Guidebook for Kansas City
Food Scene
There are lots of restaurants sprinkled throughout the Plaza. Get there in 5 min in an Uber or about 20-25 min walking. Horse carriage rides are available on the weekends, and Gondola rides in the summer!
505 locals recommend
Country Club Plaza
4706 Broadway BlvdThere are lots of restaurants sprinkled throughout the Plaza. Get there in 5 min in an Uber or about 20-25 min walking. Horse carriage rides are available on the weekends, and Gondola rides in the summer!
Beer Kitchen is one of my favorites because just about everyone will find something here they like. MY FAVORITE brunch (but get there at 9am to avoid an hour wait). Great for lunch & dinner as well as the night-time bar scene.
85 locals recommend
Beer Kitchen
435 Westport RdBeer Kitchen is one of my favorites because just about everyone will find something here they like. MY FAVORITE brunch (but get there at 9am to avoid an hour wait). Great for lunch & dinner as well as the night-time bar scene.
Q39 - Midtown
1000 W 39th StTied with Joes for my favorite BBQ - a must try for meat eaters!
Canary
3835 Main StreetGreat new restaurant ... tasty drinks & food! Great rooftop!
Legendary Chocolates! Very expensive - but DELICIOUS and worth the splurge!
23 locals recommend
Christopher Elbow Chocolates
1819 McGee StLegendary Chocolates! Very expensive - but DELICIOUS and worth the splurge!
Skip the other locations - THIS is THE best BBQ in town... and yes, it's in a gas station. Get there early - likely a 30 min line :)
344 locals recommend
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
3002 W 47th AveSkip the other locations - THIS is THE best BBQ in town... and yes, it's in a gas station. Get there early - likely a 30 min line :)
So lucky to have AMAZING food within walking distance. Great Happy Hour.. make reservations or get take-out. Highly recommend the Eggplant Parm ... and frankly everything else :)
20 locals recommend
Ragazza Food & Wine
4301 Main StSo lucky to have AMAZING food within walking distance. Great Happy Hour.. make reservations or get take-out. Highly recommend the Eggplant Parm ... and frankly everything else :)
Anton's
1610 Main StDelicious :) Great for dinner
YUM YUM YUM - get a reservation on the patio if weather permits. This Italian is very good fine dining - one of my favorites!
7 locals recommend
Plate Restaurant
701 East 63rd StreetYUM YUM YUM - get a reservation on the patio if weather permits. This Italian is very good fine dining - one of my favorites!
By far one of my favorite restaurants in town! Cute little French Bistro - food is always very very good - and not overpriced.
51 locals recommend
Westport Cafe
419 Westport RdBy far one of my favorite restaurants in town! Cute little French Bistro - food is always very very good - and not overpriced.
Traveling with a dog? Check out Bar K - which caters to dogs & their owners. Small entrance fee for dogs. Ok food & drinks... entertaining scene.
27 locals recommend
Bar K
501 Berkley PkwyTraveling with a dog? Check out Bar K - which caters to dogs & their owners. Small entrance fee for dogs. Ok food & drinks... entertaining scene.
BLU HWY
Nice Happy Hour - cute patio - nice atmosphere inside & out
There's also a location just South of the plaza. Good house Margaritas. Decent prices.
9 locals recommend
Mission Taco Joint - East Crossroads
409 E 18th StThere's also a location just South of the plaza. Good house Margaritas. Decent prices.
Jazz lounge in the restaurant at this hotel. Good drinks. They also have outdoor jazz on Wednesdays in the summer.
7 locals recommend
Chaz on the Plaza
325 Ward PkwyJazz lounge in the restaurant at this hotel. Good drinks. They also have outdoor jazz on Wednesdays in the summer.
Great Happy Hour! Great Patio! In the River Market - with Farmers Market on Saturday & Sunday (Seasonal)
Enzo
Great Happy Hour! Great Patio! In the River Market - with Farmers Market on Saturday & Sunday (Seasonal)
TAILLEUR RESTAURANT
Quite delicious! Great ambience
B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ
1205 E 85th StBrady & Fox
Great Irish Food & sometimes music
CHEWOLOGY
Up for a James Beard Award 2024
Extra Virgin
1900 Main StEXCELLENT Happy Hour! Delicious & different food
Lazia
Gorgeous & Delicious!
Broadway Butcher Shop
3828 Broadway BlvdGreat butcher if you'd like some good quality meats
Succotash
2601 Holmes StBrunch!
Drinks & Nightlife
Very posh & pricey ... but tasty & creative craft cocktails. Good place to start or end your evening - it's been a few years since I've been here - let me know if it's still good!
