50 Best Bars in Kansas City

“Went to a show at The Garage. Not a bad seat in the house, clean bathrooms, easy access to the bar, and CHEAP DRINKS! Got a shot of Jack and a Hamms for $7...AT A SHOW! Love love love this venue! Thanks again Chris for the hospitality. Beau Nasty's In The Pit Radio Show 💪🫠🤘“

“Best trivia night ever! Go on Wednesdays“

“I met some friends for drinks and we had a wonderful time. My water glass was never empty and the waitress was very knowledgeable about the drinks and the menu. She was very attentive without hovering. We sat in the bar area and it was a great atmosphere. We got deviled eggs and fries as a snack and everything was delicious. The drinks were so good! I recommend getting a reservation as it was full the whole time and now I see why!“

“great drinks and service!“

“Have an absolutely lovely time every time we come here. Seriously impressive drinks and very friendly staff in an absolutely beautiful space.“

“I love this spot! the drinks are made with so much thought behind them. lovely atmosphere. great music.“

“At 2:40 the lady at the bar comes yelling it's 3 time to go I look at my phone and asked if we could finish this pool game she literally got in my face yelling bar time is different from your time. Within minutes I was being snatched up and thrown out the bar. I called the cops at 2:43 for the assault I just received cops said they looked at the camera and I was trespassing I asked for my report they said I was in the wrong and I'm the one who called them not thirsty all because I tussled back with the bouncer because everything was in there my purse my pool stick and phone. Who wouldn't tussle back for being snatched up for no reason. My leg is bruised and my toe is sprained. And my new jersey is ruined. VIOLATIONS Food is not stored as required by the Food Code Hand Drying Provision - Each handwashing sink, or group of adjacent sinks, is not provided with Individual, disposable towels; a continuous towel system that supplies the user with a clean towel; a h… Read more Physical facilities not maintained in good repair & cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean Handwashing Cleanser, Availability - Each handwashing sink or group of 2 adjacent sinks is not provided with a supply of hand cleaning liquid, powder, or bar soap. Cooking & Baking Equipment - The food-contact surfaces of cooking and baking equipment are not cleaned at least every 24 hours and/or the cavities and door seals of microwave ovens are not cleaned at… Read more Maintenance tools not properly stored RTE TCS, Date Marking - Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and held in a food establishment for more than 24 hours was not clearly marked to indicate the da… Read more Materials for floors/walls/ceilings not smooth, durable, & easily cleanable under normal use; and/or walls/ceilings are not light in color Equipment not maintained free of encrusted grease/soil deposits Nonfood-contact surfaces not cleaned at frequency to prevent buildup of residue Using a Handwashing Sink - A handwashing sink is not maintained so that it is accessible at all times for employee use; is being used for purposes other than handwashing or is not being used in accor… Read more Receptacle in women's toilet room not covered ALL INSPECTIONS 83 out of 100 February 3, 2025“

“Visited here recently to meet with a friend and found a wonderfully quiet and intimate space. The bartender was helpful, friendly, but unobtrusive so the people could focus on one another. Excellent place for a first date or catching up with someone over a delicious cocktail.“

“This is less a tasting room and more of a cocktail bar. However there are a couple flights to choose from, and they do sell bottles. Not sure why they wouldn't offer flights of their signature spirits - we gladly purchase flights at other tasting rooms. Anyway, came for the absinthe, and though it's a bit lighter than most I've tried, it was quite tasty, and we bought a couple bottles.“

“Thank you Mano and Barbara for making Gene and Jeffrey’s marriage celebration a wonderful night. We appreciate you and your incredible restaurant.“

“Had a great time at Up-Down! CJ and Brian have been our bartenders a few times and are always fun to see! Super friendly, quick with drinks, and made sure we were taken care of even when the bar got busy. Definitely ask for these two if you stop in!“

“Only been there once but had a great experience. Went on a Friday night. Staff was friendly and professional. Lots of open space that quickly filled with tons of happy, interesting people. Bathrooms were clean. Drinks were just as ordered and made quickly. Will visit again!“

“The food was wonderful! I started with the beet salad, then I got the prefix menu two items the wiener schnitzel and the apple strudel! Everything excellent! Cool building and plenty of parking in back. Need to get your ticket validated at the restaurant but, all good highly recommend!“

“Sk8bar is awesome! Its great place to just be yourself, and the shows are awesome!“

“Absolutely one of the best SOCCER ( futbol) venues in the country as they have hosted the EPL's supporters club of Newcastle United. Great TV's, great food, great drinks, great service and a loyal following. TOON ARMY !!!“

