A (Former) Local’s Guide to Kansas City
If you’re looking for a getaway in the heart of America, look no further than Kansas City, Missouri (not to be confused with Kansas City, Kansas)! With a nickname of “Cowtown”, one may think there’s not much to KC, but this city is packed with things to do!
I spent my early 20s living in Kansas City, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to live during that time. It’s not too big, not too small, and after three years of living there I still didn’t check everything off my list of things to do – there’s always exciting new stuff popping up in the city!
Two of my favorite things about Kansas City are the rich history and the pride people have in the city. Many of the buildings in downtown Kansas City used to be factories, but have nowadays been converted to lofts and offices. Since Kansas City was home to some high-profile gangsters in the early 1900s, it has a fun jazz and speakeasy scene. As for the city pride? It’s not uncommon to see folks walking around in Kansas City apparel (I have way too many KC shirts myself)! And we’re passionate about our sports teams, even at their lowest.
This guide to exploring Kansas City details where to stay, eat, drink, and visit in this vibrant city to experience the rich culture this Midwestern city has to offer.
Where to stay
I highly recommend staying in downtown KC or somewhere nearby. Everything in the downtown area is walkable or Streetcar-able (more on that in the next section), so you’ll be able to experience a lot without rideshare costs if you stay there. If staying downtown doesn’t work out I’d recommend staying on or near the plaza, which is a popular shopping area not far from downtown!
How to get around
The best way to get around Kansas City is by car, whether you’re getting a rideshare or taxi or renting a car of your own. However, it’s not impossible to ditch the car! There is a bus system that I personally haven’t used before, but a friend of mine has used it to get from the airport to downtown and vice versa, so it’s handy for that if you prefer public transportation. The downtown area has a streetcar that goes from Union Station to the River Market. The locals love it, and you will too! At the time of writing this post, they just broke ground on expanding the streetcar to go all the way to the plaza!
Areas to visit
Kansas City has a lot of unique neighborhoods – some areas are perfect for spending an afternoon, and others are best suited for an evening of drinking. Some of these areas are perfect for both options!
If I could only recommend one area to visit in Kansas City, it would be the Crossroads! This area in downtown KC has so much character and so many things to do! The area is filled with colorful street art, breweries, restaurants, art galleries, and more! It’s a great place to be day or night. If you happen to be visiting on the first weekend of the month, definitely go to the Crossroads for First Fridays! All the locals flock to the area to tour the art galleries, which have special offerings ranging from free drinks to live music. Afterwards, head to Mean Mule Distilling Co and enjoy handcrafted gin or tequila cocktails!
Another must-see area in Kansas City is Liberty Memorial. This iconic spot has the best view of downtown Kansas City! If you’re traveling solo, you won’t have to worry about nobody being around to get your picture. Many people come to this area for photoshoots or just to enjoy the view! If you prefer fewer crowds, come here during the week to get the view mostly to yourself. You don’t need a lot of time at this spot, but if you’d like to make your visit worthwhile there is an expansive War World One museum and a nice park nearby to unwind for a bit. Also, if you’re a drone pilot, this park is the perfect spot to get some great drone footage of Kansas City!
The River Market is another nice area on the north side of downtown Kansas City filled with lofts and delicious restaurants! The best time to visit the River Market is on the weekends, when the Farmers Market is open from 9am to 3pm. Dozens of local farmers and vendors come to the City Market to sell fresh produce, artisan cheese and wines, floral arrangements, antiques, jewelry, and more! Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s so much fun browsing through the booths and trying some free samples here and there. Whether or not you’re there for the Farmers Market, the River Market is a great area to grab a bite to eat. The restaurants offer the widest variety of cuisines in Kansas City, from Brazilian to Ethiopian food!
