The Best Cocktail Bars in Kansas City

The Town Company

★★★★★ 4.5 (155)

"I came here as a large party and with a reservation. The restaurant was a low lit setting. Overall the atmosphere was great and cute.We started off with drinks and they were delicious. We had a mix of cocktails and mocktails and both were just as good.The food was good but I'd say it wasn't exceptional in any way. Our server told us they were shareable sizes but they were not. We were a bit disappointed when we got our food. However I give it 4 because the service and drinks were great."

Viva Tacos & Tequila - Leawood

★★★★☆ 3.8 (156) • $$

"Our visit to Viva Tequila and Tacos was nothing short of spectacular! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and exceptional service that made us feel right at home. The food was incredibly fresh and bursting with authentic flavors that transported our taste buds straight to Mexico. Each dish was a delightful masterpiece, perfectly complemented by their exquisite selection of tequilas. The atmosphere was vibrant and inviting, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. If you're looking for a place that combines great service, delicious food, and a lively ambiance, Viva Tequila and Tacos is the place to be. Highly recommended!"

Iron Horse Bar & Grill Leawood

★★★★☆ 3.6 (116) • $$

"It was 3-ish on a Saturday afternoon. My ragamuffin, Ipo was next door at the spa (Woofgang's) and I had an hour and half to kill. Didn't want to drive anywhere because the construction and roads were crazy. I wandered into Ironhorse. It was mostly empty but they had a sign to wait to be seated (I'm guessing short-handed). I was greeted almost immediately and shown to a table. I just wanted a smallnibble so I ordered a short glass of Pinot Noir and the queso and chips. The service good, the waitstaff was nice. The food. It's a bar snack, so not particularly impressive. The house Pinot was better than I'd been expecting. If I find myself in the area again, I'd drop in again."

Parker at The Fontaine

★★★★☆ 4 (87) • $$$

"We had breakfast while staying here it was very good and the view was nice as well. Nothing fancy but tasted great."

Bar K

★★★★☆ 4.3 (204) • $$

"Well we found a bit of doggie Heaven on earth here!Our dogs love to be able to run and play and we loved watching them while enjoying great food and drinks. (And so did the pups)If you want beverages and food while you watch your pups play, this is your ideal place to hang out. My pups enjoyed Turkey jerky and ice cream while my husband and I had some adult beverages and tried out the chicken salad sandwich and bar k burger. Both were really good. We can't wait to go back!"

Martin City

★★★★☆ 4.3 (121) • $$

"Staff friendly and helpful. One server plucked an orange section from the bar tray and began munching down on it. Kind of inappropriate. She could have stepped into an area where public can't view. Other than that low level deficit this is a stellar pizza place."

West Bottoms Whiskey

★★★★★ 4.8 (59) • $$

"The BEST old fashioned in KC. Cool space in a train tunnel in the West Bottoms. The owners, Alex and Cass are the best hosts!"

Captain's Sports Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (32) • $$

"I didn't expect to be giving a 5-star review to a sports bar, but this place was sooo much more than I expected. If you want regular old, mediocre bar food and average service, this isn't your place. If you're looking for BETTER, though...BETTER service, BETTER atmosphere, and BETTER food, you need to forget those other places and come here!!We went on Sunday and I was pretty excited to see they had a brunch menu, and bottomless Bloody Mary's and mimosas until 2pm! The Bloody Mary's were awesome with the right amount of spice. The brunch menu had some great looking options, but we were drawn to the main/regular menu. We had the bacon torpedos to start. They're stuffed with a candied jalapeño cream cheese, wrapped in bacon, and served with HONEY!! The bacon needed to be just a bit crispier, but the flavors were so amazing, I didn't even really care. The cream cheese had such a fantastic flavor from the candied jalapeño and the honey on the side was the perfect compliment to the spicy jalapeño. We also had some spicy garlic traditional wings, which were perfectly cooked and really nice and crispy! None of that stringy skin I'm used to getting at a lot of other places. And the sauce was fantastic!My husband had the black and blue burger, which he loved. And the beer battered fries?? Where do I begin?? They were perfectly cooked and crispy. I was expecting a thick "batter", but these were super lightly coated and the batter gave them a flavor all their own. Absolutely delicious. I'd go back for the fries alone. I had a personal pizza, the Nate's Loco, and had them substitute carnitas for the chicken. The crust was a bit disappointing (maybe a pre-made?) but the toppings were a delicious combination. I'd try it on the larger crust next time. Our server was also amazing!! Super attentive and took great care of us. We are already talking about when to go back. And I can't wait til they open the Grain Valley location!!"

