A mere three hour drive from Des Moines can land you in Kansas City, home to some of the nation’s best barbecue, two major-league sports franchises and our friend Katie Snyder. She has laid out some of the best things to eat, drink and do if you have just a day or two to spend in KC. You’ll notice these recommendations are sorted into the most popular places to go, as well what she believes to be the best kept secrets in town (so mum’s the word).

Written by: Katie Snyder, Des Moines Native and Kansas City Resident

There is little better than a long vacation, but sometimes with limited PTO and a limited budget, our would-be relaxing holiday turns into just another thing to stress about. This is where the weekend getaway saves the day by being low-maintenance, drivable and lower cost, but still a welcome departure from our normal routines.

 🍔 Eats 🍔

Barbecue

Popular:

  • Joe’s KC: Formerly Oklahoma Joe’s, this is the barbecue I was told I had to have when I arrived in KC. It’s worth it to go to the original location, a partially converted gas station with cafeteria-style charm, but beware the weekend lines.

Best Kept Secret: This is a hotly contested issue here and I refuse to choose just one.

  • Slap’s – On the Kansas City, Kansas side of the state line, this is one I love for their delicious sides and recently-expanded outdoor patios.
  • Arthur Bryant’s – In the historic 18th & Vine neighborhood, this is also a great spot, and one where many celebrities have dined! Be sure to try the burnt ends!
  • LC’s – If you want the best ribs, you’ll find them at this beloved hole-in-the-wall.

Italian

Popular:

  • Lidia’s Kansas City – Owned by an Emmy-winning PBS host and cookbook author, Lidia’s is a deservedly renowned spot tucked in the Crossroads neighborhood downtown. Most importantly, they have the Pasta Trio, a constantly rotating offering of all-you-can-eat pasta that is guaranteed to make you regret wearing pants without elastic.

Best Kept Secret:

  • Bella Napoli – An unassuming storefront in the Brookside neighborhood, Bella Napoli has some of the best and most authentic Italian food in town. Go for lunch for the simple, delicious deli sandwiches or sit down for a dinner of freshly made pasta or pizza. I highly recommend the carbonara.

Mexican

Popular:

  • Ponak’s – This restaurant on Southwest Boulevard has been serving up some really fantastic food, influenced by the Sonora region of Mexico, since 1975. Perhaps even more important, they also have one of the best margaritas in town.

Best Kept Secret:

  • Tacos El Guero – Did you know that Kansas City, Kansas is nationally renowned for its Mexican cuisine? I certainly wouldn’t have guessed it, but there are dozens of small restaurants in the area that prove the point. Tacos El Guero is a favorite of mine, with some of the most authentic tacos around.

Asian

Popular: This is an impossibly large category to do justice to, but I have attempted to capture a couple of the great options in town.

  • Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop – A bright restaurant with even brighter dishes, Lulu’s does great Thai food and has lots of shareable options and appetizers.

Best Kept Secret:

  • Viêtnam Cafe – I’m going to keep this simple and just say that everything on the Viêtnam Cafe menu is delicious. Every. Single. Thing.

Breakfast/Brunch

Popular:

  • First Watch – If you are looking for a delicious breakfast with options to satisfy just about anyone, this is your spot. There are locations all over town and the menu ranges from healthy to decadent. I highly recommend the kale tonic juice (it’s much better than it sounds).

Best Kept Secret:

  • Succotash – I humbly submit their Maggie Cristo sandwich and some of their fresh-squeezed OJ as the best breakfast in town. Get there early to avoid lines!

Boozy

  • Brick House – One extra category was necessary to shout out everyone’s favorite weekend ritual: the boozy brunch. Camp out at Brick House any time between 10 am and 2 pm and enjoy $4 cocktails or $13 bottomless mimosas while watching whatever game is on or enjoying some yard games.

🍹Drinks🍹

Beer

Popular:

  • Boulevard Brewing Company – Boulevard is a household name and you may have already had a few of their beers, but the $5 tour will give you a better appreciation for how they’ve grown to the giant they are today. There is also a tasting room and a newer game room where you can try more of their beers, ciders and seltzers while testing the theory that you are better at shuffleboard the more you drink.

Best Kept Secret: Again, here I will cheat with multiple answers because KC is a beer town with many great options.

