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 💪🫠🤘“

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

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

“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“

“First time here and definitely worth the quick streetcar from crossroads. An amazing espresso martini. Wife had “plot device” and said it was delicious. Vibes are great weather your starting or ending an evening. Small, intimate, good specialty menu. Will say, the part of town is still being redone so give them a little grace on location.“

“We did the 4:30 distillery tour and it was really fun! There is not much walking and an elevator available for those that need it. Our tour guide was very interesting and he did a great job of teaching us about Tom Pendergast and also about the liquors that they distill. You can start with a drink in their bar and carry it with you throughout the tour if you like!“

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

“Best trivia night ever! Go on Wednesdays“

“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!“

“As someone who was born in and has lived in Bavaria, and as someone who hasn’t had authentic experiences with German cuisine in America in over 10 years, it is safe to say I had a ratatouille moment. Food and atmosphere so amazing it had me reminiscing in a healthy way. I would recommend this to you 17 times if you’d let me. Thank you for the amazing service, food, and time.“

“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 !!!“

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

“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!“

“great drinks and service!“

“Everyone at this establishment is amazing and so incredibly helpful.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

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

“Well priced, amazing tasting, craft cocktails!! I popped in on 10/4/2025, just before last call. So it was loud in there, but only because everyone seemed to be having a great time! The server and the bartender were very kind and gave fantastic service!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Great place to just chill!“

“My husband and I with a few family members went to see our son’s debut as an edm guest dj. We are not your typical clientele for the KC edm scene. With that said, we were very pleasantly surprised at Aura! What a fun atmosphere. The staff were very kind and fun. The music was loud yet you could carry on conversations. Drinks were very reasonably priced. And as a woman, I was very appreciative of the restrooms cleanliness, size and number of stalls. Such a cool vibe with the graphics, lighting and diverse crowd. Aura has a very inviting atmosphere.“

“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.“

“It had been a while since we ventured into downtown KCMO, and we genuinely enjoyed the atmosphere. Overall, the food was good, though not quite at the level we expected for the price. One clear takeaway: avoid the fried items. We wish we had read the negative reviews beforehand, because the wings were unfortunately the worst we’ve ever had overly oily and lacking flavor. As a big wings fan, the execution was especially frustrating: the batter wasn’t right, the texture was greasy, and the seasoning simply missed the mark. The shrimp toasts were also disappointing—very soggy bread to the point that I felt it wasn't cooked in the middle.

That said, the “Japanese‑style” dishes featuring raw fish were much better. The sushi taco was a standout, and my friends really enjoyed the bone marrow beef tartare. For the main course, the scallop pasta had great potential, but the salt was heavy—particularly on the scallops and toward the bottom of the bowl, even after mixing.

On a positive note, the drinks, desserts and service were excellent, easily deserving five stars.“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!!“

“We LOVE Milwaukee Deli to the point where we knew we had to have it as a late night snack at our wedding! We worked out a catering order with Jon who was so great at assisting us and making sure what we ordered showed up at our venue at the requested time! We didn't have to worry about a thing on the day and just got the glorious news from our venue coordinator that the pizza had arrived! Our guests DEVOURED this pizza. Thanks again to Jon and Milwaukee Deli for helping to make our special day even better!“

“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.“

“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! 🥰“

“Loved this little hidden gem! Has a 70s vibe to it. Darker decor. I love places that have secret hidden doors. Drinks were cheap and strong. Food good too. We will definitely be back.“

“as someone who's worked in westport for so long it's important to me for westport and midtown to stay local and family owned. the quality of customer service here is amazing, but not only that it's the "where everyone knows your name" type of bar that keeps customers coming back“

“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.“

“SHOUT OUT TO JENNY!!!!! Came in for the first time last night. Jenny was our waitress and she was a whole vibe!!!!!! The food was great and Jenny made the experience even better with her humor and providing us with a great experience. Tell Jenny I will be back for my boot 😂😂😂😂.“

“My favorite Pop Up Bar! Maxwell & Thomas are Great“

“love this dive bar in the northland“

“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.“

“Intimate and fun! A great venue!“

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

“Absolutely Delicious! Accommodated our whole party of 10, the food and drinks were fabulous!“

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

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

“Amazing food and great atmosphere!!“

“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.“

“Tonight we went to celebrate an accomplishment by my teenage daughter. I am a member of a Northland restaurant group and I was told to ask for Jamie because she is highly recommended. She was our server and my gosh, she went above and beyond. She mad our night wonderful and my daughter could NOT have been happier. Absolutely beaming. Thank you Stroud’s and Jamie for giving us a wonderful night that we won’t soon forget.“

“Great food with great atmosphere“

“This place is the jewel of the neighborhood and of KCNE. Here, not only good things happen, but they are possible because of the owner’s mission of creating a place for making dreamers’ dream a reality. From providing a space for yoga, meditation, selling crafts, singing, delicious healthy food and drinks plus all his employees are happy people and soon greet you by name. Vegans and organics are safe here too. Without PH Coffee the Art Garden would not have had the necessary support and resources it needed to start and grow. Thank you Eric!“