When a supernova occurs, and a star explodes, it emits more energy in a matter of seconds than our sun will in its lifetime. As destructive as it sounds, a supernova is actually a transformation, sprinkling galaxies with oxygen and iron, and mixing debris with gas to form new stars. It’s that interstellar transformation that inspired the energy of NOVA Lounge, a new penthouse-style cocktail bar on the 49th floor of the Devon Tower, where the immersive menu is as striking as the view.
The space has long been used for pop-up events, including the recent Mile High Cocktail Lounge series that partnered with local bars for themed menus, but as beverage director Colby Poulin explained, it’s been itching for its own identity — one that can meld seamlessly from a sunny late afternoon through golden hour and evening.
“We really delved into the transformation of a supernova,” he said. “Our city sits on the edge of this beautiful horizon that, at night, explodes with city lights. We drew all that into what our cocktail list is.”
Describing the concept as a fun-driven cocktail lounge, exploring various elements of mixology, the menu is split into four progressive “phases” of a supernova: “Pressure” features light and bubbly libations; followed by “Threshold” drinks with more body and botanicals; “Luminance” cocktails that skew bitter and boozy; and finally, slow-sippers and dessert drinks for the “Afterglow.”
Each cocktail is beautifully constructed, perfectly balanced and as Instagrammable as the view. After guests are greeted with a spritzy welcome drink, they can start with “Pressure” cocktails like the Crimson Sky, a rosy medley of gin, amaro, black tea, berries, lemon, honey and rosé. “Threshold” options get bolder and brighter, like the Signal Fade, with mezcal, chile-based Ancho Reyes Verde, citrus oleo and lime. “Luminance,” Poulin noted, pairs perfectly with golden hour, like Manhattan variations and a table-side Old Fashioned, while “Afterglow” features the kinds of dessert-worthy drinks — like the Velvet Tiger, with horchata, whiskey, coffee liqueur, dark rum and allspice — you can sip as lights gleam across the city.
Each section features an N/A cocktail, and there’s also a curated selection of wine and beer, along with aptly elevated bites, like whipped boursin crostini on rosemary focaccia, beef tartare on tapioca “chicharrones,” and seafood towers layered with oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster salad and a “mosaic” of fresh tuna and compressed watermelon. The Basque cheesecake, served with vodka crème fraîche and caviar, is the kind of bite befitting a sky-high lounge.
Like Vast next door, walk-ins are welcome, but reservations for NOVA Lounge are recommended. No matter when you go, be it for golden hour or the afterglow, it’s an immersive experience that — much like a supernova — transforms the way we sip in OKC.
