Entry No. 55 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: sailboat bar
Sailor and the Dock
“a retired Lake Hefner sailboat that now floats in the center as a bar”
A 1920s warehouse retail-and-arts collective built largely from repurposed materials, anchored by a retired Lake Hefner sailboat that now floats in the center as a bar. Indie makers, crystals, food vendors, and live events fill the cavernous space.
The story
When someone hauls a retired sailboat off Lake Hefner, drags it into a 14,000-square-foot 1920s industrial warehouse on West Village's Film Row, and turns the hull into a serving station, you don't ask about the logistics—you just order a drink. Sailor and the Dock built an indoor collective out of salvaged and repurposed materials, creating a home for independent makers, crystal sellers, and food vendors clustered around a landlocked vessel.
The centerpiece Dock Bar operates directly out of the boat, balancing standard cocktails with heavy emphasis on wellness mocktails and herbal pours. The setup gives the space an unhurried, community-hall energy rather than a dark drinking-den atmosphere. On event nights, the concrete floors clear out for SwingOut OKC swing dancing, second-Friday night markets, and Saturday pop-up shops that bring in crowds looking for small-batch finds.
Because the complex functions primarily as a makers market, you can show up in broad daylight to browse the stalls with a drink in hand without feeling like you stumbled into a late-night venue too early. It's a genuine piece of Film Row's commercial fabric repurposed for local trade, anchored by a boat that used to sail prairie waters miles to the north.
What it's like
Walk in off West Sheridan Avenue and you are greeted by massive warehouse rafters, polished concrete, and a literal sailboat sitting right in the center of the floor. During the day it feels like an open-air bazaar where you can wander stall to stall with a mocktail or cocktail in hand without any nighttime pressure. For parking, skip the street hunt and use the validated lot directly across Sheridan at 608 W Sheridan Ave. If you want the space at its liveliest, time your visit for a second-Friday market or a swing dance night; otherwise, aim for a late afternoon stroll before the dinner crowd hits nearby.
The move: Grab cocktails at the floating sailboat bar, then wander the maker stalls together hunting for the strangest small-batch find.
📍 Before you go It sits on Film Row along W Sheridan in downtown’s West Village, with validated parking in the lot directly across the street at 608 W Sheridan. The sailboat in the middle is the Dock Bar — it leans heavily on wellness mocktails alongside cocktails, and most of the space is all-ages market stalls rather than a bar scene, so it works for daytime browsing too. The place is liveliest during its recurring events — second-Friday night markets, pop-up-shop Saturdays, trivia and swing-dance nights — so check the calendar if you want it buzzing. The rest of Film Row, including the 21c Museum Hotel, is a short walk for pairing.
- 📍 West Village District / Film Row (Downtown OKC)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 617 W Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- FlashBack RetroPub — Keep your night on Film Row by walking two blocks down Sheridan to swap sailboat drinks for free-play 1980s arcade cabinets.
- The Vault at The National — Trade the open 1920s warehouse floor for a quiet cocktail tucked inside a subterranean 1931 bank vault four blocks away.
- Flaming Lips Alley — Head under a mile east into Bricktown to spot the obscure back alley official named after Oklahoma City's famous psychedelic rockers.
Good to know
Is Sailor and the Dock a bar or a shopping market?
It is both—a 14,000-square-foot collective housing indie retail stalls, makers, and food vendors, anchored by the central Dock Bar inside the sailboat.
Where do I park when visiting?
Park in the lot directly across the street at 608 W Sheridan Ave, which offers validation for visitors.
Can kids or non-drinkers visit?
Yes, the space is all-ages during standard market hours, and the Dock Bar crafts dedicated wellness mocktails alongside alcoholic drinks.
When is the liveliest time to go?
The warehouse peaks during recurring scheduled programming like second-Friday night markets, Saturday vendor pop-ups, and swing dance nights.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitokc.com · downtownokc.com · Instagram · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-09