A Local’s Outsiders Guide to Kansas City
Our home town will likely welcome more visitors in 2026 than it has in its history. How should visitors to Kansas City spend their time between matches?
We’re entering what will be one of the most high profile years in Kansas City’s history (and we already know this does not include an appearance by the Chiefs in the 2026 Super Bowl). Though we’re both heavily biased toward Kansas City, we are realistic about where Kansas City shines and where the city is stuck in the past. Tourism to our fair city will perhaps never top what 2026 has in store. The World Cup will be the biggest tourism draw in the city’s history.
There is too much to cover in one concise post, so we will start with an ultimate 2-Day Itinerary including where to stay, activities, dining and bars.
Transportation
Kansas City in the first half of the 20th century was a street car enthusiast’s dream. What once was a thriving public transit system disappeared virtually overnight around the time the interstate highways were created. With downtown’s revitalization, that’s slowly changing. The relatively new streetcar opened an extension this past year which connects the River Market, Downtown, Crossroads, and the Plaza. It is completely free and streetcars arrive at stops every 10-15 minutes. Below are the hours of operation:
Sunday – Thursday: 5:00 a.m. – Midnight
Friday: 5:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Anywhere else in the city, you will need to utilize Lyft/Uber, which is readily available, or drive yourself if you rented a car.
Where to Stay
There are several great areas to stay when travelling to Kansas City. If it’s your first time visiting, we highly recommend staying in the Crossroads. Here you will be directly in the action and close to most attractions the city has to offer.
Some of the other areas that are a great launching point include the Country Club Plaza, River Market, Downtown, and Crown Center. These areas are all near a streetcar stop as well, so you are able to easy travel across the city to the different hot spots.
Below are some great options for your stay:
This hotel located in the heart of the Crossroads, so this hotel is the perfect spot to rest in between adventures. Built in 1911, this hotel originally was Pabst Brewing Depot. It has a cool modern vibe and rooms that are bursting with character and charm. The lobby here is a vibe on in it’s own right. It has a cool bar right when you walk in the door as well as one of our personal favorite restaurants, Lazia. Go for a nightcap on the rooftop bar for epic views of the city.
Another hotel located in the Crossroads this hotel has a great location if you happen to be seeing a show at the T-Mobile Center or Kaufman Center of the Performing Arts. It also is connected to the Kansas City Convention Center. Most of the rooms have fantastic views of the iconic Kaufman Center, downtown skyline or Power & Light District. The rooms are well appointed and spacious.
This historic hotel has been around since 1926. The rooms are updated to a more traditional style, but you’ll enjoy the older vibe of the lobby, restaurant and bar to match their 1920’s history. This hotel is also in close proximity to the Kansas City Convention Center, T-Mobile Center, and Power & Light District.
Your Two-Day Itinerary for Kansas City
Day 1 Morning
Day 1 is going to be focused in and around the Country Club Plaza. First, grab some breakfast to fuel your day at Mildred’s. They have amazing breakfast sandwiches and pastries. After your fill, head over to the Nelson Atkins Museum & Sculpture Park. Entrance is free and you can spend as little or as long as you like wandering the art-filled halls. It truly has everything from sculptures, historical artifacts, a wide range of paintings from different eras, photography and so much more.
Day 1 Afternoon
For lunch, head over to Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches. They serve some fantastic sandwiches on Dutch Crunch rolls. Afterwards, spend some time walking around the shops on the Plaza. We recommend stopping in Made in KC and Charlie Hustle for some true Kansas City apparel and goods.
Day 1 Evening
When you are ready for dinner, make your way to Q39 for competition BBQ or head over to Joe’s Kansas City for their Z-Man sandwich. You are likely to encounter a line at Joe’s during peak times, but don’t worry the line moves fast. You can’t visit Kansas City without eating some BBQ and you truly cannot go wrong with either of these Kansas City staples. After all that walking and eating, a night cap at Monarch Bar will quench your thirst. They serve up some excellent, innovative cocktails.
Day 2 Morning
If Day 1 wasn’t enough museum for you, you definitely should go to the WWI museum. Even if you’ve had your fill of museum time, go here for the best view of the city overlooking Union Station. You won’t regret it. You can take the streetcar for a short ride to the WW1 Museum stop. After, head on down to Union Station. The once bustling rail hub was restored in the late 90’s and often has excellent exhibits to go with its restaurants, entertainment and shopping. If you happen to be in the city on Sunday, grab a quick ride in Uber or Lyft to Fox & Pearl for their Sunday brunch. It is our favorite brunch in the city - amazing biscuits and gravy.
Day 2 Afternoon
The afternoon is going to be all about breweries. A Kansas City staple, you have to go to Boulevard Brewery. We highly recommend their brewery tour and they have a really amazing beer hall. The next brewery stop will be Torn Label. We love their Alpha Pale Ale and if you are still hungry, they have some amazing tacos in their ghost kitchen, Tacos Valentina. If you still have time, hit up Casual Animal Brewing Co. for a really cool vibe or Brewery Emperial. Brewery Emperial has an excellent patio to enjoy a warm summer evening.
Day 2 Evening
Dinner will be at Farina. This is our favorite date spot in the city. They serve fabulous Italian fare. Finish off your perfect Kansas City trip with cocktails at Swordfish Tom’s, an unassuming speakeasy that serves only cocktails. Be sure to bring some cash as it’s a cash-only establishment.
If you have more time to spend in our fabulous city here are a few more recommendations to fill your days: The River Market neighborhood just north of downtown (If it’s a weekend, check out the farmer’s market), see one of our many great teams (Chiefs, Royals, KC Current, or Sporting KC), visit some local jazz clubs, or see an event at the Kaufman. We hope you enjoy your stay! If you are interested in more activities, dining or drinking destinations, please visit our more detailed pages with all of our recommendations. Cheers!
