The Meridian guide to Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa, it’s safe to say, often goes unconsidered. But the second-most-populous city of Oklahoma has a lot more going for it than you’d expect. Its recent revitalization has seen its art scene explode, and brought in a host of creative new restaurants  and businesses. Stroll around the city and you’ll find a new wave of entrepreneurs dining next to Tulsa lifers who have seen the city through its ebbs and flows. 

For this guide, we asked Hunter Harris — writer, podcast host, and founder of the Hung Up Substack — about what makes her love the city. From the best steakhouses to museums housed in Italian Renaissance-style buildings, these are the spots Hunter says you’d be remiss to miss.

Growing up in Tulsa felt so anonymous, so irritatingly conventional. I wanted to Lady Bird myself out and fly to a big city, so my real life could begin. But in the past half-decade, the city has had a real glow-up, thanks in part to a concerted effort by a nonprofit backed by George Kaiser to bring the city’s growing culture scene into focus. The city has transformed — where chain restaurants once dominated, a thriving arts scene, queer community, and Black-owned businesses have taken root.

When one of my best friends moved back to Tulsa after over a decade in New York, he pushed me to see our hometown as a place to discover, not to deride. If you’re looking for a chill long weekend this spring or are making a cross-country road trip, I can’t recommend it more.

Natsukashii

14 N. Cheyenne Ave. 

The best meal in Tulsa is whatever my aunt is cooking. The second-best meal in Tulsa is whatever Et Al is putting together. They’re a collective of Tulsa chefs who host pop-up events around the city.  I have changed my flight to be able to make their Japanese breakfast service on Sunday mornings; the line for their dumpling nights is always out the door. They’ve just opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Natsukashii, serving up modern homestyle Japanese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Gathering Place

2650 S. John Williams Way

This public park has reshaped Tulsa’s social and cultural landscape, and exploring it is a great way to spend a few hours. Its 66.5 acres include an “adventure playground,” lodge, boathouse, skate parks, and numerous gardens and ponds. If you have time or want to go for a jog, take the Midland Valley Trail toward the park from downtown.

Bull in the Alley

11 E. Reconciliation Way

Admittedly, there is better steak in Tulsa (see McGill’s just below), but there’s not a vibe-ier steakhouse. It’s a speakeasy-style restaurant tucked away in an alley — look for the copper bull hanging over a set of green doors. Sit at the bar with a glass of wine, order some apps, and soak up the ambience.

McGill’s Prime Steaks and Seafood

6058 S. Yale Ave. 

This is my favorite steakhouse in Tulsa. It’s at the edge of a nondescript shopping pavilion, but the humble exterior belies the incredible food served inside. It’s not a place that puts on airs: you are coming here for a traditional steakhouse experience. My mom calls it the “nicest restaurant of 1995,” and I admit the interiors could use a facelift, but the steak is unbeatable. (Mahogany’s around the corner is a bit fancier, if that’s your thing.)

Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center

23 N. Greenwood Ave. 

Greenwood, the historically black neighborhood once dubbed “Black Wall Street,” was destroyed by a race massacre in the 1920s. While the community was trying to rebuild, it was reduced to a few blocks by an urban renewal project that placed a highway right through the neighborhood. Greenwood Rising honors this history and the legacy of black entrepreneurship.

Sweet Lisa’s Cafe

111 N. Greenwood Ave.

After visiting Greenwood Rising, head across the street to Sweet Lisa’s. A Tulsa staple for decades, this soul food spot is owned and operated by my old Sunday school teacher. It originally started as a bakery and expanded into a full-service restaurant, serving some of the best fried chicken, catfish, mac and cheese, and cornbread that you can find in the city.

Philbrook Museum of Art

2727 S. Rockford Rd. 

When Tulsa was the “Oil Capital of the World” in the 1920s, the wealthy Phillips family built a gorgeous Italian Renaissance home in midtown Tulsa. Now, it hosts the city’s biggest art museum with a focus on Native American art. The museum’s 25 acres of gardens, inspired by the Villa Lante gardens north of Rome, might be the most beautiful outdoor space in the entire city.

Ok Country Donut Shoppe

8048 S. Yale Ave. 

I have a salt tooth where my sweet tooth should be; I always decline dessert. But this donut shop, down the street from where I went to high school, is my sweetest indulgence. I always get a bag of plain donut holes, but I’ve snapped photos of the ornately decorated donuts (think emojis, sports logos, seasonal designs, and animals) so often that one of my followers recently replied to my story, “I see these donuts more than I see my own family.”

Tina’s

1732 S. Boston Ave. 

A warm, good-time bar washed in red-orange light. The cocktails are a delight, but it’s a must-go for the Caesar salad and smashburger. After a round and a meal at Tina’s, head towards Mercury Lounge’s* glowing retro sign across the street to enjoy the best dive with the chillest crowd.

*No relation to Mercury the company!

Circle Cinema

3313 S. Peoria Ave.

This independent, nonprofit movie theater is a hub for Tulsa’s film community. Originally opened in 1928 as a silent movie theater, it has lived many lives, including a short stint as an adult theater in the ‘70s. Now, they program foreign films and older movies that would otherwise be hard to see, all screened in their recently renovated auditoriums.

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