50 Best Bars in Kansas City

“Great food and drinks. Excellent service and a fun atmosphere.“

“If you are visiting KC you need the Knucklehead experience. Saturday and Sundays are open mic. ? bring cash plan to stay and buy T-shirts. It’s a total experience you won’t want to miss. Live music at the rawest-form…. Go and enjoy!!!“

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

“Cheval Bar in Kansas City is a must-visit spot for anyone looking to enjoy exceptional cocktails in a uniquely charming atmosphere. Katie, the talented mixologist, crafts the most delicious and delightful drinks. Her skinny margaritas and French 75s are the best I've ever had—perfectly balanced and full of flavor.

The atmosphere at Cheval is quirky and entertaining, making every visit a new adventure. The décor is eclectic and full of personality, adding to the overall experience.

One of the standout features is the bathroom, which is a destination in itself. With its stunning chandelier, it's a surprisingly elegant touch that perfectly complements the bar’s distinctive vibe.

Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast or just looking for a fun place to unwind, Cheval Bar is sure to impress. The combination of expertly crafted drinks and a captivating atmosphere makes it a standout.“

“Drove 3.5 hours for the Fallout Party and had a great time and even came in 1st Place at Fallout Trivia and played a board game with three strangers.“

“Great place for delicious food, great drinks and awesome live music! I love the way the place looks and the servers are amazing!“

“Fun arcade games, good pizza by the slice and a rooftop patio overlooking the city. I came back here during a visit after moving out of state and it felt like a piece of home being there again. It’s lively, upbeat and great place to get together with friends!“

“Kyle owns this great KC gem. It’s a clean and friendly atmosphere in the heart of KC. Beer, whiskey, wine, no cocktails. Kyle is a beer lover but won’t steer you wrong with you spirit selections! I had a great time Chatting with him and trying Penelope and Barrel Craft bourbons!“

“We have known Pam and Ted for years now from their other restaurants, Buck Tui BBQ & Waldo Thai. They are exceptional human being, one of the nicest people you will ever meet. My wife and I recently moved to the Garment District in Kansas City and had the pleasure of walking to Muni for dinner. It you follow my posts, it's really hard for me to give 5 stars because perfection is hard, but Teddy comes close on this one. One thing I can say about restaurants today is the staffing if terrible. Some of our favorites in KC are falling apart because they can't find good staff. That is ABSOLUTELY, not the case at Muni. The staff was fantastic. We did not have to wait for anything at all. The atmosphere was fun and light-hearted, which is great for the City Market, and the decor was also fun and airy almost. The food was just different enough from their other two restaurants that you could easily have all three in a week and not mix foods at more than one location. Hopefully, they change their menu as often as their other location, and if they do that is icing on the cake, so to speak.

The only potential changes I could see are from the bar. The drinks were solid but did not come back just for a drink good. The bar manager Darrell at Waldo Thai gives you that experience, and when they have that nailed down, we will have a new staple in the River Market area, that is for sure!

Keep it up, Pam & Teddy!

Vegetarian options: There were not many to pick from, which was disappointing.

Dietary restrictions: We are dairy free, and it was really hard to make work here.

Parking: There is limited parking the area so plan ahead.

Wheelchair accessibility: I believe the lower level would work for ADA“

“I came her with a group of people for a distillery tour. Dick was SO knowledgeable about KC history and the distillery. We all learned so much and enjoyed each tasting. After we got some cocktails and everything was fantastic. Highly recommend visiting and taking the tour and staying for a cocktail after!“

“Love this little gem of a place. Farewell FOREVER.“

“Thirsty Bull Saloon has been a favorite between my husband and I since we started seeing each other. The food, the music, the staff, all of it is TOP notch!!“

“One of my favorite recent discoveries! I went here for a brunch burlesque show and the drinks are delicious and the service is fantastic.“

“Anthony was nice, explained and demonstrated how to throw the Axe and where my step should be after watching me throw the first one. Also, a great price.“

“Our group had a great time playing shuffleboard here for 1hr+. The staff was super friendly and explained the rules. The house music playlist was excellent for shuffleboard, somehow. Reasonable prices for the game and for drinks. They had some good local options on draft.“

