Emily & Kyle
Things To Do
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Free art museum with a lovely impressionist collection, modern art wing, and ancient art. If the weather is nice, grab a coffee and check out the sculpture garden and shuttlecocks!
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Engaging museum in the base of the World War I Memorial. Be sure to check out views of downtown from the observation deck and the tower.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Free contemporary art museum. It is the perfect size and can be done in an hour!
Jacob L. Loose Memorial Park
Lovely rose garden. The park also has a duck pond and walking path.
Union Station Kansas City
A beautifully restored beaux-arts building with shops, museum exhibits, and dinning.
Made in KC Marketplace
One stop shop for locally made crafts, accessories, clothes, candles. There also a cafe, ice cream shop, and tap wall.
Christopher Elbow Chocolates
Delicious chocolates that make great souveniers. Emily's favorite chocolate is the passion fruit.
RAYGUN
Midwestern themed shop. Stop here for a crash course in how to talk to my people.
Meshuggah Bagels
The best bagels in town. The closest thing to NYC in town. There is also a location downtown. Emily likes the everything. Kyle gets the rye with rosemary cream cheese.
Goat Hill Coffee & Soda
Cutest little coffee shop with really good drinks.
Messenger Coffee Co. + Ibis Bakery
Multi-level coffee shop with delicious baked goods. Good place to grab a light breakfast or lunch. If the weather is nice, check out one of the few rooftop decks in the Crossroads.
Filling Station Coffee - Midtown
Coffee shop with juice and light breakfast and lunch options. Kyle likes the chorizo breakfast burrito. Emily likes the fresh juices.
Mildred's Coffeehouse
Coffee shop with light breakfast and lunch.
Happy Gillis
Cute neighborhood corner cafe in the historic Little Italy neighborhood with good breakfast and lunch options.
Los Alamos Cocina
Would you like Mexican for breakfast? Yes? Come here.
Blackhole Bakery
Funky little pastry shop.
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
BBQ sandwiches in an old gas station. The Z-man is the most popular option. Don't be surprised if the line is long during peak hours--it moves pretty fast. It is safest to go during off hours. You can also call ahead to order for pick up.
Char Bar
Great BBQ, veg options, and local beer. Be sure to get the cheesy grits hush puppies. If the weather is nice, check out the yard games.
Il Lazzarone Pizza
Kyle and Emily's favorite place for pizza in town. True Neapolitan style. Right by a street car stop and Betty Rae's Ice Cream Shop!
Parlor
KC's first food hall. Lots of great options including Korean, chicken sandwiches, pizza, and more!
Town Topic
This is the 24-hour location of a classic diner in KC. The other location is just a few short blocks away. Get a double, onion rings, and a shake!
Cosmo Burger
Kyle and I get smash burgers and tots from here way too often. The burger shop is located inside Dodson's bar and you order via and app and get a text when your food is ready!
Lulu's Thai Noodle Shop
One of Emily's go-to places for noodles. She's been ordering the same thing for a decade: rainbow noodles medium with tofu.
Extra Virgin
Great happy hour tapas and patio!
Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room
Fancy small plates and cocktails. Good happy hour.
Harry's Country Club
Real good burgers.
Le Fou Frog
Neighborhood French restaurant with a great happy hour.
The Westside Local
Emily dreams about the kale salad with salmon from this farm-to-table restaurant.
Up-Down KC
Barcade with pinball, skee ball, Joust, Rampage, Crazy Taxi, and lots of other fun games. Great regional beer selection. Kyle and Emily have eaten a lot of mac'n'cheese pizza here.
Lucky Boys
This hipster dive bar in the West Bottoms is where we celebrated KC's 2020 win at the Super Bowl. Great hot chicken sandwiches.
Green Lady Lounge
Want to catch some jazz while in town? This low-light bar has live jazz most nights--often with no (or a minimal) cover. Note: it can sometimes be hard to get a seat.
Swordfish Tom's
Cash only speakeasy you access through an alley and down some stairs. I haven't been back since COVID, but I remembered enjoying the vibe and the cocktails. There can be a wait on weekends.
Chez Charlie
Dive bar with $2 PBR and $3 Coors. What's not to like?
Bier Station
Our favorite bar in our neighborhood. It has with some of the best craft beer selections in town! Grab some bottles or cans to take home from their extensive bottle shop.
Boulevard Brewing Tours & Recreation Center
There's a mini museum and gift shop on the ground floor, but the real draw here is the spacious tap room, deck, and game hall on the upper levels.
Torn Label Brewing Co.
One of Emily and Kyle's favorite breweries in town. It is very cozy and has great beer. Note, it is on the edge of the Crossroads in a more industrial area.
City Barrel Brewery + Kitchen
Brewery with lots of hoppy, wild, and sour options.
Double Shift Brewing Company
Brewery with lots of good IPAs.
Mean Mule Distilling Co.
Fun tequila distillery.
Tom's Town Distilling Co.
Distillery with tasty gin.