The Most Scrumptious Dive Bars in Kansas City

Dive Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (24)

"I'm from Kansas City area and the only reason I came here was couple that played in Lawrence and found out they were here,this place was easy to get here, nice patio for live music, I had to good servers Alan which I had Saturday nite, they have brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings. My server Courtney was on Sunday, I'm on my way to st.Louis and decided to stop in Columbia because it's long drive by yourself, my food was very good, you can see pix of it, I had lobster chipotle mac, they have live bands playing here, like Cowboy Bart's magical band, he has played here lots of time and I got to meet him, building is hard to get to but if you know how it's easy, you have to turn before the building because the road has barriers, I would recommend to check this place out on weekends"

Vfw Post No 1668

★★★★★ 5 (1) • $$

"Great place to go during the week & weekend, also on Sunday. Happy Hour 5pm - 7pm M-F. People are friendly, bartenders are great & very relaxing place to go for drinks & fun."

Jackson's Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (3) • $

"Jackson's Tavern looks a block from Adams B&G on the map, but in reality they are across the same parking lot from each other. And while Adams is surprisingly nice on the inside, Jackson's Tavern is true dive through-and-through.It's smokey, and seems a little rough and intimidating at first, but we ended up finding the people to be pretty friendly.There's a pool table and a Silver Strike machine, as well as a vending machine that dispenses lottery tickets. B bought a few and won $5, then bought 5 more tickets and won $25.The restrooms are too tiny for sinks, so a communal sink sits behind a partition outside the bathroom doors.Amusingly, when we walked in, the bartender thought B asked for a couple of "straws" when he in fact asked for a couple of "draughts". So there was some momentary confusion when she handed us two drinking straws. :)"

Hickory Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (7)

"Great location! Service with a smile. Drinks were cold and affordable ;) the only food they had was pizza. Don't know that Guy ever visited but maybe he will! If you are looking for a hole in the wall friendly bar, this is it!"

American Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3) • $

"American Tavern is a beautifl, timeless, classic example of a dive bar all-around. It is rustic, dirty, and charming. This was one of my favorite finds of the day.Though they have draft beer, we decided to go with bottles for this one. Our bartender, Jessie, was very friendly.The main room features a long L-shaped bar against a wall of brick and detailed woodwork. The men's room floor slopes to one side and features a toilet mounted so that the bowl is partly under the sink and must be approached from the side.There's also a big back room that takes up the ground floor of the neighboring building, that room has pool tables, Silver Strike, darts, and enough room for live entertainment. We spent most of our visit back here playing Silver Strike."

Harbour Lights

★★★★☆ 4.1 (24) • $

"Ah, the hipsterness that is Lawrence, Kansas - such a strange but magical place. In the middle of America lies a city where skinny pants and thick-rimmed glasses roam - this is Lawrence Kansas.Among this community saturated in 'quirkiness' is a bar, Harbour Lights, that encompasses the whole attitude of the ironic cultural movement. Harbour Lights literally harbors all the Lawrence hipsters into a delightful bar complete with darts, pool tables, Boulevard Wheat on tap and your typical run-down booths reminiscent of the typical college hide-out. The staff is not over-the-top accommodating, yet get the job done. The job being getting you drunk. As I was bellied up to the bar, I scanned the room as nostalgia consumed me. The pride I have for not only the University of Kansas, but the town that fosters such an amazing community built on the notion of good times and artistic freedom. Harbour Lights is an amazing bar that only makes sense in a wonderland called Lawrence, Kansas."

Shooter's

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (17) • $

"The space is full of character and the bathrooms have been recently remodeled. Very easy to find this place and the parking is above average for the size of the place. Overall a very good drink selection and a nice patio area out back."

Ribbon Room

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (4)

"Nice little hole in the wall bar in Shawnee.Drinks are reasonably priced. The crowd on the few nights I've been there has been very friendly while I'm up there butchering some karaoke songs. :) I've made a couple new acquaintances there already.This is a smoking venue, and should remain so after July 1st, due to them being a 'private club'."

