HotelDowntown
Colcord Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
💲💲💲 · $200-350/night
🏟️ 0.5 miles — 10 min walk
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Oklahoma City, OK
Paycom Center
Where the food scene is as loud as the Thunder faithful.
HotelDowntown
The National, Autograph Collection
💲💲💲 · $200-350/night
🏟️ 0.4 miles — 8 min walk
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HotelMidtown
Ambassador Hotel (Marriott)
💲💲 · $160-250/night
🏟️ 1.0 miles — 20 min walk
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HotelBricktown
Homewood Suites Bricktown
💲💲 · $130-200/night
🏟️ 0.6 miles — 12 min walk
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HotelBricktown
Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown – Bricktown
💲 · $110-180/night
🏟️ 0.5 miles — 8 min walk
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HotelBricktown
Hampton Inn & Suites Oklahoma City Downtown
💲 · $120-190/night
🏟️ 0.4 miles — 7 min walk
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Bricktown
0.3 miles from Paycom CenterEntertainment district energy with canal-side dining, sports bars, and tourist-friendly fun. Think San Antonio River Walk meets college town.
Areas: Sheridan Avenue, Oklahoma Avenue, the Bricktown Canal
Best For: Pre-game drinks, group outings, late-night options, walking to the arena.
💡 Pro Tip: The canal water taxis run until late and cost just a few bucks—perfect for hopping between restaurants without walking.
Plaza District
3.5 miles from Paycom CenterArtsy, eclectic, locally-owned everything. Think indie record store meets farm-to-table restaurant meets vintage boutique.
Areas: NW 16th Street between Pennsylvania and Blackwelder
Best For: Serious food exploration, unique shopping, creative energy, escaping the tourist crowds.
💡 Pro Tip: Ma Der Lao Kitchen has no reservations—arrive early (before 5:30 PM) or late (after 8:30 PM) to minimize your wait.
Automobile Alley
0.8 miles from Paycom CenterHistoric 1920s car dealerships reborn as trendy restaurants, breweries, and galleries. Neon signs, exposed brick, urban cool.
Areas: Broadway Avenue from NW 4th to NW 13th
Best For: Craft beer crawls, fine dining, art galleries, walkable bar-hopping.
💡 Pro Tip: Start at Prairie Artisan Ales, walk south through the district sampling as you go, end at Scissortail Park before heading to the arena.
Midtown
1 mile from Paycom CenterThe locals' hangout—neighborhood bars, food halls, bowling alleys, and laid-back spots where OKC residents actually go.
Areas: N Walker Avenue, Classen Boulevard, NW 10th Street
Best For: Casual hangs, food hall exploration, craft beer, late-night bowling.
💡 Pro Tip: The Collective Kitchens + Cocktails food hall lets you sample multiple vendors in one stop—great for groups who can't agree on dinner.
Night Before Games
Splurge: Nonesuch—book well in advance. The tasting menu is the best meal in OKC. Mid-Range: The Jones Assembly—great food, cocktails, and live music in one spot. Casual: Cattlemen's Steakhouse—iconic, historic, and the ribeye will be one of the best steaks you've ever had. After dinner: The Vault for a nightcap inside the bank vault, then walk the Bricktown Canal.
Day of — Morning
Breakfast at Kitchen No. 324. The pastries are baked fresh daily and the breakfast sandwich is the best in downtown OKC. Arrive by 8:30 to beat the crowd. Walk through Scissortail Park toward the arena.
Pre-Game
Start at OKC Tap House or Klutch OKC—both packed with energy and every game on the TVs. Between sessions: Truck Yard for food trucks and frozen drinks, Pearl's Crabtown for crab cakes, or Skydance Brewing for rooftop beers with skyline views.
Post-Game
Immediate: Klutch OKC stays open late—watch West Coast highlights and catch the nightlife energy. Dinner: The Mule for gourmet grilled cheese or Bar Sen for soul-resetting pho. Nightcap: The Pump Bar—converted gas station, great patio, cheap drinks, open late.
⏱️ If You Only Have Time for One Thing
🍽️ Food: Cattlemen's Steakhouse—the bone-in ribeye at Oklahoma's most iconic restaurant.
🍺 Bar: Prairie Artisan Ales—world-class beer in a city that's earned its craft beer reputation.
✨ Experience: Between-sessions at Bricktown Canal—the energy, the fans, the chaos. That's March Madness.
☕ Breakfast: Kitchen No. 324—pastries, coffee, and the prettiest room in downtown OKC.
🌙 Late Night: The Pump Bar—cheap drinks, great patio, and the most OKC-authentic vibe in the city.
Getting There
- 🚗 From Dallas: I-35 North, approximately 3 hours (200 miles). Straightforward drive, minimal traffic once you're north of Denton.
- 🚗 From Kansas City: I-35 South, approximately 5 hours (350 miles). Easy interstate drive, flat and fast.
- 🚗 From Tulsa: Turner Turnpike (US-412/I-44), approximately 1.5 hours (100 miles). A lot of fans do this as a day trip.