“Nice lil place for a quick drink. We did the flight of gin and tonics! This was awesome. The drinks were full size drinks, I thought they would be tiny for 3 for $18. But to my surprise they were full size and amazing!! Can't wait to go back and try some of the many other cocktails on the menu!!!“

“Great flatbreads, Sangria, and of course, beer selection. Highly recommend.“

“So much fun and the staff is great!!“

“Great place to eat and drink and enjoy. The staff are wonderful, the food is terrific(chimkins) add a great cocktail and you're in the right place to watch the world go by.“

“It's named "Mini" Bar!
So it gets kinda loud in that bar that is mini. The bands that play there are empathetic and understanding of this. I told two bands to turn down their Guitar amps so they wouldn't be so loud! Both Bands did this for me and bought me two beers and a screwdriver! Wow what nice musicians. ? As thanks?for helping bands with their levels while in the audience. Feel free to ask bands to turn guitar amps down. Such an easy going atmosphere ?“

“Great place to just chill!“

“Wasn't very busy or crowded when we came and the waiter let us enjoy our conversation and still checked on us plenty.

The mushroom sandwich I had was actually excellent... and he made this custom drink for me using blackberry grenadine and vodka sour.. with a frothy egg white and a small flower garnish for the perfect touch. Excellent idea

Everyone thought the sandwiches were great.

My opinion... save your calories . The 'gooey bar was really more of a dry crumble. Nice flavor but I wouldn't pay for it again“

“One of the coolest bars in Kansas City. If you love plants, cocktails, and great people this is definitely a place you need to check out. It’s all outside so dress accordingly, thought they do have fans with misters for the summer and heaters for the winter. They also have beer, sparkling water, and seltzer.“

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

“I have been wanting to try Nighthawk for a while now and after dinner at Town Company was the perfect opportunity. The space feels both large and cozy thanks to the decor and lighting. The music was lively and the drinks were fantastic. $3 for a small basket of spiced popcorn creates a great snack to go with the post-dinner drinks.“

“Took my son here 12/21. We are both drummers and thought this would be a cool experience and Drum Room did not disappoint. He had the Salmon, I got the brick chicken. That's a dish that will stay on your mind. Excellent overall experience. You can tell the kitchen is operated by actual chef's. Bar staff were very friendly. We'll be returning for sure. If you're in downtown KC MO and you're looking for actual great food, I highly recommend.“

“This bar has quickly became one of my favorite spots in town! Nestled in a cozy corner, this cocktail bar strikes the perfect balance between high-quality drinks and a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. The staff is extremely welcoming and knowledgeable.

Whether you're a fan of traditional favorites or adventurous new concoctions, there's something for everyone. And yes, those are grilled olives in my martini!!!

They also have a patio and have amazing burgers available from Disco Burger. Do yourself a favor and check it out!“

“Love, love, love this place and highly recommend it. They greeted us warmly as soon as we walked in. The service was attentive, atmosphere is lovely, and food is the best Chinese I've ever had. I overheard our server repeat a regular's order by memory, that's the level of personal service you get there. All the dishes we ordered were perfect, included the Chinese duck with brown sauce - get the pancakes with it - as well as crispy lamb, crispy beef, and the best crab rangoons we've ever had. We live far away but will visit Princess Garden every time we're in KC now, can't wait to try more dishes!“

“Our first visit to this excellent restaurant. Delightful ambience, outstanding food, great wine list! The service was fantastic—Anthony is a real gem! His knowledge of the menu was extraordinary and his recommendations were outstanding. His timing was perfect—he was always right there at the right time! Loved the Meingang and the struedel and chocolate torte were delicious. The sauerbraten was out of this world! So long as we can sit in Anthony's section we'll be back!“

“Amazing place to meet wonderful ,caring people“

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

“The staff is always friendly. The food is so delicious. I have had the breakfast items and lunch items you cannot go wrong“

“Great for a few shots and drinks, or a burger and beer, or just to watch the games and laugh at the singers! Staff is always friendly and if they're not to you, fix yourself!

