The best bars & nightlife in Kansas City

43 bars & nightlife we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

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Nightlife · 43 places · showing the latest additions first

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Nightlife

Izakaya-style small plates, natural wine, and cocktails in a hip, music-centric setting.

709 W 17 St

Izakaya-style small plates, natural wine, and cocktails in a hip, music-centric setting.

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Enduring music lounge with live piano & vocal performances, plus open-mike nights, in a cozy space.

332 W 75th St

Enduring music lounge with live piano & vocal performances, plus open-mike nights, in a cozy space.

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Quaint shop offering charcuterie boards, boxes, and cups, plus catering.

131 S Water St Suites 100, 101, & 203 (Liberty)

Quaint shop offering charcuterie boards, boxes, and cups, plus catering.

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Houlihan's

Nightlife

Casual chain restaurant offering comfort food, wine, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

11851 W 95th St (Overland Park)

Casual chain restaurant offering comfort food, wine, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

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Craft brewery featuring a taproom for fresh beer brewed on-site, plus a pizza kitchen, wings and burgers.

410 E 135th St

Craft brewery featuring a taproom for fresh beer brewed on-site, plus a pizza kitchen, wings and burgers.

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Fun eatery and bar specializing in flights of frozen cocktails and other beverages.

4141 Pennsylvania Ave Apt 101

Fun eatery and bar specializing in flights of frozen cocktails and other beverages.

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Verdigris Bar

Nightlife

Sophisticated spot featuring a creative menu of cocktails, along with eats like popcorn and shrimp toast.

5245 W 116th Pl (Leawood)

Sophisticated spot featuring a creative menu of cocktails, along with eats like popcorn and shrimp toast.

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Splashy location featuring plush seating areas & a sleek cocktail bar overlooking the city.

1800 Walnut St Suite 1400

Splashy location featuring plush seating areas & a sleek cocktail bar overlooking the city.

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Dos de Oros

Nightlife

Classic Mexican plates, tacos, fajitas, & drinks in a traditional dining room with booth seating.

13029 Holmes Rd

Classic Mexican plates, tacos, fajitas, & drinks in a traditional dining room with booth seating.

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Cool, convivial spot for German-style lagers, ales & snacks at communal indoor & outdoor tables.

310 W 79th St

Cool, convivial spot for German-style lagers, ales & snacks at communal indoor & outdoor tables.

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Zaman Hookah

Nightlife

Relaxed hangout featuring hookah in a variety of flavors, smoothies, and comfort food.

12235 W 87th St Pkwy (Lenexa)

Relaxed hangout featuring hookah in a variety of flavors, smoothies, and comfort food.

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ASE Coffee

Nightlife

Café with a relaxing atmosphere featuring espresso drinks as well as burritos and baked goods.

1800 Highgrove Rd (Grandview)

Café with a relaxing atmosphere featuring espresso drinks as well as burritos and baked goods.

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Upscale restaurant serving steak, market-fresh seafood & wine in a chic, contemporary setting.

5400 W 119th St (Leawood)

Upscale restaurant serving steak, market-fresh seafood & wine in a chic, contemporary setting.

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Airy crab-house restaurant, featuring spicy seafood boil bags as well as oysters and other classics.

11721 Metcalf Ave (Overland Park)

Airy crab-house restaurant, featuring spicy seafood boil bags as well as oysters and other classics.

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Meat specialist also selling wine, produce & speciality & prepared foods such as stuffed pork chops.

4928 Main St

Meat specialist also selling wine, produce & speciality & prepared foods such as stuffed pork chops.

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Sports bar serving burgers, Chicago hot dogs, fries and pies.

5801 Nieman Rd (Shawnee)

Sports bar serving burgers, Chicago hot dogs, fries and pies.

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Tavern 24

Nightlife

Casual place serving food and drinks, with bar games, a bar, and occasional live music.

825 N Dakota Dr 24 HWY (Independence)

Casual place serving food and drinks, with bar games, a bar, and occasional live music.

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Clint's Comedy Club delivers live stand-up that turns a random weeknight into a solid story for your group chat. Roll in this week, catch a…

7332 W 119th St (Overland Park)

Clint's Comedy Club delivers live stand-up that turns a random weeknight into a solid story for your group chat. Roll in this week, catch a tight show with comics who know how to work a room, and leave lighter than when you walked in.

From the Johnson County newsletter, August 4, 2026

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Rosehill Winery is a leafy little oasis in Martin City pouring a rotating, thoughtfully curated lineup of wines from around the world, with…

311 E 135th St

Rosehill Winery is a leafy little oasis in Martin City pouring a rotating, thoughtfully curated lineup of wines from around the world, with tastings that are relaxed, fun, and genuinely educational. Not into wine? Their solid beer and spirits menu plus frequent live music make it an easy weeknight upgrade.

From the Lenexa newsletter, August 5, 2026

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Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen is the Crossroads go-to for seasonal plates that actually play nice with your wine, plus a by-the-glass list…

1526 Walnut St

Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen is the Crossroads go-to for seasonal plates that actually play nice with your wine, plus a by-the-glass list curated by people who love grape nerding. Slide in for a midweek reset this week or linger over pairings that make you rethink dinner.

