Metro Al Fresco
Let’s be honest with ourselves here: the weather in Oklahoma is usually pretty unpleasant. Whether it’s humidity, 40 mph winds, hail, tornados, ice, or any of the other craziness that occurs here, it often feels like nature is actively trying to keep us indoors.
But we’re a hearty bunch, and when the weather isn’t out for blood, we put up with the milder discomforts in order to spend as much time outdoors as we can. And what better place to enjoy the fresh air than on a patio with drinks, food, and good friends?
There are plenty of excellent patios in the metro area, but we thought we should shine a spotlight on five of our favorites. Put on your sunglasses, text your bffs for happy hour, and settle in the sun while enjoying the breeze.
GUYUTES
In the 1960s, The Grateful Dead and its loose and long songs, improvisation, and rabid fan base ushered in an era. Bands like Phish have assumed the mantle and inspired countless other musicians. Now, that lineage has lead from its 1960s start to a bar in Uptown Oklahoma City.
Jam bands are admittedly not for everybody, but that doesn’t mean those folks won’t have a good time at Guyutes, a bar themed around Vermont’s biggest export after maple syrup, Phish. Guyutes’ name is derived from one of the band’s song titles, and of course Phish is constantly played over the sound system.
Even if that’s not your thing, there’s still plenty more to enjoy. The decor is fun and funky with concert posters lining the walls. Their kitchen boasts some experimental takes on classic comfort dishes that can best be described as “stoner food,” but you don’t need your med card to find pleasure in their Cheeto-encrusted chicken wrap or green chili mac and cheeseburger.
No visit to Guyutes is complete without their famous Tequila Sunfryz, which involves waffle fries, pulled pork, queso, fried eggs, and a mess of other toppings. Their kitchen is open until 1:30 a.m., so it’s the perfect dish to soak up some of the evening’s booze, or you could rely upon it to take the edge off a headache during their Saturday and Sunday brunches.
Guyutes also has the only rooftop patio bar in Uptown, which provides a great atmosphere for people-watching on 23rd Street while lazily sipping a local beer. There’s plenty of sunlight, and the building naturally blocks much of the wind that can make other patios in the city less hospitable. After all, the only thing better than drinking outside is doing it while you’re also on a roof!
730 NW 23rd St, Oklahoma City
PIZZERIA GUSTO
Sometimes, the best patio is the one you never knew existed, tucked away like a secret garden. Pizzeria Gusto has that patio, fenced in with tree shade and grapevines. It provides a tiny sanctuary within the bustle of Uptown OKC, a peaceful space to step out of urban life and into your own private Little Italy.
When chef Kathryn Mathis started planning for Gusto back in 2013, she had a craving for authentic Neapolitan pizza that didn’t exist in Oklahoma City. That style demands a specific type of wood-burning oven, so one of the first steps was importing one from one of the most renowned craftsmen in Naples, Italy. The oven is so large that the rest of the kitchen had to be built around it.
Gusto’s oven burns at nearly 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and has had the same flame glowing since opening day. It cooks their pizzas in two minutes, the perfect amount of time to ensure the crust is lightly charred but still soft and toothsome.
The pizzas are traditional and obviously take center stage as the stars of the show at this pizzeria, but Gusto also offers an array of salads, sandwiches, small plates, and other entrees that are not to be missed. You might not have guessed that you’d get some of the best hot wings in the city at an Italian restaurant, but one bite of their crispy and plump chicken will convert you.
Dining al fresco is a great Italian tradition, but experiencing aperitivo (a combo of pre-meal drink plus salty snack) outdoors is, in my opinion, even greater. Whether you’re grabbing a drink before or after dinner, Gusto has some great happy hour deals. Five bucks can get you a beer and a shot of their house-made limoncello, a cocktail, or an order of bar snacks. The vibe is so comfortable that you may find yourself staying for longer than just for aperitivo.
2415 N Walker Ave, Oklahoma City
THE MONT
“It is the desire of management and employees to render the best possible service, highest quality of food, properly prepared and temptingly served. Your stay must be a pleasant one! Enjoy your repast to the fullest and linger long amid the surroundings and atmosphere we have endeavored to create. Your return spells our success. Any criticism or approbation will be greatly appreciated.”