- ✈️ Will Rogers World Airport (OKC): 15 minutes from downtown. Small, efficient, easy airport. Southwest, American, Delta, and United all fly here. Uber/Lyft to downtown runs $15–25.
🅿️ Parking Strategy
Over 18,000 parking spaces downtown including 1,300 meters. The Oklahoma City Streetcar has a stop right at Paycom Center for $1 if you want to park further out and avoid congestion. For NCAA Tournament sessions, arrive at least 90 minutes before tip-off—parking fills faster with multi-game sessions drawing all-day crowds.
At the Arena
- 🚇 Oklahoma City Streetcar: $1 per ride, free transfers. Runs through downtown, Bricktown, Midtown, and Automobile Alley with a stop directly at Paycom Center.
- 📱 Uber and Lyft are reliable in downtown OKC. Surge pricing kicks in right after sessions end—wait 20–30 minutes or walk to a pickup spot a few blocks from the arena.
- 🏟️ Doors open typically 90 minutes before the first tip-off of each session.
- 👜 Clear bag policy—bags must be clear plastic and no larger than 12" x 6" x 12". Small clutch purses (4.5" x 6.5") allowed regardless of material. No backpacks.
- ✓Dress in layers. March in OKC can swing from 40°F to 75°F in the same day. Mornings are chilly, afternoons can be warm, and the arena is air-conditioned.
- ✓Make reservations now. Nonesuch, Cheever's Café, Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse, and The Jones Assembly all need reservations. Book the moment you have your tickets.
- ✓Cards and digital payments everywhere. OKC is almost entirely cashless-friendly. Paycom Center, most restaurants, and bars all accept cards and Apple Pay.
- ✓Download the OKC Streetcar app. The Streetcar is your secret weapon—$1 rides connecting Midtown, Automobile Alley, Bricktown, and the arena.
- ✓Downtown OKC is safe, clean, and compact. You can walk from Midtown to Bricktown in 15 minutes and see a completely different neighborhood every few blocks.
- ✓Arrive early for sessions. NCAA Tournament sessions draw multi-game crowds. Parking, security lines, and concessions all take longer than a regular event. Give yourself 90 minutes before tip-off.
- ✓OKC has one of the most significant Laotian food scenes in the country. Ma Der Lao Kitchen is the headliner, but ask locals for other spots too.
- ✓Stockyards City is worth the trip. Drive 10 minutes for Cattlemen's Steakhouse and a glimpse of Oklahoma's Western heritage.
- ✓The between-session window is everything. Bricktown, Truck Yard, and the canal area all come alive between sessions. That energy is half the tournament experience.
- ✓This city surprises everyone. The food is James Beard-level, the beer is world-class, the people are genuinely welcoming, and the tournament atmosphere at Paycom Center is electric.
What are the best restaurants near Paycom Center?+
Top picks near the arena: Nonesuch (0.8 mi, James Beard winner), The Jones Assembly (0.8 mi, great food + live music), Kitchen No. 324 (0.5 mi, best brunch downtown), Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse (0.4 mi, Bricktown power dining), and Pearl's Crabtown (0.3 mi, perfect between sessions).
Where should I go before a game at Paycom Center?+
The best pre-game spots: OKC Tap House (basically attached to the arena), Klutch OKC (sports bar and nightlife, 0.3 mi), Truck Yard (open-air beer garden with food trucks, 0.4 mi), and Fassler Hall (German beer hall, quick Streetcar ride). Arrive 90+ minutes before tip-off.
Is parking free near Paycom Center?+
Over 18,000 parking spaces downtown including 1,300 meters. The Oklahoma City Streetcar stops right at Paycom Center for $1 — park further out and ride in to avoid congestion. For NCAA Tournament sessions, arrive at least 90 minutes early as parking fills fast with multi-game crowds.
What food is Oklahoma City known for?+
OKC punches way above its weight: world-class steak at Cattlemen's Steakhouse (open since 1910), one of America's best Laotian food scenes (Ma Der Lao Kitchen is the headliner), James Beard-winning fine dining at Nonesuch, plus excellent Vietnamese (Bar Sen) and Southwestern cuisine throughout the city.
What drinks is Oklahoma City known for?+
Prairie Artisan Ales is globally acclaimed for wild ales and barrel-aged stouts. The craft beer scene includes Skydance Brewing (rooftop views) and Elk Valley Brewing. Cocktail culture thrives at Social Capital (speakeasy-style) and The Vault (inside an actual bank vault). Oklahoma's craft spirits scene is growing fast too.
How late are bars open in Oklahoma City?+
Oklahoma bars serve until 2 AM. Downtown, Bricktown, and Midtown all have solid late-night options. The Pump Bar (converted gas station, great patio) and Klutch OKC stay open late and are perfect for watching West Coast tournament highlights.
Got a Spot We Missed?
Know a restaurant, bar, or hidden gem in Oklahoma City? We're always looking for local recommendations.