Entry No. 15 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: speakeasy
The Other Room
Picasso Cafe's bar-next-door tucked toward the back with an entrance that locals describe as feeling like a secret handshake. Dark, red-lit and noir-ish inside, with overstuffed benches, drapes around the tables, and a legendary enclosed patio that feels like a private courtyard.
The story
If you don't know what you're looking for, you'll walk right past 3007 Paseo, assume Picasso Cafe is just a standard neighborhood eatery, and keep moving down the stucco sidewalks of the Paseo Arts District. That's by design. Skip the main restaurant entrance and slip around toward the rear, following the low red glow clinging to the alleyway. There is minimal signage guiding you to the door—locating it feels less like entering a commercial business and more like executing a secret handshake.
Inside, the bar—known locally as TO-R—shifts entirely into low-lit noir territory. Deep red light washes over overstuffed benches and heavy drapes hung around individual tables, giving each booth the muted privacy of a vintage confessional. It operates as the darkened alter-ego to Picasso Cafe's main dining room, offering dive-style drinks and heavy velvet boundaries for people who prefer their conversations unmonitored.
Despite the back-alley mood, you aren't stuck with basic bar nuts. The Other Room serves the full menu straight out of Picasso's kitchen next door, including standing half-price appetizer deals. Past the main room lies an enclosed rear patio tucked away like a walled private courtyard, completely cut off from the noise of the surrounding art district.
What it's like
Expect to spend your first minute outside second-guessing whether you're standing in the right alleyway. Once you push through the door, your eyes will need a moment to adjust to the heavy red light and curtained booths. It fills up fast on weekends and during the neighborhood's First Friday gallery walk, when street parking along Paseo disappears. Slide in early in the evening to snag a draped booth, take advantage of the half-price Picasso menu apps, and retreat to the high-walled back patio.
The move: Find the easy-to-miss back entrance off Paseo, claim a draped corner booth under the red light, and order off the Picasso menu (apps are half-price) before retreating to the hidden courtyard patio.
📍 Before you go The Other Room is the bar wing of Picasso Cafe in the walkable Paseo Arts District, and first-timers genuinely struggle to find the door. Aim for Picasso Cafe at 3007 Paseo, bypass the main restaurant entrance, and follow the low red glow around toward the rear; signage is deliberately minimal. The half-price appetizers off the Picasso menu are a standing fixture rather than a happy-hour fluke. The enclosed patio is at its best in mild spring and fall weather. Street parking lines Paseo but fills quickly on weekends, so come early or rideshare, and pair the visit with the monthly First Friday gallery walk when the surrounding studios open up.
- 📍 Paseo Arts District
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 3007 Paseo, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Hours: Reported open daily, evenings until 2am; weekend opens earlier
Pair it with
- The Daley — Keep the hidden-door motif going by walking two blocks to this un-signaled cocktail lounge tucked beside FRIDA Southwest.
- Five More Minutes at Sauced on Paseo — Trade low-lit quiet for vintage arcade noise by walking a block down Paseo to play free retro cabinets behind Sauced pizza.
- Art Soul Metaphysical — Browse crystals and grab an afternoon coffee here before slipping around the back alley to TO-R when the bar opens.
Good to know
Where exactly is the entrance?
It is located around the rear of Picasso Cafe at 3007 Paseo. Bypass the main cafe door and follow the low red light toward the back of the building; exterior signage is deliberately sparse.
Can you order food at the bar?
Yes. The bar serves the full food menu from Picasso Cafe next door, including standing half-price appetizer specials.
What is the patio setup?
It features a hidden, fully enclosed inner courtyard patio towards the back that offers a private outdoor space insulated from street traffic.
How does parking work?
Parking is limited to street spots along Paseo. It fills rapidly on Friday and Saturday nights and during monthly gallery walks, so arriving early or using rideshare is recommended.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: thepaseo.org · Yelp · picassosonpaseo.com
last checked: 2026-06-06