After 18 months of parenting I knew there was nothing my wife would want more for her birthday than a night away with no chores, no late night disruptions, and no early morning awakening. A chance to unwind and let some steam out. A dinner without having to scarf food down quickly before the toddler becomes unruly. So I made the decision to book a night away at a hotel while the baby’s Grandma slept over.
Choosing the right place was tough. Initially we were thinking a staycation here in Tulsa for simplicity. After all, our goal was relaxation, not vacation. But after vetting all of the hotels here, there was no clear frontrunner. We wanted an indoor pool, hot tub, and continental breakfast and the only hotels in Tulsa offering all three of those had either uninspiring reviews or no walkability. We wanted to be in an area with good dining and entertainment. The last thing I wanted to do was pay $200 for a getaway and end up in a dirty room with a musty smell.
Considering the short drive of about 90 minutes I decided to check out Bricktown in Oklahoma City and found much more exciting options, albeit at much higher prices.
The one hotel that particularly caught my eye was the Hampton Inn and Suites Bricktown, which actually didn’t have a hot tub but instead had king suites with massive jacuzzi tubs. Even better! That combined with a 4.2 average rating on Google (compared to the 3.7 rated Hampton Inn in our hometown) had me sold.
About Hampton Inn
Hampton Inn is a typically mid-level hotel chain operated by Hilton that in my experience is hit-or-miss. Some stays have felt luxurious and affordable, others have been expensive and disappointing, but never outright unpleasant. I have found you can typically trust Hampton Inn for an above average experience.
Pre-Arrival Experience
I booked the hotel directly through Hilton’s official website. The booking experience was fairly simple with discounted rates for Hilton Honors members. There were a number of add-ons available including a $20/night parking fee that I found ridiculous. But with Bricktown Parking being as difficult as it is I acquiesced to the charge.
One thing I wish the hotel communicated better was the arrival parking situation. It’s not easily apparent where the paid parking is even located when you get there but there are two check-in parking spots available. When you check in they give you a keycard and direct you to the parking garage next door, where you will need your room key to even unlock the elevator. The elevator takes you back down to the hotel lobby where you then have to access a separate elevator bay to get to your room.
Check-in went smoothly enough but it was apparent over the course of the stay that they need an extra host considering how long the wait was every time we saw the desk. The lobby was popping with activity and people hanging out.
First Impressions
We found our room easily enough, all the way in the corner of the 6th floor so we only shared one wall with other guests. Our room was massive. When you first walked in there was a regular restroom with a combination shower-tub, and the whirlpool tub was around the corner off the main bedroom.
We had a massive window view of the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, lots of space, a king-sized bed, a desk, closet, dresser, large television, wet bar, mini-fridge, and microwave. The jacuzzi tub even came prepared with a little basket with slippers, soaps, and various towels so you didn’t have to carry them over from the restroom. Color me impressed.
We arrived early, around 5 pm, and decided to enjoy the tub for a bit before dinner. It was wonderful—massive with more than enough space for two. It took a while to fill up because of how large it was but the hot water never ran out.
It was perfectly relaxing—other than the call we got in the middle of it from the front desk. Apparently water was running down into the room beneath us somehow! We certainly hadn’t spilled or splashed anything but we agreed to let maintenance visit while we were gone for dinner.
Everything was how we left it when we returned so I’m not sure what the resolution was there. They never asked us not to use it again so maybe they found the issue or moved the people below us.
Location & Activities
Like I said before, we picked this location for its convenience to dining and entertainment. Even with a 15-degree wind chill there’s just something more fun and romantic about walking instead of driving. Plus I still had my 10,000-step goal to hit even on a cheat day. Bricktown offers a wealth of dining and nightlife opportunities all within a quarter mile of our hotel.
For dinner we walked directly across the street to Rodizio Grill, a Brazilian steakhouse. We then walked to Coyote Ugly for a beer just for sillies. Definitely not the type of place we normally hang out but since we liked the movie we decided to stop by for a few minutes. We also briefly stopped by Brickopolis but didn’t stay more than a minute before heading back to the hotel.
Although our initial plan was to relax at the hotel we quickly realized how much we missed going out on the town without a toddler in tow and decided to stay out a little bit longer before returning to our room.
We briefly stopped by the Hilton Garden Inn’s bar and restaurant that Hampton Inn shares to see if they had a good vibe and good dessert but that was honestly a miserable place. It didn’t feel like a bar and restaurant so much as it felt like a bunch of people drinking in the middle of the hotel lobby. The one bartender was clearly overwhelmed—outnumbered maybe 20 to 1—and every unoccupied seat at the bar still had empty bottles, receipts, or tips sitting out uncollected. We sat for about five minutes, never got to order, and finally bailed to find a less depressing vibe.
We briefly considered returning to our room but we were still craving sweets and fun so we ventured back to the Bricktown Canal area we had just left and went wine tasting at Put A Cork In It, where we purchased a bottle and finally returned to our room.