  • KC Bier Co – If the German beer garden is your vibe, you’ll love Bier Co in Waldo. In addition to great locally-brewed beers (which can also be picked up at stores across town), they also have German snacks like sausages and pretzels and usually a weekend lineup of live German music.
  • Casual Animal Brewery – This recently-expanded craft brewery in the Crossroads has a little something for everyone with its great selection, plus it’s dog-friendly inside and out. My motto: Come for the beer, stay for the dogs.

Wine

There are local places I can list here, but I want to be honest with you about my feelings. Missouri wine is gross unless you really love sweet wines. Stick to beer and liquor if you’re sampling local.

Best Kept Secret:

  • Tannin Wine Bar – If you want a great spot to drink wine made in regions where good wine is made, this place is our favorite. With a very wide selection and incredibly knowledgeable sommeliers, we have found more than a few of our new favorite bottles at Tannin.

Liquor

Popular:

  • Tom’s Town – In a moody 20s-style bar, you’ll find award-winning and locally-distilled gin, vodka and bourbon. If you’re a true connoisseur, you might opt for the tasting flight, but for those of us with a less refined liquor palate, Tom’s Town has an excellent lineup of cocktails as well.

Best Kept Secret:

  • Mean Mule – In the KC food & drink capital of the Crossroads district, Mean Mule serves up the best agave (not tequila, but basically) drinks I’ve ever had. I discovered them during the pandemic with their life-saving take-home cocktail kits, but enjoying their signature margarita, paloma or rotation of seasonal cocktails is even better in person.

🛍️To Do🛍️

Antiquing

Popular:

  • Bella Patina – If you happen to be in town during a First Friday weekend, the West Bottoms is the spot for antique and vintage shopping for the home. Bella Patina is the crown jewel of the area with three floors full of vendor-curated finds and goods from local artists and makers open Friday through Sunday.

Best Kept Secret:

  • Urban Mining – Also open exclusively on First Friday weekends but far from the packed West Bottoms, Urban Mining is the ultimate vintage market for one-of-a-kind finds and incredibly curated vendor booths. If you are hunting for high-quality vintage furniture and decor, this is the best place to find it. I honestly can’t even believe I’m telling you about it.

Open Daily:

  • River Market Antiques – If you can’t make it for First Fridays, never fear! River Market Antiques is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week and has four floors stocked full of an eclectic range of antiques as well as a basement full of vintage clothing. You could spend the better part of a day here or do just a quick browse. Either way, you are guaranteed to find something awesome.

Museums

Popular:

  • Nelson Atkins Museum of Art -I have to pinch myself to believe that we really get an art museum as awe-inspiring as the Nelson in Kansas City. With collections of over 40,000 works of art from around the world and rotating exhibitions (not to mention free admission) this is another spot where you might just want to spend a whole day. You can also act like a local and enjoy a picnic or some sunbathing on The Nelson’s lush front lawn.

Best Kept Secret:

  • World War I Museum & Memorial – If you’re interested in history, and honestly even if you’re not, the WWI Museum is an impeccably curated experience. The impact is hard to describe, but I’ll just guarantee that you will remember a visit to this museum for a long time. The memorial is also a beautiful spot to overlook KC’s downtown and just a short walk to Union Station (home to additional rotating exhibits, restaurants and Science City).

Outdoors

Popular:

  • Loose Park – Just South of The Plaza, Loose Park is a large recreational space featuring a 3-mile walking/running path, tennis courts, playground with water park, a rose garden and picnic tables. I like to spread out a blanket under a tree and throw tennis balls to my dog while I read.

Best Kept Secret:

  • Swope Park Nature Trails – A recent discovery has been the many hiking trails in the expansive Swope park (also home to the Kansas City Zoo). If you prefer to be truly out in nature, this is a great, quiet spot for a hike where you’re sure to stumble upon some treasures (walnuts, chestnuts and pecans, oh my!).

Shopping

Popular:

  • Country Club Plaza – South of downtown, the Spanish-inspired architecture will be your clue that you’ve entered The Plaza – 15 blocks of shopping, dining and hotels with over 100 storefronts. From international brands to local shops and spanning every category of retail, there is something for everyone in your group. Unless, like me, your partner hates shopping (in which case you can ditch them in a sports bar and shop without complaints).

Best Kept Secret:

  • Just explore! There are so many local stores across Kansas City with great products and knowledgeable staff. Some of my favorites include: Golden & Pine, Ladybye, EB & Co, The Better Cheddar, Tyler Kingston Mercantile, Underdog Wine, Dear Society, Do Good Co., Pryde’s Kitchen & Necessities, and Homesong Market.

That’s it for now! Have fun.

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