KC restaurants like Gram and Dun and Trezo Mare were blessed to have patios and outdoor fire pits before the pandemic. Other restaurants and venues like La Bodega have spent thousands of dollars adding additional fire pits and outdoor heaters to accommodate its diners’ need for outdoor seating in comfort.
As cooler weather hits, plan your social gatherings, meet-ups or date nights around these 17 restaurants and venues with the big, warm, romantic fire pits. Even with the Delta variant, you’ll be surrounded by warmth and crisp, fresh air and these indoor/outdoor venues.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Kansas City Bars + Fire Pits
- KC Barbecue Joints + Fire Pits
- KC Restaurants + Fire Pits
- KC Coffee + Fire Pits
Kansas City Bars + Fire Pits
Restaurants in KC with fire pits will have an edge over restaurants without. Customers seek them out.
With the cost of propane nearing $2.50 a gallon, restaurants also fork out a lot of dough to keep their fire pits burning for your pleasure.
La Bodega General Manager Bob Riekhof said the restaurant’s propane bill in October was well over $400.
1. Coach’s Bar & Grill
9089 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66221 / Website
Coach’s opened in 1983 as one of Kansas City’s originals (locally-owned). It has two locations in Overland Park, KS, one on College Blvd. and one at 135th St. The 135th location sports a giant fire pit surrounded by a lush red outdoor seating area. Drop by to enjoy pot roast, chicken-fried steaks, or meatloaf or watch a game on one of its many big-screen TVs.
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2. Electric Park Garden Bar
2700 Guinette, Kansas City, MO 64120 / Website
J. Rieger & Co Distillery doesn’t do anything half-assed. The distillery claims to have spent seven figures to build its 11,000 square foot outdoor garden bar area. That investment should come back to them in boosted profits, according to research about outdoor seating.
Research by the Simons Advisory Group proved that a $200,000 investment increased overall sales by $500,000 — possibly more if your restaurant offers year-round outdoor seating.
Because the savvy team at J. Rieger knew its distillery was competing with others easier to find and closer to the Power & Light action, it didn’t hesitate to go all-in on its park and outdoor bar.
Electric Park has three fire pits, a glass atrium area, food trucks, and all the hand-crafted gin, vodka, whiskey, and amaro you can drink.
3. Johnnie’s Jazz Bar & Grille
1903 Victory Drive, Liberty, MO 64068 / Website
Johnnie’s Jazz Bar & Grille has two locations around the metro — Liberty and the Power & Light District. Johnnie’s Liberty location has a nice indoor and outdoor fireplace to camp out by while you share cocktails, dinner, and enjoy listening to a live jazz band.
And as if that weren’t enough, you can go see a movie at B&B Theatre when you’re through.
4. Velo Garage and Tap House
1403 Swift, North Kansas City, MO 64116 / Website
Velo Garage calls itself the Beer and Bike Capital of Kansas City. It has a loyal following of bikers and drinkers who love to share a cold one around a warm fire pit just a few steps from the bar. Drop by for a pizza. You’ll never grow cold or a beer gut, if you hang (and ride) with the crowd at Velo Garage.
Photography Courtesy of Velo Garage5. The Well
7421 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64114 / Website
Voted one of the best rooftops to hang out on by The Pitch, the Well in Waldo is a staple in Brookside. In the fall, enjoy a blazing fire, and in the deep winter enjoy the warmth of the plastic sides the barkeeps put up to keep the rooftop fun rolling.
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6. Topgolf
10611 Nall Ave, Overland Park, KS 66207 / Website
Photo credit: Architectural Photography by Michael Baxter, Baxter Imaging LLCFor fun with friends or family, you can’t go wrong with a high-tech golf and entertainment venue with a swanky lounge that includes outdoor fire pits. Topgolf is a three-tiered golfing experience with 102 outdoor hitting bays, complete with a rooftop terrace and fire pits.
Enjoy a full-service bar, chef-driven food and beverages, and gameplay powered by Toptracer technology. Play any of your Topgolf favorites, whether it be a round of the new Angry Birds game, a virtual game on Pebble Beach, or Topgolf Classic games, and then relax by the fire to enjoy the fun.
KC Barbecue Joints + Fire Pits
Kansas City is the barbecue capital of the world. You have many choices of to-die-for barbecue, but if you want great ribs or pulled pork and a fire pit, head to one of these two barbecue restaurants.
7. Jess and Jim’s Steakhouse
517 E 135th St, Kansas City, MO 64145 / Website
Jess and Jim’s is an old-fashioned steakhouse serving huge portions of beef and sides. It’s been a Kansas City favorite since 1938.
Photography Courtesy of Jess and Jim’s8. Char Bar
4050 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111 / Website
Enjoy barbecue and Southern comfort food at this Westport favorite. Char Bar has the largest beer garden in Kansas City with picnic tables, a giant fire pit, a bocce ball court, cornhole, ping-pong, and “adult” swings.
Photography Courtesy of Char BarKC Restaurants + Primo Fire Pits
In a city with more than 200 fountains, it’s nice to know Kansas City balances things out with just as many venues with fireplaces and fire pits.
9. Gram and Dun
600 Ward Parkway, Kansas City MO 64112 / website
Gram and Dun is an upscale restaurant on the Plaza without pretense or exclusivity. Its culinary team nails the landing on its menu offerings and offers a drink menu with as much depth as its food. The interior of the restaurant embraces you with timbered ceilings, stone archways, and white-glove service.
The patio is mammoth but nearly always full probably because of the great food, people watching, and glorious fire pits.
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10. Lidia’s
101 W 22nd St, Kansas City, MO 64108 / Website
Lidia’s is famous for its Northern Italy-style pasta and owner/chef/Television cooking host Lidia Bastianich. Lidia’s occupies a former railroad house with outdoor seating facing the backside of Union Station.
While it doesn’t have outdoor fire pits, it has the most divine fireplace to sip wine by or enjoy while you wait for a table.
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11. LaBodega Spanish Tapas Restaurant
703 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108 / Website
LaBodega is a sexy little place to enjoy small plates, good wine, and good company. Restauranteur James Taylor opened LaBodega in 1998 and has been transporting his customers to Spain through culinary genius ever since.
The outdoor seating area is filled with pillows, color, heaters, and one beautiful fire pit.
Photography Courtesy of La Bodega12. Rye
10551 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206 / Website
Rye has a Plaza and Leawood location both serving award-winning farm-to-table American fare and Rye cocktails. Megan and Colby Garrelts, executive chefs & owners, have racked up countless awards for their culinary chops. Both chefs have had recipes featured in numerous local & national publications including; Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Saveur to name a few.
End your meal with a pastry or slice of pie, which the restaurant is known for as its main courses.
Photography Courtesy of Rye Restaurant13. Story
3931 W. 69th Terrace, Prairie Village, KS 66208 / Website
Story opened in May 2011 and has provided many patrons a storybook ending as far as a culinary experience. Over the past decade Story and its Chef, Carl Thorne-Thomsen has won numerous awards, including Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” recipient and was named to OpenTable’s list of top 100 American fare restaurants in the United States.
Thorne-Thomsen is a 2013 James Beard semifinalist nominee for Best Chef Midwest and FOOD & WINE magazine’s 2013 winner for The People’s Best New Chef: Midwest and FOOD & WINE magazine’s 2014 winner for the People’s Best New Chef: National.
The restaurant has a minimalist theme and a picture-perfect patio.
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14. Trezo Mare
4105 N Mulberry Dr, Kansas City, MO 64116 / Website
Trezo Mare has one of the most spacious patios in the Northland with stunning views of downtown. The restaurant is located in the Village at Briarcliff, which is the Northland version of the Country Club Plaza.
Trezo Mare has always made the most of their prime outdoor real estate. Go enjoy Italian fare, wood-fired steaks and pizza by a crackling fire.
Photography Courtesy of Trezo Mare15. Piropos
4141 N Mulberry Dr, Kansas City, MO 64116 / Website
Piropos is a fantastic date night or special occasion restaurant on the backside of the Village at Briarcliff. This Argentinean steakhouse has amazing views of the city from its white-tablecloth setting and a blazing fire pit to sit by to share an after-dinner drink.
The restaurant is a bit pricey but worth it. The chef, bartenders, and wait staff will take amazing care of you. Try the empanadas.
Photo credit: Hiram M.KC Coffee + Fire Pits
Enjoy your coffee at two Kansas City coffee shops that will make you want to camp out for the day in front of their toasty fire pits.
16. Headrush Roasters
Village at Briarcliff / website
Headrush is an independent coffee & teahouse featuring gourmet coffee air-roasted on-site. Headrush hit the Kansas City coffee scene in 2012 and has grown to be a Northland favorite with two locations, the original location is at 7108 N. Oak.
Its second location in the Village at Briarcliff is accented with an octagon-shaped pergola and a large firepit with sparkling blue glass.
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17. Mildred’s (Crossroads)
1901 Wyandotte, KCMO 64108 / website
Mildred’s is amazing and you’ll soon see why. Take a selfie in front of the “Make Love and Sandwiches” mural before you order. The cranberry and turkey sandwich (sammie) is my absolute favorite. Next, grab a coffee and head to the fire pit in the back to settle in until they close at 3 p.m.
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18. Pinstripes
13500 Nall Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66223 / Website
Pinstripes is an American-Italian bistro serving wood-fired pizzas and gelato. Its bowling alleys and bocce ball courts bring people together to test their skills and satisfy their hunger for something healthy to do all year long.
Photography Courtesy of PinstripesThese 17 restaurants and venues with fire pits in KC should get you through the winter. Gather round and support our local restaurant industry and its workers this winter. Your senses and social life will be better for it.
Zona Rosa — a Northland shopping destination — is adding fire pits to its new patio and pickleball courts. Construction is expected to be complete Dec. 31, 2021.
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