Thanks to a revitalization of activity downtown, recently-realized world-class architecture, and solid staples that have been around for decades, Kansas City is a not-to-miss destination for design lovers. Known as "Cowtown" to many, for in-the-know residents and visitors, Kansas City is anything but:
See:
• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (pictured up top): With its recent addition by architect Steven Holl, the already-noteworthy museum is also a world-renowned piece of contemporary architecture. Visitors can now check out the plank glass addition to the original 1930s limestone building, as well as the museum's renowned Asian art collection and the adjacent sculpture park's infamous shuttlecocks by Claus Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
• Kauffman Center for Performing Arts (pictured above): An even more recent addition to the Kansas City skyline, from architect Moshe Safdie, is the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts. Free open houses have brought crowds that circle multiple city blocks just to get a glimpse inside the steel-and-glass structure. Better yet, catch a performance by the Kansas City Ballet, the Lyric Opera or the Kansas City Symphony.
• Crossroads Arts District: Visit this neighborhood that's teeming with galleries to view the work local artists. If you're in town on the first Friday of any given month, be sure to attend First Fridays, the area's open gallery night.
Tour:
• Liberty Memorial (above): Housing the WWI museum, the Liberty Memorial is a well-loved place for taking in the view of the city from on high. A National Historic Landmark, the memorial to WWI soldiers was built in an Egyptian Revival style in the 1920s and hearkens to the Art Deco style of that age.
• Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art: In a suburb south of downtown is the city's largest collection of contemporary art. Housed in a beautiful, box-shaped building designed by architect Kyu Sung Woo, docent-led and self-guided tours are available.
• Boulevard Brewing Co.: Tour one of Kansas City's oldest and most-loved breweries for a taste (literally) of what they have to offer. Their seasonal Chocolate Ale sells out fast.
Shop:
• Good Juju (above): An amazing antique shop located in the city's West Bottoms, you've got to be here on the first Friday of the month to shop at Good Juju. Since they're only open on a monthly basis, the selection is fresh every time you go!
• Retro Inferno (below): This is one of the best places anywhere to find authentic mid-century modern furnishings. As a bonus, you get to shop in an equally-cool building of the same vintage.
• River Market: At the very north end of downtown you'll find the River Market. This is where the city's farmers' market is held, as well as shops open daily with local food, artwork, housewares, and more.
• Country Club Plaza: The high-end shopping district was developed by J.C. Nichols as the first of its kind in 1922. Its many fountains put Kansas City on the map as the City of Fountains, second only to Rome in the world.
• Christopher Elbow Chocolates: Pick up some Christopher Elbow artisan chocolates (found only here and in San Francisco) to bring a sweet taste of Kansas City back home.
• Pryde's of Westport: Pryde's is an area staple for gourmet kitchenware and home accessories. It's in a gorgeous old brick building where you can spend hours browsing and more than likely find a must-have item to take home with you. And don't forget to grab a slice from The Upper Crust pie bakery in the lower floor.
Eat:
• Blue Bird Bistro (below): An organic restaurant located on the city's west side, Blue Bird Bistro is the source for local, sustainable ingredients prepared from the freshest ingredients from the farms of the heartland. For a special treat, attend a Farmers' Table dinner, where you can sit down and eat a five-course meal with the area farmers who provided the ingredients.
• Lill's on 17th: Hidden away in an old house, Lill's is a treasure. Says a friend: "Their bacon-wrapped dates are truly one of the best things I have tasted". Good food in a cozy atmosphere like this is exactly the kind of hospitality that makes Kansas City special.
• Bluestem: The husband-wife chef team behind Bluestem shops local markets and keeps the restaurant's aesthetic simple and clean, all of which is appealing to the foodie and design set.
• Prairie Fire Oven: If you can track it down, be sure to eat from this unique kind of food truck, which is actually a mobile wood-fired oven.
• Arthur Bryant's Don't go home from Kansas City without having tried the barbecue. Most say Arthur Bryant's is the best, though the topic is hotly contested 'round here!
Stay:
• Hotel Phillips: A completely revamped art deco hotel located downtown is a great place to stay if you want to be near the action. Gilded common spaces and contemporary rooms feel luxurious but contemporary.
• Raphael Hotel: This hotel is located closer to the Country Club Plaza, so it's the perfect place to stay if you're a shopaholic who wants great views of the district's beautiful, Italianate streets.