That was the motto of Joe Charles, owner of The Monterrey in Norman from 1943 to 1968. The restaurant had been operating since the late 1920s, and Joe was one of several to have operated it. In 1976, three fraternity brothers from the University of Oklahoma bought the restaurant after it had been vacant for a year. These men, John Krattiger, Richard “Dick” Talley, and Bill “Crow” Hammons, transformed The Mont into the hot spot that it is now.
Although those men have all since passed away, Hammons’ family now owns The Mont and is committed to the same level of quality and service that has been passed on for generations. Since the Joe Charles days of the restaurant, the menu has been a blend of classic American and Mexican food, which is perfect when you’re with a large group and can’t decide whether to go for tacos or burgers.
Anyone who has lived or spent any amount of time in Norman has no doubt spent time on The Mont’s large patio, which seats upwards of 150 people. It’s become such a fixture that it’s almost strange to think it wasn’t always there, having been built on in the early 1980s. Its lush and green surroundings, with trees and plants everywhere, transport you out of the city and into a magical garden that also has frozen Sooner Swirl Margarita Sangria and enchiladas. Sign me up!
1300 Classen Blvd, Norman
THE PATRIARCH
There’s nothing like sitting at a picnic table in the backyard in the evening, enjoying the cool spring air underneath strings of lights and sipping on a cold beer. How can that experience be improved? Well, adding forty-six craft beer options on draft and tossing in some tacos is a start.
The Patriarch in Edmond supplies the experience of those hangout sessions in your buddy’s backyard without ever having to send somebody on a beer run. Opened in 2015, their mission was to turn a historic house into a place where people can disconnect from the rest of the world for a few hours and enjoy the company of their friends.
The building was originally constructed in 1903 by William M. Hunt, who was one of the earliest settlers and founders of Edmond. He likely never expected his giant home to eventually showcase a wide variety of IPAs, stouts, sours, and other craft beers more than a century later, but the future is wild like that.
That variety is thanks to the burgeoning Oklahoma craft brewery scene, which seems to practically double in size every year. All of The Patriarch’s staff members are Cicerone Server Certified, making them both knowledgeable and happy to chat with you about the different styles of beer that they’re pouring.
In addition to the beverage selection, The Patriarch also offers eats. The menu has evolved from yakitori to their current selection of street tacos, which is about the best food you can pair with a cold beer on a warm day.
The Patriarch often hosts launch parties for new local breweries or other craft breweries just entering the Oklahoma market, which make for a fun way to try new offerings and to add to your freebie beer glass collection. Also, every Monday night, guests can expect live Irish music from local group The House Session!
9 E Edwards St, Edmond
THE PUMP BAR
A row of motorcycles and classic cars are parked out front of an old Texaco station with a few plastic pink flamingos planted here and there. A massive, colorful mural of Godzilla fighting a robot offers, “Welcome to Uptown!” The patio space is bustling with people in sunglasses sitting at the bright red tables or playing cornhole and ping pong.
For over four years, The Pump Bar has been the party capital of 23rd Street. Originally constructed as a filling station in 1929 by a local baseball player named Chili MacDaniels, the 9,000 square-foot space now houses an eccentric patio bar that brings in a diverse crowd for sunny happy hours and late nights around the fire pit.
The inside space is cozy, furnished in a mix of vintage and hip, urban cool. When the weather is nice, the garage bay doors roll up, letting in all the breeze and fresh air. But when it’s springtime, it’s better to be all the way outside, which makes The Pump’s ample patio seating ideal. Plus, the neighboring Pizzeria Gusto does a good job at blocking the pesky southerly wind.
The Pump Bar offers a nice variety of craft and domestic beers, not to mention a great $5 beer and shot special. For cocktails, the bartenders whip up a mix of classics and tiki-inspired beverages. Every day, one of their bartenders also creates an original cocktail for their “Dirty Harry” special.
On Monday nights, you can always expect a wild karaoke night where perfect pitch is not a requirement. For those who would rather use their noggins than their pipes, Pump Bar hosts trivia on Thursdays. If you like to dance, follow their social media for word on their monthly theme parties where dressing the part is strongly encouraged.
2425 N Walker Ave, Oklahoma City
