Approaching the parking lot, I noticed cars parked in an area full of shops and art expos closed…read moreduring non-business hours. I got out of my Uber, and I saw a couple walking into the main building. One would assume that everyone is there for art and passes by thinking nothing of it, but I knew there was a secret entrance waiting to be found. I tipped my Uber and walked in. The couple was gone, and all that was left were closed shops in a long wooden hallway. In the Hallway was a man in normal clothes. He said, "The lounge?" Yes, I replied, and he asked for my ID. I showed it to him, then he pointed to a black box on the wall with a moon sticker on it. I pushed it, and the wall opened like an Indiana Jones movie. First impressions are important, and I was impressed. The hidden entrance established the secrecy and exclusivity that I expected from a speakeasy. The Lunar Lounge featured a 1990s retro space theme. This included decorations and art. They had their business logo on the wall, a mural of a naked women sitting on a crescent moon with long red hair covering her private parts. There was a robot-shaped snack machine with a mini tube television for a head, static on the screen with angry black electrical tape making his eyes and mouth. The music was energetic without overpowering people's conversations. Calling ahead of time, I met with a bartender who explained to me that they had no intention of becoming a speakeasy; they wanted to create a safe place for their friends who were part of the LGBT community to express themselves out of sight of public view without fear of judgment or discrimination. Basically, meeting every requirement of a Modern Speakeasy. The owner did a good job creating a convivial atmosphere. People were friendly and socially warm in this relaxed environment. According to the Annuals of Tourism, "Convivial atmospheres are powerful in that they carry with them a transformative potential in terms of individuals' openness to and anticipation of future encounters, and their attendant feelings"(Rokka). The Hosts, therefore, created an Atmosphere catered to their intended Patrons. Even though the secret entrance and the atmosphere made this speakeasy impressive, the focus is on the drinks. Now, a bartender does not need to be a master at mixology, but for the sake of the evaluation, there are a few things people tend to look for in a drink. I personally evaluate a cocktail based on the balance of sweetness, acidity, bitterness, and aftertaste. According to the International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, "mixologists, with their aesthetic approach, contribute to transforming mixology into a form of cultural and creative expression" (Creta). I ordered a sophisticated drink from their menu, wondering what they might do differently. I ordered their Cosmopolitan, a signature cocktail. Instead of putting one shot or two shots, the bartender put a shot and a half. This made the alcohol blend in with the sweetness, not too sweet, so that someone would not drink it too fast. With the cranberry juice, he added a space candy garnish shaped like the moon, and as it dissolved, it started to dye the drink blue. After I finished the drink, I ordered it again from a different bartender, and she made it the same way. I saw consistency; all their signature cocktails looked cold, full of artistic expression, and used high-quality ingredients. Now, an argument I would consider valid concerning Speakeasies is: "A real Speakeasy is a traditional hidden room within a restaurant or cave with formal attire and with jazz music." And to a point, I would agree, but at that time, cave networks were maintained, and Restaurants were a family business where you could make a secret room without corporate overreach or whistleblowing. Those places were modern at the time. Today, Speakeasy simply means to go somewhere to drink away from the general public to speak easily. This could be two construction workers getting off work to go to an exclusive place where most union workers go to relax after work, to a private room where two politicians talk shop out of earshot of the public, or to a restaurant turning into a bar after business hours and bringing in a DJ, karaoke or actual theatre. All of these activities meet the constantly changing environment that would and could be seen in a speakeasy. Ultimately, the Lunar Lounge succeeds because it captures the cultural purpose of a speakeasy, with secret doors leading to a convivial atmosphere and well-made cocktails. Based on my data and experience at the Lunar Lounge, I would consider it a modern speakeasy. The 18th Amendment wasn't just about stopping the sales of alcohol. It was about stopping people from expressing themselves in America and spreading cultural influence. The Lunar Lounge met my basic evaluation of a speakeasy, not just the physical building, but also the Freedom of Expression that its customers enjoyed.

Fun entrance and vibe. The service was nice and friendly. Great location. Drinks were delicious. We…read morewill definitely be back.

My experience at this bar has changed my life. I am now a better person. The bartenders stroked my…read moreevery right place just to make me comfortable. Just kidding... it's a good bar, good drinks, and a lot of wild personalities.

This is a cozy little establishment in the Paseo District. They have a great drink selection with…read moretasty cocktails. Nice patio area! Dog friendly. The bartenders are friendly and fast. Perfect for day drinking and chatting with friends and family. I'm coming down sometime for Wiener Wednesday.