Caddy Shack

★★★★☆ 4.1 (231) • $$

"The best, most addicting pizza in KC. Service is impeccable. These girls keep you in check and do it with a smile. Just a local bar atmosphere but has a large heated back patio and multitudes of TVs to watch the games."

Kelly's Westport Inn

★★★★☆ 3.8 (138) • $

"Such a vibe on a Friday night! (ESPECIALLY if PK is dj'ing) It is really loud, so if you are looking for something intimate.. this is not it. But if you are looking to drink, party & vibe.. this is your spot! Only tip is to stick close to your party(friends) because this place can definitely get PACKED OUT! Its easy to get lost in the crowd.They have an upstairs with another bar that you can smoke ONLY tobacco products at. But its "outside" so you can feel a nice breeze. Drinks are inexpensive & service is typically fast. They also serve pizza which is super good & a nice size slice!!!! (The pizza place is connected to Kelly's) . You can access it from the inside & or the outside. Its Guy's Pizza. Will be back as that was my 1st experience!"

The House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (13)

"Small and gets crowded, but there are seats outside too, which is helpful. Heaters too- although some work better than others. There's also a lovely fire pit outside and they sell a S'mores kit to use with it- so fun! It's done up to look VERY Christmas-esque. So many great photo ops! My bestie and I went on a Saturday night and stayed 3 hours. It's just so cozy & welcoming! We both had the spiked hot cocoa. We mostly tasted vodka haha. They're served in a mug with a giant marshmallow. We will def visit again. I'm betting it's still good even when not decked out in Christmas décor."

Sidestreet Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (17) • $

"Side Street is a laidback neighborhood dive bar which caters to the LGBTQ+ community. It's nestled in an unassuming building near Costco. It could easily be missed if you didn't know what you were looking for. I've been in here a few times and it's usually busy. They have darts and a great patio scene out back. The inside itself isn't very big, but there are plenty of tables and chairs in both covered and uncovered areas to choose from. There can be a bit of a line for drinks, but the bartenders are fast and efficient. Drinks are super cheap compared to other bars in the area. Of note, it's cash only, so stop by the ATM before you it it up."

Fat Matt's Vortex

★★★★☆ 4.4 (18) • $

"I originally stopped at Fat Matt's 15+ years ago. The original "Fat Matt" was still roaming the bar as an ambassador to the nether world that this building original housed decades ago. You can still see the drainage for hosing down the deceased bodies as you enter the bathrooms. A crematorium was here prior to the space holding a liquor licence. Upon walking in in 2019 I knew that Fat Matt would probably be deceased at this point, but didn't realize that there was new ownership and there would have a new vibe. 75% of the customers were bikers in leather and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. Great customer service and attention."

Keg

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (6) • $

"The Keg is the diviest of dive bars, so it was exactly what I was looking for. I came with a friend LATE on a Saturday night. We were hoping for food, but a bag of Funyuns was the best we could get. The interior was cluttered and the beer selection was limited. Fortunately, we were able to have Domino's bring some pizza, which we shared with the table next to us. The bartender was really friendly, though, so that was the best part!"

Bullwinkle's Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (8) • $

"The remodeled Bull is so nice I can't believe it is the same bar that was famed for cheap beer and underage drinking. I was there on a Thursday night in the summer, so it was not super crowded and the people who were there were very chill, so cannot speak to the crowd that is there on Friday and Saturday (seems like the same old crowd--which is to say very young college students that make me feel ancient), but on Thursday with the $2 drink specials and the large patio, this could be my new neighborhood hangout.As mentioned, the patio is super nice, twice as large as the old patio, and the bathrooms were also nice and very clean. The bartender did not know what I wanted when I orders my standard vodka diet single tall, but otherwise a good stop."

Buzzard Beach

★★★★☆ 3.5 (107) • $

"We had a lot of fun here while visiting Kansas City. The bar tender was super friendly and we met some really nice people. The drinks were also super reasonably priced, especially coming from Boston. Worth a visit if you're in the area!"

