Ignite the Spark: A Couple's Guide to a Romantic OKC Getaway

Romance is everywhere in Oklahoma City. It’s on the love locks lining the Skydance Bridge in Scissortail Park and aboard the paddle boats in the nearby pond. It’s in galleries, murals and pottery shops, where couples can make their own art together. It’s over shared plates of steak frites or sliders followed by a candlelit nightcap, or a duet at karaoke. No matter how you travel together, there’s a romantic getaway for you in The Modern Frontier.

For the art-loving couple, recreation ranges from latte art to hands-on painting classes, while outdoorsy couples will find ample offerings in the city’s myriad parks, pool decks and even whitewater rapids. Budget-savvy travelers can keep things casual with free museums, self-guided tours and counter-service eateries, while bougie visitors can find plenty to splurge on, from tasting menus and spa treatments to speakeasies and sunset cruises.

No matter your preference or your budget, there’s something for every couple in OKC. Just check out these four couples’ itineraries for inspiration.

Artsy

Luxury

Adventurous

Budget-Savvy

Artsy

A 2-Day Artistic Getaway for Art Lovers

Two couples walking through the Festival of the Arts enjoying the artwork

From vibrant public art and eclectic art galleries in OKC to engaging exhibitions and art-inspired cuisine, creativity abounds throughout Oklahoma City, offering endless opportunities for art-loving couples hungry for a unique and inspiring getaway.

Day 1

Stay

The retro-chic Classen Inn is easy to spot. Just look for the vibrant “Let’s Stay Together” mural and mid-century Googie architecture. The artsy inn, originally built in 1963 and reopened in 2020 as a modern motel, immerses guests in art, while also positioning them close to OKC’s artsy attractions.

Snag a Latte

Keep the mural theme going with a visit to Elemental Coffee, OKC’s first coffee roaster, which beckons with its “Come As You Are” mural. The cafe features rotating art from local artists, plus seasonal pastries and lattes, like its Orange Vanilla Cold Foam latte and The Bubbly Basil espresso drink. 1 hour

Get Hands-On at an Art Workshop

Visit Oklahoma Contemporary to try your hand at modern art. Rotating workshops invite attendees to make anything from pottery and ceramic dog bowls to cat art and decorative plates. 2 hours

Taste the Edible Art

While you’re at Oklahoma Contemporary, taste art in edible form at the museum’s on-site cafe. The inventive lunch offerings range from mushroom Reubens and curried cauliflower to cereal milk panna cotta. 1 hour

Explore the Paseo Arts District

Experience one of OKC’s artsiest neighborhoods, the Paseo, where pastel-hued adobe buildings contain over 20 galleries. If you’re here on the first Friday of the month, partake in the First Fridays Gallery Walk, when the entire neighborhood’s galleries and studio spaces are free and open to the public. 1 hour

Make Your Own Art in the Paseo

If exploring the galleries inspires you to make your own art, swing by Rug Club in the Paseo to join a rug-making workshop, or simply buy a souvenir you’ll cherish forever. 4 hours

Snack and Sip

Raise a glass to the popular Paseo watering hole: the aptly dubbed Barseo. The funky, gallery-like space features signature cocktails and mocktails, plus shareable snacks like chicken wontons, Mexican pizza and elote guacamole. 2 hours

Day 2

Follow the Rooster to Red Cup

Up the road from Classen Inn, The Red Cup is a nearly 30-year-old cafe known for its vegan comfort food, house-baked pastries (the mace cake is a winner), quirky art installations and a resident rooster named Coco, who roams the patio. 1 hour

Go Thrifting

Explore the artsy Plaza District and its numerous vintage shops, like Bad Granny’s Bazaar and Dog Daze Vintage. These veritable treasure troves are filled with trinkets, housewares, accessories, clothes and art made by local artists. 2 hours

Snag a Slice

Have lunch at Empire Slice House, a pioneering restaurant in the Plaza, where walls are decorated with movie and concert posters, and the kitchen slings an ever-changing array of daily slices, from pepperoni to almond-basil pesto. 1 hour

Embark on a Self-Guided Mural Tour

Explore OKC’s street art scene on foot. Essential stops include the Plaza Walls, a mural-lined art alley in the Plaza District, as well as installations along Film Row, like the Paramount Building and the parking garage on Classen and Sheridan. Then there’s the Door Tour, a self-guided stroll through Automobile Alley’s various artsy doorways. 1.5 hours

Explore the Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Among the best and brightest art museums in OKC, it would be all too easy to spend the entire day navigating the illustrious exhibits at the OKCMOA. Be sure not to miss the impressive Chihuly glass collection, and lookout for other rotating galleries spotlighting iconic artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Rodin and Edith Head. 2 hours

