The best bars in Kansas City right now

This 39th Street staple spent a few years lost in a shuffle of new ownerships and rebranding nightmares, only to finally reopen as a pure return to what had once made it great. Despite the dive-sounding name, this is the source for some of the best Mexican food in town in a maximalist space that oozes personality, run by some of our favorite weirdos in the city. Their array of infused tequilas is an extensive, rotating set of science experiments, guaranteeing you’ll always have a powerful punch to bump up your lunch. Worm is simply the go-to for high-end imported tequilas as well—boasting a roster of 100+ agave spirits from around the world. If you’re in KC, you’d be remiss not to catch a seat at the bar for a gigantic nacho and an afternoon adventure through some hard-hitting drinks. [If you’re looking for a place to go hard in the paint at the end of the night, you could do much worse than wrapping up here.]

Perched atop the historic Crossroads Hotel (in the Crossroads District), Percheron is a seasonal outdoor restaurant with the most iconic views in the city. Named for the famed local racing horses known for their intelligence and liveliness, this literally high-end experience comes at a fraction of the price one might expect. While drinking in a bird’s-eye perspective of the metro, you’ll also be drinking in everything from serious standards to some of the sweetest swigs in town. A hard recommend here for almost anything built around fruit, including the cantaloupe cocktail and the frozen pink margarita. Make sure to get reservations ahead of time and set aside plenty of time for the experience—making this all work off a luxury rooftop means you’ll have slightly longer wait times for your order than a standard eatery. Not that there’s a problem with spending more time looking out over the city’s gorgeous skyline.

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First opened directly after the repeal of Prohibition in 1935, The Ship was a place where politicians, gamblers, and all classes in between could mingle freely. In the 1990s, the bar was dismantled, removing the decorations made from an actual wooden ship, but in the 2000s, a local team scoured the city to recover the lost elements and re-opened the bar with much of its original glory. The drinks are cheap, the food portions are threatening, and it plays double duty as an intimate concert venue. 

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This iconic KC jazz club has a gold ceiling, a dark wooden bar, and a candlelit space. There's no cover, so there's no reason not to pop in for an hour ... or five. The comfortable, quiet tone offers a nice respite from the rowdier entries on this list. The owner's motto is "Stiff drinks, good jazz, no homicides.” What could be more inviting?

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Directly next door to The Worm, Hi-Dive Lounge offers excellent locals, stiff drinks and a brand of Midwestern grunge you might be looking for. Hi-Dive is as laid back as bars come. There's also a canned beer machine that includes a mystery slot that dispenses some of the oddest beverages. Feel free to roll the dice on that.

Nationally-recognized Monarch walks the fine line between being fancy and still accessible. It's the kind of place where a semi-formal dress code is enforced, men are required to remove their hats, and people often arrive in their Sunday best to have a drink or two. But that's all part of the fun. Don't order your usual; Insted ask the bartender to surprise you with a concoction using their selection of locally produced liquors. You might just find your new favorite to remember the city by.

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One of the finest distilleries in the city is also a must-stop dining destination. Opt for a few different dining experiences—from a sampling flight at the bar to a high-end dinner in the ballroom – where every cocktail is made with Tom's signature spirits, produced in the machines directly behind you. If you do not sample their gin, you have not successfully completed your Kansas City trip.

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With a maximum capacity of around 20 guests, you might have to wait to see the inside of this cozy (and quiet) bar. Noise is kept to an absolute minimum here, so instead of ordering at the bar, a traveling bar cart brings finished drinks to your table (because they won't use the shaker in the room – for sound purposes, of course). With 12 seasonal rotating cocktails and a specialized ice machine, Swordfish Tom's is a must-visit when in KC. 

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Billed as a global eatery and purveyor of libations, this downtown KC spot sports a distinctly European slant that sets it apart from everything in the area. There's usually a DJ spinning soul or dance albums, and the visual vibe is decidedly French-adjacent. Martinis pair well with everything here, including grilled Spanish octopus, lamb with ravioli, pan-fried walleye and even duck confit gyoza. 

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KC's premier gay nightclub is open 365 days a year until 3am, and is always ready to serve you a series of powerful drinks at bargain prices. The main floor hosts nightly events ranging from cabaret and karaoke to live game shows. The upstairs bar features the city's best dance floor and a leather shop. If you're looking for a way to end your night with the most positive energy imaginable, swing through.

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You'll find this solid sports bar at the base of a gigantic red radio tower that pierces the KC skyline. (So if you wind up lost, you'll be able to find your way back to your party.) The real draw, though, is that you've found yourself in Martini Corner. This small literal corner off the beaten path has a set of four excellent bars for the plundering. 

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Downtown KC's only rooftop bar is the space to see the city from—and the best spot for cheering on sports as loud and as raucously as possible. John's Big Deck has three floors, but you'll want to start at the top. To drink, we recommend the Paloma, the Savage Garden (a Truly, Mad Dog, Deep Eddy cocktail), and the Mule in the Skyy.

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Westport Cafe is the polar opposite of what the generic name suggests. This small Parisian bistro is a true Tour de France, featuring an extensive menu ranging from Euro bites up to some of the finest high-end dishes in town. For real, this is the spot worth setting aside some serious coin in order to do right. [Or, take our local lifehack and make your way here during their highly discounted Happy Hour.] The wine selection is out of this world, but the cocktails are a tier all their own. The bartenders here are regularly voted among the best in the city, and the ever-evolving selection of singular sensory concoctions represents a dedication to detail that eclipses our own experiences in actual Paris. If you’re in the company of sober companions, this is also the best spot on this list for the city’s finest NA cocktails—hands down.