Kansas City Nightlife – Clubs, Bars & Nightlife Tips

Kansas City Nightlife

Tips to Enjoy Clubs, Bars & Nightlife in Kansas City

Whether you want to chill out to some savvy blues music, get your body rocking on a packed dance floor, delight your senses with fine art, or get your fill bar hopping, Kansas City will meet your demand. With so much to do and see in this midwestern hotspot of entertainment, here are some tips to make the most of the bars, clubs, and nightlife in Kansas City.

Westport, Bars and Clubs

Westport is one of the most culturally diverse places to go in Kansas City. You can find everything here from high-energy dance clubs and country bars, to local hangouts and some of the best blues and jazz music in the country. For those bar hoppers who don’t want to drive, Westport is your best bet! There is a wide variety of bars and clubs in just a few blocks, and the streets are often blocked off on weekend nights to allow people to roam freely from bar to bar. Since most bars stay open till 3 AM you have all night to hop!

Dancing the Night Away

Club XO is the largest and most popular dance club in the Kansas City/Westport area. It gives you not one, but two dance floors to choose from. Let your hair down to the beats of Top 40, trance, hip-hop, and house music on the main floor. Oxygen, the area with the smaller dance floor, usually plays progressive and alternative music, and hosts out-of-town guest DJs. Cover is just one dollar except for ladies on Thursday nights – it’s free! Dress code is casual.

For the young crowd looking for a spot that’s jumping, America’s Pub delivers. This loud dance club has a packed bar with stools and tables, and features live music on weekends. There is a cover charge, but the pub stays open until 3 AM.

Get your boogie on at Have A Nice Day Café. If you like dancing to 70’s and 80’s music, then this is the place for you. It’s a dance club with a 70’s vibe, featuring frozen drinks served in fishbowls. It sports a lighted, pulsating dance floor, fluorescent spattered walls, and gigantic mirrored disco balls. A spirited staff costumed in platform shoes, leisure suits, parachute pants, and leg warmers provide the perfect backdrop for the most unique and lively dance club in the city. Come dressed to impress!

If you’re a country music lover, and want a place to line dance and 2-step to your heart’s content, The Beaumont Club is your destination. The lineup is mostly contemporary country music with some alternative selections mixed in. There’s a large wooden dance floor for you to kick up your heels, and in the summer months, they treat you to some guest appearances. Dress code is casual.

Live Music, Blues

For a more laid-back experience with no dancing, Blayney’s is a great blues bar featuring live music six nights a week. There is a cover charge and the bar is open until 3 AM.

Enjoying live music doesn’t mean you have to stay inside. Take it outside at Hurricane. It has an upstairs patio and an outdoors stage hosting live bands seven nights a week. If you want a change of pace, head downstairs where there’s a DJ spinning everything from techno to 1980’s classics. There are also booths lining the walls for quiet conversation.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Sign Up

Dinner, Drinks, and Then Some

When you want your food and your entertainment in one place there’s a place for just about any mood you’re in.

Mill Creek Brewery is a crowded brewpub located in the heart of Westport. It serves up excellent food and a great selection of beers, and you can even enjoy a game of pool or darts to showcase your competitive side.

Harry’s Bar & Tables is an upscale cigar and martini bar that also serves excellent food. The bar is a great place to wind down, as it is relatively quiet compared to other Westport haunts, and is open until 3 AM.

MiCocina is a Mexican restaurant by day and a crowded bar with a dance club downstairs by night and features salsa and dance music.

Stanford and Sons Restaurant and Comedy Club is a full-service restaurant, comedy club, dance club, billiards bar, and more. The restaurant, located on the first floor, features steaks, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and Stanford’s popular Flower Pot Bread. Local, regional, and national comics take the stage upstairs every night. Dinner and show packages are available. This place is popular so reservations are highly recommended.

Crossroads Art District, Fine Arts, Theatre

The first Friday of every month you can walk around the Crossroads Art District and find a tantalizing array of art galleries, studios, and restaurants. Some of the studios even offer free wine and samplings of food. The summer and spring months are the most crowded, and galleries stay open till 7 or 9 PM. Admission is free.

There is a lot of live theatre in Kansas City, and the Missouri Repertory Theatre, fondly known as “The Rep”, is its premier organization. This fully professional resident theatre company presents six performances annually, including the incredibly popular “Christmas Carol” – a must see during the holiday season. Catch their performances at the Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Parking is free.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Kansas City Nightlife.