A true piece of Oklahoma LGBTQ history, Bamboo Bar & Lounge—often simply called “The Bamboo”—was one of the oldest continuously operating gay bars in the state, with roots dating back to 1959.
Located on East Pine Street, it became a long-running anchor of Tulsa’s queer nightlife—welcoming, unpretentious, and deeply community-driven. For decades, it offered a mix of karaoke, drag shows, patio hangouts, and everyday bar energy, attracting a wide range of patrons from longtime regulars to first-time visitors.
More than just a bar, Bamboo was part of Tulsa’s early LGBTQ landscape—mentioned among the city’s historic venues that helped shape a scene that once included more than a dozen active gay bars.
What made it stand out wasn’t flash—it was consistency. A place where people were greeted at the door, where community formed naturally, and where the atmosphere felt closer to a neighborhood “home base” than a nightclub.
After nearly six decades, Bamboo Bar & Lounge closed in 2018, marking the end of one of the longest-running and most significant LGBTQ spaces in the region.
