10 Best Nightlife Districts in Kansas City

The Power and Light District has over 50 bars, restaurants, and shops in the heart of Downtown Kansas City. Spread across 8 lively blocks, this is where much of Kansas City’s nightlife action takes place. The centrepiece of the Power and Light District is KC Live, spanning an entire city block on its own and serving as one of the Midwest’s premier entertainment destinations.

Here, you’ll find 2 levels of world-class restaurants, taverns and late-night spots, plus a concert stage that hosts more than 150 free shows and festivals throughout the year. KC Live is also conveniently located opposite the Spring Center, where you can catch awesome sporting events.

Westport is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Kansas City, featuring a storied past that dates back 150 years. This centuries-old history becomes obvious as you wander the district’s tree-lined streets, with art deco and renaissance-style buildings now home to trendy restaurants and shopping boutiques.

In recent years, Westport has become renowned for its massive collection of sports bars and microbreweries. There are also must-visit live music venues like the Riot Room and the Westport Saloon. The Westport Ale House and HopCat are some of the top places to drink local craft beer. For a classic Kansas City destination, head to Kelly’s Westport Inn and experience the non-stop good times that have been going since 1947.

Country Club Plaza, America’s first suburban shopping district, brings a little bit of European culture to the Midwest. Across 15 sprawling city blocks, the district was inspired by Spanish plazas, with fountains and picturesque courtyards dotted between its 30 restaurants and 100-plus shopping outlets. 

But it isn’t only about shopping and dining at the Country Club Plaza, as the evening welcomes a host of great late-night venues. The Monarch Bar serves innovative cocktails with terrace seating, while O’Dowd’s Gastrobar offers cheerful happy hours and nightly specials. For something more romantic, you can head inside the tasting rooms of Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant and savour a glass of first-rate vino.

Lawrence might be located just outside Kansas City, but it still offers an outstanding selection of nightlife venues that make it well worth a visit. As a university town, you can be sure there are plenty of places to line up a couple of drinks, as the Downtown area features an eclectic offering of live music venues and rowdy bars.

Massachusetts Street is where you’ll find many of the best options. The Replay Lounge features raucous rock and roll vibes, while the Free State Brewing Company was the first legal brewery to open its doors in Lawrence for 100 years. Other highlights include the tiki-themed Sandbar and the quaint surrounds of The Bourgeois Pig. 

Crossroads is one of the coolest districts in Kansas City, widely recognised for its bustling creative scene and delightful nightlife. It’s a highly walkable kind of place, as every street is practically overflowing with hip dining and late-night venues. It doesn’t matter what kind of atmosphere you like, you’re bound to find it in Crossroads. 

Across a sprawling network of distilleries, craft breweries, live music venues and cocktail bars, you can bounce between all the options with ease. There are a lot of highlights to choose from but don’t miss your chance to sip a cocktail at Manifesto or a hand-crafted drink at SoT Social, which has an elevated garden.

Kansas City has an incredible history of jazz music, with much of it created within the district of 18th and Vine. With iconic musicians like Charlie Parker, Big Joe Turner and Ella Fitzgerald all emerging from the area, this remarkable past can still be experienced today through neon nightclubs and bars.

Surrounded by cultural institutions and theatres, there are a host of bright and bubbling venues that relive jazz’s heyday in the 1920s and 30s. Inside the American Jazz Museum, you’ll find the Blue Room performance space, while on the next street corner you’ll find soul-food and karaoke nights at The Kansas City Juke House. Plus, the nearby Mutual Musicians Foundation keeps the late-night fun going until sunrise.

In terms of venerable histories, the River Market is one of Kansas City’s most fascinating. Renowned for its popular marketplace known as City Market, the area dates back to 1857 and has featured everything from travelling circuses to horse-trading events. These days, it’s much-loved for its incredible shopping, dining and entertainment venues. 

Spread along the Missouri River across numerous distinct blocks, there’s no shortage of bars to wander into. Hang out with the locals at The Blue Line, a hockey-themed sports bar that raises the roof on game days, while Harry’s Country Club is ideal for when you want to pair your pub meal with a colourful cocktail.

West Bottoms might be traditionally known as Kansas City’s industrial zone, but in the last couple of decades, it’s grown into something much more interesting. With young people moving in and setting up shops and boutiques, there are countless vintage stores to explore. However, it also has a thriving nightlife scene that you don’t want to skip.

The Ship is certainly one of the hottest venues in town, featuring live jazz and soul performances, alongside late-night dance parties. Make your way to Stockyards Brewing Co. and sample a variety of craft beers from the region, while the Lucky Boys dive bar offers burgers and pool tables for when you just want somewhere laid-back.