Los Gallitos Fresh Mexican Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (72) • $$

"The staff was very friendly. This place is Tex mex not really authentic Mexican. It was fairly busy when we went. The food was good. Ask for the hot salsa it's delicious. The one they serve is basically tomato sauce with some cilantro very mild. It's very lively in there. I like the ambiance of the place. It's very bright and colorful in there."

Ten Twelve Main

★★★★★ 4.9 (15)

"I was visiting friends in Lexington, and we all went to Ten Twelve Main for dinner on Saturday night. We had a MARVELOUS time!Kudos to Natalie for taking my reservation; she was welcoming and friendly and let me know about a slight change in hours of operation for the evening, due to a Halloween celebration. And I have unfortunately forgotten the name of our server (she was wearing overalls as her costume, if that's helpful), but she was equally wonderful! Many thanks to her and the rest of the staff for their hospitality to our group, even though we got a little boisterous in our conversation. :-)Our food was EXCELLENT; I had the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw, which was DELICIOUS, and my friends had the mushroom swiss burger, the classic burger, and the grilled cheese sandwich with turkey. They all agreed that everything was fresh and tasty. Ten Twelve offers a full bar, and my friends each had beer (one Yuengling and two Boulevard drafts), which were a perfect pairing for their meals.The restaurant is located in the original bank building downtown, and you can still see the original architectural details in the front façade, the high interior ceilings, and the preserved bank vault at the back of the dining area.For a casual experience with excellent food and service, you can't beat Ten Twelve Main! I'll be back, the next time I'm in Lexington."

Bear Necessities Coffee & Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (45)

"Very good coffee and very friendly staff/owner. They use HUCK beans from Colorado. As far as a cup of Joey Drip goes, their drip for some reason is the best."

Waldo Thai

★★★★☆ 4.3 (290) • $$

"Solid place for Thai food. Honestly no complaints - the food was great, well made, and well seasoned; the service was prompt and attentive, even though it was busy, and the interior seating was adequate despite being busy. There's a separate area that you could sit at as well. I think my party of 4 waited about 10 minutes before a table was ready on a weekday dinner time. Pictures tell more than words could when describing food, so here's some of the different dishes we got. We had 4 totally different dishes, and each one tasted just as good as the others."

Tavernonna

★★★★☆ 3.5 (258) • $$

"Large company meeting dinner..38 people...separate bar tender for dinner who was able to keep up with orders..very dark seating areas..very loud...food was served family still..served barely warm...the bread was the best thing served."

Chapala Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (35)

"Chapala is about 8 miles from where I live and I've had the opportunity to eat here multiple times. I've had everything from the nachos to enchiladas, Speedy Gonzalez to quesadillas, burritos, tacos, and most everything else. And I don't make multiple return visits to restaurants where I don't enjoy the food and the service.The restaurant is tucked away down what appears to be an industrial street where you wouldn't expect to find a sit-down restaurant. Because of this you won't accidentally discover it while you're out on a Saturday afternoon drive. I'm certain the location hurts their business as it has other failed restaurants that have occupied the same space in the past. But if you go to the trouble of finding it, you'll be happy you did.There are a few "Mexican" restaurants in this area of town, but this is a "Tex-Mex" restaurant, which I prefer. I won't go into describing each individual item on the menu, I'll just say the food is solid Tex-Mex. I lived in Houston and San Antonio for a total of 10 years, so I know what Tex-Mex is supposed to taste like. Chapala could definitely hold their own in South Texas. I think you should give it a try."

The Mercury Room

★★★★☆ 4.3 (79)

"We had a nice intimate time at the Mercury room. Know that your slots are timed but the servers never feel pushy. I can't remember our servers name, but she was very knowledgeable about the drink menu and made great suggestions. She also put together an amazing playlist!! The view is cute, cute place to take pictures. Make sure it go at night. Try during the week when it's less crowded. I think we went on a Wednesday.Overall we had a good time. It can be a bit pricey just for drinks, but you're paying for the location and view."