Parking: There is an entrance from the main road (Brighton) and the cross street (directly in front of north/front of the building).

Wheelchair accessibility: Although the lot is a little "uphill" it's still flat and easily accessible. They have low tops inside as well!“

“My husband and I popped in here before seeing a comedy show & T-Mobile Center not knowing anything about the place, and wow we loved it! The bartender Robin is so personable and good at what she does. The divey atmosphere had us feeling right at home. Not to mention, finding reasonably priced drinks downtown is practically unheard of! We ended up stopping back by after the show, and plan to come back any time we are in the area. Thank you Robin & Zoo Bar for a great experience!“

“I would love to keep this bar a secret but I can't help but share. If you're looking for a small town, dive bar feel, THIS IS THE PLACE!! Excellent service, prices, ICE cold beer and plenty of TV's for your viewing pleasure. Don't miss out!“

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

“Order the Kitchen Sink if you are in a group of 3 or more! great to share

I went on a really busy night... the waiter had a hard time keeping up so some other waiter made sure we were taken care of (which is a good thing!) drinks were strong! The bill at the end was less expensive than I thought and overall just a great place. I did think the art on the wall was a lil weird with the politics but whatever lol.“

“Great time at the Jurassic Park Tiki Bar! Wonderful atmosphere and great drinks!“

“love this dive bar in the northland“

“We had a happy hour at Howl at the Moon for my fiance's birthday and overall had an amazing time. However, one of my friends had an unpleasant experience with the woman working at the front letting people in. She ended up leaving after only being at the bar for 10ish minutes, while the rest of our group stayed.

I was upset by this, and reached out to the event manager, Shasta, so explain our dissatisfaction with how we were treated by one of the employee's. To say that she handled the situation perfectly, would be an understatement. She offered to schedule us with another happy hour and was overall just so pleasant and kind. I'm just happy that she remedied the situation and we are all looking forward to going back!“

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

“I just stopped in at this venue Darryl was sitting right there when I walked in. I just wanted to see the menu. He was so pleasant it was great and remodeling is great. I will definitely be back. Daryl, do you have anything the 1st Wednesday night from 5-7:30? We have a co Ed group from OHara High school from( 1972) that meets at another place that some of us are not happy with. There are usually 16 of us, most went to St Catherine’s grade school and I think they would love being in the neighborhood. Please IM me so I can present tomorrow night to get us to move. And I would love it is outside if possible.

Also the Riverrock Trio still plays once a month, Dan Smith Agency, Dan Smith is the drummer and washboard and bass vocals, , John Mumma plays the bass guitar does tenor vocals, Paul Mumma plays lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, electric fiddle, electric banjo, harmonica, and falsetto vocals. I am sorry I do not know how much they charged. They usually play at the Westsider west of Westport when they play. Just an idea.“

“No food. Cash and credit card. Non smoking. Great bar. It's your typical corner dive bar. Limited beer selections, no drafts. Full stocked booze. Service on my first day was great. Friendly staff and customers. It can be your home bar if you don't come in with attitude like you own the place. Lots of bad reviews, but my experience for the first time in was great. But understand this is a dive bar. If you know dive bar etiquette, it's golden. At this time beer is about $3.50 a bottle.“

“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.“

“Superb food and wonderful wine in a charming setting“

“Friday nights at the tap room are back!!! Live local jazz music, oysters, drinks, fresh food!!“

“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).“

“The best way to describe this place is if a swanky cocktail lounge and a dive bar had a baby… that’s Dodson’s. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual. The cocktails are delicious. They have a good lineup of beer and liquor options. People are laid back and friendly. Bartenders are charismatic and know their craft. The cosmic burgers are to die for. This is my favorite place to grab a nightcap in Waldo.

Parking: Parking lot behind the bar and across the street. Usually plenty of street parking too, there’s just some construction happening at the moment“

“Great place if you like dive bars and darts. They have a patio out back if you need some air or a smoke break. Never have had an issue with staff. I've had nice experiences popping in here alone and also brining a group of ten-ish people in.“