Uncle Ben's

★★★☆☆ 3 (1) • $

"This is a 3.2% bar, meaning it can't serve liquor and can only serve so-called "non-intoxicating" beer. Which is a bit of a misnomer as you can still get intoxicated, it just takes a lot longer.This is a very old bar, so old that it's heated by a wood-burning stove. In addition to the standard CD jukebox, darts, and pool table, this bar had the only foosball table we saw all day.It took a while for our eyes to adjust, and it was very difficult to find the men's room until that adjustment happened. It's a very tiny restroom, exactly as wide as the toilet itself and just barly enough room to get inside and close the door. The sink is located outside the bathrooms.This is obviously very much a locals hangout. A couple of people said hi but that was the only interaction we had with anyone other than the bartender bringing us our drinks.Incidentally I keep seeing the address listed as "518 Charles" on other web directories, but it's actually "518 Clay"."

Lula's Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.4 (55) • $$

"This is a hit every time I eat here! If you're looking for the definition of a hole in the wall restaurant then this is it! The food is always amazing, and the food is even better! The servers are so friendly and if you frequent enough they'll get to know you and know your order. I have nothing bad to say about this place. This is simply good hometown food! I will always recommend this place to anyone stopping into town!"

The Keyhole Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.8 (34) • $

"Dive bar with strong tall cheap drinks! This place was really busy on this sat night & definitely got loud in there."

Brand N Iron Bar and Grill

★★★★★ 4.6 (24) • $

"Really enjoyed the food we got, it's kind of in the boonies, but I was meeting a friend who is coming back from Emporia and so it was a good meeting place for us. It was filled with customers who are enjoying their meals. The atmosphere is like a cowboy bar sort of restaurant And the service was prompt and pleasant. We will go again and make the drive from Olathe to the restaurant."

Drunken Worm

★★★★☆ 4 (208) • $$

"Awesome place! Low key, not overly crowded, the staff is super friendly. Love them all. Great fun people. They even brought us a free drunken hotdog because they made an extra by accident. It tasted amazing and the fries are fireeee . They have great deals and they have brunch! I got the classic hangover. It was great. And a ton of food!!! We also tried the worm dip I think is what it's called. It's very unique with the berry flavor in it but it was still really good! We came to watch the game and they had it on all the tvs. This is a cool place!!!"

Doghouse Saloon

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"This place is a wonderful addition to the community. A true authentic country bar where they have good music, good drinks and some pool tables. Hours are limited but it's worth a shot if you happen to be in town."

Twin City Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (55) • $

"Finally stopped in after driving by this place so many times. It was pretty much what we expected! A clean and friendly neighborhood bar filled with friends having dinner and enjoying themselves. I had the fish taco (special of the day) and even though it was good, it wasn't what I was expecting. It's essentially a fried cod fillet on a tortilla with taco toppings. It was filling, but not what I'm looking for in a fish taco. Hubby had the fish and chips and didn't realize it was going to be a fish sandwich with fries; however, the fish was good (same piece as they used for the tacos) and the fries were perfect for him. Crispy!!My only negative is that when I ordered a bourbon on the rocks, I was charged $1.00 for the "rocks". This is a MAJOR irritation to me. I would appreciate it if someone told me I was going to be charged that fee ahead of time and I would just take ice from my water glass and add my own "rocks'.All in all though, we will certainly go back and I will definitely try the Reuben next time!"

Rewind Video And Dive

★★★★☆ 4.4 (12)

"Went here to check out this new dive bar that opened in the summer of 22. Cozy vibes. Entrance in in the back and it's a basement. Everything feels very nostalgic. Love the 90s themed. Reminds me of my childhood. You can also played your favorite board, card, or video games. Plenty to drink from the bar too. I like how they have the quirks from Blvd. Yummy. If you're done, definitely go check out a movie and the screen land. Good, decent price movie foods and drinks."

