The Russell is a cafe in Midtown, Kansas City.
Amanda Lopez's The Russell on Main Street in Kansas City's Midtown is the all-day cafe and lunch counter, with house-baked biscuits and strong gluten-free options.
Tip: Tue to Sat 7:00 to 14:00, Sun 8:00 to 14:00. Egg-and-biscuit sandwich is the move at 8:00.
Address: 3141 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111
Mildred's Coffeehouse on Wyandotte in Kansas City's Crossroads has run breakfast, brunch and lunch since 1994. The Standard Breakfast Sandwich is the city's most-ordered.
Signature drink: Espresso, Standard breakfast sandwich
Tip: South Plaza outpost at 5060 Main and the 9th Street downtown shop carry the same menu.
Succotash on Holmes Street near Kansas City's Longfellow runs a long-standing breakfast and brunch counter with local and organic ingredients, plus vegan and gluten-free options.
Signature drink: Drip coffee, breakfast hash
Tip: Mon 8:00 to 14:00, closed Tue, Wed. Open Thu to Sun 8:00 to 15:00; brunch packs the room.
Heirloom Bakery and Hearth in Kansas City's Brookside is Scott and Kate Meinke's destination bakery and breakfast counter, with cheddar-herb biscuits and the city's best Pop-Tarts.
Signature drink: Drip coffee, biscuit sandwich
Tip: Tue to Fri 7:00 to 14:00, Sat 7:00 to 15:00, Sun 7:00 to 14:00. The line forms by mid-morning.
Messenger Coffee's South Plaza cafe in Kansas City brings the Grand Boulevard flagship's roasts to the Plaza corridor, paired with Ibis Bakery's daily breads.
Signature drink: Espresso, drip filter
Tip: Smaller and quieter than the Crossroads flagship; the patio works on weekday mornings.
McLain's on Gregory Boulevard in Kansas City's Waldo opened in 1945 and runs the city's longest-running independent bakery counter, with old-school cakes and pastries.
Signature drink: Drip coffee, cake doughnut
Tip: Sun and Mon 7:00 to 14:00, Tue to Sat 7:00 to 16:00. The kitchen closes at 14:00 daily.
Messenger Coffee's three-story flagship on Grand Boulevard in Kansas City's Crossroads pairs an in-house roastery with Ibis Bakery downstairs and a rooftop terrace.
Signature drink: Filter coffee, single origin
Tip: Rooftop opens for sunset; the second floor is the work-friendly seat. Daily 7:00 to 17:00.