Yet another cool spot close to the downtown area is the West Bottoms. Once home to the stockyards that gave Kansas City the nickname “Cowtown”, this area has transformed into a major hub for antique shopping and dive bars! Antique shopping in this area is great at any time, but the ultimate time to go is during the first weekend of the month, especially on Saturday! All the antique stores open their doors to visitors during what they call “First Weekends”. There’s more to the West Bottoms than antique shopping though. For all your day drinking needs, stop by Amigoni Urban Winery or Stockyards Brewing Company! For dinner and drinks, The Ship has you covered, and there’s a good chance you’ll see some live music there as well. In the fall, four different multi-story haunted houses operate in the lofts. Some say they’re some of the scariest haunted houses in the US, and I have to agree!
Of course, there’s other fun areas in KCMO outside of the downtown area! A ten minute drive south will bring you to The Plaza – an area popular for shopping and dining. The first thing you’ll notice upon arriving in the area is that the plaza is filled with Spanish-style architecture. This is no coincidence! The architect who designed the Country Club Plaza, Edward Buehler Delk, fell in love with the architecture in Seville, Spain when visiting, and designed the plaza with the same style. Additionally, a replica of the Giralda was built in the area. This led to Seville and Kansas City becoming sister cities in 1967! In Seville, there is a street named after Kansas City to honor the sisterhood. Today, the plaza is a fun place to spend the afternoon exploring the many shops and restaurants!
Another iconic spot in the plaza area is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This art museum is free to visit, and it is MASSIVE. You could easily spend hours exploring the museum. The museum property also has a lot of outdoor space surrounding it. In front of the museum is a sprawling park where locals go to soak up the sun on a nice day. Head to the right of the museum entrance, and you’ll see some outdoor art sculptures. Behind the museum you’ll see another nice lawn and some more sculptures. Throughout the grounds you’ll notice a few shuttlecock sculptures – an iconic symbol of Kansas City! Be sure to get some shuttlecock pictures, and also some photos in front of the museum building – the architecture gives off Gossip Girl vibes if I do say so myself!
An area right next to the Plaza that offers excellent nightlife is Westport! The streets are closed off at night, so everyone can roam the area without worrying about cars getting in their way. There’s a wide range of bars in the area, from cocktail bars and dive bars to nightclubs and patio bars! Some of the bars have been around for decades, while others are brand new. There’s truly something for everyone! During the day, Westsport has some fun local restaurants and stores, but the nightlife is where the area truly shines!
Last but not least, another fun area to explore in Kansas City is 39th Street. This street is full of quirky shops, restaurants, and bars! Visit Prospero’s Books for a two-story bookstore full of used books and some reading nooks thoughtfully placed around the store. If you’d prefer to read or hang out in a coffee shop, Mud Pie Vegan Bakery and Coffeehouse fits the bill! The bright, airy shop is the perfect place to settle in with a cup of coffee and a homemade pastry. There’s many unique restaurants of various cuisines as well, from Asian to Cajun! 39th Street also offers a great dive bar scene at night. It’s perfect for those nights where you want to go out for drinks but don’t want to fight the crowds!
Best places to eat
There is absolutely no shortage of places to eat in Kansas City. I’d be completely remiss if I didn’t start off this section with Kansas City’s famous cuisine – the BBQ! There’s many great BBQ restaurants in KC, but my favorites are KC Joe’s and Q39. KC Joe’s started their restaurant in a gas station – although they now have many locations, the original location still operates to this day! There’s usually a line at any location, but it’s well worth the wait to indulge in any of their delicious sandwiches, such as the Z-man or the Carolina pork, and their perfectly seasoned fries. If you’d prefer eating BBQ at a place where you can make reservations, then Q39 is a must! To try burnt-ends, which originated in Kansas City, get the Mr. Burns sandwich or one of the combo dinner plates.
