Stopping in somewhere for a beverage and a bite is no longer relegated to the happiest of hours. It can be the date night of choice for busy parents or perfect for those on a first date. Same goes for two busy friends, whose calendars never quite match up for a full meal, but they can make a quick drink happen.
So, where should you go to wet your whistle this month?
During the summer, Kansas City’s bar scene seemed to whirl to life with several new spots opening back-to-back, and they simply haven’t stopped. Each one seems more exciting and interesting than the next. You’ll notice that all mentioned are locally owned and operated and most of them are bite-sized spaces.
Small bars just make good business sense right now, and with that may come some new rules of engagement. Some bars may accept reservations, and some won’t. There may be a small fee to reserve a table that will count toward your check, or some restrictions on the amount of time you can camp at a table. Don’t let these guidelines hinder your interest. Remember, the plan here is to have a quick but meaningful interaction over a drink and a nosh. If you enjoyed yourself at a particular place, make plans to return. No one is ever upset about a return customer.
There is only one spot on this list that hasn’t opened yet—Blanc Champagne Bar—but they say they should have their doors open sometime in September. Read the articles I’ve written about The Sentinel Room on Independence Square and Songbird at Corvino Supper Club. Add both to your list. Be sure to check websites or social media pages before you head out to ensure these places are open and operating.
Cheers to the end of another summer, Kansas City, and for making the time to get together, even if it is short and sweet.
Mineral Lounge
Kansas City’s newest wine bar, Mineral Lounge, was inspired by wines from the Mediterranean, which tend to have a bit of minerality. The concept is a collaboration between the team at Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen and Wendy Sight, who owns the location. The tiny lounge is quietly stylish with limewashed walls and a handsome marble bar with a temperature-controlled wine cellar in back. There’s seating for around 30 people, and the spot has incredible views of Broadway Boulevard, the Kansas City Crossroads, and the Kauffman Performing Arts Center directly across the street. The team has carved out one small section of the Tannin wine list and spotlighted it for your drinking and dining pleasure. Here you’ll find wines that come from France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Lebanon, and Slovenia. There’s a full cocktail menu, including some refreshing spritzes and non-alcoholic selections. The food menu is also Mediterranean-focused, with a rotating tinned-fish program served with cheese-stuffed peppadew peppers, olives, and caperberries; a bay scallop ceviche served with Spanish potato chips; yellowtail crudo with capers and olives; and a Turkish coffee panna cotta so good it’s the reason you must have dessert.
XO
Noah Manos, using his design and build experience, has turned a former rundown garage on the Westside into a stylish, breeze-block-covered 30-seat, HiFi listening bar. It’s styled after the Japanese kissaten, a post-World War II café that’s a popular place to drink tea and have a snack while listening to music. Manos opened XO in collaboration with two business partners, Mitch Foster and Will Minter, both owners of ESP, a popular HiFi listening bar in Denver. Using their incredible vinyl library and an excellent sound system, the team at XO plays music to match the energy as it evolves hour to hour. In addition to the music selections, ESP also manages the bar program at XO. There’s a selection of highball cocktails, natural wines, and a few beers. Local James Beard Award nominee for outstanding chef, Johnny Leach, has developed a fantastic food menu. Order the pork curry katsu, nori egg salad sandwiches on fluffy milk bread, or the salmon crudo donburi and thank me later.
Common Tiger
From the Hans family that brought you Urban Prairie Coffee, Mission: Board Games, and The Primrose, comes their newest concept in Mission—Common Tiger. Much like the prohibition-era Kansas City speakeasies, you’ll need a password to enter. At first glance, the space resembles any corner store stocked with grocery items, such as jars of almond butter, cans of Spam, Zapp’s chips, and breakfast cereal. If you can tell the cashier the password (it changes weekly and is easily located on their website), you will be led to the backroom where cocktails, music, and dancing all take place under a disco ball surrounded by tiger-themed décor. Abby Hans co-owns Common Tiger with her brother, Mason, and their parents, Jason and Julie. Tiger’s Blood is the best-selling cocktail, made with Mean Mule poblano agave spirit, blood orange liqueur, lime, and grapefruit soda. Common Tiger is open Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 p.m. to midnight.
The Blue Palm
The former Mockingbird Lounge was too cool not to have a fabulous second act as something new for the Strawberry Hill neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. Hospitality-industry veterans Dan Doty, Hunter DeFoe, and Roxie Danner (the founder of Hellfire Tiki, a roaming tiki pop-up bar), managed to snag the spot to launch The Blue Palm, a nautical-themed tiki bar. Guests enter via the side door through the outdoor patio, which opens directly to the host stand. The bar is bathed in a deep blue light, giving the space under-the-sea vibes. The drink menu offers a rotating mix of favorite tiki drinks from Hellfire Tiki, including the Tarot Deck, a terrific drink made with Planteray dark rum, velvet falernum, taro coconut cream, passion fruit, lemon and nutmeg. Classic tiki cocktails, such as the Mai Tai, Saturn, and Pain Killer, are served in a fun, rum barrel-shaped glass. It’s drinks only at The Blue Palm, so plan to eat before you go. Those tiki drinks go down way too easy to imbibe on an empty stomach.
