Winter in Kansas City — The Complete Itinerary (What to see, Where to stay, where to eat & Drink)

Kansas City has often been described as the Paris of the Plains. Many travelers, including myself are skeptical about venturing to the Midwest during the winter because of the cold weather. There’s no way I would willingly subject myself to the polar-plunge! Luckily, this cultural center of the Midwest really lights-up during the winter months while the city prepares for the holidays. With surprising cuisine, tons to see, and whiskey that warms my heart and mind, how could I miss visiting Kansas City during this cheery time of year!? Here is the full itinerary of where to stay, what to see, and where to eat and drink in Kansas City.

Where to Stay in Kansas City

Stay at the Crossroads Hotel

What better place to stay than in the heart of the city? Crossroads is an incredibly trendy district filled to the brim with diverse restaurants, kitschy bars, and classic Midwest brick industrial style architecture. Crossroads Hotel features an elegant yet functional design complete with a rooftop bar. No matter the weather, the Crossroads XR Cafe & Bar has quickly become one of Kansas City’s hotspots for locals on the weekends. Meet you in the lobby!

What to See in Kansas City

Explore the Country Club Plaza

Whether you’re looking for new clothes and sales at Madewell or Lululemon, Warby Parker or Anthropologie, the Country Club Plaza has a huge selection of stores. The Spanish architecture is a highlight of the district and definitely worth checking out. During the winter months, the shopping center lights up and is a hotspot for tourists to take advantage of the horse-drawn carriage rides. We made our way to the Made in KC Marketplace to pick up a few gifts for family and friends!

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

We could spend multiple days here just wandering from room to room admiring the art. Featuring works from Monet and Caravaggio, as well as a huge collection of modern artwork and African art.

Explore Crown Center & Union Station

The amazing thing about Crown Center and Union Station is that you can walk between the two through a system of indoor pathways over the roads below. View the Mayor’s Christmas tree in Crown Center, then wander over to see the Christmas decorations and giant Christmas tree inside Union Station. It’s all a magical sight. Crown Center even has an iceskating rink for those brave enough to take on the ice! For those a little less sure, enjoy browsing the shops, go to a movie, or explore Legoland!

Flashback to our first trip to Kansas City together! Michael and I used to live in Lincoln Nebraska, and so during our first year of dating, Michael surprised me with a trip down to the city! We loved every bit of it. Surprisingly, Kansas City felt a lot like being in Portland or Seattle for us, but with a different Midwest vibe!

Where to Eat in Kansas City

Treat yourself at Rye Plaza

A farm-to-table modern bistro serving Kansas City classics with a bit of flare. Dimly lit, the atmosphere is perfect for a nice date. The food does not disappoint! We were obsessed with their cocktails here. Matthew ordered the Barrel-Aged Old Square which included Union Horse Rye, Cognac, Dolin Vermouth Rouge, Benedictine, bitters and a flamed orange (an actual orange ON FIRE!). Michael tried the Oaxacan Autumn which included Espolón Blanco Tequila, Sombra Mezcal, with a little lemon, apple cider and apricot. Both were incredible!

Have Brunch in a Museum at Café Sebastienne

Ever wanted to eat brunch amongst tons of beautiful works of art surrounding you? Café Sebastienne is the perfect place to do so! Their menu is a seasonal and refined selection, and you can enjoy eating in their eclectic interior or modern spacious patio.

Dig into the Best Kansas City BBQ at Q39

We’ve never had better BBQ than this! We actually didn’t even know BBQ could be this good. Packed with locals and tourists alike, squeeze into Q39 for lunch or dinner and try from a wide variety of perfectly seasoned chicken, beef and pork. We recommend calling ahead to make a reservation to avoid the wait! Also, don’t leave without purchasing a bottle of their house recipe BBQ sauce!

Dinner at Novel

Novel has some serious dishes and small plates that pack a punch of interesting flavors. We recommend trying a variety of the small dishes, then sharing a main … but I suppose that depends on how hungry you are! We shared an assortment of dishes (shown above in order) — Steamed buns with poached shrimp, tempura flakes and spicy mayo. Calamari marinated in lime and jalapeño, salad of bitter lettuces, green chickpeas, toasted hazelnuts and a creamy spicy dressing. White bolognese tagliatelle with pork, veal, sweetbreads, parmesan cheese and fresh basil. And lastly the Gnochetti with sheep’s milk cheese, spicy lamb sausage, black beans and lacinato kale.

The Perfect Sunday Brunch at Ça Va

What can we say about Ça Va? The atmosphere is absolutely lovely. The food is delicious. The coffee is the best we experienced during our trip, and the staff is so fun. Ça Va specializes in different kinds of crepes and quiche, though their menu changes weekly to feature the best local and seasonal ingredients. Ça Va is only open for brunch on Sundays, and it is well known throughout the city. Put this in your itinerary so you can call ahead and make a reservation and get in on the action!

Vegan Friendly Meals at True Food Kitchen

This is the first place we ate once we arrived in Kansas City! Located in the Country Club Plaza, this place is perfect for happy hour appetizers and drinks. Everything on the happy hour menu was $5, and it was too good to resist! Big portions, great prices, and amazing flavor! Could not be happier with this fun mid-shopping stop.

Where to Drink in Kansas City

Kansas City’s Premier Gay Bar, Missie B’s

YOU MUST GO HERE! You can’t miss going to Missie B’s when visiting Kansas City! Featuring drag performances downstairs, head to the top to go dancing. Make sure to bring cash, this bar is cash only and charges a cover on weekends at the door. If you forget your cash, no worries there’s an ATM in the back!

Mosaic Ultra Lounge

This is one of my favorite clubs I’ve been to in the US. It’s so unexpected to see this kind of club in Kansas City, but it is exactly what makes me love the city even more. Mosaic Ultra Lounge features a high-energy experience with today’s hottest music, especially House and Dance hits. Every weekend they feature premier DJs from around the world. Celebrating something special? Check out how to reserve a table and bottle service.

Mean Mule Distilling Co.

Looking for a place to chill with great cocktails? Mean Mule Distilling Co. creates its own house American Agave Spirits. This in-house distilled alcohol comes from the agave plant, and is very similar to tequila — but a bit smoother. Try any number of their custom cocktails and start the night off right.

Julep Kansas City

The amazing thing about Julep in the wintertime is that it turns into a Christmas bar. The theme, Christmas in Hawaii. It’s amazing. The cocktails are everything we needed. This is my favorite place to grab a drink with friends in Kansas City!

Miracle Pop-Up Bar (A Christmas Themed Bar!)

If you’re lucky enough to make it to the Miracle Pop-Up Bar in Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, you will not be disappointed. It is decorated to the nines, has a line out the door, and is absolutely worth the wait! This bar is only open from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. You won’t find it on Google or Apple Maps, but the Country Club Plaza location is right at 4087 Jefferson St., next to Parkway Social Kitchen.

Parlor

Drink. Eat. Repeat! I’ve been to a few adult cafeterias like this in different cities around the US. They are some of my favorite places to meet friends, grab a bite to eat or a few drinks.