The Brass Monkey Lounge brings inventive lore to a new bar-forward building

Photo courtesy of The Brass Monkey

When true craft cocktail lounges started opening in Kansas City, the concept itself was the draw. It was a space that pushed the limits and art of making drinks beyond the standard 3:2:1 ratios and “it’s a riff on this drink, but with a different spirit.” Now, as new craft cocktail bars continue to open—and existing bars and restaurants start mixing their own craft drinks—they need a little extra zhuzh to set them apart. With the Brass Monkey Lounge, Managing Partner Dan Scott and his team are bringing a lot of ideas to the plate to support a strong base: top-tier drinks.

“Brass Monkey Lounge is just the tip of the iceberg for what we have planned in this huge building space,” Scott says. The building in question is located on Admiral Boulevard, between McGee and Superior Street, just south of I-35 from River Market. “Ultimately, this building will house multiple distinct bar spaces, a collection of boutique hotel rooms, and a live/special-event venue space.”

The Riff, as the combined building will eventually be called, is a music-themed brainchild of Scott, Chief Hospitality Officer Austin DeForest, Mark and Marissa Denton, and a few others. In order to get things moving and eventually stick the landing, they knew they needed a strong opening hand.

That’s why they kicked things off with The Brass Monkey Lounge.

It’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it—a bright red door on the east side of the building opens to a staircase. A host sits at the bottom, next to a lever. Once they flip the lever, a server from the bar will open another door, leading you inside. You’re greeted with exposed brick, a series of tables and lounge-style seating, and a well-lit, 1940s-style bar. A hi-fi sound system kicks out the jams with a focus on rare records and B-sides. The music stays quiet during happy hour to allow for conversation, and it brings the party when the sun starts to go down.

All the cloak-and-dagger might seem a little roundabout just to get into the bar, but that maze-like quality is part of the fun story behind Brass Monkey Lounge. Scott and his team took some of the real history behind the building, and then crafted lore and puzzles behind it that will evolve as the space does.

“Back in the day, this building was a vitamin and supplement manufacturing plant owned by a man named V.E. Irons,” Scott says. “In our version of the story, Irons found a brass monkey that protected him on his travels, and he even brought it back with him to Kansas City to continue benefiting from its enchantment.” Scott hints that the Irons’ brass monkey might actually be on site somewhere, imbuing the drinks at the Brass Monkey Lounge with its magical powers.

The Brass Monkey Lounge will have puzzles and riddles hidden in their social media posts and within the space. The staff is dressed as different characters from the story they’ve woven about the bar. A collection of international snacks are available as an homage to Irons’ worldly travels—delightfully mixed together on a tray in all sorts of different languages. Even the bar’s signature specialty, called the “Alchemist’s Experience,” follows along this playful bent.

Photo by Jordan Baranowski

When you order the Alchemist’s Experience, your server brings you a deck of cards. You draw two, each corresponding to an ingredient. Then, the bartender takes those ingredients and creates a unique cocktail to help highlight your flavors. Finally, the drink is served in its own special glassware—I saw several different styles throughout the bar during my visit—which you can take home with you for an extra fee.

Whether it truly is a bespoke, unique cocktail each and every time is beside the point. The playful approach is the name of the game, and it’s still impressive when it gets pulled off well.

If the Alchemist’s Experience isn’t for you, Brass Monkey Lounge also has an impressive array of craft and classic cocktails, along with a selection of NA options. Lead Bartender Kelsey Kennedy—who you may recognize from behind the bar at Parkville’s Prima Facie—has put together quite a menu with her collaborators. I tried the Saz Arrack, made with rye whiskey, Swedish punsch, orange liqueur, and a hint of absinthe, and the Cherry Moon, a clarified amaretto sour drink with Cherry Pepsi foam, vanilla, and hibiscus.

The Saz Arrack was extremely boozy and complex, with several competing flavors that could easily go out of whack in the wrong hands. It all came together well; each element got a chance to shine, with none of the strong flavors overwhelming anything else. The Cherry Moon was the star of the show, however. When it was first dropped off, I was worried by the amount of foam—a foolish concern once I tried it. The foam was incredibly tasty and had an addictive quality to it; as I continued to sip the drink and the foam mingled with the other elements, it kept altering the flavor subtly enough to keep me coming back for more.

As the space continues to evolve and more elements of The Riff start opening, it will be interesting to see if the Brass Monkey Lounge continues to lean into the riddles, puzzles, and lore, or if those fall by the wayside for a more streamlined experience. The drinks are strong enough to stand on their own, but those little extra touches certainly help set it apart. The intimate space and 90-minute reservation time seem perfectly suited for a cocktail-centric date night, something Scott seems to be leaning into.

He says that the theatrical elements are fun, but they still want to be a drinks-first location. He tells me, “We want people to be able to have an experience here that they can’t have elsewhere.” You don’t have to comb through socials or read up on character backstories to enjoy Brass Monkey Lounge, but those fun little elements add some incentive to people who want to add a few extra dashes of bitters to their drink.

The Brass Monkey Lounge is located at 307 Admiral Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106. It is open Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 4:00 p.m.–1:30 a.m.