Palm Tree Club brings coastal “vibe dining” to Power & Light
Photo by Sarah Sipple
Power & Light’s newest resident is the Palm Tree Club, replacing the former Drunken Fish location that has been vacant since 2022.
Despite the name, this is not a club, as in a private club or an unce-unce dance club. Instead, it is a restaurant and bar that happens to have a DJ, and “vibe dining” is the goal. The term vibe dining was mentioned no less than five times on the pre-opening tour I attended.
In vibe dining, atmosphere matters just as much as (or sometimes more than) the menu. It’s not exactly about being an Insta-worthy visual spot, but an environment that provides an escape, or a unique look and space to attract guests.
This is the club’s third location, with similar spots in Las Vegas and Miami. The KC location features two floors of seating, with a DJ booth between the two levels, plus a large rooftop patio complete with an outdoor bar. Traditional restaurant booths, tables, and bar seating are found primarily on the first floor and first-level patio. The finishes give a clean and relaxing coastal spa look during the day, with plush textures, pink lighting, and techy displays balancing each other out at night.
Photo by Sarah Sipple
As for the food, the development team went with familiar Kansas City talent. Local chef Joe Shirley, AVP of Culinary Operations at Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, created a menu that combines his favorite foods with his decades of experience, including dishes inspired by Asian and Italian cuisines.
The standouts include a satisfying A5 Wagyu shrimp sushi, smoky octopus yakitori, house-made pasta, and a Dubai chocolate tiramisu. At the bar, an espresso martini flight is sure to be a popular choice, but the sweet kick Firestone cocktail–yes, named after the iconic Crossroads building–was my preference.
Palm Tree Club is now open Tuesdays through Sundays (though the rooftop is not open on Tuesdays) for dinner and bar service, plus weekend brunch. Reservations are encouraged.
