get in (a common problem) a number of other new speakeasy-style restaurants are popping up around Tulsa. They include Boston Title & Abstract, 522 S Boston Ave Suite B100; The Hemingway, 1313 E 15th St; and Devin Williams Speakeasy, 124 N Greenwood Ave..  

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Bull in the Alley must be doing something right. 

The Luxiere List: Tulsa Edition

Dinner

Oren, 3509 S Peoria Ave, Suite 161
Oren is a fruit- and vegetable-forward restaurant where much of the menu development begins with local produce. The cuisine has a foundation in French and European technique, with an emphasis on using locally sourced, high quality, fresh products.

Lowood, 817 E 3rd St 
Lowood celebrates Tulsa as a unique place with fresh pasta, wood-fired dishes and thoughtful pairings, all with an emphasis on local produce and meats grown and raised by farmers in and around northeastern Oklahoma. Try the chef’s tasting menu.

Amelia’s, 122 N Boston Ave 
In the heart of the downtown arts district, Amelia’s boasts a chef-driven menu inspired by regional and South American cuisine. 

Pizza

Bohemian Wood Fire Pizza, 818 E 3rd St
Serving wood-fired pizzas, prepared Neapolitan style, all menu items are imported from Italy or are sourced locally, including imported double “00” flour, Italian San Marzano tomatoes, fresh buffalo mozzarella and Burn Co. sausage and Canadian bacon. Pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven at over 800 degrees.

Prairie Fire Pie, 1303 E 15th St 
Chef James Shrader calls PFP’s offerings “West Coast Inspired” pizza, made the way he experienced it in his native home of Seattle: slow fermented pizza dough, topped with a blend of both traditional and unexpected toppings and cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven.

Cocktails

Vintage Wine Bar, 324 E 1st St
From the VWB website comes this bold promise, one the bar easily upholds: “Whether you need a happy hour with our trusty house red or a new vintage experience with our monthly curated flights, we’ve got you covered.”

Basque, 114 N Boston Ave
Named one of Tulsa’s Best New Restaurants of 2021, Basque is a vibrant, lively spot for a cocktail. Follow it with dinner!  

Hodges Bend, 823 E 3rd St
Impeccable service from its baristas, sommeliers and bartenders. Locally sourced and roasted coffee. Hand picked wines. Classic cocktails and adapted interpretations.

Saturn Room Rum & Tiki Bar, 209 N Boulder Ave  
This bar was built on the fundamental ideas of the forefathers of tiki, Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic and Stephen Crane. Out of respect to these time-honored traditions, Saturn’s talented team uses only premium spirits and fresh juices and ingredients to handcraft each cocktail to order.