“Kudos to you for your courageous stand during the pandemic. I know that cowardly Corey Owens, whose business is PaintingSolutionsSKC, a painting company with what he and his wife think is a “clever” logo featuring two intertwined Nazi swastikas, left you a bad review for requiring vaccination for your customers during that dangerous time and I just want to commend you and thank you for doing your part to protect fellow Americans. Stubby little Nazi coward Corey can’t even spell “riffraff” but I’m glad you made sure he knew he was a piece of it. You are not alone; crappy Corey is coming after my community too, focusing weirdly and troublingly on victimizing our children. Nazi Corey is both pathetic and dangerous and needs to be kept out of places where decent people go. Good luck and thank you again for your courage and strength.“

“Staying at the Hilton Presidents Hotel in downtown Kansas City we stopped by the Drum Room located on property and accessed via hotel lobby or its side entrance. Good and atmosphere were so good we ate there 2 times. Started with Fried Goat Cheese and Beet Salad and finished with the KC Beach Burger with garlic fries and Meatball Farfalle pasta dish. All were amazing and didn’t venture far on our second visit and skipped the salad as the 3 items were way too much on the first evening. Second evening we shared a bottle of Sav Blanc from N.Z. Amazing.“

“Dodson’s is a great spot all around. The service is consistently excellent, the drinks are good, and the vibe is relaxed yet lively. There’s always a nice mix of people, which adds to the welcoming atmosphere. A huge bonus is being able to order a Cosmos Burger through the window—such a great touch and the perfect late-night pairing with a drink. Definitely a place we enjoy coming back to.“

“Fun local dive bar. No food but they have a few snacks for purchase, sometimes coffee cake next to the free coffee station and a popcorn machine (not always in use). Couple dart boards in the back. a gold game and a gambling card game too on the bar. Covered deck in the back. Not a lot of options for beers, but good specials and fair prices in general. They make their own moonshine, and it is DELICIOUS. Apple Pie and Peach are king (to be fair I didn't try the other 2), peach tastes like fresh peach nectar. Highly recommend.“

“By far my favorite little lounge in KC. It’s just a short 5 minute walk from my apartment so the convenience is there. I love the retro aesthetic mixed with modern design, and when there’s a DJ it adds even more to the experience. My drinks are always great and the customer service is attentive and friendly. The little burger truck outside, Disco Burger, is sic a fun and amazing addition on those tipsy nights you’re craving a good burger. My friends and I LOVE Varisty Club, and our favorite bartender is Caleb. He’s always so nice and efficient with us. Such a vibe. I would give 10 stars if I could.“

“Cheap beer, good music, and authentically immaculate vibes in the weirdest grunge aesthetic.“

“I could eat 178 of the Chorizo ragoons. 😮‍💨“

“Nice people, good service. Cold Beer with a smile.“

“I worked here. The owner moved me to a new apartment and gave me 100 dollars just because. I still wear my PPT shirt around town and have some pressed pennies. Great food. Great family owners. The most cozy hidden gem in Kansas City!“

“We had the most amazing Father’s Day family dinner there today 6/21/26. And the service—the best in town!!! We had the family dinner which is about $20 per person (there were 9 of us) and we brought lots of leftovers home. Welcoming environment, generous portion, and incredible service all around. 100% recommended.“

“had an amazing time, and would definitely recommend for anyone in KCMO looking for The Bar... not a bar THE BAR“

“We have had Earl’s Premier on our radar for a while. Decided it would be the perfect place to go explore for our 19th wedding anniversary. It felt like we were on vacation the moment we walked in the door. John and Nico showed us great hospitality.“

“Great place to just chill!“

“low key atmosphere, fun weird music, staff are all pros. cool old bar top and taps, stained glass everywhere. really loved this place. Beth was amazing.“

“This was a nice venue, food was presented well and tasted fine. The bar had a good variety and specials for the event. It was a great space. They had a selfie station, my only complaint was the table and chairs setup was very tight and difficult to get around.“

“Really nice bartenders and the atmosphere is really nice. I highly recommend going to the Buzzard Beach.“

“What an outstanding time to be had! I was looking for a dive and a beer and I walked into an epic piece of Kansas City history. Timmy the bartender, offered an above and beyond level of service, not just providing attentive service but also an incredibly interesting back story about the bar’s history with layers of famous Kansas historical stories.