Muni

★★★★★ 4.5 (88) • $$

"When I heard that the owners of Waldo Thai had opened a new restaurant with Latin and Thai-style food, I knew I had to go try it! After a few months since they opened, my boyfriend and I decided to have an unplanned date night on a Saturday evening and drove out to River Market for the night. I tried using Open Table to find last-minute bookings, but couldn't find any. So I looked through my saved collections on Yelp and remembered that I've been meaning to try Muni. It was fate when we found out that we didn't need to make bookings and that it was first come, first served. Though we had to wait a short time for a table when we got there, we were told that some seats at the bar had opened up, so we didn't have to wait as long for a table. When we asked the bartender for help with choosing food and drinks, she was friendly and willing to help. We made the choice to share the birria dumplings and pad gra pow empanadas after reading the menu. Each one was great, and the sizes were perfect for sharing. You can definitely tell the difference between the two meals if you've had a chance to try them separately. The pad gra pow empanadas definitely had flavors that were similar to the traditional Thai dish pad gra pow, which was spot on and delicious. The outside of the empanadas also had a tasty and unique texture. I couldn't get enough of it because it was so delicious and wonderful. I've found my new favorite place to go on a "treat yourself" date. If you want to do something different in Kansas City, I strongly suggest that you go to Muni. You won't be sorry. I can't wait to try everything else when I get back!"

The Bourgeois Pig

★★★★☆ 4.3 (123) • $$

"Good drinks. Good service. Good value. Friendly clientele. Fun place to while away an hour or so."

The Sentinel Room

★★★★☆ 3.8 (5)

"Wonderful place great atmosphere and the libations are very tasty. I highly recommend this place just for a nice drink to sit down with your friends and get cozy, lovely overstuffed furniture, very comfortable"

Blanc Champagne Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (11)

"A very cute, upscale bar. The flavor of food is worth the price and the drinks are delicious! Worth a try and would recommend but probably won't go back unless I reason. The deviled eggs and French onion dip was so tasty! We tried the mushrooms and they were ok. They are large, fungi-like, and thick with a thinner breading. Sliced or pieces would be better."

Barred Owl Butcher & Table

★★★★☆ 4.4 (294) • $$

"My husband really wanted to come here for their impressive cocktail list, which included his favorite cocktail, Paper Plane. Drinks did not disappoint including their non-alcoholic selection - they had shrub & clubs. I was deciding between Cherry-Lime and Peach-Szechuan Pepper, and the waiter explained the Cherry-Lime was a bit sweeter so I opted for the latter - it was my perfect drink of slight peach flavor, and Szechuan pepper was more like a undertone flavor. I got the spicy pepper cilantro lime shrub for my second drink - very heavy on the vinegar. For starters we had milk & honey bread (bread warm and sooo pillowy, bone marrow butter was top tier), blistered shishito peppers (there were a couple of peppers where the salt wasn't equally dispersed so it was just a salt bomb with some bites, otherwise good), vegetable fritto misto (table's favorite - battered and fried veggies). I ordered the rainbow trout for the entree. Fish was really good, perfectly cooked, but the absolute star of the show was the red pepper purée it was served with. I've only done roasted red pepper purée as a pasta sauce but will def steal their idea and make it with fish at home. For dessert we ordered sticky toffee carrot cake - a mix of my husband's favorite dessert and it did not disappoint. Everyone loved the food, service was fast, cocktail list extensive. A must stop by in Columbia."

Bon Bon

★★★★☆ 4 (104) • $$

"The vibe is amazing! Servers know the menu! NA drinks are yummy! Rain or shine the patio, bar and setting is so chill and classy!"

