Kansas City Highlights

Kansas City Highlights Executive Engagement June 21-22, 2026
Where to eat
Fine dining showstoppers
Novel $$ Crossroads Featuring casual yet sophisticated ambiance, Novel is known for their atmosphere, drinks, food, and dessert. Novel was featured in the Kansas City season of Queer Eye!
Corvino Supper Club
$$ Crossroads Along with a myriad of awards, this local gem touts a James Beard finalist chef, nightly live jazz music, impeccable service, and elevated & innovative American cuisine. Try the seaweed donuts with trout roe!
Farina $$ Crossroads Farina doesn’t disappoint with one the city’s first James Beard Award winners at the helm. Farina’s modern Italian menu is built around classic recipes from every region of Italy.
The Restaurant at 1900
$$ Johnson County Seasonally-based inventive menu and modern American cuisine in the gorgeous 1900 Building. Beverage Director, Doug Frost, is both a Master of Wine and Master Sommelier, one of four people in the world to have achieved that rarefied pair of designations.
The Rieger $$ Crossroads Beautifully restored 100+ year old former hotel offering classic dishes and hand- crafted cocktails.
Bluestem $$$ Westport Your one-stop-shop for cocktails and snacks in the bar, to a tasting menu in the dining room, or even late-night drinks and dessert.
Best of private dining
Jack Stack $ Crossroads or Plaza
Category: Barbeque, Capacity: 16, Booking: 816-941-4309
Lidia’s $ Crossroads Category: Italian, Capacity: Flexible, Booking: 816-221-0805
Farina $$ Crossroads Category: Italian, Capacity: 13, Booking: nancy@michaelsmithkc.com
Gram & Dunn $$ Plaza Category: American, Capacity: 10, Booking: Holli Smith 816.984.8044
Lazia $$ Crossroads Category: Italian, Capacity: 14, Booking: See Lazia website
Bristol $$$ Downtown Category: Steak & Seafood, Capacity: 14, Booking: 816-448-6007
Kansas City Barbeque
Jack Stack $ Crossroads orPlaza
Famous for their burnt ends, hickory pit beans, and cheesy corn bake, this upscale barbeque joint is a loved local gem.
Joe's KC $ Midtown Famous for their Z-man, this unassuming barbeque joint with a near constant line wrapping around the building is beloved by locals and visitors alike. Trust us, it’s worth the wait.
Q39 $ Midtown Since it’s opening, Q39 has become well-known to KC natives and travelers alike as one of the city’s best barbeque restaurants.
Char Bar $ Westport Enjoy BBQ & Southern eats with a modern twist in a big space with a retro vibe & beer garden with games.
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Where to eat
Small plates
La Bodega $ Downtown The best spot in KC for authentic Spanish tapas. Try one of their inventive gin & tonics or their famous sangria!
Extra Virgin $$ Crossroads Well-known spot for inventive Mediterranean tapas in lively, festive digs with a street side patio.
Fox & Pearl $$ Westside Located in the historic Westside district, Fox & Pearl is a Midwestern bistro with local handcrafted cuisine.
Freshwater $$ Midtown Freshwater keeps things simple with elegant, intimate fine dining. Affordable, local ingredients join a killer cocktail program to boot, plus all freshwater fish – hence the name.
Antler Room $$ Hospital Hill “Some of the most exciting cooking in America is happening far from the urban centers of New York and L.A.” – Bon Appetite
Local libations Boulevard Brewing Company
Brewery Downtown As the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, it is an essential to the Kansas City experience. Enjoy a tour or a beer in their Beer Hall.
Cinder Block Brewery
Brewery North KC Just a stone’s throw from World Headquarters, Cinder Block is a Cerner associate favorite! Try their Weathered Wit!
Afterword Tavern & Shelves
Cocktail Bar Crossroads Afterword, which in atmosphere feels a bit like a cozy library, is geared towards literature lovers who double as foodies and cocktail aficionados.
Tom’s Town Distilling Company
Distillery Crossroads The award-winning vodka and gin the team produces exceptional specialty cocktails. The bourbon—which is finished in 14-year-old port casks for a smooth flavor—is just as good.
J. Rieger & Co. Distillery
Distillery East Bottoms Nationally lauded company with several spirits including gin and vodka, as well as more experimental spirits, such as coffee liquor and Left for Dead, all available at restaurants and bars throughout the metro.
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Where to have fun
Up-Down KC
101 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
Pinball, Skee-Ball, Nintendo and Sega, take a step back into the 80s and 90s at this hip arcade bar. Daily specials and 50 beers on tap round out this blast from the past.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak St. Kansas City, MO 64111
View more than 40,000 pieces of art and sculpture in this nationally recognized museum. Take a free tour, enroll in an art class or experience Third Thursdays and the not-so-quiet side of this museum with live music and food.
Union Station
30 W Pershing Rd. Kansas City, MO 64108
Built in 194, this historic train station still operates as a functioning Amtrak stop but also hosts beautiful architecture, restaurants, an Extreme Theatre, Science City, The Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium and more.
Boulevard Brewing Co. 2534 Madison Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108
Founded in 1989, this newly expanded brewery is the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. Sign up for a free walking tour with a tasting room or schedule a Smokestack Tour featuring beer and BBQ pairings.
Green Lady Lounge
1809 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64108
Experience authentic Kansas City jazz featuring live performances by local musicians every night in this elegant yet casual atmosphere. Green Lady Lounge offers two floors of entertainment, each with its own stage.
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Where to explore
Power and Light District
Located in the heart of downtown Kansas City, Power and Light has something for everyone. The district features more than 50 restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment venues. P&L hosts free concerts at KC Live! during the summer as well as Family Fun Events and festivals throughout the year.
The Country Club Plaza
This Spanish-inspired shopping district is often called the “Rodeo drive of the Midwest.” The Plaza is recognized around the world for its rich history, fine dining and excellent shopping. This architecturally vibrant area offers 15 blocks lined with fountains and statues, over 150 shops and dozens of fine restaurants. Two nationally renowned art museums are located nearby, The Nelson–Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
City Market
Operating for more than 125 years in Kansas City, the City Market is open daily and features an eclectic mix of dining, shopping, entertainment and attractions in a unique open-air setting.
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