It wasn’t just a beer, it was an experience. 11/10, no notes. I learned more cool stories about this city and some of our history.“

“love this dive bar in the northland“

“great service and a ton of beer on Tap....super comfortable!!!! Can't wait to go back!!!!“

“It's the best dive bar in all of Kansas City—the only downside is that you might run into some homeless people in the area. It's just a few blocks from the Westport neighborhood. The people who go there are really nice—you get to hear all kinds of stories,cheap beer and 🎯 also they sell cigarettes 🚬“

“Excellent atmosphere out on the patio on a beautiful October day. Service and food were outstanding!!“

“Amazing food and great atmosphere!!“

“One of my favorite Hidden bar in the West side. Check IG for when they are open. Somewhat weather dependent hours/days. Usually Thursday- Saturday.
No food unless a pop up vendor. Super unique, very plant focused, smallish service bar but all the necessities!
Just the coolest place around!!“

“Backstage Bar was easily one of the best spots I’ve been to in a while. The vibe is laid-back but still lively, the drinks are excellent, and the whole place has that kind of atmosphere where you end up staying way longer than you planned.

A big shoutout to Tristan behind the bar. He was friendly, quick, and clearly knows what he’s doing. Even when it got busy, he kept the energy up and made sure everyone was taken care of. It’s rare to find a bartender who can make great drinks and make the experience feel personal, but Tristan nailed it.“

“I came, I made a request for a song for karaoke night at Missie B's in Kansas City, Missouri, it's a gay bar. I waited almost two hours. I was invisible. At the end of the night I asked her to take my name off the list. My Uber arrived. The karaoke DJ sang three times after I made my request. I was the only Latino who asked to sing at an otherwise empty bar. Latinos are invisible in Kansas City, I guess. But being shamed by a fellow black person was too much. Dorian kicked me out. I'm also black. He threatened to call the cops on me, after explaining why I felt unseen. As an attorney who is black and Latino that was deeply offensive. As a visitor from out of town, I have never been made to feel so unwelcome. I will never come back here again. If you know me you know me. Dorian calls the cops on Latinos. We are not seen here and we are not welcome. Even when we are educated and come with grace and respect.“

“Noka was beyond wonderful! I’ve never had a dining experience that was so unique, surprising, and delicious.

Our server, Lauren, was top-notch: attentive to every need, full of great recommendations, and wonderfully warm and engaging.
Head chef Megan was just as lovely—so friendly and welcoming, and incredibly talented. Every dish we tried was fantastic. The manager checked in with us to ensure that we were having a good experience.

The chicken wings were a delicious surprise—an unexpectedly refined take on a familiar favorite. The mushrooms in the fried rice were to die for, and the sushi rolls were amazing. We can’t say enough good things about the food.

The atmosphere made the evening even more special, with pottery, exposed wood, great music, and even a bathroom that felt like an experience of its own. I wanted to move in. We can’t wait to come back! Thank you.“

“Intimate and fun! A great venue!“

“The Tool Shed is the best place for camaraderie and good people Kimmy is the manager all of her bartenders are always respectful and amazing as Toby Keith would say I Love This Bar“

“i was introduced to B.S. Saint Patrick's Day 23yrs ago. I'm a big fan.“

“The night we walked in, this place was dead. Nonetheless, we enjoyed our visit, and the underwhelmed bartender was right there ready to fill our glasses. I like the look and feel of this place, but wonder why it was so dead when the place next door was packed (and too loud for my taste).“

“Such a hidden gem! ✨ Chill vibes, awesome drinks, and staff who make you feel like you’ve been friends forever. 🍸“

“Lovely spot. Cozy and charming atmosphere, creative, delicious dishes and brilliant cocktail selection. I look forward to coming back on my next adventure to KCMO“

“Me and my brother was hanging out for his birthday. That is a great spot to hang out in. It's age appropriate. The drinks are fantastic and the Kansas City Chiefs crowd on Sundays are some of the best. I ordered the chicken wings and they came out crispy, and hot. They also have fish. Also if you enjoy two-stepping, dancing or karaoke they have those options to on various nights.“

“My husband and I drive from Omaha at least twice a year for date weekend and we always dine at Stock Hill. We love love love the ambience, service, food, all of it. It hits the mark for that dreamy, darkish, amber glow ambience, especially in the later months. This past weekend we went to KC on a whim and knew they were booked and decided we would be fine with a seat at the bar. When we inquired about a table for 2, the hostess explained that they were booked and could sit at the bar. We were totally great with that! But the “head honcho” came out of nowhere and told us he actually had a table for 2. The cherry on top? He proceeded to seat us at the table we first sat at when we went there for date weekend years ago. Thank you! 🥰“