Quaint

★★★★☆ 4 (4)

"Okay, folks, let's dish about Quaint. Bartender? Nice enough, but clearly just punching the clock. Drinks? Sadly, they followed suit. $16 got me a spicy marg in a HIGHBALL glass (seriously?!) that tasted like, well, a margarita. Yawn. Dirty martini? Meh. My friend's Pomegranate mocktail? Imagine sipping on floor cleaner. No, really. Her Lemon Cake Martini? More like "Stale Lemon Regret-ini." And the vibe? Suede chairs that scream "cheap motel" and booths straight outta a corporate boardroom, but the couch we commandeered was nice. Quaint, you're in a strip mall, not the Ritz. Trying to be upscale in this setting? Bless your over-priced heart. You might be quaintly out of business before you can say "another round." (maybe skip this ambience and grab an affordable good drink somewhere else.)"

Drastic Measures

★★★★☆ 4.3 (116) • $$

"I don't know why it took me so long to visit Drastic Measures, but I was absolutely blown away by the experience. Dropped in on a cool Friday evening and only had a short line waiting inside by the front door. Love the usage of the chandelier to help communicate capacity.Chatted quite a bit with our server once seated and shared that I'm a whiskey/bourbon fan. He strongly recommended the Campfire or the Maricopa...so I ended up ordering both. Word to the wise - both drinks pack a punch in totally different ways. The Campfire truly tasted like a camp fire in your mouth, with a subtle smoky aftertaste. The Maricopa had hints of corn and green chile with a touch of sweetness.The service provided throughout the evening was phenomenal and I cannot wait to come back!"

Penny’s In The Village

★★★★★ 4.5 (17)

"Excellent service and a great selection of foods; dumplings, rice dishes, noodles, soups, and sticky rice. Also, great mocktails (every cocktail has an NA version!)"

Bar Medici

★★★★★ 4.5 (24)

"I was invited to the soft opening weekend for Bar Medici located in the Crossroads art district of Kansas City. Every aspect of the restaurant, from the Italian food and cocktails to the lovely ambiance and service, left me seriously impressed.While the space is cozy, its intimate size adds a sense of exclusivity. You can tell that everything was carefully chosen from the comfortable furniture to the decor giving a very aesthetically pleasing ambiance.We started the evening with cocktails and they were definitely the highlight of the entire experience. The waiter's recommendations were spot on for my personal tastes. The Il Contadino cocktail (despite my usual aversion to mezcal) was my favorite of the night. It was a more special take on a spicy margarita. The second drink (Aereo Di Carta) which included Aperol (again not usually my favorite in cocktails) was perfectly balanced with the other ingredients. It was also beautiful to look at. I only tried a few dishes but I am so excited to try more things. A standout dish was the Porcini Ciambella, which was their take on a savory donut. The fluffy texture and mushroom seasoning served with a buttery cheese sauce was literally a masterpiece. We ordered a second round because we were so blown away by these. The focaccia with chili butter and the Granchio Spaghetti alla Chitarra (Crab pasta) were also equally exceptional. I am confident that Bar Medici will become a prominent fixture in the Crossroads area. I'm looking forward to my next visit to this new gem of a restaurant!"

44 Canteen

★★★★☆ 4 (152) • $$

"Delicious "nice/upscale" Mexican-slanted place. All 4 of us enjoyed our food and the fancy nachos we shared. Glad we walked out of Campus Bar to eat here instead."

Tacos & Tequila

★★★★☆ 4.2 (34)

"We stopped in for lunch headed to the lake. Dry clean. Service exceptional and fast. Salsa is not overly spicey which is my preference. Queso is really good. We tried a taco, burrito, tamale and enchilada. Tamale was my favorite."

Bo Lings Chinese Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (167) • $$

"We went to Bo Lings for lunch today. It had been awhile but it was absolutely delicious. Mongolian beef is one of my favorites and it didn't disappoint. Hubby ordered the crispy beef and I may have a new favorite dish. Both dishes were tasty. The crab ragoon was good also but more standard. We were their first customers. They sat us quickly and the service was very good."

