Tom's Town Distilling Speakeasy ★ 4.3
$$crossroads{'monday': '16:00-20:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-22:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-22:00', 'thursday': '16:00-22:00', 'friday': '16:00-00:00', 'saturday': '12:00-00:00', 'sunday': 'Closed'}
Tom's Town Distilling Company in Kansas City's Crossroads is the city's first legal distillery since Prohibition (2015), with a tasting room that reimagines 1920s speakeasy cocktails.
Tip: Mon 16:00 to 20:00, Tue to Thu 16:00 to 22:00, Fri 16:00 to 24:00, Sat 12:00 to 24:00. Tours by appointment.
Missie B's ★ 4.4
$$midtown{'monday': '16:00-03:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-03:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-03:00', 'thursday': '16:00-03:00', 'friday': '16:00-03:00', 'saturday': '16:00-03:00', 'sunday': '12:00-03:00'}
Missie B's on Broadway in Kansas City's Midtown has been the city's longest-running gay bar since 1994, with three bar areas, a patio, drag shows and dance nights.
Tip: Drag shows nightly; the patio is the warm-weather move.
Hamburger Mary's Kansas City ★ 4.1
$$midtown{'monday': 'Closed', 'tuesday': '16:00-22:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-22:00', 'thursday': '16:00-22:00', 'friday': '16:00-02:00', 'saturday': '11:00-02:00', 'sunday': '11:00-22:00'}
Hamburger Mary's on Broadway in Kansas City's Midtown pairs burgers, bingo and drag entertainment for nightly events. The downstairs Mary's Bar opens earlier than the dining room.
Tip: Drag bingo Wed nights; Saturday drag brunch is the move. Reservations recommended.
Buddy's Hideout ★ 4.0
$westport{'monday': '17:00-03:00', 'tuesday': '17:00-03:00', 'wednesday': '17:00-03:00', 'thursday': '17:00-03:00', 'friday': '17:00-03:00', 'saturday': '17:00-03:00', 'sunday': '17:00-03:00'}
Buddy's Hideout on 39th Street in Kansas City's Midtown is a small, casual gay bar with a strong neighbourhood crowd, karaoke nights and a low-key vibe.
Tip: Karaoke Wednesdays; the bar fills up after the larger Missie B's lets out.
SideKicks Saloon ★ 3.9
$midtown{'monday': 'Closed', 'tuesday': '19:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '19:00-02:00', 'thursday': '19:00-02:00', 'friday': '19:00-03:00', 'saturday': '19:00-03:00', 'sunday': '16:00-02:00'}
SideKicks Saloon on Main Street in Kansas City's Midtown is the country-and-western LGBTQ bar, with line-dancing nights, karaoke and a long-running drag programme.
Tip: Line-dance lessons Tuesday nights; drag shows weekends.
Green Lady Lounge Orion Room ★ 4.7
$$crossroads{'monday': '17:00-03:00', 'tuesday': '17:00-03:00', 'wednesday': '17:00-03:00', 'thursday': '17:00-03:00', 'friday': '14:00-03:00', 'saturday': '14:00-03:00', 'sunday': '17:00-03:00'}
Green Lady Lounge's downstairs Orion Room in the Kansas City Crossroads runs trios led by Danny Embry, Ken Lovern, Jeff Shirley and Tyrone Clark. No televisions, conversation-friendly.
Tip: The downstairs Orion is the quieter, more intimate room; bookings preferred Fri-Sat.