Everything You Need to Know About Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
Downtown Kansas City is a business and culture hub offering residents an urban feel with numerous bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks among skyscrapers and art deco buildings.
Blake’s Favorite Things About Downtown Kansas City
About Downtown KC
An urban feel among skyscrapers and art deco buildings.
Distance to Downtown
0 miles / 0 minutes
Outdoor Spaces
Riverfront Heritage Trail, Berkley Riverfront Park, Elmwood Cemetery
Distance to Airport
18 miles / 21 minutes
School District
Crossroads Charter School, KCMO
Walk Score
94
Amenities
Kansas City Convention Center, Municipal Auditorium, P&L District
Gym
theGYMkc, Onelife Fitness
Bar
The Phoenix, John's Big Deck
Closest Hospital
Truman Medical Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital
Shopping
River Market, Farmer's Market
Events
KC Riverfest, KC Beerfest, Restaurant Week
Fun Facts About Downtown
Ernest Hemingway used Kansas City as a launchpad to fame and fortune. He began his writing career at the Kansas City Star newspaper, and occasionally slept in a bathtub at the Muehlebach Hotel, now a part of the downtown Marriott. The Muehlebach gets a shout-out in his novel “Across the River and Into the Trees.”
Best Restaurants in Downtown Kansas City
The Farmhouse
The Farmhouse. Farm House in River Market is a quaint farm-to-fork restaurant featuring a seasonal menu of elevated American food, serving brunch, lunch-ish (brunch and lunch), lunch and dinner. Some favorite items are the Country Fried Steak and Latin-inspired white cheddar poblano grits, shredded chili-braised beef barbacoa, masa cakes topped with poached eggs, and Pumpkin Bread Butter Toast fresh off the griddle.
The American Reserve
The American Reserve is located downtown in the spectacular Ambassador Hotel. The ambiance and carefully curated cuisine equal a superb dining experience. The restaurant offers a relaxed and inviting atmosphere by day and a romantic ambiance in the evening.
The Savoy at 21c
The Savoy at 21c’s menu reflects Chef Joe West’s thought-provoking dishes of growing up in Kansas City like Bacon Wrapped Cherry Peppers, Hot Brown Sugar Fried Chicken, Okonomiyaki BBQ Spare Ribs, and House Made Pastas with unique flavor combinations.
The Majestic Restaurant and Jazz Club
The Majestic Restaurant and Jazz Club serves only the finest Kansas City steak. In the basement is the Kansas City Jazz Club featuring musicians performing music made famous in KC. The Pendergast Cigar club offers a curated collection of 400 whiskeys, a changing selection of cigars and the full dinner menu.
Garozzo’s
Garozzo’s has been voted best Italian Restaurant by Ingrams Magazine and The Pitch and has been visited by countless celebrities from Kid Rock to Tony Bennett. The “Wall of Fame” is legendary. Their signature Chicken Spiedini is among the best dishes in town according to Zagat.
Take the elevator in Cosentino’s Market to the rooftop park to enjoy a stroll on green grass.
The American Jazz Museum
The American Jazz Museum shares a building with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Learn about the birth of jazz in Kansas City through interactive exhibits, including listening stations and custom mixing boards. Among the historic artifacts from the height of jazz's popularity are collections of photographs, sheet music and posters. A great attraction to see before a live show.
TWA Museum
TWA Museum is located at the Wheeler Downtown Airport. TWA Museum emphasizes the story, history and importance of the major role TWA played in pioneering commercial aviation. From the birth of airmail to the inception of passenger air travel, to the post-WWII era of global route expansion, TWA led the way for 75 years.
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
What began as a sketch on a napkin has become an architectural icon and home for the performing arts in Kansas City. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has changed Kansas City’s skyline. The 316,000-square-foot performing arts center hosts the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, and Lyric Opera in addition to other popular musical acts.
The T-Mobile Center
The T-Mobile Center is Kansas City’s home for basketball, concerts, family shows, and special events. This arena seats more than 18,000 people and shares a common lobby with the College Basketball Experience, a 41,500-square-foot entertainment facility that contains interactive basketball exhibits and houses the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Visitors to Kansas City frequently comment that it is way cooler and better than they expected for the city in the heart of the nation. Kansas City truly is a unique and vibrant metropolis. Downtown offers so many eclectic adventures in one of the coolest districts.