Paint with Pinot

Raise a glass—and a brush—at Paint N Cheers, a fun date night spot in the Plaza District where couples can join painting classes (themes include everything from Harry Potter to abstract art and nature scenes) and BYO wine. 2 hours

Slurp Pho From Another Dimension

OKC is known for its Vietnamese restaurants, especially in the Asian District, but in Chisholm Creek, Twenty Pho Hour is a noodle joint like no other. The country’s first “2-D” noodle restaurant, where broth is simmered for 24 hours, the entire space feels like dining inside a black-and-white comic book. It’s definitely one of the more creative restaurants in OKC! 1 hour

Enjoy a Sonic Nightcap

Head upstairs to The SoundBar, a unique record shop/bar in Automobile Alley, where guests can lounge on couches, order classic cocktails (or mocktails) and listen to vinyl records. 1 hour

Luxury

Luxe OKC Getaway for Bougie Couples

Oklahoma City blends opulence with hospitality for the ultimate luxury vacation for couples. Discover upscale dining with exceptional service, swanky spas featuring indulgent body treatments and fancy hotels with all the amenities.

Day 1

Stay

Sleep in style at the Ambassador Hotel, a luxe Art Deco property in Midtown, where leather beds, marble bathrooms, spacious suites and skyline views—from rooftop O Bar—offer a prime perch for any bougie couple. It’s one of the many fancy hotels in OKC!

Line Up at the Most Beautiful Breakfast Spot in Town

Follow the line to Harvey Bakery & Kitchen, a former Chrysler showroom transformed into a lavishly designed cafe with house-baked bread and pastries (including the best croissants in OKC), plus toasts, breakfast sandwiches and pineapple-orange mimosas. 1 hour

Go on a Stylish Shopping Spree

Visit Classen Curve to peruse some of the best high-end boutiques in OKC. The luxury shopping area is home to brands like Lululemon, Black Optical, Bosquet, Freebird, The Impeccable Pig, Warby Parker and Athleta. 2.5 hours

Luxuriate at Lunch

Pull up a patio chair at The Hutch, a modern American staple in Classen Curve, where comfort food gets elevated. Standouts include the white cheddar-chive biscuits, pear and fried Taleggio salad, cauliflower burnt ends and smoked deviled eggs. 1.5 hours

Pamper Yourself at Mokara Spa

Head to the Omni Oklahoma City for a treatment at Mokara Spa. This serene oasis contains a relaxation lounge, a sauna, nail services, facials and several signature massages to select from, including a 75-minute Himalayan salt stone massage. 2 hours

Pair Classic Music with Classic Martinis

Enjoy pre-dinner drinks at Red Piano Lounge, a vintage-style piano bar inside The Skirvin Hilton. Spirited pianists play tunes while you sip spirited cocktails, like the pitch-perfect Dirty Martini or the pineapple-scented Wedding Cake Martini. 1.5 hours

Dine at the Hottest Table in Town

Stroll down the hall to Perle Mesta to enjoy some of the best fine dining in OKC. Located inside The Skirvin Hilton, and helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Black, the decadently designed restaurant spotlights Prohibition-era cocktails (like the coffee-infused Black Russian) and envelope-pushing plates, like truffle fried okra with candied lamb belly. 3 hours

Day 2

Brew-tiful Coffee

Start your day at Willow Coffee Company, a modern Deep Deuce cafe known for playful lattes—like its Orange White Mocha Shaken Espresso, made with white mocha sauce, housemade orange syrup and a double shot of espresso—in a pretty space decorated with local art and plants. 30 minutes

Explore Native Oklahoman Art

Indigenous art is on full display at Exhibit C, a lofty Bricktown gallery space—owned by the Chickasaw Nation—that spotlights art, jewelry, pottery and clothing created by Native artists throughout Oklahoma. 1 hour

Dine Along the Canal

Bourbon Street Cafe has a New Orleans-inspired menu that is eclectic, with Cajun specialties, steaks, seafood and pasta. The bar menu features cocktails from tiki style to margaritas to the classics. Nestled right along the canal in Bricktown, this shady, relaxing spot is perfect for lunch. 2 hours

See Sunset From a River Cruise

Set sail with Oklahoma River Cruises, which provides themed cruises on a seasonal basis and private charters aboard state-of-the-art vessels with air-conditioned cabins, cocktail tables and viewing decks. 1.5 hours

Dress for Dinner

Savor a spread of modern American fare at Mary Eddy’s, an upscale dining OKC experience in a decadently designed dining room inside the Fordson Hotel. Here, intricately presented dishes, like Australian lamb chops with onion jam and curry oil, are as breathtaking as the Gilded Age-inspired decor. 2 hours

