Parlor in Oklahoma City: Craft Cocktails in Midtown's Art-Forward Setting
Parlor is a cocktail bar in Oklahoma City's Midtown neighborhood that builds its program around house-made syrups, bitters, and infusions, with a design that doubles as rotating art gallery space.
What Parlor actually is
Parlor occupies a narrow, gallery-like interior on a Midtown side street, with exposed brick, mixed lighting, and art on rotating display. The bar is small enough that seating is limited to roughly 20 people at any time, split between the bar counter and a few small tables. The focus is on made-to-order cocktails that lean toward classic templates (Manhattans, Daiquiris, Old Fashioneds) reworked with house-built components rather than bottled bitters or commercial syrups. The space operates as a cocktail bar first and does not serve food beyond snacks.
Cocktail program and pricing
Signature cocktails range from $12 to $15, with classics and house variations priced at the lower end and drinks featuring multiple house-made ingredients at the higher end. The menu rotates seasonally, and house infusions and syrups change roughly every four to six weeks. Verify current pricing and menu before visiting, as both shift with seasonal ingredients and specials. The bar does not have a formal happy hour, though occasional themed pricing appears during slow evenings. Beer and wine are available but secondary to the cocktail focus.
How Parlor compares to other Oklahoma City cocktail bars
Parlor's production-heavy approach separates it from Beleza, a Midtown wine-and-cocktail bar that prioritizes wine by the glass and lighter aperitif-style drinks, and from Picasso Cafe, a downtown spot focused on high-volume service and broader appeal. Parlor suits drinkers who want to watch technique and component sourcing; Beleza suits wine-first visitors or those seeking a larger, more social room; Picasso Cafe suits groups and those who want faster, less-attended service. The art rotation and small capacity at Parlor also position it differently from larger cocktail venues, making it a destination for focused drinking rather than pre-game socializing.
Who it suits and who it does not
Parlor works for cocktail enthusiasts willing to spend $13 to $15 per drink and sit in a tight space where conversation at the bar means proximity to other guests. It suits solo drinkers and pairs, less so groups of four or more. It does not suit those seeking loud music, food, or casual drop-in service; this is a slow-drink, observe-the-bartender setting. It is not a sports bar, date-night backdrop, or late-night dance destination.
What the first visit involves
Arrive early (before 8 p.m.) to secure a bar seat or table; walk-ins after 9 p.m. on weekends may find the space full. The bartender will walk you through the current seasonal menu and ask about base spirit preference or flavor direction before building. Most cocktails take 3 to 5 minutes to prepare because house components are made in-house. There is no table service; order and pay at the bar. The first drink is a good moment to ask about the house syrup or infusion in play that month, as staff typically explain what makes each drink different from its standard version.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Parlor is open Tuesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight (verify current hours before visiting, as service times adjust seasonally). Street parking is available on the surrounding Midtown blocks; there is no dedicated lot. The entrance is marked but discreet; the storefront address is the surest way to locate it. The bar is not wheelchair accessible due to narrow entry and compact interior.
Parlor justifies a trip for anyone in Oklahoma City seriously interested in cocktails, because the work happening with house-made bitters and syrups is not replicated elsewhere in the city at this scale or consistency.
