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 💪🫠🤘“

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

“Gem of a neighborhood bar in the KC Crossroads. The creative menu was easy to navigate, especially when guided by experts Tav and Diana. I tried the signature margarita and the corn n oil (a classic cocktail that’s hard to find these days) Both were excellent but the original creations really stole the show. The “Stage Presence” was beautifully balanced and the “off the rails” captured the smoke and spice of KC Barbecue. The space was open and inviting, with a manicured backbar. We will return when we are back in the City!“

“We came here for a nightcap after dinner and loved it. It's super cozy, with comfy chairs, a beautiful chandelier hangs above the bar, excellent service and really good drinks. The interior is French-inspired and beautiful. Definitely recommend.“

“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“

“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 !!!“

“Best trivia night ever! Go on Wednesdays“

“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.“

“We did the distillery tour followed by the Mad Hatter speakeasy pop up. The tour was quite enjoyable and our guide Tony was awesome! There was a great selection of cocktails at the Mad Hatter and we enjoyed them all. Would recommend both the tour and the speakeasy.“

“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.“

“Great date spot! It gets a little crowded on days like Valentine's Day or Saturdays, but the patrons are generally very understanding and won't hog Ms. Pac Man for too long. That being said, they rotate games frequently and the staff is very nice. And it is a 21+ only bar, so that is a plus.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Got the pastrami on rye with extra pastrami. Meat was good, dressing decent - but the bread, was it microwaved? Warm and soggy. You gotta do the bread right.

Update Nov 7 2025 - went back in and asked for rye bread toasted and it was so good. Updating to 5 stars!“

“Great chill atmosphere. Sarah was great in explaining the rules for shuffleboard. Great prices and a lot of fun!! Fun for couples, groups or parties!!“

“My wife and I’ve been coming to the drum room for decades. We really love this fun hotel bar with a ton of history. Our latest adventure transpired on Easter weekend 2026.

We encountered a lovely bartender by the name of Jennifer, who was super kind and helped us do a little tasting of some different spirits we were interested in.

And she crafted our usual cocktails deftly. She even gave us a tip on how to get into another restaurant that we wanted to snag a reservation for.

Jennifer’s great service was appreciated and very well regarded by my wife and me.

We look forward to another good afternoon or evening at the Drum Room soon.“

“This was a great experience. A local bar where you can also throw axes! I had such a fun time when I was here. The staff was really friendly and explained the process really well to me. They had a lot of options for games to play. The drinks were also super tasty.“

“Great place to just chill!“

“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.“

“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!“

“A Very nice bartender (Amber) greeted us with a big smile!“

“The atmosphere is great. The food is delicious. The staff are very attentive, nice and always smiling. Shuffle board is so fun. They also have other fun games to play while you’re there. The restaurant and restrooms are clean and neat. Did I mention the food is delicious!! I give it 5 stars“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

“I've lived in Boone Hills for 6 years. Princess Garden has always been a go, whether doing take out or dining in with friends/family. The food is always delicious and the staff (family owned) is always accommodating. Always leaving the belly and the heart full!“

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

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

“Omg…. Best food ever… it’s 1:28am.. nothing else open but thank god because nothing else would even COMPARE… we got the chicken bowl and buffalo chicken wrap.. 12/10!! Also amazing service and the music was everything. Can’t wait to become a regular.“

“love this dive bar in the northland“

“Love this place and especially Jenn! :)“

“Intimate and fun! A great venue!“

“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“

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

“Amazing place to meet wonderful ,caring people“

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

“We went to Squirrely’s Bar & Grill last Saturday for a dart tournament and had such a great time! The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, perfect for hanging out and enjoying the competition. The staff was friendly and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed the whole night. And the food — absolutely delicious! Everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. Whether you’re here for a tournament, a casual night out, or just great food and drinks, Squirrely’s is definitely worth a visit. We’ll be back for sure!“

“Amazing place. Get a drink, watch the game, even get food at the bar from Chixen next door. Great atmosphere, excellent service, and fantastic feel. Definitely my favorite place to have a drink!“

“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).“

“Very Christmasy! Puts you in the spirit for sure! Friendly staff! Go!“

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