The downtown entertainment district anchored by the T-Mobile Center, KC Live block and a rim of hotel restaurants. Honky tonks, dance clubs, sports bars.
Banksia Bakehouse on Main Street in downtown Kansas City is the city's first Australian-style bakehouse and cafe. Chef-owner Rob Joseph runs a scratch programme of sausage rolls, Lamingtons, pavlova and a daily bread board.
Tip: The pork and fennel sausage roll is the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives pick. Pavlova and ANZAC cookies anchor the Australian side of the case.
Worth the queue: Pork and fennel sausage roll
P.S. Kansas City on 12th Street downtown is a modern speakeasy hidden in the heart of the historic district, with a curated cocktail menu and a no-reservation door policy.
Signature drink: Crafted classic cocktails
Food: Small plates
Tip: Look for the unmarked door; the bar holds about 30 seats and runs Wed to Sat.
Tour Kansas City's KC BBQ Tour is the most popular operator on the city's most popular cuisine. Four-hour shuttle covers four legendary BBQ stops; rotation includes Arthur Bryant's, Q39, LC's, Joe's Kansas City, Gates and Jack Stack.
Tip: Most Popular tour runs Sat morning. Brew and Cue, Burnt Ends Tour, Sides Only Tour also available.
Tour Kansas City's Burnt Ends Tour focuses on the brisket-point specialty of Kansas City BBQ, with stops covering the canon and the contemporary.
Tip: Burnt ends sell out at most spots by mid-afternoon; the tour times around early production.
Tour Kansas City's Brew and Cue is a three-stop guided experience pairing legendary BBQ joints with a brewery or distillery stop. Designed for first-time visitors.
Tip: Weekend departures; private group bookings up to 50 people.
Mosaic Ultra Lounge in Kansas City's Power and Light District is the city's primary dance club, recently expanded with a $2.5 million upgrade including LED wall, new sound system and DJ booth.
Tip: Open Thu through Sat 21:00 to 03:00. 21+ after dark; dress code in effect.
Howl at the Moon in Kansas City's Power and Light District is a high-energy dueling-piano bar and dance venue, with live music, party atmosphere and rotating performers nightly.
Tip: Most popular for bachelor and bachelorette parties; reservation booths recommended.
No Other Pub in Kansas City's Power and Light District is the sports-bar dance hybrid with multiple floors, a rooftop, food service and DJ nights running until 02:00.
Tip: Game days are busiest; the rooftop is the move on warm evenings.
Besos y Abrazos in Kansas City's Power and Light District opened spring 2025 from the Cordish Companies, offering Latin-inspired cuisine with DJ nights and Latin music.
Tip: Latin nights run Thu-Sat with reggaeton and salsa; the cocktail list is the move.
The Phoenix on 8th Street in downtown Kansas City is one of the city's oldest jazz and blues clubs, with live music nightly Tue through Sun and full food service from lunch.
Tip: Live music every night except Mon; brunch Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 with bloody mary bar.
P.S. Speakeasy in Kansas City's Hotel Phillips basement is a 1930s-inspired speakeasy in a former mail sorting room, with an unmarked door entry and crafted cocktails since 2017.
Tip: Reservations recommended; the door is unmarked off the alley off 12th Street.
The Phoenix on 8th Street in downtown Kansas City is the city's oldest jazz and blues listening room, with food service and live music nightly Tue through Sun since 1990.
Tip: Saturday brunch 10:00 to 14:00 with the bloody mary bar. Sunday closes at 14:00.