JUSTIN'S KANSAS CITY
A Few Favorite Things
You've made the trip, so don't just come for the party.
These are a few places that make Kansas City feel like Kansas City and a few of Justin's favorites to eat, drink, listen, wander and hang out.
NOVEL RESTAURANT
1927 McGee Street · Crossroads
A creative New American restaurant with a changing menu, thoughtful cocktails and an intimate dining room. It's an excellent choice if you want one really good dinner while you're in town.
MESSENGER COFFEE + IBIS BAKERY
1624 Grand Boulevard · Crossroads
Coffee, pastries and bread in Messenger's multi-level Crossroads flagship. Grab coffee downstairs, wander the building and head up to the rooftop if the weather is good.
CROSSROADS ARTS DISTRICT
This is the neighborhood we'd tell you to wander without much of a plan. The Crossroads is Kansas City's creative district - a mix of galleries, restaurants, cocktail bars, coffee shops, independent businesses and converted industrial buildings. Walk around, find something unexpected and stay awhile.
SISTER ANNE'S RECORDS + COFFEE
901 E. 31st Street
Exactly what it sounds like—and exactly why it's on the list. Sip great coffee and dig through a highly curated vinyl collection. An independent neighborhood record shop and coffee house with deep roots in Kansas City's music and coffee community.
THE CAMPGROUND LOUNGE
1531 Genessee Street · West Bottoms
https://www.thecampgroundkc.co
What began as a backyard gathering place is now a restaurant and cocktail bar. Good food and drinks, people around a table, and turning strangers into friends - appropriate for this weekend.
TOWN TOPIC DINER
2021 Broadway Boulevard · Crossroads
Tiny diner. Flat-top burgers. Grilled onions. No unnecessary complications. Feels like the kind of place you stumble into yet remember years later. Sit at the counter, if there is room.
THE SHIP COCKTAIL LOUNGE
1221 Union Avenue · West Bottoms
Part historic cocktail lounge, part neighborhood bar and part live-music institution. Its original lounge traces its story back to 1935, and the restoration maintains the eras atmosphere.
JACK STACK BBQ SMOKE HOUSE
101 W. 22nd Street · Crossroads
https://www.jackstackbbq.com/locations/freight-house
If you came to Kansas City expecting barbecue, start here. The Freight House location combines classic KC barbecue with a historic warehouse setting right in the Crossroads.
GRINDERS PIZZA
417 E. 18th Street · Crossroads
Pizza, cheesesteaks, drinks and plenty of personality. Grinders has been part of the Crossroads since 2004 and is the casual choice when you want a slice and a beer.
WINDHORSE TATTOO
901 E 31st Street
https://www.windhorserising.com
A Kansas City custom tattoo studio with an art-gallery sensibility, operating since 2010. If you're thinking of marking the weekend permanently, this is the sort of place where the artwork is taken seriously. The studio works largely by appointment, so check current booking information before stopping in.
GRAFFITI WALL OF FAME
500-598 W 4th Street · West Bottoms
Head toward the river and explore the Riverfront Heritage Trail. The pedestrian and bicycle trail winds through some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods and large-scale murals from local artists.
ESCAPIST SKATE SHOP + GALLERY
405 Southwest Boulevard, Suite 100 · Crossroads
https://www.escapistskateboarding.com
Skateboarder-owned and operated since 2000, Escapist is filled with decks, shoes, apparel and art. You don't need to skate to appreciate this skate culture icon.