37 locals recommend
The Monarch Bar
4808 Roanoke PkwyVery posh & pricey ... but tasty & creative craft cocktails. Good place to start or end your evening - it's been a few years since I've been here - let me know if it's still good!
Westport is a 10 min walk, but I'd definitely recommend Ubering home as you're in an urban environment. Lots of great bars & food & nightlife in Westport.
133 locals recommend
Old Westport
Westport is a 10 min walk, but I'd definitely recommend Ubering home as you're in an urban environment. Lots of great bars & food & nightlife in Westport.
In the heart of Westport is a Karaoke Bar where you can sing in public in the bar or rent your own room for your group to serenade each other - as Off Key as you like ;)
13 locals recommend
Offkey Karaoke Lounge & Suites
510 Westport RdIn the heart of Westport is a Karaoke Bar where you can sing in public in the bar or rent your own room for your group to serenade each other - as Off Key as you like ;)
Local Jazz at its finest! Great scene - Seating is a bit tight - but the scene is classic KC & worth a visit
47 locals recommend
The Phoenix
302 W 8th StLocal Jazz at its finest! Great scene - Seating is a bit tight - but the scene is classic KC & worth a visit
Want a classic cocktail in an historic hotel bar - the Drum Room is where you want to go. Super cool to have a drink in a bar like this where you can just imagine folks from the 20's sipping in the same seat...100 years ago!
Drum Room
1329 Baltimore AveWant a classic cocktail in an historic hotel bar - the Drum Room is where you want to go. Super cool to have a drink in a bar like this where you can just imagine folks from the 20's sipping in the same seat...100 years ago!
THIS is the Jazz Lounge of Jazz Lounges... it's dark & loud & jazz is what it's made of. Basement Jazz is open on the weekends & the Black Dolphin is next door if you want to check out two scenes.
150 locals recommend
Green Lady Lounge
1809 Grand BlvdTHIS is the Jazz Lounge of Jazz Lounges... it's dark & loud & jazz is what it's made of. Basement Jazz is open on the weekends & the Black Dolphin is next door if you want to check out two scenes.
Lonnie is a local jazz icon. He was born to entertain and well worth the cost of this 3 course dinner - which is also pretty tasty :) You won't regret this evening - wonderful for a couple.
Lonnie’s Reno Club
1111 Grand BoulevardLonnie is a local jazz icon. He was born to entertain and well worth the cost of this 3 course dinner - which is also pretty tasty :) You won't regret this evening - wonderful for a couple.
Great venue with live outdoor entertainment - often free! Overhead heaters for 3 seasons. Lots of restaurants - definitely appeals to the party crowd with ok drinks and food - but some very good PEOPLE WATCHING!
397 locals recommend
Power and Light District
Great venue with live outdoor entertainment - often free! Overhead heaters for 3 seasons. Lots of restaurants - definitely appeals to the party crowd with ok drinks and food - but some very good PEOPLE WATCHING!
Great Live music - check out their website for upcoming bands... great follow-up to your Rieger Distillery tour & dinner.
41 locals recommend
Knuckleheads Saloon
2715 Rochester AveGreat Live music - check out their website for upcoming bands... great follow-up to your Rieger Distillery tour & dinner.
Levee Bar & Grill
16 W 43rd StFun bar with live music - just a few blocks away
Brewery Emperial
1829 Oak StreetNice outdoor space - check to see if there's live music
Delicious local drinks. Schedule a tour ahead of time. Good appetizers for a quick bite as well. Lovely intimate space!
45 locals recommend
Tom's Town Distilling Co.
1701 Main StDelicious local drinks. Schedule a tour ahead of time. Good appetizers for a quick bite as well. Lovely intimate space!
Great LITTLE speakeasy - you'll likely be waiting in the wait room until the light turns green & they come to seat you. Delicious drinks
19 locals recommend
Swordfish Tom's
210 W 19 TerraceGreat LITTLE speakeasy - you'll likely be waiting in the wait room until the light turns green & they come to seat you. Delicious drinks
P.S.
106 W 12th StSpeakeasy - Make reservations. Beautiful atmosphere.
Getting Around
I've rented here several times - always friendly & very close by.
21 locals recommend
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
3543 Main StI've rented here several times - always friendly & very close by.
Parks & Nature
Loose Park is lovely for a fragrant stroll through the rose garden, a job around the park, a game of tennis, or a nice picnic :)
213 locals recommend
Jacob L. Loose Park
5200 Wornall RdLoose Park is lovely for a fragrant stroll through the rose garden, a job around the park, a game of tennis, or a nice picnic :)
Beautiful for a stroll... this memorial garden is beautifully maintained and worth a 15 min walk through. Open Dawn to Dusk. Free to the public.