Such a nice chill vibe to listen to old school or new school hits. Was informed we could play a…read morerecord or make a request of song ! Celine Dion was requested and a few songs were played ! Mocktails available! Dancing in the sun (Moscow mule) was great... wanting to make it back soon !! Ray was very welcoming !

Super cool space. Had no idea this place existed, it was a great vibe. Loved the extra speakeasy…read moreroom in the back.

The same night that I tried Eastside Pizza House (at The Collective) is the same night we ended up…read morecoming over to R&J to get away from the crowd. Walking in, it was dimly lit & it reminded me of a bar Downtown in Tulsa. We found a table (the place got filled up pretty quick afterwards) caddy corner to the bar & we got help quick. My partner ordered the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, a friend of mine ordered some Truffle Fries & a drink that I didn't catch - as for me, I got the Ginger Beer (I don't drink). The Oaxacan Old Fashioned looked nice with the orange peel climbing out of the glass & had a really good aroma (I took a big whiff of it). The ginger beer was a spicy ginger beer & it was really good. With every sip, it was opening up my nostrils, it had some spice to it for sure. I tried my friend's Truffle Fries & it's something I'd order, especially if I wasn't as hungry & wanted a "snack". You can smell the truffle while the taste was real subtle. All in all, the place was chill. It was a nice wind down from leaving an art show & The Collective (I had no clue it turned into a clubbish scene on a Saturday... they were jammin' that night). My friend was a regular there, the individual who served us was super nice & friendly. There was whole menu to explore full of sandwiches, burgers (I want to try the South West Burger along with the Umami Burger) & all kind of other dishes to choose from. As much as I come down to OKC, I still get familiar with the scene more & more - R&J is added to the list of places that I'd return to. Side Note: A friend of my friend stopped by right before my partner & I left. She ordered the Brussel Sprouts and Bacon & in my head, I dove into her plate before she could.

After stopping in for a drink after a game, I can confidently say this is one of my favorite bars…read morein OKC. This spot was very chill and laid back. We ordered a couple of drinks and everything was great. The bartender was also very kind and attentive. I enjoyed my time. And would definitely stop by again!

This place is AWESOME! It's inside an old bank vault downstairs at the National Hotel. Beautiful…read moredecor with safety deposit boxes and other vault rooms inside. SERVICE: The staff here was great tonight (March 25, 2025). Well by staff, I mean one person, "Jo" and this server was Fabulous! Super attentive, answered people's questions and made great drinks. Great job "Jo" (spelling?) FOOD: I only tried the guac and chips but it was a large serving with plenty of chips. Tasted great!! If you want a great experience while you are staying at the National (or nearby) go give them a visit.

Thursday date night so we headed to the Library of Libations, what I call the Vault. If your not…read morefamiliar with this bar, it's in the vault of the old First Nationa Bank, located in what is now the First National Center. The vault is in the basement and surprisingly large with a large bar area and adjoining rooms. It's a lovely venue that you could picture in New York City. We each started with a dirty Martini with Hendrick gin and a light touch of Vermouth. They were perfect. We then ordered the Charcuterie board. It was amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It was delectable with a nice mix of cheeses, meats and vegetables. Turned out to be dinner. From a decor perspective, I love the mix of old and new. It very modern and trendy while being steeped in history. The bar was busy, but the noise was low. The service was excellent, the prices moderate-high. It was a great evening.

This place is really cute. I really like the outdoor space. There is a DJ and often they have live…read moremusic. When I visited on a Friday night, the person that was performing songs from different genres. He had a really nice voice. After the live music, the DJ started to play. The music was hip hop/RnB fun dance music. The bartenders were really professional. Not sure if there was a food menu. There are hookahs available.

Food: N/A Service: 5/5…read moreAmbiance: 5/5 I had a birthday party for my best friend here last year and had a great experience but hadn't been back. We decided to come after having dinner at a restaurant in the area for drinks and hookah. We came in and after ordering drinks and a hookah set up we sat down and waited. We were asked to move so the area could be reserved but it wasn't an issue. Our drinks were good and the hookah was good as well. Nice vibes and the staff were all friendly and helpful. It looks like they were going to have live music and everyone kept saying how good the food was but we didn't try that. Will be back next time for it.

This place is... fine. Not great. Not terrible. Just aggressively okay…read more The service? Okay. The piano player? Also okay. The food?okay. How good can a 22 cheeseburger be? No Guinness on tap -- only in a can, which feels like ordering a steak and getting a picture of a

Great comfortable atmosphere. The music was very nice .Bar servers were very attentive. There is…read morefood in the bar as well .I would say this is an older crowd and laid back .