There’s a large number of restaurants, bars, clubs, and entertainment options within a five minute walk of the hotel including JJ’s Alley, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Tipsy Tiki, Pinot’s Palette, Bourbon Street Cafe, Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar, and much more.
Hampton Inn Hotel Amenities
One of the primary things we were looking for in a hotel was an indoor pool, something that Hampton Inn went over and beyond at. Their pool was massive and featured a number of splash-pad style accessories making it a children’s paradise. We, however, never ventured into it. Why bother when you’ve got your own private jacuzzi? We did peek at it though and it looked fantastic. We were already talking about returning here with our son someday when he’s old enough to enjoy it.
The lobby was very large and cozy with a simulated fireplace and a movie on the television. The gift shop, however, was quite disappointing. $5 candy bars and a pitiful beer fridge with few options. The ice cream fridge was out of order much to my dismay. The vending machine on our floor was also missing.
The exercise room was also tiny and useless for my purposes. Fortunately I had already gotten my daily workout in and I decided to wait till we got home Sunday to hit the gym instead of working out at the hotel in the morning. There was absolutely nothing there that would work for my routine.
I never vetted the business center since I had no use for it on a pleasure trip.
The in-room amenities were nice, but whatever happened to stocked fridges? You’d think for their nicest suite they might have a stocked fridge. Or some bubble bath for the jacuzzi. They did have large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash available. The shower was very spacious and had unusually great clearance. Even at 5’11” I usually have to duck under the pitifully short shower head mounts at most hotels but I had lots of space here. I wish the water pressure had been a little better but it wasn’t terrible. Also, whatever happened to mints on pillows?
The Sleep Experience
The bed was wonderful. Just the right thickness and softness, very large and comfortable. The sheets were average and definitely could have been softer. The pillows were fine but I wish they were bigger. They definitely weren’t sized for a king-sized bed. I unfortunately remembered to bring my pillow on the trip but forgot it in the car and wasn’t about to get back out a third time, go down six floors, across the lobby, back up six floors, and out into the parking garage in the frigid cold.
I made do with the pillows but the biggest struggle was the quiet. An unusual complaint for a hotel, right? Usually people love the quiet! But we’ve been accustomed to the white noise of an air purifier in our room plus the baby monitor’s hum. And this room didn’t have the usual wall-mounted air conditioner that most hotel rooms have. I love those AC units! I always sleep like a baby with the white noise from those units. Our room was dead quiet and between the substandard pillow and the silence we both woke up constantly all night.
Continental Breakfast at Hampton Inn
In the morning we woke up with plenty of time to go enjoy the continental breakfast, and while the food was fine the experience was exhausting. The whole first floor needs a major redesign because we spent 90% of our breakfast time just waiting in line. They funnel you into a tiny little room attached to the kitchen that’s super cramped and ends up backed up because of the line for the waffle makers.
The breakfast itself was good, if limited. The eggs were fluffy and delightful but quickly depleted and we often waited for refills. The sausage links were good but there were no patties or bacon. They had toast and muffins but not a large pastry selection. I was quite hoping for a danish. They also had oatmeal, yogurt, juice, milk, coffee, and cereal. But no Greek yogurt or cottage cheese.
The waffles were good but it was a self-serve setup and like I said it caused a major traffic jam. At the very least they need to move the waffle station to a separate corner on the opposite side of the seating area to prevent that. The toppings were great though—they had plenty of butter, syrup, whipped cream, caramel, chocolate chips, and strawberry sauce.
Final Verdict
The service and hospitality were excellent at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Bricktown, as was the room, the location, and most of the amenities. The few areas I saw for improvement were minor and the overall experience was excellent, though the price was steep at $270 a night during off-peak travel season with no OKC Thunder Games or other major events in the area that night. I think it was perhaps a little overpriced but not terribly so.
All in all I give the hotel 4 out of 5 stars and solidly recommend it to anyone looking for a great night’s stay—especially if you have kids or want a romantic getaway.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hampton Inn & Suites Bricktown
Does Hampton Inn Bricktown have a hot tub or jacuzzi?
The hotel doesn’t have a traditional communal hot tub, but their king suites feature massive in-room jacuzzi tubs that are actually better than a shared hot tub. The tub in our suite was large enough for two people comfortably and came with its own basket of slippers, soaps, and towels. It took a while to fill due to its size, but the hot water never ran out.
What’s included in the continental breakfast at Hampton Inn Bricktown?
The complimentary breakfast includes fluffy scrambled eggs, sausage links, self-serve waffles with toppings (butter, syrup, whipped cream, caramel, chocolate chips, strawberry sauce), toast, muffins, oatmeal, yogurt, juice, milk, coffee, and cereal. The food quality is good, though the selection is somewhat limited—no bacon, pastries like danishes, or Greek yogurt.
How much is parking at Hampton Inn Bricktown?
Parking costs $20 per night. The parking garage is adjacent to the hotel and requires your room key to access the elevator. When you first arrive, there are two check-in parking spots available near the entrance where you can temporarily park while checking in.