63 locals recommend
The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden
4800 Rockhill RdBeautiful for a stroll... this memorial garden is beautifully maintained and worth a 15 min walk through. Open Dawn to Dusk. Free to the public.
Jacob L. Loose Park
5200 Wornall RdLovely for a picnic or walk around the park.
Arts & Culture
GANGSTER TOUR!!! go to thekctours.com .... every Saturday at 1pm - sign up in advance - online only. VERY INTERESTING tour about the gangster history which shaped who Kansas City is today.
290 locals recommend
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing RdGANGSTER TOUR!!! go to thekctours.com .... every Saturday at 1pm - sign up in advance - online only. VERY INTERESTING tour about the gangster history which shaped who Kansas City is today.
Love this free museum! Great for folks who enjoy traditional art - great for folks who enjoy modern art. DEFINITELY drive past this museum AT NIGHT... you've never seen anything like it. UPDATE: Try out the newly built mini-golf course on the front lawn - super fun!
674 locals recommend
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak StLove this free museum! Great for folks who enjoy traditional art - great for folks who enjoy modern art. DEFINITELY drive past this museum AT NIGHT... you've never seen anything like it. UPDATE: Try out the newly built mini-golf course on the front lawn - super fun!
First Fridays are a blast if you're into local art, people watching & street food. If you're lucky enough to be in town on the first Friday of every month, come check it out & support local artists! I'd recommend Uber as it's quite popular :)
158 locals recommend
Crossroads
First Fridays are a blast if you're into local art, people watching & street food. If you're lucky enough to be in town on the first Friday of every month, come check it out & support local artists! I'd recommend Uber as it's quite popular :)
A MUST see - the only WWI museum in the nation... and very well done.
400 locals recommend
National WWI Museum and Memorial
2 Memorial DrA MUST see - the only WWI museum in the nation... and very well done.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
4420 Warwick BlvdWorth a visit :) Play mini-golf on the lawn. Drive by in the evening to see the walls lit up!
674 locals recommend
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak StWorth a visit :) Play mini-golf on the lawn. Drive by in the evening to see the walls lit up!
Great museum! Largest collection of pre-civil war artifacts in the nation! From excavated steamship!
80 locals recommend
Arabia Steamboat Museum
400 Grand BlvdGreat museum! Largest collection of pre-civil war artifacts in the nation! From excavated steamship!
It's simply beautiful! And historic - so much to read on the 2nd level about our history. Great restaurants. Science City & other attractions
290 locals recommend
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing RdIt's simply beautiful! And historic - so much to read on the 2nd level about our history. Great restaurants. Science City & other attractions
Entertainment & Activities
Sign up for an escape room while you're here! Great for small groups. Schedule in advance.
15 locals recommend
Breakout KC Escape Room | River Market
114 W 3rd StSign up for an escape room while you're here! Great for small groups. Schedule in advance.
Sign up for Mini Golf! Super fun mini-golf installed to replicate some of the art found inside the museum!
674 locals recommend
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak StSign up for Mini Golf! Super fun mini-golf installed to replicate some of the art found inside the museum!
Super interesting & historic distillery tour - highly recommend if you enjoy local spirits, history & prohibition. Great restaurants on site - including the super cool Hey Hey Club
18 locals recommend
J. Rieger & Co.
2700 Guinotte AveSuper interesting & historic distillery tour - highly recommend if you enjoy local spirits, history & prohibition. Great restaurants on site - including the super cool Hey Hey Club
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City
2475 Grand BlvdGood for the little ones :)
Science City
30 W Pershing RdKansas City Zoo
6800 Zoo DrSuper fun atmosphere - Fundraiser Dirty Bingo 3-4x's per week; Drag Queen Brunch on Sundays
17 locals recommend
Hamburger Mary's
3700 Broadway BlvdSuper fun atmosphere - Fundraiser Dirty Bingo 3-4x's per week; Drag Queen Brunch on Sundays
Shopping
Historic Outdoor area with shopping & restaurants. Come for the architecture alone!
505 locals recommend
Country Club Plaza
4706 Broadway BlvdHistoric Outdoor area with shopping & restaurants. Come for the architecture alone!
Great shop to see many local artisans, breweries/distilleries and other great trinkets. Bar inside.
16 locals recommend
Made in KC Marketplace
306 W 47th StGreat shop to see many local artisans, breweries/distilleries and other great trinkets. Bar inside.
First Friday Weekend - especially Saturday. Antique stores only open this weekend each month. Food trucks & entertainment sometimes
West Bottoms
First Friday Weekend - especially Saturday. Antique stores only open this weekend each month. Food trucks & entertainment sometimes
Gomer's Midtown
3838 Broadway BlvdGood local liquor store