Kansas City has some fantastic brunch spots! A few local favorites are Chez Elle, The Homesteader Cafe, Succotash, and The Big Biscuit. Chez Elle is a French-themed brunch spot that has a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes. Although they’re open for lunch and dinner as well, I love going there for breakfast and grabbing a flavored latte with their Bonjour breakfast crepe – a hearty crepe filled with eggs, bacon, cheese, and Hollandaise sauce. Not to mention their cafe is a cute spot to sit inside or outside and enjoy your meal! If you’d prefer to eat close to the River Market area, then The Homesteader Cafe is a great match! This downtown brunch spot has a variety of sweet and savory brunch dishes – anything with their perfectly roasted and seasoned potatoes is my go-to. Be sure to make reservations in advance for this restaurant because their brunch is very popular!
For those of you who prefer last-minute brunch plans over reservations, Succotash is a great option. They have a similar menu to The Homesteader Cafe, but have counter service instead of sit-down service. They have many options made with local, organic ingredients, from build-your-own burritos to bronuts (brownie donuts)! Finally, the best place to get a biscuit-based breakfast in Kansas City is The Big Biscuit. They have multiple locations, but the location in Westport would probably be most convenient. Their most famous dish is their biscuits and gravy, but they have a wide variety of breakfast and lunch dishes from omelets to burgers, which have the option of a biscuit as a side. Whatever you order, be sure to get a biscuit. They’re so soft and flaky and, well, big! As a biscuit lover, I highly recommend this spot to get your biscuit fix.
There’s also solid Mexican and Spanish food in Kansas City! For starters, The Drunken Worm on 39th Street has a variety of unique tacos. Grab a few and prepare for an explosion of flavors. At the time of writing this, they are temporarily closed, but hopefully that changes soon! Another good hole-in-the-wall place for Mexican food is El Pueblito. Their happy hour can’t be beat – 2 for 1 jumbo margaritas and sangrias! Their food is authentic and delicious as well, with classics like el pastor and carnitas tacos. Another great happy hour spot is La Bodega, which serves refreshing sangrias and a wide range of tapas!
I could go on and on about the food in Kansas City, but I’ll end this section with some fantastic Italian spots. My favorite Italian restaurant in Kansas City – and also the US – is Cupini’s! This classic spot offers incredibly fresh, handmade dishes at affordable prices, and is so popular with locals that it’s been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives! You really can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but I tend to gravitate toward their chicken Alfredo. I can’t resist the creamy, rich Alfredo sauce! For a nicer dinner option, Lidia’s is a solid choice. You’ll have no regrets getting the pasta trio, which is an unlimited daily pasta selection served table-side for $24! There’s a lot of great pizza places in Kansas City, but for fresh Neapolitan pizza stop by Il Lazzarone Pizza. They have quite the selection of white and red pizzas. And if you have room for dessert, get the Nutella pizza!
Looking for libations?
A really intriguing fact about Kansas City is that the Prohibition-era laws were basically ignored throughout the city. To this day, Kansas City loves their alcohol! The result? A wide selection of swanky, unique breweries, distilleries, and bars to choose from!
There’s plenty of bars and speakeasies in Kansas City that will transport you to the 1920s with their timeless cocktails and classy decor. One of my favorites is Tom’s Town. This 1920s-themed bar is named after Tom Pendergast, whose corrupt political machine kept Prohibition laws at bay in Kansas City. The lounge-type scenery is perfect for enjoying their handcrafted classic cocktails. Tom’s Town also offers distillery tours, which is a great way to learn more about Kansas City during the Prohibition era! Another 1920s-era bar that’s become quite famous because of a slide they put in the middle of their multi-story space is J. Rieger & Co’s distillery. This establishment has a mini-museum of the history of this distillery on the bottom floor, and on the top floor there’s plenty of space to enjoy cocktails made with the distillery’s liquor.
For jazz-lovers. Green Lady Lounge is a must. This swanky establishment offers a wide selection of martinis and cocktails to enjoy while listening to live jazz music in an intimate lounge. Another great jazz bar is The Phoenix. Although it’s located in the garment district, which is a tad far from the other bars downtown, it seems to always be packed with locals wanting to catch a great jazz concert! If you’d like to avoid the crowds, my recommendation is to go for jazz brunch on the weekends. They have an excellent sparkling rosé and chicken & waffles!