How far is Hampton Inn Bricktown from restaurants and entertainment?
The hotel sits in the heart of Bricktown’s entertainment district with restaurants, bars, and attractions within a quarter mile. Rodizio Grill is literally across the street. Within a five-minute walk you’ll find JJ’s Alley, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Tipsy Tiki, Pinot’s Palette, Bourbon Street Cafe, Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar, Coyote Ugly, Brickopolis, and Put a Cork in It, among many others. The location is perfect for couples wanting to walk between venues without dealing with parking.
Does Hampton Inn Bricktown have a pool?
Yes, and it’s impressive. The indoor pool is massive with numerous splash-pad style accessories that create a children’s paradise. We didn’t use it since we had our own jacuzzi, but we looked at it and immediately started planning a return visit when our son is old enough to enjoy it. If you’re traveling with kids, this pool alone makes the hotel worth booking.
What comes in the king suite at Hampton Inn Bricktown?
The king suite is spacious with a king-sized bed, massive window overlooking Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, desk, closet, dresser, large television, wet bar, mini-fridge, and microwave. The layout includes a standard bathroom with combination shower-tub, plus a separate whirlpool jacuzzi tub around the corner off the main bedroom.
Is Hampton Inn Bricktown good for families with kids?
Absolutely. The massive indoor pool with splash-pad features will keep kids entertained for hours. The suites provide plenty of space for families, and the location puts you within walking distance of family-friendly attractions. The continental breakfast offers kid-friendly options like waffles with fun toppings, cereal, and juice.
Is Hampton Inn Bricktown good for a romantic getaway?
Yes, particularly if you book a king suite with the jacuzzi tub. The in-room jacuzzi provides privacy that a communal hot tub can’t offer. The location is perfect for couples wanting to walk to dinner and entertainment without worrying about driving. Bricktown’s canal area, wine tasting venues, and diverse restaurant scene create an ideal date-night atmosphere. The walkability means you can enjoy drinks without designated driver duties.
What time is check-in and check-out at Hampton Inn Bricktown?
Check-in is at 3:00 PM and check-out is at 12:00 PM, which was awesome because we got to sleep in, enjoy breakfast, and go back for another soak in the tub before heading out. They also offer a late check-out add-on if you need even more time, though we declined it. We arrived around 5 PM and had no issues checking in, though be aware that the front desk often has a wait due to being understaffed during busy periods.
Does Hampton Inn Bricktown have a fitness center?
Yes, but it’s tiny and has limited equipment. If you have a serious workout routine or need specific equipment, you’ll likely be disappointed. For basic cardio or light exercise it’s adequate, but don’t expect a fully equipped fitness center.
How are the rooms for noise at Hampton Inn Bricktown?
The rooms are actually surprisingly quiet—almost too quiet. Our corner suite shared only one wall with neighbors, and we heard no noise from adjacent rooms or hallways. The challenge for us was the lack of white noise. Most hotel rooms have wall-mounted air conditioners that provide ambient sound, but our room didn’t have one. For light sleepers accustomed to white noise machines or fans, the silence might actually make sleeping difficult. Consider bringing a portable white noise device if you’re sensitive to this.
What restaurants would you recommend near Hampton Inn Bricktown?
We ate at Rodizio Grill, a Brazilian steakhouse directly across from the hotel, and it was excellent. For wine and lighter fare, Put a Cork in It near the canal area offers wine tasting and retail. The Bricktown area has tremendous variety within walking distance. Avoid the Hilton Garden Inn’s bar and restaurant that Hampton Inn shares—it felt chaotic with an overwhelmed staff and depressing atmosphere. Better to explore the many independent restaurants along the canal.
Does Hampton Inn Bricktown have vending machines?
The vending machine on our floor was missing, which was disappointing. The gift shop in the lobby sells snacks and drinks, though at inflated prices ($5 candy bars). The beer selection in the gift shop was limited, and the ice cream freezer was out of order during our stay. If you want specific snacks or drinks, consider buying them before arriving or walking to a nearby convenience store.
Do the suites have a fridge and microwave?
Yes, all king suites include a mini-fridge and microwave, along with a wet bar area.
Are there views from the rooms?
Our sixth-floor corner suite had a massive window with views of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Room views will vary depending on which side of the building you’re on and what floor.
How much does a king suite cost at Hampton Inn Bricktown?
We paid $270 per night during off-peak travel season with no Thunder games or major events happening. Prices will vary significantly based on demand, with higher rates during Oklahoma City Thunder games, conventions, or major events. The price felt steep for a Hampton Inn, though the location and suite amenities partially justified the premium. Book well in advance for the best rates.
Does Hampton Inn Bricktown provide toiletries?
Yes, large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided in both bathrooms. The jacuzzi area came with its own basket including soaps and towels.
Is there a business center at Hampton Inn Bricktown?
Yes, though I didn’t use it during our leisure stay so I can’t comment on the quality or equipment available. For business travelers needing to print documents or work between meetings, you’ll want to call ahead to confirm what services and equipment are available in the business center.