From the Blue Springs newsletter, August 3, 2026

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Draftcade

Nightlife

Playful bar-cum-arcade serving beer and cider along with burgers and other casual fare.

7260 NW 87th St

Playful bar-cum-arcade serving beer and cider along with burgers and other casual fare.

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Cheval

Nightlife

Stylish cocktail bar serving classic drinks alongside small plates and wine.

3940 Main St

Stylish cocktail bar serving classic drinks alongside small plates and wine.

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A house comedy troupe specializing in improv, plus students, guest performers & open-mike stand-up.

The Bowery, 817 Westport Rd

A house comedy troupe specializing in improv, plus students, guest performers & open-mike stand-up.

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Combined brewery, brewing school & eatery serving modern barroom fare & house-brewed beer.

7925 Marty St (Overland Park)

Combined brewery, brewing school & eatery serving modern barroom fare & house-brewed beer.

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Cozy wine bar offering a list of wines along with cocktails, beer, and bar bites.

5514 Oak St

Cozy wine bar offering a list of wines along with cocktails, beer, and bar bites.

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Comedy club in the historic Hemingway building featuring improv, sketch, stand-up, and burlesque acts.

103 W 19 St

Comedy club in the historic Hemingway building featuring improv, sketch, stand-up, and burlesque acts.

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Tower Tavern

Nightlife

Craft brews on tap, pub grub & sports on TV in a neighborhood hangout with exposed-brick walls.

401 E 31st St

Craft brews on tap, pub grub & sports on TV in a neighborhood hangout with exposed-brick walls.

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Location of a local chain of unassuming bars known for their big BLTs & spicy wings.

5000 Main St

Location of a local chain of unassuming bars known for their big BLTs & spicy wings.

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Wine bar offering self-serve pours of a wide variety plus food and live music.

309 Armour Rd (North Kansas City)

Wine bar offering self-serve pours of a wide variety plus food and live music.

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Comedy club featuring standup acts from local and national comics.

1130 103rd St

Comedy club featuring standup acts from local and national comics.

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Rustic-industrial taproom & brewery serving its own craft ales & lagers with refined eclectic fare.

1829 Oak St

Rustic-industrial taproom & brewery serving its own craft ales & lagers with refined eclectic fare.

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The Peanut

Nightlife

Sports bar & grill with classic American pub grub such as BLTs & spicy wings as well as drinks.

7938 Santa Fe Dr (Overland Park)

Sports bar & grill with classic American pub grub such as BLTs & spicy wings as well as drinks.

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The Peanut

Nightlife

Sports bar & grill with classic American pub grub such as BLTs & spicy wings as well as drinks.

12663 Metcalf Ave (Overland Park)

Sports bar & grill with classic American pub grub such as BLTs & spicy wings as well as drinks.

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Relaxed neighborhood spot serving burgers, fried chicken, Irish nachos and other American fare alongside beer & cocktails.

9148 Santa Fe Dr (Overland Park)

Relaxed neighborhood spot serving burgers, fried chicken, Irish nachos and other American fare alongside beer & cocktails.

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Bar snacks & craft beer on tap in a trendy, warehouse-style brewpub with plants & high ceilings.

1725 McGee St

Bar snacks & craft beer on tap in a trendy, warehouse-style brewpub with plants & high ceilings.

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Unfussy sports bar serving American eats such as nachos and tacos, plus happy hour deals.

7300 W 119th St (Overland Park)

Unfussy sports bar serving American eats such as nachos and tacos, plus happy hour deals.

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Goat & Rabbit

Nightlife

Laid-back venue offering craft cocktails, beer, coffee and a menu, with table service and bar seating.

1804 W 39th St

Laid-back venue offering craft cocktails, beer, coffee and a menu, with table service and bar seating.

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Casual spot for comfort food, beer, and cocktails, plus TVs for watching sports.

5316 W 95th St at (Prairie Village)

Casual spot for comfort food, beer, and cocktails, plus TVs for watching sports.

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Comfortable destination known for locally sourced comfort food & an extensive wine list.

6701 W 119th St (Overland Park)

Comfortable destination known for locally sourced comfort food & an extensive wine list.

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Stylish wine bar showcasing vintages by the glass or bottle, as well as charcuterie, cheeses and homemade pasta.

7251 W 80th St (Overland Park)

Stylish wine bar showcasing vintages by the glass or bottle, as well as charcuterie, cheeses and homemade pasta.

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Brewpub serving elevated pub grub & cocktails in an industrial-chic space with communal tables.

1740 Holmes St

Brewpub serving elevated pub grub & cocktails in an industrial-chic space with communal tables.

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Wheat, porter & IPA are among the beers at this craft brewery with tours, a taproom & food trucks.

110 E 18th Ave (North Kansas City)

Wheat, porter & IPA are among the beers at this craft brewery with tours, a taproom & food trucks.

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Laid-back gathering place offering pub eats & a bar with large-screen TVs, plus outdoor seating.

6700 College Blvd (Overland Park)

Laid-back gathering place offering pub eats & a bar with large-screen TVs, plus outdoor seating.

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