Varsity Club & Disco Burger
Varsity Club is a casual cocktail bar owned by brothers Caleb and Levi Royce, who have made their names by managing popular craft-cocktail bars in Kansas City. As their first bar together, Varsity Club, located in the River Market, is all about making the drinks fun and accessible and making everyone feel welcome. Tucked away in a handsome basement space with stone walls, warm wood, and low lighting, it boasts a pretty bar topped with Norwegian rose marble. The drink menu is simple, with a handful of classic drinks, such as old fashioneds, negronis, and margaritas, and some fun ones, including the Bangarang, a highball made with pear citrus soda, mint, and your choice of spirit. The summertime favorite, the Spaghett cocktail, is on draft, and all drinks fall between $8-$15. You’ll enter through the back of the building, where there’s a nice outdoor patio with picnic tables. That’s where you’ll also find the permanently parked Disco Burger food truck, cranking out fantastic smash burgers with cheese and a side of crinkle-cut French fries. Owned by Darren Carter and Matt Chapman, Disco Burger’s food can be ordered directly from the truck or via a QR code found on the drink menu inside. Food can be enjoyed inside or on the patio.
Ground Control
After running both The Belfry (for ten years) and Gerard’s pool hall (for two years) in the handsome building at 15th and Grand Boulevard, James Beard Award-winning chef Celina Tio recently unveiled a new craft cocktail bar in the basement of the same building. Called Ground Control, it’s named after the famous David Bowie song, whose picture hangs in a place of honor behind the bar. Tio built this bar as an upscale tasting room where she’s pouring drinks made from Annx Spirits Co., her own line of spirits. This 20-seat bar serves a creative list of cocktails designed by local bartender John Phelps. The cocktails are all mixed with Tio’s own Moon Age bourbon, 600 Acre vodka, Boathouse gin, or Collection rye. To drink, try the fragrantly floral Rainha Vadia, a cocktail made with Annx Boathouse gin, Combier rose liqueur, Italicus Bergamont liqueur, lemon, rosemary, and saline. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, her luxe small-plates menu lists a $140 caviar plate that features 30 grams of Osetra Molossal caviar, blinis, and traditional garnishes, and moves from there on to even more decadent dishes, including her famous crab cakes, roasted cauliflower with English pea purée, white bean ragu, clam chowder, and a wagyu smash burger. The first Friday and Saturday of every month, Tio is also offering a five-course tasting menu at Ground Control that will change monthly. Reservations for the tasting menu can be made by emailing events@thebelfrylounge.com, and put the words Ground Control in the subject line.
Sagebrush
It’s been three years in the making, but Christopher Ciesiel and Cristin Llewelly are finally ready to unveil their latest labor of cocktail love. Sagebrush is located next door to Garden House Café in Rosedale. As owners of The Campground in the West Bottoms, known for its moody, cabin-in-the-woods décor, craft cocktails, and stellar food menu, their bar Sagebrush is clearly walking to the beat of a different drummer. The long, curved bar is wrapped in warm-wood slats with matching midcentury-modern inspired bar stools and a colorful neon light installation overhead that washes the entire bar in a soft red light. Working with Modern Lark (a design/build studio) and Element Ten (custom neon work) on the project, the result is super simple and super sexy. The same can be said for their drink menu. They are serving draft cocktails for ease, speed, and consistency, along with a few made-to-order drinks. Nonalcoholic options, including a frozen cocktail that can be spiked (or not), also grace the menu, in addition to a few bar snacks.
Kon Tiki Room + Conchita Tacos
Chad Troutwine, co-owner of Torn Label Brewing Co. and Public House, and Chris Seferyn, owner of the Martini Corner legendary bar, The Velvet Dog, are partners in Kon Tiki Room + Conchita Tacos, a new tiki bar and street taco concept in Kansas City’s Crossroads. Located next to the popular watering hole Up Down KC, this new spot is serving up some serious tiki culture. It’s full of colorful tiki glasses and mugs as well as sizable collection of hip-shaking hula dolls and wood sculptures of Hawaiian tiki gods carved by famed tiki woodworker Bosko. The bar team shakes up handcrafted tiki cocktails. Next door, Conchita Tacos, operated by the chefs Kenda Valentine and Pablo Muñoz, along with Roger Avila, the team behind Tacos Valentina, serves gourmet street tacos until close at 1:30 a.m. This mash-up of talent and flavors will make this place a runaway hit.
Coming Soon
Blanc Champagne Bar
Blanc Champagne Bar, owned by local Kansas City marketer Jordin Johnson, will open sometime this month in the former Canary location at 3835 Main Street after a facelift that will bring a lively floral vibe and rosy blush color to the space. The name comes from the French wine term “blanc de blanc,” which means “white on white,” and refers to champagnes made with all white grapes. The chef Chad Tillman is serving as the culinary consultant for the full-service restaurant on the first floor and rooftop garden patio. Expect charcuterie and cheese plates, small plates made for sharing and a buzzy brunch service, along with a full cocktail bar and one of the most extensive bubble lists in the city.