OP 1906

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (27) • $$

"John Taffer could really help this place. I bought a mango martini for my wife that came in a wine glass with two cherries instead of a martini glass. She's said it was really good and got me one. The second martini did come in a martini glass, instead of a wine glass but was garnished with an orange slice. My wife ordered a second martini at the same time and it was served in a champaign flute with no garnish at all. I want consistency in what I order. Two drinks on the same menu should be the same regardless of which mixologist makes it. Also, martini's should be served in martini glasses, wine in a wine glass, etc...The drinks were really good, just not consistently the same.The drink menu was very long, pages. It had one entire page just for martini's. I would like a simplified drink menu, one-two pages both front and back. If they have 50 "signature" drinks there is no consistency and if I walk up to a bar in a hotel for a mixed drink, I want it to be quick and easy. The last thing you want after a long day is to make even more decisions. Just give me something that tastes good (they did) and if I want a second one make it the same as the first (they did not).I know very little about mixed drinks. Don't make them at home and very rarely order them. The easier they make the process and product the better. I do know that."

Chartreuse Saloon

★★★★★ 4.5 (18)

"WOW. Just WOW. I got a big group together for my boyfriend's birthday here, and I'm so glad I did. I chose this place because 1. Nachos, 2. Vax card requirement, and 3. They were so responsive and friendly when I messaged them on Instagram just to make sure it was okay to bring a large group. Our whole group really liked the drinks and the staff and the casual vibe. We were already big fans of Jill Cockson's other bars, and even though this is distinctly different, we love it just as much!"

Kill Devil Club

★★★★☆ 3.5 (72) • $$

"Thank. The. Lord. This bar is EXACTLY what KC needs, and specifically what the Power and Light district needs. In a city without a ton of jazz options (despite calling itself a jazz town) this spot fills a definite niche and will be one of the hottest tickets in Kansas City. Wanna feel classy and sexy and awesome? Get thee to Kill Devil!So why does this place stand out compared to the other jazz bars in town? Well, primarily in the fact that instead of acting as a listening room, where you have your seat and you just sit there quietly while applauding politely every 10 minutes or so, this place seems to embrace the rowdy, sexy nature of a jazz bar! People are dancing and mingling and while they still appreciate the excellent musicians, they're not being held captive by the tunes. Bottom line: It's hard to have a bad time when you're listening to a 10 piece brass band. Additionally, the drink menu here is stellar. Kill Devil boasts the largest rum selection in KC, and will feature a number of punch options for both individuals or groups! These are Grade-A, hand-crafted cocktails, and the price tag reflects it. But it's all part of the atmosphere. I wouldn't want to come here and drink crappy beer or a well vodka soda. Speaking of atmosphere, the decor of this place is great. All dark woods, it nods to the past but isn't overly themey. I love that they have checkerboards in the corner, it's a nice tip of the hat to Cuban/Puerto Rican/South Floridian culture, without coming off too strong. And the staff all look impeccable. Welcome to town, Kill Devil. You're top notch!"

Swordfish Tom's

★★★★★ 4.7 (173) • $$

"This tiny, cash only bar is all of what a speakeasy can be. In a cold gusty alley, down a basement, behind a locked door, swordfish Tom's make excellent drinks in a friendly and intimate boiler room. I loved all of the drinks I had. You can tell they put a lot of thought and care into creating their cocktails. Milk punch, peanut butter washed scotch, mushroom syrup manhattan, the lone bartender and server can do it all."

King G

★★★★☆ 4.4 (81) • $$

"My favorite part of King G is when the bar opens its garage door windows on a nice day.Nothing beats a flash of outside air during Kansas City's best days.The upstairs ground level is a welcome space. You can belly up to the bar or find seats at some of the island tables, but you can also walk around without issues, even when it's busy.The bar on the downstairs level is a little more exclusive, which is fine. I think it adds to the mystique.The drink menu includes a solid list of cocktail options paired with some of the best local beers.Food from the attached deli is better than good."

Candiles Tacos & Tequila

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"This place was all around amazing. The servers were very attentive and always brought more chips and salsa when needed. They were very nice and open a modification to my order. I loved the environment, too. The music and cleanliness were great. The food was delicious, and I highly recommend coming here if you're staying in Salina or just passing through!"

Lonnie's Reno Club

★★★★★ 4.9 (36)

"We spent this evening at Lonnie's Reno Club. What a delight. He has so much talent and energy. It was an evening of great jazz, wonderful food and a cozy atmosphere that felt like friends. The service was wonderful as well. I'm so happy I got to experience this evening at such a fun classy Club."