Vfw Post 741

★★★☆☆ 3 (1)

"This review is from the point of view of coming here for the bar.This was the first VFW/American Legion combo I had been to. It was also the first of either variety I had beento where I encounteredany resistance to my presence.The door required a passcard to open but the bartender let us in. The lone vet inside grilled us for a few minutes about our military status in an obvious attempt to point out that we did not belong. But the bartender, probably wanting the business, finally convinced him to allow us to stay.The bar is in the center of the room, square-shaped. It was a pretty simple place, about what you'd expect for a VFW / American Legion. I can't remember if there was a jukebox or pool table but usually there are.As long as you can make it through the Inquisition, it's a decent dive environment to hang out in."

Johnnie's Sports Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (26) • $

"My favorite pub in Wyandotte County. Johnnie's is a sports bar that embraces all sports and is a mecca for NFL, MLB, NCAA, MLS, European league soccer.... but I love Johnnie's for its unique decor with thousands of christmas lights and stuff to look at on every wall and the ceiling too. Cheap prices, nice folks behind the bar and a welcoming and diverse clientele. That's a big win for me!"

Fitz’s Blarney Stone

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (22) • $

"Hole in the wall shot and a beer type bar. I made this my home base during the St Patrick's Day parade. For a $2 cover I got access to clean bathrooms, warmth and friendly staff,They also had limited drink specials and apparently a band was going to play later in the day.The doorman took our cover and let us wander in and out at will.Friendly bar staff let us bring in food from outside, as they don't serve food there.It's not fancy, but friendly goes a long way."

Christine’s Firehouse

★★★★☆ 4 (187) • $

"For a long time I've heard about this locally famous restaurant. I have friends who eat here all the time. This place is about as local as you can get. It's the place where, truly, everyone knows your name. The food is standard bar fare. Fried mushrooms, onion rings, fried pickles, potato skins and such for appetizers. Nothing unusual or unique for appetizers. We had the breaded mushrooms and they were very good. Main dishes include hamburgers, taco salad, wings, nachos and so much more. They have plenty of salad choices, as well. Their main draw is the pork tenderloin.It's HUGE. Seriously. It's gigantic. It's so big the menu says it comes with a to-go container. LOL. It's easily the size of a large dinner plate. The food is good despite it being bar fare. I had a beer battered po boy and it was very good. The beer battered fries were equally tasty. You certainly won't go hungry at this restaurant. The service was great. We had a very nice and professional server. He was polite and attentive. He added to our dining experience, for sure. All the other servers seemed equally as efficient and good at their craft. This restaurant was easy to access and it did not take us long to get a table. You could tell there were quite a few regulars who seemed right at home. So many restaurants are losing that local feel. We aren't regulars but we were right at home, as well. Everyone made us feel welcomeThere's nothing fancy about anything anything in this restaurant. The theme is firefighters. They have some interesting firefighting decor displayed about the restaurant. It was interesting to look at all the knickknacks. They have quite an eclectic collection. The artifacts alone are worth a star."

Beers To You Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"I came in here while waiting for my pizza order to finish across the street. It seems to have a cool down to earth vibe, with no frills. The beer was cold and cheap, so that is obviously a win. The only turnoff for me is that there is smoking allowed inside (which coming from a state that this isn't allowed I honestly didn't realize that other states allowed it). I can't be around smoke for too long, so if it wasn't for that I would have stayed longer. If it doesn't bother you definitely stop by, the bartenders were great and they have some good offerings for drinks!"

Lucky Boys

★★★★☆ 4.3 (53) • $

"First things first, I'm a sucker for a great dive bar. As much as I can enjoy a trendy speakeasy, or an upscale taproom, I'd take a charming dive bar over a classy rooftop bar just about any day. To be completely honest I wasn't sure what to expect at Lucky Boys. The name doesn't offer much of an idea of ambiance, and all I had to go off of was that it's a favorite bar of a good friend of mine. I was a few minutes early to a party and walked in blind. As my eyes adjusted to the endless night that this bar provides, I realized I might have found the best true dive bar in KC. I'm sure it's partially the best right now because it's such a hidden gem - and while that phrase is thrown out there a lot, it really does apply here. I'm not sure if the best part about this bar are the velvet paintings that adorn the walls, the unpretentious bartenders, or the fact that they have on tap beer from a very small micro brewery in STL that I'd previously not heard of, it's all great. Nothing is supremely clean here, though the restrooms I found to be totally fine. It's like that perfect basement bar you had at college where all your friends hung out, nobody cared about the time, and the drinks were not $20 each. All in all I can't wait to come back."

