You bought a Southwest flight on a whim (curse those catchy emails) and now, you’re headed to Kansas City, Missouri: a place you’ve heard of, but never visited.
Never fear. We’ve put together a weekend itinerary of “must-dos” and “must-eats,” all of which you’re more than welcome to pretend to have discovered on your own.
FRIDAY
Grab coffee and a quick bite at the oft-featured Made in KC Cafe, located just three blocks from our hotel. Our recommendation? The Café au Oui, a rotating weekend specialty latte made with cereal-infused farm-fresh milk.
If you’re lucky enough to visit on the first weekend of the month, head to the West Bottoms for First Friday Weekends, where vintage shops and antique dealers make a show of revealing new pieces—and food trucks, wineries and breweries tag along for the ride.
To relax after an afternoon of thrift shopping—truly an extreme sport in its own right—stop by Stockyards Brewing Co. There, you can sample local beers inside an old Kansas City landmark: the former Golden Ox steakhouse. Or, if cocktails are more your style, try The Ship, a restored thirties-era cocktail lounge with live music and speakeasy vibes. Both places serve food, should you wish to drop anchor for the night.
Stockyards Brewing Co. courtesy of Chris Mullins via Visit KC.
SATURDAY
Slow it down Saturday morning with brunch at Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout. Chefs Josh and Abbey-Jo keep an ever-changing seasonal menu of simple, delightful comfort food (and, of course, beer).
After breakfast, check out some of the many museums Kansas City has to offer. If you’re traveling with kids, Hallmark’s Kaleidoscope is an absolute must. It’s a hands-on art and creativity-building experience, and it’s priced exactly right: free.
Whether or not you’re a history buff, you’d be remiss not to visit The National WWI Museum and Memorial, which has been ranked among the top five museums in the U.S., as well as the number one attraction in Kansas City.
For dinner, mosey over to The Westside Local, where you can feast on a diverse range of comfort foods, local cheeses, and inspired cocktails.
After dinner, settle in for a nightcap at The Savoy at 21c. Sit in historic Booth #4 (the favorite of KC-native son President Harry Truman) and sip on The Savoy Sour. You can even take your cocktail with you while you browse the adjacent galleries featuring our current exhibition, Refuge.
Cocktails at The Savoy
SUNDAY
Before heading to the airport, round out your weekend with a return trip to Made in KC Cafe, where you get one last Café au Oui and splurge on some adorable KC swag.
Courtesy of Visit KC
Or, if you have a later flight, head to Boulevard Brewing Company. The brewery hosts a free Beer Hall Bingo tournament every Sunday from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Just keep an eye on the time, or your weekend trip could get a last-minute extension.
Ready to book your stay with us? View our current Kansas City packages here.
Featured image courtesy of Visit KC.
