Kansas City has a vibrant nightlife full of bars, dance clubs, and entertainment districts. On weekends, the city hums as the workweek crowd unwinds. With more than 3,500 bars and restaurants to enjoy, choose the bar scene that meets your craving or mood of the moment while in Kansas City.
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COUNTRY BARS
Harry’s Country Club
112 E Missouri Ave
Kansas City, MO 64106
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Nightlife is enhanced with great food, tall drinks, and live entertainment in the heart of the River Market at Harry’s Country Club. Harry’s was voted Best Jukebox in The Pitch: Best of Kansas City 2016 Awards. Esquire’s Best 18 Bars in America.
MO Country
401 E. South Outer Belt Rd.
Grain Valley, MO 64029
Located about 25 minutes east of downtown Kansas City, this joint is the real country deal and will make your nightlife hotter than a fireball shot.
Enjoy Bomb shots for $4 on Thursday; Fireballs shots for $4 on Fridays; Mechanical bull rides for $2 on Saturday; and draft beer for $2 or bottled beer for $3 on Sundays. The prices prove that sometimes Happy Hour is better in the suburbs, and the nightlife in places like Grain Valley can be just as rich as downtown.
PBR Big Sky
111 E 13th St
Kansas City, MO 64106
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Big Sky promises the “Ride of Your Life” on its Instagram page. It’s deemed the Kansas City’s Cowboy Bar and located at @kcliveblock in the Power & Light District. A Coors Banquet Bar 🐂 Yes, you can ride the bull and this urban cowboy spot for bull-tipping nightlife fun.
Stockyards Brewery
1600 Gennessee
Kansas City, MO 64101
Stockyards Brewing is inviting all year ’round.Photo Credit: Brenda Geiger
Stockyards Brewery knows its brew, bands, and nightlife. It’s located in the west bottoms of Kansas City where cows were originally brought to market. Stockyards Brewery appeals to urban cowboys and cowgirls who want a laid-back Happy Hour in KC. Stockyards offers plenty of home-brew in the form of beer and whiskey and has Sunday Services on the patio, which includes live music.
DANCE BARS IN KANSAS CITY
Whether you love country, pop, metal, disco, punk, or classics, there is a dance club for your to shake your groove thing in Kansas City.
For those nights out when you just need to dance:
- Make the Power & Light District your go-to spot for DJs and dancing thanks to clubs like high-energy Mosaic.
- Groove the night away to classic hits at Funky Town in Raytown and show out with bottle service and a VIP experience at Aura Night Club.
Mosaic Ultra Lounge
1331 Walnut St
Kansas City, MO 64106
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Upscale nightclub in the Power & Light District with plush seating, mood lighting, bottle service & a DJ-provided soundtrack.
Shark Bar
1340 Grand Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64106
Photo credit: Shark Bar’s Facebook Page
Located in the Power & Light District, the Shark Bar is the premier dance club in Kansas City for those who want to see and be seen.
Touche
DOG-FRIENDLY BARS IN KANSAS CITY
What’s better than a discounted adult beverage with your best four-legged friend by your side? Not much. Bring extra cash to buy a treat for your dog at these canine-friendly Happy Hours in Kansas City.
Bar K
501 Berkley Park
Kansas City, MO 64120
Yappy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Enjoy $2 off snacks; $1 off canned beers; $2 off draft cocktails. Robust menu for humans and dogs. Expect to pay a cover charge. Memberships are available for frequent flyers.
Chicken N Pickle
1761 Burlington Ave.
N. Kansas City, MO 64116
Photo Credit: @chickennpicklekc
Lots of outdoor seating, a rooftop patio, and pickleball courts. You’re welcome to bring your dog when sitting outdoors.
Happy Hour is from 3–6 p.m. on weekdays. Enjoy $4 pints; $5 wine and margs; $3 Fireball shots; $3 domestic cans. Dress casually as you’ll want to work up a sweat playing corn hole, pickleball, trivia, or joining in on a yoga class.
Emperial Brewery
1829 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Emperial Brewery has a huge outdoor patio in the Crossroads District. The owners allow well-behaved (leashed) dogs on the patio. Come for the beer, stay for the view.
GAY BARS IN KANSAS CITY
- Missie B’s: Whether interested in drag shows, dancing, drinks or all of the above, Missie B’s has it all, making it an easy pick for one of the most popular gay bars in town.
- Woody’s KC: With a full calendar of events and a popular patio featuring a photo-friendly set of pride stairs, this Midtown destination draws a steady crowd of visitors and locals alike.
- Bistro 303: A laid-back restaurant and bar, Bistro 303 was the first gay bar in Kansas City to have street-facing windows. Grab a cocktail and relax in its cozy space.
- Hamburger Mary’s: Burgers and bingo combine for the perfect combo at this Midtown establishment with events every night of the week.
- Sidekicks Saloon: Another popular dive bar, patrons love Sidekicks for its excellent patio, drag shows and plenty more fun.
JAZZ BARS
The Blue Room — located in the 18th and Vine District
Green Lady Lounge (1809 Grand, KCMO 64108) — $5 cover and live music nightly. Open seating.
Kill Devil Club (31 East 14th St. KCMO 64105) — Located in the Power & Light District on the second floor.
The Majestic (931 Broadway, KCMO 64105) — Located in the former Fitzpatrick Saloon, which is on the historic registry. Enjoy steaks upstairs and live jazz on the lower level.
The Phoenix (302 West 8th Street, KCMO 64105) Live music nightly in the Garment District.
The Ship — a must see located in the West Bottoms
NIGHTCLUBS WITH LIVE MUSIC
While Kansas City’s live music calendar is full year-round, a handful of hangouts are home to house bands and local performers each night of the week:
- Green Lady Lounge: Live jazz and no cover make for a match made in music heaven.
- Howl at the Moon: Power & Light’s very own dueling piano bar is a raucous good time.
- Westport Saloon: Step, stomp and sway at this honky-tonk bar. (Closing Dec. 2021 for good)
- The Ship: From soul tunes on the jukebox to eclectic live shows throughout the week, The Ship is one of KC’s best-kept secrets.
- The Phoenix: Blues and jazz or soul and R&B, The Phoenix is a swinging spot no matter the genre.
- The Blue Room: Take in jazz in the heart of 18th & Vine and the American Jazz Museum.
- Chaz on the Plaza: Smooth sounds accompany date night dinners at The Raphael’s resident restaurant.
- Black Dolphin: The Green Lady Lounge’s companion venue is anything but second-fiddle thanks to stellar live sets from KC’s finest jazz musicians.
- recordBar: Combine a full show calendar with intimate concert vibes and you’ve got this Crossroads mainstay.
SPORTS BARS IN KANSAS CITY
The following Happy Hours in KC cater to sports lovers of all kinds – Nascar, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Golf, and more.
Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum
323 Armour
Kansas City, MO 64116
Rated one of the 10 best U.S. sports bars by USA Today and Sports Illustrated.
Former owner Jim Chappell spent 32 years collecting and displaying his floor-to-ceiling sports memorabilia for locals and sports fans from coast to coast to enjoy. Chappelle’s sports memorabilia collection is valued at around $130 million, according to a story aired by WDAF. The collection includes the 1974 World Series Trophy. People come to see the collection but return for the food, according to locals.
Charlie Hoopers
12 W. 63rd St.
Kansas City, MO 64113
Thirty beer taps and more than 100 bottled beers make Charlie Hoopers a Brookside neighborhood sports fan favorite. Happy Hour is from 3 – 6 p.m. weekdays and includes half-price appetizers; $3 domestic drafts, $3.50 domestic bottles; $4 house cab or chardonnay, and $1 off all well liquor.
John’s Big Deck
928 Wyandotte
Kansas City, 64105
John’s Big Deck is three stories of fun, including a top deck on the fourth floor overlooking the downtown Kansas City skyline. Enjoy watching sports on eight TV sets on each floor. Happy Hour is from 2 to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Specials include $2.50 Bud and Bud Light drafts, $3 Wells, and $5 JBD cocktail.
Lew’s Bar and Grill
(Charlie Hoopers Sister Bar)
7539 Wornall
Kansas City, MO 64114
Lew’s is a Waldo staple for a home-cooked meal and watching the big game. Happy Hour is from 3 – 6 p.m. weekdays and includes half-price appetizers, $3 domestic drafts, $3.50 domestic bottles, $4 house cab or chardonnay.
Quaff Bar & Grill
1010 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64105
The Quaff Bar & Grill opened in 1946 and has since become a watering hole legend in Kansas City.
It serves more Coors Light than any bar or restaurant in KC except Royals Stadium. Enjoy three rooms of televisions, a pool table, and access to all sports packages, including MLB, NFL, NHL, and MSL. They even host a rowdy Monday night football party during football season.
The Quaff has a full kitchen, and the food is top quality. Try steak nights every Wednesday from 4 to 11 p.m.
Happy Hours are weekdays, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Enjoy $3.00 domestic beer, margaritas, and $5.00 all-you-can-eat tacos.
The Well
7421 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64114
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The Well is a Waldo/Brookside neighborhood favorite. It offers everything from Sunday brunch to weeknight trivia. Don’t miss an evening on the rooftop cheering on your favorite team.
Happy Hour drink specials include local craft draws for $3.50, Bud Light drafts for $3 well drinks for $3.50, house wine for $4, and mules and Vodka Red Bulls for $5.
Happy Hour food specials include $5 Tavern cheese dip, $9 chicken tenders, $8 hummus, $7 medium nachos, $7 set of street tacos, and $7 chicken quesadilla.