Depot Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (18) • $

"A decent little dive, with cheap beer served cold. Though at the time of our visit, the patrons and bartender seemed to be suspicious of us outsiders and weren't very sociable with us compared to most other bars I've been to.The bar is across the street from a skate park and apparently they have a lot of problems with thirsty kids coming in for something to drink. A sign warned them that if they are only getting water then they need to bring their own cups."

Replay Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (55) • $

"A dive of the very best kind with one of the best outdoor music venues in the city, ripe with all kinds of music. Yea, it's a booze slinging, dumpy kind of place but one which is most inviting and friendly.And don't be coming here giving it 5-stars on Yelp. The customers here want nothing of the sort, so don't ruin it! They like it just the way it is with its faults and quirky interior. Long one of the best "joints" that has outlived many other similar ventures, I expect it to be around for a very long time, and that's a good thing."

Beer Thirty

★★★★☆ 4.1 (12) • $

"At first glance, this was a run down, dirty, almost scary place. But the longer I sat there, the more it grew on me. By the time I left I realized this is a pretty decent place to hang out.Beer Thirty is a private club, so smoking is permitted. After quizzing us for a bit and finally deciding we were ok, the bartender let us apply for memberships. She was pretty friendly and had a sassy sense of humor.The bar area isn't very attractive, pretty barebones in a cinder-block room. The bar forms a long U-shape so offers lots of seating and lends itself to creating conversations. There's a covered patio outside the east end.To the west of the bar is a separate room (separated by a half-wall) with pool tables and additional seating. This room looks nicer than the bar area. The restrooms are back here too and were pretty clean.The bar serves food a few days a week but apparently usually has a few things that can be quickly heated up on the other days.Beer Thirty is biker friendly and participates in area poker runs. It also has karaoke nights as well as bands. I'm told it's a popular hangout for off duty police as well. So, while I started out skittish, by the time I was done I liked this place. If you manage to win them over to get your membership, you'll love the attitudes, friendly people, and super cheap drinks."

Hi-Dive Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (114) • $$

"This is one of our very favorite places to grab lunch or brunch! The food has been excellent every single time. For a "dive bar" you will be so impressed with the fresh, high quality ingredients they use and the terrific flavors in their dishes. The staff has always been very professional and friendly and the prices are great for the portion sizes and the quality of the food that you receive. Be sure to try the Jalapeño chips, the short rib tacos, mushroom tacos, any brunch item, burger, salad, etc - I'm sure you're getting the idea here!!Besides their awesome food, they also have a great selection of beers and a full bar which can make it the perfect place to hang out and enjoy the day!"

P R's Place

★★★★☆ 4.3 (7) • $

"(This review is a partial repost from my personal blog.)PR's Place is probably one of the least known-about bars in downtown Kansas City, at least outside of the Hispanic community. Located on the eastern edge of Kansas City's West Side, PR's Place is a popular hangout for Kansas City's hispanic population while virtually unknown among the artists and hipsters found only a block to the east. You might walk right by this place and not realize it's a bar, the exterior resembles something more like a dentist office.PR's has an inviting, comfortable interior and though you're likely to be looked upon cautiously at first by all the regulars, the bartender will soon do a good job of making you feel welcome.PR's is also a popular place for watching sports -- especially soccer. If you are a fan of the World Cup this is a great place to watch it. Beer is available in cans/bottles only.By the way, PR's Place is the only bar I am aware of so far to have had a live horse inside it, when it received a visit by the second Warpaint, former mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs."