The Mayo Hotel

Why it is interesting

Built in 1925 and restored to its original Art Deco splendour, the Mayo sits at the epicentre of Tulsa’s extraordinary downtown - the most architecturally intact Art Deco city centre in the United States. The Penthouse Rooftop Lounge and the Boiler Room restaurant anchor the hotel’s social life, while the surrounding blocks hold one of America’s best-kept heritage walking circuits.

Why it is good value

Tulsa is routinely overlooked, but its combination of world-class Art Deco architecture, the Philbrook Museum, and the Gathering Place park makes it more rewarding than its reputation allows - and the Mayo is the correct base for all of it, at a nightly rate below a London hostel bunk.

Price notes

USD $140-$207/night; average $177; consistent year-round pricing.

Location and nearby sights

Art Deco walking circuit - the surrounding six blocks contain more intact Art Deco commercial buildings than any US city outside New York; the Mayo sits at the circuit’s centre.

Philbrook Museum of Art - 15 minutes by car; a 1920s Italian Renaissance villa set on 23 acres of formal gardens, housing a permanent collection with genuine international depth.

The Gathering Place - 10 minutes by car; a $465M private riverfront park opened in 2018, consistently ranked among the best public parks in the United States.

Food and things to do nearby

The Penthouse Rooftop Lounge and the Boiler Room restaurant anchor the hotel’s social life, while the surrounding blocks hold one of America’s best-kept heritage walking circuits.

Best time to book

Pricing is described as consistent year-round, with USD $140-$207/night and an average of $177.

Watch out for

Tulsa demands editorial work: readers need a reason to visit Oklahoma, and the page must supply one convincingly or the hotel will be ignored regardless of its quality.

Verdict

Strong value. A 1920s Art Deco skyscraper hotel overlooking America’s most intact Art Deco skyline.