We had so many people from outside of Kansas City attend THUNDERGONG! last year and it looks to be even more this year! Ticket sales came from 41 states and 7 countries!

We're so excited to show off KC again to everyone during THUNDERGONG! weekend. We asked the extended team plus local influencer Kansas City Bucket List to share some updated recommendations for your weekend trip.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The first thing to know when you come here is that there is a Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) and a Kansas City, Kansas (KCK). Don't say you are in Kansas when you are in Missouri (we are nice but we boo this). There are things to do on both sides of the border. The new airport, main downtown, and THUNDERGONG! venue are all on the Missouri side. Jason and a lot of us are from the Kansas side. The people here are very proud of their city and friendly. You will recognize us because we all look like tourists in our own town (lots of KC swag).

NEW IN 2024

• The biggest pop star in the world hangs out here and cheers for our football team. (The whole city is Swiftie territory now.)

• The biggest new pop star is from Missouri. I hope they play “HOT TO GO!”

• The Kansas City Zoo has a new baby giraffe named Willow.

• For some reason, we have a Ferris wheel now across the street from the IRS building.

• The Chiefs won the Super Bowl again, the Royals went to the playoffs, and the KC Current are playing a playoff match the same day as THUNDERGONG! at 11am. There will probably be watch parties at most local bars or in the Power & Light District downtown.

• Also, we opened the first women’s professional sports stadium in the world!
  
  

KANSAS SIDE:
Sports betting is legal.
Weed is not.

MISSOURI SIDE:
Weed is legal.
Sports betting is not.

CROSSING THE BORDER:
You are limited to one
"not in Kansas anymore" joke.

TOP KC BBQ SPOTS

• Top 4 recommended for visitors (in no order):

  • Jack Stack

  • Q39

  • Joe's KC (not open on Sunday)

  • Arthur Bryant's

• Other local BBQ favorites:

  • Zarda

  • Harp Barbecue

  • Slaps

  • Char Bar

  • Meat Mitch

  • BB's Lawnside

  • LC's Bar-B-Q

TG! NOTES: From the vegetarians on the team, Char Bar has a good jackfruit sandwich and Joe's KC has a good portabella sandwich.

NEW SPOTS TO TRY

• Hemma Hemma (Breakfast/Lunch spot)

• Yoli Tortilleria (lunch spot and 2023 James Beard winner for bakery)

• Triune (American)

• The Wise Guy (Pizza/Italian)

• Kata Nori (Sushi)

• Blue Palm (Tiki Bar)

• Blanc Champagne Bar

• Bisou Coffee Shop

• Sister Anne’s Coffee

GO-TO BREAKFAST/BRUNCH SPOTS

• Succotash

• Snooze

• Mildred's

• Seven Swans Creperie

• Meshuggah Bagels

• Blue Bird Bistro

• Eggtc.

• Happy Gillis

• Westport Cafe

• Rye

• Urban Egg (Overland Park)

FAVORITE KC RESTAURANTS FOR A NORMAL (non-BBQ) MEAL

• La Bodega (Tapas)

• Billies Grocery (sandwiches/salads)

• The Russell (American)

• Pigwich (sandwiches)

• Westside Local (American)

• Chingu (Korean)

• Westport Flea Market (=burgers)

• Rockhill Grille (American)

• Rye (American)

• Buffalo State (pizza)

• Mission Taco

• Town Topic (burgers, open late)

• Aixois (French)

• The Peanut (bar & grill)

• Baramee Thai

• Lulu's Thai

• Ragazza (Italian)

• Mesob (Ethiopian)

• Beer Kitchen (American)

• Baba’s Pantry (Palestinian)

• Pizza Tascio

• Il Lazzarone (pizza)

• Blue Sushi

• Margarita's (Mexican)

• Rico's Tacos Lupe (street tacos)

• Rancho Grande Cantina (North KC Mexican)

TG! NOTES: Our city is very welcoming to all people. In addition, there are some specifically LGBTQ+ friendly/owned places like Missie B's, Café Cà Phê, Hamburger Mary's, Bistro 303, and Big Rip Brewing.

Most of the places have vegetarian options but there is Cafe Gratitude and Tree Hugger Kitchen for veg only.

There are tons more that didn't make the list, feel free to DM us and ask or check out VisitKC.com for more recommendations.

FAVORITE KC RESTAURANTS FOR A FANCY MEAL

• Corvino

• Extra Virgin

• Gram & Dun

• Grünauer (Austrian)

• Fox & Pearl

• The Antler Room

• Lidia's (Italian)

• Stock Hill

• Novel

• Tailleur

• The Town Company

• Voltaire

• Plate (Italian)

• Farina (Italian)

• Brown & Loe

• Jarocho (Mexican seafood, doesn’t look fancy).

TG! NOTES: You will probably need to make a reservation for these places. American/European unless noted.