• Southmoreland on the Plaza: This cozy bed and breakfast is within walking distance to the Nelson-Atkins. Its many bedrooms are cozy just like grandma's house and breakfast served in the intimate sunroom is divine.
Are you from Kansas City or have you visited and found a real gem that we forgot to include here? Please help us out by adding to our guide in the comments below!
(Images: Flickr member fudgealicious licensed for use under Creative Commons, Safdie Architects, Wikipedia Commons user Charvex, Good Juju, Retro Inferno, Blue Bird Bistro)
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I am a Kansas City native and am super proud of the great destinations featured in this article. I've not lived in KC for some time; architecture school in Manhattan (KS) and Prague, CZ, and have lived in Denver since 2008. I make it back home a few times a year and am always surprised and excited to see great design and great attractions in a traditionally humble mid west city. These are just a small sampling of what Kansas City has to offer!
that's good to know. i always thought kansas was one of those republican states that you fly over to get to the west coast. i will be more open minded about it.
The Majority of Kansas City is in Missouri.
The Toy & Miniature Museum is pretty awesome.
The Toy & Miniature Museum IS pretty awesome! The old mansion it's housed in is almost as fun to look at as the collections are, and some of the miniatures are extremely impressive.
The National WWI Museum/Liberty Memorial is also awesome, and I thought it interesting that the article doesn't mention how different the inside is from the outside. What you see outside is pretty much the original 1920s monument, but the inside (underground) is completely modern and interesting from a design standpoint all on its own.
(To be fair, I've worked in both of these museums, so I may be a bit biased.)
As for the bbq, I'd say skip Bryant's. If you want fancy, go to a Jack's Stack. If you want less fancy, go wait in the line at the original Oklahoma Joe's.
It's not bbq, but Room 39 (on W. 39th street) is one of my favorite places to eat breakfast or lunch. They source as many of their ingredients as they can locally, and the menu changes almost daily depending on what they have. It always amazes me how they never seem to get any press, because everything they serve is wonderful.
AH! Now that's what I'm talking about! A little bit of KC representation. Thanks for that. :)
By the by, if you happen to be in KC be sure to tune in to 96.5 The Buzz as it is the BEST radio station in KC.
Thanks to The Buzz Kansas City has had some of the BEST concerts in the region including big names like Foster the People, Gotye, Alabama Shakes, Electric Guest, Kimbra, Flogging Molly, The Shins, Fun., Florence and the Machine, Fitz and the Tantrums... Really the list goes on and on. And a good deal of those shows happen to be FREE shows!
You'll also find all the local bands playing on The Buzz so that's worth a listen too! Kansas City is NOT just a cow town, this is true. Though the majority of both states we sit on have their heads up their you know whats, the City is at heart a great city. :)
Also I don't like Arthur Bryant's for BBQ. Oklahoma Joe's is better... aslo it's in a gas station, how cool!
Last also, There's the 18th and Vine Jazz district which has the Negro League Museum, The Jazz Museum and a host of jazz bars and restaurants. It's where Jazz was born!
Although born and raised elsewhere in Kansas, KC will always be my home. (816 represent!) It's worth noting that Good Ju Ju is not alone in the West Bottoms. I have been going to the first of the month vintage sales for several years in the West Bottoms and have watched the explosion of awesome shops and traffic recently. Good Ju Ju moved a few months ago from the location pictured above to the John Deere building a block south of the 12th St bridge. If you are would like to go (first Fri, Sat & Sun of each month), also check out Bella Patina and Liberty Belle, which also have amazing finds for cheap. The buildings in the West Bottoms are amazing old brick factories and warehouses, many of which are just now being brought back to life as vintage shops. Although a lot of them are still pretty run down, it's great seeing this area become a destination in the city again.
Thank you, THANK YOU, AT, for realizing that Kansas City is not just a place to "fly over", but an actual destination! No mention in the post of this, but how about that delicious povitica from Strawberry Hill? We no longer live in the Midwest, but that is one thing we will get mailed out here in the Northeast for special occasions (or any occasion, really)! Here's the link: http://www.povitica.com/
I went to KC last week for a mini-vacation with my boyfriend. I've been there more than he has, but neither of us had been there in a while. My not-to-miss list includes:
- Pryde's Old Westport (mentioned above as "Pryde's of Westport")
- Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue (http://www.jackstackbbq.com) - Classic KC BBQ.
