Let me tell you about the time I discovered $1.50 draft beers in Tulsa… and no, this isn't a story from 1995. If you're tired of paying $12 for a basic cocktail or wondering where all the good happy hour deals went, you've come to the right place.
Downtown Delivers More Than Just Oil Money Vibes
Downtown Tulsa's happy hour scene proves that sometimes the best things happen in old buildings with questionable parking situations. The crown jewel remains McNellie's Public House, where Monday through Friday from 2pm to 7pm brings domestic beers for $1.75 and half-price appetizers. Yes, you read that correctly… happy hour starts at 2pm, perfect for those "working from home" afternoons.
With 60 beers on tap and over 250 bottles, McNellie's feels like what would happen if an Irish pub and a craft beer store had a baby and raised it in Oklahoma. The outdoor courtyard fills up faster than you can say "another round," especially on Wednesdays when burgers drop to $5. Pro tip: grab a table by 5:30pm or prepare to hover awkwardly near strangers while holding your beer.
Just a short stumble away, Prhyme Downtown Steakhouse turns Monday and Tuesday nights into something special. Their entire bar menu goes half-price from 4pm to close, bringing their Prime Steak Frites down to $14.95. For a steakhouse with 250+ wines and a Wine Spectator Award, this feels like finding a designer dress at Target prices.
The Cocktail Corner Nobody Talks About
Valkyrie sits on Reconciliation Way like Tulsa's worst-kept secret. This speakeasy-style spot crafts drinks with whole, fresh ingredients… think less "Jack and Coke" and more "bourbon infused with things you can't pronounce." While they don't advertise specific happy hour prices (too cool for that apparently), locals know to show up early for the best seats.
For those who prefer their drinks with tiny umbrellas, Saturn Room brings tropical vibes to downtown starting at 4pm daily. Their rum collection would make a pirate jealous, and the classic daiquiris taste nothing like those slushy mall versions from the 90s.
Cherry Street and Brookside: Where Neighbors Become Drinking Buddies
Cherry Street maintains its reputation as Tulsa's most walkable bar district, assuming you don't mind dodging college kids on electric scooters. Roosevelt's Gastropub anchors the scene with 80 craft beers on tap and something called a "beer fountain" on their patio. I still don't understand how it works, but after a few drinks, you won't care either.
Their weekend frozen mimosas (lovingly called "Fro-Mo's" by regulars) have achieved local legend status. The gastropub vibe means you can justify your third beer because you're also eating "elevated" food. It's basically health food if you squint.
Kilkenny's Irish Pub claims the largest selection of Irish whiskey and Scotch in Oklahoma, which sounds impressive until you remember we're in Oklahoma. Still, with their kitchen open until 1am, this becomes the default "one more stop" location for every Cherry Street crawl.
Brookside's Beautiful Dive Bar Energy
Another Round in Brookside deserves a monument, or at least a plaque, for keeping happy hour prices in the "are you serious?" range. Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm brings:
- Draft beers for $1.50
- Bottles for $2.00
- Mini pitchers for $2.50
- Zero pretension for free
This hole-in-the-wall embraces its dive bar status with pool tables, Golden Tee, and a patio that's seen better days. The bartenders know everyone's name, or at least pretend to, and the crowd ranges from construction workers to bankers pretending they're slumming it.
R Bar & Grill brings a slightly more polished vibe with 20 rotating craft taps and an air-conditioned patio featuring ten TVs. It's where Brookside goes when Another Round gets too rowdy or when the game actually matters.
South Tulsa Brings Suburban Comfort Without Shame
South Tulsa happy hours cater to people who appreciate ample parking and restaurants where you don't have to yell to have a conversation. The Ridge Grill leads the charge with half-price pizzas starting at $7.50 and appetizers that actually fill you up. Their Monday through Friday 4pm to 6pm special requires bar seating, creating an unexpected social scene among suburbanites.
Bourbon Street Cafe wins the award for most aggressive happy hour schedule. They run specials daily from 2:30pm to 5:30pm AND 8pm to close, because apparently they really want you to drink. Their $8 raw oyster special makes you feel fancy without the downtown prices.
The Chain Gang Does Happy Hour Right
Before you judge, hear me out. Tulsa's chain restaurants deliver consistent happy hour value without the "will they honor the special today?" anxiety. Here's what works:
- Charleston's: $1 off all beers (M-F 3-6pm)
- BJ's Restaurant: Extended hours including 9pm-close
- Buffalo Wild Wings: $3-$6 drinks and apps
- Dave & Buster's: $5 for 22oz domestics
Sure, you won't impress your foodie friends, but your wallet will thank you. Plus, sometimes you just want mozzarella sticks without irony.