Find Your Way to a Nightcap

Discover OKC’s chicest hidden bar, Good for a Few, nestled in the Plaza District. The dimly lit lounge is the perfect setting for a romantic nightcap, with options ranging from cocktail classics to house originals, like the Mr. Rogers, made with Pie Junkie key lime pie rum blend, lime, macadamia and pineapple. 1 hour

Adventurous

A 2-Day Itinerary for Outdoor-Loving Couples

Here in The Modern Frontier, attractions aren’t confined to the indoors. Rather, Oklahoma City is an oasis of sprawling green spaces and fun outdoor activities for couples. From bike rides and ball games to whitewater rafting (yes, really), outdoor-loving couples will have no trouble finding things to do outside in OKC.

Day 1

Stay

With its massive rooftop pool, downtown proximity and sweeping views of Scissortail Park, located right across the street, the Omni Oklahoma City (the largest hotel in town) is the perfect place to rest after a couple of action-packed days in OKC.

Breakfast of Champions

Rise and shine at Waffle Champion, a sunny breakfast joint with the perfect sidewalk patio for enjoying hearty dishes like its decadent Chicken & Waffles or its variety of chicken waffle sandwiches. 1 hour

Spend the Day on the River

Experience an unexpected adrenaline rush at Riversport OKC, a state-of-the-art facility on the Oklahoma River that provides a whitewater rafting course, kayak rentals, a surfing simulator, zip lines and so much more. It’s one of our favorite outdoor activities! 3 hours

Dine with Dogs

Located right next to Riversport OKC, Bar K is the perfect outdoor date idea for dog-loving couples. You can bring your own furry friend to this social space. It features four bars (inside and outdoors), a restaurant, an indoor and outdoor dog park and plenty of live music and adoption events. Enjoy pretzel bites and hummus under the sun, all while surrounded by friendly pups. 1.5 hours

Soak in Some Pool Time

Head to the third-floor pool and terrace deck at the Omni to bask by the pool, sip cocktails from Catbird Seat and soak up panoramic views of Scissortail Park. 2 hours

Have Dinner Al Fresco

Conveniently located across from Myriad Botanical Gardens which you’ll want to explore before dinner, Flora is a plant-filled patio bar and restaurant ablaze with craft beer, cocktails on tap and shareable plates like Philly sliders, pork potstickers and crispy Brussels sprouts. 1.5 hours

Catch a Flick at the Drive-In

Head to Winchester Drive-In, a longstanding Southside institution since 1968, for a movie (or two) under the stars. Be sure to hit the concession stand for old-school drive-in comforts like popcorn, candy and corndogs. 3 hours

Day 2

Breakfast on a Patio

Order both toast and coffee at the aptly dubbed Toast & Coffee, a retro Uptown cafe with a quaint back patio. In addition to toasts, which come topped with everything from blueberries to lox, don’t sleep on the pastries like its coconut-lime muffins. 1 hour

Rent a Bike

Explore OKC’s bicycle trails and awe-worthy sites! Rent a bike or join a guided tour and hit the streets with Ride OKC. Located downtown, next to Myriad Botanical Gardens, the outfitter offers custom tours, as well as outings themed around breweries, architecture and even cookies. 2.5 hours

Explore Scissortail Park

Spend an hour or two wandering Scissortail Park, a 70-acre outdoor oasis that connects downtown OKC with the Oklahoma River. Beyond its walking trails, the park provides paddle boat rentals, a roller rink, a sprayground for kids, a sports pavilion and hosts farmers markets and music concerts. 1.5 hours

Lunch with a View

Grab a midday snack at Social Capital, a bi-level beer bar and restaurant across from Scissortail Park. Tacos are aplenty, and its patio spaces and assortment of draft beers are among the city's largest. 1 hour

Play Ball

Sports lovers must attend an OKC Spark softball game. The professional women’s team, which is independent and women-owned, plays their always-fun home games at Devon Park in the Adventure District. 3.5 hours

Keep it Casual for Dinner

Make your way to the hidden back patio at The Other Room, a narrow bar in the Paseo with a cozy outdoor dining space and affordable drinks and plates, many of which are vegetarian-friendly (e.g., veggie burger sliders, mushroom gyoza). 1.5 hours

Grab an After-Dinner Drink From the Coolest Patio in OKC

Before calling it a night, grab a cocktail, beer or zero-proof drink at The Pump, a former service station transformed into an expansive patio bar with ping pong tables and regular events like bingo and trivia. 1 hour

Budget-Savvy

A Romantic Getaway for Budget-Savvy Couples

While it's easy to find fine dining and upscale shopping here, it's just as effortless to keep things budget-friendly and romantic, thanks to the vast array of affordable eateries and fun, cheap things to do in OKC for couples.