Kansas City also offers plenty of options for speakeasies! Two of my favorites are both in the Crossroads area. The first one, The Hey! Hey! Club, is located in the basement of J. Rieger’s downtown location. This speakeasy is a revival of a jazz club that was open in the 1930s. The classic cocktails served here pair well with the lavish furnishings. For a very intimate speakeasy experience, check out Swordfish Tom’s. This candlelit cocktail lounge only holds 30 people – perfect for a date night or solo adventure! The drinks served here are pre-Prohibition era cocktails in beautiful glassware.
If you’re more of a beer drinker, there’s plenty in store for you in Kansas City! The most famous brewery in Kansas City, Boulevard Brewery, is a must-visit! The brewery offers hourly tours that include numerous tastings. After your tour, head upstairs to the Beer Hall to enjoy a wide variety of beers, including test beers, and some appetizers. Don’t forget to go on their balcony to take in a gorgeous view of the Kansas City skyline! For other beer options, look no further than Brewer’s Ally in the Crossroads area. There’s at least five breweries to check out in this area, and each of them have their own unique atmosphere!
Finally, there’s some great options for bars in Kansas City with amazing views of downtown! In addition to Boulevard Brewery, some popular options are Up-Down and Percheron. Up-Down is an arcade bar that’s filled with vintage games, Skeeball, outdoor games such as giant Jenga, and more! It’s also a great place to get a slice of pizza and craft beer. The best part though, is their rooftop patio with sweeping views of the city! If you’d prefer a classier atmosphere with your city view, Percheron is the perfect spot! This bar is located on the rooftop of Crossroads Hotel and is the perfect place to enjoy the view in the summer with a cocktail in hand.
Best coffee shops
Kansas City also has a very strong coffee culture. There’s many amazing coffee shops for working, reading, or meeting up with a friend!
My absolute favorite coffee shop in Kansas City is Messenger Coffee. Their coffee shop is beautiful and spacious – there’s three floors of seating available, including a patio on the top floor! In addition to amazing coffee, this shop also serves delicious meals and desserts from Ibis Bakery. It’s such a great spot for getting some work done or chatting with a friend!
Another classic coffee shop is Thou Mayest. They have three locations, but my favorite one is the Thou Mayest – Quay location in the river market area. The loft-style architecture provides the perfect setting for reading a book or checking emails while enjoying a latte!
Made in KC Cafe has locations at pretty much any popular area in Kansas City – any of their trendy locations are well worth a visit! Everything sold at Made in KC is locally sourced, with some locations also containing marketplaces with products from local vendors. The drink that keeps me coming back is the cereal milk latte! On the weekends, Made in KC serves lattes made with cereal-infused milk; they use a different type of cereal each weekend.
If you’re a cat-lover, you’ll love grabbing coffee at Whiskers Cat Cafe! This cafe allows you to play with cats for an hour while sipping on your beverage of choice. Most of the cats are ready for adoption, so if there’s a cat you fall in love with, you can take it home with you! You’ll need to reserve a time in advance, but then once you get there and grab your beverage you’re free to roam around the cat room, which is equipped with cat toys and beds, and hang out with a dozen or so adorable kitties!
A final Kansas City staple for coffee is The Roasterie. There’s many Roasterie locations throughout the city, and all of them are great places to visit. The original location offers tours of their factory, where you can learn about where they get their coffee beans and the air-roasting process. Tour or no tour, the air-roasted coffee beans make for a very nice cup of coffee!
Google Map of Locations
I have a Kansas City list on Google Maps of all the locations I mentioned and then some! Check it out here: https://goo.gl/maps/ZUUpkg5fF7pVGbkWA
In case you couldn’t tell by the lengthiness of this post, Kansas City has so much to offer for both locals and visitors! With many unique restaurants, bars, and museums to check out, it’s the perfect place to spend at least a weekend!
