Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you survived February’s frozen hellscape, and with any luck, March will be politely temperate. It’s unclear what else 2025 will throw at us, but just three incredibly long months in, at least one thing’s for certain: You deserve a drink.
In a city like ours, you’ve got your pick of the litter. Moscow Mules? They’re a dime a dozen. Old Fashioneds? Yeah, of course. Tokyo Highballs? In the Paseo, you’ll have one in your hand faster than you can say “Gorō Ramen.”
But if you’re in for something a little more unique with a story to boot, it’ll take just a bit of bar crawling. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone. Let us be your guide as you book your preferred rideshare, pop a probiotic and prepare to responsibly drink these eight unique cocktails.
Bunker Club’s Manhattan Project
Bacardi 4 aged rum, sweet and dry vermouth, sassafras bitters
To kickstart your evening, you can find our first two entries within a few yards of each other. A staple of the 23rd Street strip, Oklahomans love to hunker down at Bunker Club, 433 NW 23rd St., for its cozy, Cold War aesthetic. But beyond the familiar Fallout vibes, you’ll notice its drinks pack an atomic punch, too.
Perhaps its most iconic cocktail, the Manhattan Project, is a perfect bold and smooth concoction to take with you as you sink into one of the bar’s many padded booths and wait out doomsday. Unlike a typical Manhattan, the Bunker Club mixes its version with rum, which adds a slightly spicy sensation. To no surprise, this drink pairs especially well with the bar’s periodic burlesque performances or yet another discussion with some cinephiles about Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
Ponyboy’s Ponyboy Paloma
Coconut-washed tequila blanco, grapefruit oleo, lime
Looking to dance yourself clean … and then immediately booze yourself back up with another cocktail? Ponyboy, 423 NW 23rd St., connected to the historic Tower Theatre, has got your back. The close-quarter dance club is perfect for meeting new friends, embarrassing yourself with moves you should’ve definitely saved for a wedding reception and enjoying the bar’s namesake: the Ponyboy Paloma.
Tropical, citrusy and undeniably refreshing, this paloma introduces a hint of coconut to the traditional Mexican mixed drink. The Ponyboy Paloma is flavorful yet still light enough to enjoy while breaking a sweat. Or order three or four of them if you want to anchor yourself in a corner and spend the night people-watching. You do you.
Library of Distilled Spirits’ Please to Matcha
Matcha-infused gin, lavender-honey syrup, pineapple juice, lime juice, coconut cream, lavender bitters
For something a little more laid back and subterranean, head over to Library of Distilled Spirits, 120 N. Robinson Ave., located below First National Center. This bar’s undeniable mystique immediately hits you as you pass through its entrance: a giant vault door. As the name implies, the Library maintains a catalogue of over 200 cocktails.
However, we’re looking for something one-of-a-kind, and one of the Library’s most unique concoctions is a greeting in and of itself: the Please to Matcha. This extremely sweet, gin-based drink is rich in flavor and packs the punch of a dessert. Even so, it isn’t so overwhelming or heavy that it will slow down your night.
Lunar Lounge’s Snake Bite Kit
Aguardiente, Aperol, Amaro Montenegro, sumac orgeat, lime, Peychaud’s Bitters
If you’re still in for something mysterious but tired of the underground, Lunar Lounge speakeasy, 1114 Classen Drive, is an obvious choice for your next sip. But with its frequently cycling menu, you could benefit from advanced notice. Fortunately, we were able to secure an early tip about a cocktail the speakeasy will debut after March 16. Meet the cure to what ails you: the Snake Bite Kit.
You might be familiar with the Snake Bite — a mix of lager and cider — but Lunar Lounge’s Snake Bit Kit is all parts liquor. It’s hard to guess how this interesting mix might go down, but chances are, you’ll go down, too, after just a few rounds. Given the blend of lime and aguardiente, it’s reasonable to suspect this cocktail will bring a citrusy curve to something with a slight, peppery kick. However it tastes, we happily welcome this antivenom.
Good for a Few’s Mr. Rogers
Pie Junkie key lime pie rum blend, lime, macadamia, Caribbean pineapple
Don’t miss this not-quite-speakeasy nestled snuggly in the Plaza District. Hidden behind a bookshelf, Good for a Few, 1705 NW 16th St., Suite B, is the perfect bar to catch up, reminisce and otherwise get lost in chatter. It’s also home to several cocktails that are the equivalent of alcoholic comfort food, including the unforgettable Mr. Rogers.
Like a hug from a longtime friend, this delicious mixture will easily satisfy your sweet tooth, thanks to a key ingredient courtesy of the Plaza’s own Pie Junkie, 1711 NW 16th St. Still, even this drink isn’t overwhelming, as the lime and pineapple give it a refreshingly smooth finish. The appropriately named Mr. Rogers is perfect for striking up a conversation and washing away the day’s worries.
Flamingo TIKI Room’s Mai Tai
Blanco Rhum Agricole, aged Jamaican rum, orange curaçao, lime, orgeat
OK, maybe a Mai Tai isn’t the most unique drink under the sun. But you’d be hard-pressed to find an authentic one in the middle of Oklahoma, let alone a Tiki bar itself. No matter the time of year, the Historic Paseo Arts District’s Flamingo TIKI Room is ready to serve you with the flavors of an island. (Yes, even in a land-locked state.)
Sweet, fruity and a little bit nutty, Flamingo’s Mai Tai strikes all the familiar chords, including the palate cleanser that is its delicious, white-rum base. Just remember it doesn’t take many of these cocktails before you’re stumbling over to FRIDA Southwest, 500 Paseo, to demand a reservation.
Bar Arbolada’s Vitamin G
Gin, celery, green apple, lime, sugar
If some of these cocktails have gotten a little too complicated for your liking, there’s nothing wrong with something simple. On Film Row, Bar Arbolada, 637 W. Main St., is happy to oblige with its signature drink, the Vitamin G. The pure, slightly sweeter gin drink drops the frills for just a direct punch of flavor. Not overbearing or so straightforward its boring, the Vitamin G is one of the best ways to wrap up the night. That and maybe one of the bar and grill’s oh-so-delectable cheeseburgers.
Good Times’ juice pouches
Yasss Bitch, Rum Punch and Tequila Blues
You’re not down for the count yet. We’ve still got enough time in the night to be children again … except we can legally drink and have day jobs. The outdoor patio at Good Times, 1234 N. Western Ave., is great for, well, a good time — especially during the spring and summer.
And there’s no better way to chill than with one of its three juice pouches, each with its own twist. The Tequila Blues is sort of like a Capri Sun but way more exciting. The Yasss Bitch, on the other hand, is a classic blend of vodka and cranberry juice that’s hard to quit. Finally, the Rum Punch offers a tropical blend that rises above all three in terms of bright, fruity flavor. But let’s be real. You should really try all three.
This article appears in Alcoholmanac 2025.