Day 1

Stay

Blend budget with style at the Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown. While loaded with amenities, like a lounge and an outdoor pool, the modern property stands out as one of the more affordable hotels downtown.

Have an Old-School Diner Breakfast

Enjoy an affordable diner-style meal at Classen Grill, an Americana-inspired eatery. The breakfast platters—from chicken-fried steak to breakfast burritos—are enormous, but the prices are small. Don’t miss the Classen Grill Potatoes, their iconic breaded fried potatoes. 1 hour

Visit the Oklahoma State Capitol

The only state capitol grounds with active oil rigs, the Oklahoma State Capitol is striking, unique and free to visit. The gorgeous Greek Revival-style complex offers both guided and self-guided tours (all free) and encompasses six floors of galleries, rotundas and corridors, making it the largest public art museum in Oklahoma. 2 hours

Shop for Used Books and Art

Peruse literature and indie art at Bookish, a used bookstore on the edge of Edgemere Park. Home to a cute coffee counter, Caboose, with donation-based prices, the all-ages store offers everything from coffee table books and murder mysteries to classic tomes—all at seriously discounted prices. 45 minutes

Visit a Food Hall for Lunch

Stock up on snacks for lunch at The Collective, OKC’s first food hall. Counter-service vendors offer everything from chicken wings and fried mini tacos to cuisines from Hawaii, Africa and beyond. 1 hour

Stop to Smell the Roses

Explore the pastoral grounds at Will Rogers Gardens, a free-to-visit 30-acre park lined with ponds, trees, a rose garden and a conservatory blooming with succulents. This is one of many fun outdoor activities for couples to enjoy. 1.5 hours

Try an Oklahoma Onion Burger

Keep it casual for dinner with Okie-style fried onion burgers at Sun Cattle Co. Inspired by the onion burgers popularized in suburban El Reno, the counter-service eatery in the West Village District slings griddled burgers along with Coneys, steak sandwiches and Frito chili pie. 1 hour

Sing Your Heart Out

Call it a night at Cookie’s, a longstanding dive bar staple that features karaoke on a nightly basis. Here, the drinks are cheap, the song selection is endless and the atmosphere is endearingly preserved in time, complete with darts, cold beer and funky art. 1.5 hours

Day 2

Sip Coffee on a Patio

Start your morning with a cup of coffee and a pastry from Classen Coffee Co.. Housed in a funky, adobe-style building in the Asian District, the eccentric cafe boasts a spacious shaded patio, as well as a drive-thru for on-the-go service. 30 minutes

Flock to the Pigeon Museum

Learn about “man’s oldest feathered friend” at The American Pigeon Museum. Located in the Adventure District, this free museum houses 12 breeds of live birds, plus fascinating exhibits exploring the histories of passenger pigeons, wartime pigeons, racing pigeons and much more. 2 hours

Enjoy Vietnamese Cuisine

Venture to Downtown for a light lunch at Cafe De L'asie, where you can enjoy flavorful Vietnamese dishes like bánh mì sandwiches, bao buns and refreshing bubble fruit tea. The restaurant's large windows let in plenty of natural light, creating a vibrant atmosphere. They offer bao bun bundles where you can mix and match steamed bao buns with your choice of a side for an affordable price! We recommend their togarashi fries. 45 minutes

Explore OKC’s Underground Tunnels

Head underground to explore a series of subterranean tunnels in downtown OKC. Encompassing more than 20 blocks and linking various buildings over the course of a mile, the tunnels are free to visit and lined with Oklahoma history exhibits and artwork. 1.5 hours

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Located right above the tunnels, the powerful and inspiring Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum makes for a memorable and affordable date idea. The outdoor grounds, where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once stood, contain the reflecting pool, the Survivor Tree and the Field of Empty Chairs. All landmarks are free, except for the indoor museum, which costs $18 for adults and is well worth the price of admission. 2 hours

Have Happy Hour in the Farmers Market District

Channel wild west vibes at Powerhouse, an inexpensive date night idea in the Farmers Market District. It's a saloon-style bar with an enormous patio lined with chimanayas, and an amazing happy hour with steep discounts on beer and classic cocktails. 1 hour

Save Room for Tacos

Order tacos a la carte at Taco Nation, a casual counter-service operation in the Wheeler District. Menu options include Baja steak, barbacoa and fried artichoke. Guests can also take their food to adjoining brewery The Big Friendly. End the night with a romantic ride on the Wheeler Ferris Wheel, which only costs $6 for an adult to ride. 2 hours

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