FAVORITE KC COFFEESHOPS/BAKERIES

• Messenger

• Broadway Cafe

• Vested

• Mildred's

• Cafe Corazon

• McLain's

• Café Cà Phê

• Thou Mayest

• Blackhole Bakery

• Heirloom

• Parisi

• Goat Hill

• Mr. D's Donut Shop (KS side donuts)
  

GOOD PLACES FOR LARGE GROUPS

• Boulevard Beer Hall

• J. Reiger Distillery/Electric Park

• Prime Social Rooftop Bar

• Parlor (food hall)

• Strang Hall (food hall)

• River Market Farmers Market (lots of small places)

• KC Bier Co.

• Chicken & Pickle (pickleball and restaurant)

• Char Bar (has outside area)

FAVORITE KC BREWERIES

• Boulevard (our biggest)

• Lawrence Beer Co. (LFK, represent!)

• Stockyards

• Alma Madder

• KC Bier

• BKS Artisan Ales

• Vine Street

• Friction

• Casual Animal

• Brewery Emperial

• City Barrel

• Cinder Block

• Nimble

• Rochester

• Strange Days

• Torn Label

• Big Rip

• Sandhills

TG! NOTES: There are great breweries in almost every neighborhood but there is a concentration of them in the Crossroads.

FAVORITE KC BAR/COCKTAIL SPOTS

• The Ship

• Tom's Town

• Tannin (wine)

• Mean Mule

• Drastic Measures

• Jim's Alley Bar

• Harry’s Country Club

• J. Reiger's Electric Park (big distillery)

• King G

• Cheval

• The Campground

• Swordfish Tom's (speakeasy)

• Lucky Boys (great late night dive)

• Hi-Dive Lounge

• UpDown (barcade)

• Green Lady Lounge (live jazz)

• In The Lowest Ferns (hifi lounge, live music)

The Downtown, Crossroads, Westport, and River Market Neighborhoods have a lot of places and are very walkable. The Power & Light district downtown is pretty touristy but if you need multiple bars it's good and the Sporting KC No Other Pub is there.

There are lots of things to see and do besides THUNDERGONG! while you are here.

PLACES TO CHECK OUT

• WWI Museum

• Offkey Karaoke

• Nelson-Atkins Museum

• The Kemper Museum (modern art)

• The Plaza (shopping)

• City Market (in the River Market)

• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

• American Jazz Museum

• Kauffman Gardens

• Kansas City Zoo

• Union Station (Disney 100 exhibit)

• Crown Center (shopping & ice rink)

• Loose Park (if you need to jog or take a stroll)

• Lawrence, KS (about a 1/2 hour drive away and home of KU, a fun college town)

TG! NOTES: We also have riverboat casinos if that is your thing.

GOOD PHOTO OPP PLACES

• Union Station

• Liberty Memorial (the WWI museum is here)

• The Plaza

• Crossroads (lots of murals/graffiti)

• West Bottoms (historic stockyard area) 

• KC Mural Guide

NEIGHBORHOODS TO CHECK OUT (many mentioned already)

• The Plaza

• Westport

• River Market

• Downtown

• Crossroads

• Brookside

• 18th & Vine

• Westside

• Downtown Overland Park

• Waldo

• West Bottoms

• 39th Street

• Martini Corner

• Midtown (Where the Uptown Theater is!)

HIDDEN GEMS OF KANSAS CITY

• Green Lady Lounge (jazz bar)

• The Ship (bar/music)

• The Savoy at 21c Museum Hotel (restaurant/bar)

• The Mercury Room (fancy bar)

• Harry's Country Club Bar (Westport bar)

• West Bottoms (neighborhood)

• WYCO Vintage (vintage clothes)

• The French Custard (ice cream)

• Betty Rae's (ice cream)

• All of the fountains (We are the city of fountains!)

• Jason's favorite Taco Bell

GOOD PLACES TO SHOP

• The Plaza (lots of shops)

• River Market shops

• Guevel and Ulah (men's clothing)

• Clairvaux (women's clothing)

• Brookside Neighborhood

• Legends (outlets on the KS side with activities/sporting stadium/racetrack/casino)

• Pryde’s (cool kitchen store in Westport)

• Fetch (eclectic vintage store)

• Bella Patina (antique store in the west bottoms)

• River Market Antiques

• Charmed House Interiors (furniture, lighting, home decor, antiques and boutique clothing)

• Daisy Lee Vintage

• Donna’s Dress Shop (vintage clothing)

• Pop Vintage

• WYCO Vintage (concert/pop culture vintage)

• Hammerpress (cool print shop)

• For Strange Women (boutique perfumes)

GOOD RECORD SHOPS

• Mills Record Company (Westport)

• Records With Merritt (Westport, all new vinyl)

• Josey's Records (Crossroads)

• Revolution Records (Crossroads, small but have a cat)

• Brothers Music (Shawnee)

• Love Garden (great, in Lawrence)

GOOD BOOK STORES

• Rainy Day Books

• Prospero’s

• Mostera’s Books

• Afterward Tavern & Shelves (books & beverages)

• Under The Cover (romance bookshop)

GOOD PLACES TO GET KC MERCH

• Made in KC

• Westside Storey

• Charlie Hustle

• Raygun

• Rally House (for sports attire)

• Shop Local KC