The Ultimate List: KC’s Best Neighborhood Joints

Kansas City boasts countless cool neighborhoods, with plenty to see, do, and eat in each. Let’s make our way south from the Historic Northeast to Waldo and take a peek at some highlights of the major neighborhoods.

Once you’ve explored the list, pick an area you aren’t as familiar with and go explore!

KC’s Best Joints, by Neighborhood:

Historic Northeast

• Where: East of East Bottoms
• Eat: San Antonio Carniceria & Tortilleria
• Do: Cliff Drive, Homes Tour, Kansas City Museum
• Treat Yourself: Boulevard Bakery & Pastries

East Bottoms

• Where: Northeast of Columbus Park
• Eat: Pigwich
• Do: Knuckleheads, Local Pig (+ visit the goats across the street!), Urban Provisions

Columbus Park

• Where: East of River Market
• Eat: Vietnam Cafe, Garozzo’s, Happy Gillis, Columbus Park Ramen Shop, Caddy Shack
• Drink: The North End

River Market

• Where: North of Downtown
• Eat: The Farmhouse, Il Lazzarone, Burrito Brothers, Le Fou Frog, Habashi House
• Do: City Market, Arabia Steamboat Museum, explore the Missouri River
• Caffeinate: Quay Coffee, City Market Coffee Roasters
• Drink: The Blue Line, Harry’s Country Club
• Shop: Carollo’s Grocery & Deli, Dutch Flowers, Planters Seed Co., Houndstooth
• Treat Yourself: Bloom Baking Co., BabyCakes

West Bottoms

• West of Downtown
• Eat: Voltaire, Gennesse Royale Bistro
• Drink: Amigoni
• Do: Warehouse Weekends
• Shop: Bella Patina, Good JuJu
• Caffeinate: Blip Roasters

Westside

• Where: West of Downtown
• Eat: The Westside Local, Chez Elle, Fervere, Novel
• Shop: Westside Storey
• Treat Yourself: Little Freshie
• Do: Explore Jarboe Park and the surrounding walking trails

Southwest Blvd

• Where: West of Downtown
• Eat: El Patron Cocina & Bar, Empanada Madness, La Bodega
• Drink: Ponak’s
• Do: Boulevard Brewing Company
• Treat yourself: Tropicana Paleterias

Downtown

• Includes: Library District, Financial District, Garment District, Power and Light District
• Do: Kansas City Public Library, Power & Light Rooftop Park
• Eat: Charisse, Milwaukee Deli, Zaina, The Homesteader Cafe
• Treat Yourself: Sasha’s Baking Co.

18th and Vine

• Where: Southeast of Downtown
• Do: American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Crossroads

• Where: South of Downtown
• Do: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Crossroads KC, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, First Fridays, Up Down
• Eat: Nara, Anton’s, Grunauer, Lidia’s, Cafe Gratitude, Blvd Tavern, The Rieger, Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen, Pizza Bella
• Shop: Birdies, The Sundry, Cellar Rat Wine Merchants, Sandlot Goods
• Drink: KC Wine Works, Tom’s Town, Torn Label, The Belfry, Snow & Co., Ruins Pub, Double Shift Brewing
• Caffeinate: Thou Mayest, PT’s Coffee, Mildred’s Coffeehouse
• Treat Yourself: Christopher Elbow Chocolates, Bizz & Weezy’s Confections

 Crown Center/Union Station

• Where: South of the Crossroads
• Eat: The American, Spin! Neapolitan Pizza, d’Bronx, Pierpont’s
• Do: The National WW1 Museum and Memorial, Union Station, Crown Center, Penn Valley Park
• Caffeinate: Parisi

Hospital Hill

• Where: South of the Crossroads, East of Crown Center/Union Station
• Eat: Teocali, Succotash, You Say Tomato
• Caffeinate: Filling Station Coffee Garage

W. 39th Street

• Where: South of Westport, part of Midtown
• Eat: Friends Sushi, Bob Wasabi Kitchen, Thomas Restaurant, Blue Koi, RM 39, Q39, Meshuggah Bagels
• Do: Prospero’s Books
• Shop: Donna’s Dress Shop, Boomerang, Volker Bicycle
• Caffeinate: Mud Pie
• Drink: Hi Dive Lounge, Drunken Worm
• Treat Yourself: Miami Ice

Westport

• Where: Between Midtown and the Plaza
• Eat: Beer Kitchen, Cancun Fiesta Fresh, Char Bar, Cuccina Della Regazza, Port Fonda, Westport Cafe & Bar, Bluestem, Potpie
• Shop: Pryde’s Kitchen & Home, The Bunker
• Caffeinate: Oddly Correct, Broadway Roasting Company
• Drink CaVa, Harry’s Bar & Tables, Julep Cocktail Club, Westport Ale House, The Foundry

Plaza

• Where: South of Westport
• Eat: Eden Alley, Bo Lings, Coal Vines, t.Loft
• Shop: Charlie Hustle, American Apparel, Baldwin, The Better Cheddar
• Do: Loose Park, Mill Creek Park, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kauffman Memorial Gardens
• Caffeinate: Kaldi’s Coffee

Brookside

• Where: South of the Plaza
• Eat: Avenues Bistro, Julian
• Shop: STUFF, Brookside Barkery & Bath, Reading Reptile
• Caffeinate: The Roasterie Cafe
• Drink: Bier Station

Waldo

• Where: South of Brookside
• Eat: Summit Grill & Bar, Waldo Pizza, Taj Mahal, The Classic Cookie, Louie’s Wine Dive
• Shop: Family Bicycles
• Do: Trolley Trail
• Drink: The Well, District Pourhouse
• Caffeinate: One More Cup, Coffee Girls Cafe

This list only scratches the surface of Kansas City’s numerous cool places. What spots am I missing?

Leave a comment below with your favorites and then get out there!

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