- The Phoenix Jazz Club (http://www.thephoenixkc.com) - It's a lesser-known jazz club popular with locals. It serves a full menu but doesn't have a dance floor. Try to go when Lonnie McFadden is playing!
- City Market (http://thecitymarket.org) - For the farmer's market on Saturday & Sunday.
I, too, am a native to KC (Missouri, not Kansas. As someone said above - 816 represent!) and I am so glad to see some of my city's great highlights here! I would also like to recommend Westport Flea Market Bar for a great burger and Oklahoma Joe's over in KC, KS for some fantastic BBQ.
Some other good eats-Lidia Bastianich has a restaurant in KC called Lidia's Italy. Whenever I am in town I try to fit in lunch at Andre's Confiserie. Just outside of downtown is the amazing Nell Hills located in Briarcliff Village. And how could Hallmark and Crown Center not get a mention! I don't live in KC anymore but I am very town proud!
I LOVE KC and was thrilled to see a post! Some of my favorites are Manifesto for drinks, Fervere for great bread, Pizza Bella in Crossroads, Oklahoma Joe's (KCK), and Cigar Box for lounge atmosphere. For those interested in architecture, the Thomas Hart Benton Home, Vaile Mansion, and the John Wornall House are all excellent choices as well.
I saw and got some amazing stuff at Urban Mining while on a business trip there.
Hey, it's home!
If you are at all into the RenFest type thing, the Kansas City Ren Fest is one of the oldest and best ones. Weekends from Labor Day to mid October
http://www.kcrenfest.com/
Union Station is one of my favorites too. The architecture is magnificent and the City Stage located inside puts on some fabulous productions.
Love that KC is getting some recognition on a national scale! I just posted about Good JuJu on my blog the other day- http://forwardtofriday.blogspot.com/2012/07/something-old.html.
There are almost two million people in the KC metro area. That is not a small town, and if you think it is "flyover country," then you might as well think the same thing about Chicago or Saint Louis or Denver. If you do think that, just land sometime in one of these places and look around. We are really quite civilized.
The "West Side" (of downtown) is lined by Mexican restaurants and shops/bakeries. The food is authentic in many, and are quite reasonable.
Lulu's is a Thai restaurant close to the Liberty Memorial that has great food and specializes in Thai street food.
Plaza III is truly a world class steak house.
Grunauer, in the Freighthouse District close to Lidia's, is an Austrian restaurant that makes your taste buds think they are in Salzburg.
The shopping and eating are probably the best things Kansas City does (although the tailgating at a Chiefs game is something to behold and often more entertaining than the actual game).
KC (on the Kansas side, but primarily the Missouri side) is a great place to visit and live, plenty of unique things to do and see. More people should catch on!
Better than the chocolate is Christopher Elbow's ice cream shop just south of the Plaza - Glace. Do not miss!
I can't believe you didn't mention Kemper Museum for Contemporary Art. Just two blocks west of the Nelson. Also, inside of this amazing museum is a great cafe.
Some other great restaurants around downtown: Fud (all vegan), Westside Local, Chez Elle Crepes, Pizzabella, Nara sushi... too many to name.
Thanks for featuring our awesome city!
Kansas City is, without a doubt, a hidden gem of a city in the US. It is aptly termed "The Paris of the Plains." I'm a new transplant to KC, MO from the Raleigh-Durham, NC area, and although I've lived in KC for only 10 months, this city AMAZES me. The people are incredible and beyond nice (and authentic and hard-working). The restaurants, wine bars, and bars are beyond belief (you need to check-out the speakeasy, Manifesto, as well as: the Reiger Hotel and Grill, the Farmhouse for local eats, la Bodega for delicious tapas, McCoy's in Westport for delicious beer and bar food, Michael Smith's Extra Virgin for a unique dinner, an the hundreds of other delicious places in the city.
Have I mentioned the stellar coffee scene here in KC? The Filling Station is a car filling station-turned-coffee-filling-station that serves fantastic brew. There's also High Hat (another filling station-turned-coffee shop), Crossroads Coffeehouse, and Broadway Cafe. There's even an annual coffee crawl in KC that is a must-see.
Union Station has amazing architecture, as well as great art or history exhibits offered year-round (as well as - surprise - great restaurants to choose from inside).
Come to KC. Now. Enjoy this hidden gem before everyone discovers this secret in the middle of the country.