Brewery District: Where Happy Hour Meets Craft Culture
The Kendall-Whittier District transformed from "that sketchy area" to brewery central faster than you can say "gentrification." Marshall Brewing Company started it all in 2008, operating Tulsa's first craft brewery with a German-style biergarten that welcomes dogs and children… though hopefully not in that order.
With 24+ beers on draft including taproom exclusives, Marshall's doesn't need traditional happy hour pricing to draw crowds. The free monthly brewery tours last 30 minutes, just long enough to justify trying everything on tap.
Cabin Boys Brewery actually posts specific happy hour deals like it's 2010 and we appreciate transparency. Wednesdays from 4pm to 7pm bring $2 off steins and $1 off pints at their original location. The downtown brewpub runs Monday through Friday 3pm to 6pm with $4 drafts and $6 trail snacks, which sounds healthy but definitely isn't.
The Fancy Brewery Nobody Can Pronounce
American Solera earned a James Beard Foundation nomination, which in brewery terms is like winning an Oscar for beer. They specialize in oak-aged beers that take 6-18 months to perfect, meaning their "fresh" beer is older than some relationships.
The chic vintage revival taproom pours 16 beers alongside wine for people who came with beer lovers but refuse to conform. No specific happy hour needed when you're already this cool, apparently.
Hidden Gems and Strategic Drinking
After extensive "research" (tough job but someone's gotta do it), here are the deals that make locals feel smart:
Monday-Tuesday Power Moves:
- Prhyme's entire bar menu half-price
- Most places dead enough for good seats
- Bartenders actually have time to chat
Wednesday Wildcard Specials:
- McNellie's $5 burger night
- The Tavern "Winesdays" half-price bottles
- Bird and Bottle $1 wings
- Cabin Boys $2 off steins
The Late Night Loop:
- Bourbon Street 8pm-close revival
- BJ's 9pm-close Sunday-Thursday
- Perfect for commitment-phobic drinkers
Fair Weather Friend offers half-price full pours Monday through Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm, which sounds like a weather report but tastes much better. S&B Burger's Tuesday deal pairs an Old Fashioned with a slider and fries for $10, proving that alliteration and alcohol make great partners.
The Data Dump for Nerds Who Like Numbers
Tulsa operates approximately 1,437 restaurants according to TripAdvisor data, though after enough happy hour visits, it might feel like 2,000. The typical savings range from 30-50% off regular prices, with domestic beers dropping from $3-5 to $1.00-$1.75 and craft cocktails sliding from $10-15 down to $5-8.
The most common happy hour window runs 4pm to 6pm or 4pm to 7pm on weekdays, though rebels like Bourbon Street and McNellie's stretch these boundaries like yoga instructors.
Tulsa's dining scene earned national recognition when Noche made The New York Times' 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024, proving we're more than just chicken fried steak… though we're really good at that too.
Digital Tools for Modern Drunks
Instagram @tulsafood tracks the scene with 30,000 followers who apparently prefer pictures of food to pictures of their friends. The @tulsahappyhour account provides real-time updates for those who plan their evenings around drink specials (no judgment).
The HappyHopper app claims 60,000+ deals in its database, though half might be expired coupons for places that closed in 2019. Still, worth checking before you head out.
OpenTable lists 19 restaurants with happy hours, perfect for impressing dates with your "spontaneous" reservation at a place with great deals. Visit Tulsa's official site maintains updated listings when they remember to update them.
Survival Tips from a Professional Amateur
After years of dedicated happy hour research, here's what actually works:
Timing is Everything:
- Arrive by 5:30pm or embrace standing
- Monday-Tuesday for peaceful drinking
- Friday means amateur hour chaos
Location Strategy:
- Downtown for variety and stumbling distance
- Cherry Street for walkable bar hopping
- Brookside for neighborhood vibes
- South Tulsa for easy parking
Money Moves:
- Cash still works at dives
- Tip well early for better service
- Water between venues extends stamina
Never order complicated cocktails during peak happy hour unless you enjoy angry stares from bartenders and fellow patrons. Save your "muddle this, infuse that" requests for slower nights.
The Bottom Line After Too Many Bottom's Up
Tulsa's happy hour scene proves that good deals didn't die with the economy… they just moved to Oklahoma. From Another Round's $1.50 beers to Prhyme's half-price steaks, the range accommodates everyone from broke college kids to executives "networking."
Whether you're a downtown devotee, a Cherry Street regular, or a South Tulsa suburban warrior, there's a happy hour waiting with your name on it. Well, not literally… that would be weird. But figuratively, these deals welcome anyone smart enough to drink before 7pm.
So grab your designated driver, download those apps, and prepare to experience Tulsa's happy hours like a local. Just remember: the best happy hour isn't necessarily the cheapest one… it's the one where you make terrible karaoke choices with good friends. Though at $1.50 a beer, you can probably afford both.
