Entry No. 48 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: speakeasy
The Daley
Tucked beside FRIDA Southwest behind a quasi-hidden doorway with no exterior signage, The Daley is the kind of place you could walk past a hundred times without ever knowing it existed. Inside, floor-to-ceiling shelves of spirits line a cozy parlor fitted with a modern fireplace and stacks of books — think private club for whiskey nerds, not velvet-rope theater. The cocktail list reads like a Frida Kahlo retrospective, each drink named for one of her paintings, and the whiskey and bourbon program is among the most comprehensive in Oklahoma City. In 2023 the James Beard Foundation named it a semifinalist for Outstanding Bar Program, which is the kind of credential that doesn't get attached to places that are just trying to seem secret. You can order the full FRIDA menu at your seat, which means a proper dinner happens quietly in the back room while everyone else is waiting for a table out front.
The story
You walk down 28th Street in the Paseo Arts District looking for a sign, but there isn't one. The Daley sits tucked beside FRIDA Southwest behind an unmarked exterior door. Slip inside, and the neighborhood noise cuts off instantly: floor-to-ceiling spirit shelves, a modern fireplace, stacks of books, and the hushed atmosphere of what the owners call a "whiskey reading room."
The room operates like a cozy private club for spirit nerds without the velvet-rope pretension. The house cocktail menu is framed as a Frida Kahlo retrospective, with drinks named after specific paintings, backed by one of the most comprehensive whiskey and bourbon collections in the state. In 2023, the James Beard Foundation named it a semifinalist for Outstanding Bar Program—a credential that proves the hidden-door gimmick isn't carrying the room on its own.
The real inside move here is the kitchen access. While the crowd out front waits for tables in FRIDA's main dining room, you can sit in the parlor and order the full FRIDA dinner menu directly to your seat. You get high-level food in a quiet back room while everyone else is still hovering by the host stand.
What it's like
Aim for early in the week—Tuesday or Wednesday—when the parlor is quietest, because the intimate seating fills up fast on weekends. Look for the unmarked door along the side of the FRIDA Southwest building; if you catch yourself circling the block, just ask the FRIDA host to point you through. Inside, expect warm low light, leather seating, and a conversation-first room. Order a drink named after a Kahlo canvas, ask to see the full whiskey library list, and settle in for a full dinner far away from the front-room bustle.
The move: Come on a weeknight when the parlor is half-empty, order something named after a Kahlo painting, then ask to see the whiskey library list — it's the move that separates the curious from the crowd.
📍 Before you go It shares an address with FRIDA Southwest at NW 28th and the Paseo, so aim for that building — the lounge entrance is the unmarked door alongside the restaurant, not a separate storefront, and asking a FRIDA host will save you circling the block. The Paseo Arts District is compact and walkable, with galleries and patios worth a pre-drink stroll, and the parlor is quietest early in the week if you want it to yourselves. Seating is intimate and fills fast, so reservations are wise even for two. Expect a grown-up, conversation-over-spectacle vibe rather than a party scene; come dressed to settle in for a while.
- 📍 Paseo Arts District
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 500 NW 28th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Five More Minutes at Sauced on Paseo — Balance a slow, high-end spirit tasting with free vintage arcade games tucked behind the pizza bar down the block.
- The Other Room — Walk two blocks over for a darker, red-lit local dive contrast hidden behind Picasso Cafe.
- Alice Cocktail Lounge — Extend your hidden-bar crawl less than half a mile south in Uptown 23rd, where a red bookshelf conceals another quiet lounge.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
Head to FRIDA Southwest at NW 28th and Paseo. The Daley shares the building, but its entrance is an unmarked door alongside the restaurant rather than a separate storefront with signage.
Can you eat full dinner inside The Daley?
Yes. You can order the complete FRIDA Southwest food menu right from your seat in the parlor.
Do I need reservations?
Seating inside the lounge is limited and fills quickly, so making a reservation in advance is recommended even for small parties.
What is the drink menu focus?
The house cocktail list is themed around Frida Kahlo's paintings, paired with an extensive library list of rare whiskies and bourbons.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: fridasouthwest.com · Yelp · visitokc.com · okgazette.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-09