Best of KC 2026: Digging the dives of Strawberry Hill
Hillsiders // Photo by Samantha Russell
Earlier this month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can take a peek at the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some local people, places, and things that we think make 2026 KC life feel like a winner. We’ll be publishing these online throughout June and July.
As a gentle entry into the dive bars of KCK’s historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood, Hillsiders is innocent enough.
Minor instances of busty beer-branded decor, designed for ye-olde-heterosexual male, contribute to a nostalgic charm for a joint that opened just four years ago.
Old box screens play shows from when VCR was prime, showing everything from WWE to Bob Ross. Nearly any night of the week except Mondays, there’s a decent chance you’ll catch live music. Cover can be paid in cash and hovers around $10. Tuesdays are dedicated country nights called Clayton’s Yeehaw, borne from Hillsiders’ bartender and local singer/guitarist of Western Cuts, Clayton Helms.
Hit the pool table before heading out back, where an outdoor patio extends into a gravel backyard as big as the bar’s interior, complete with picnic tables and chairs. A fire pit blazes on colder nights.
Silvee at Hillsiders // Photo by Samantha Russell
Down the street is the next spot for the night’s tomfoolery. The Easy Inn is a cozy bar that feels like Hillsiders’ devious younger stepbrother. It’s got a wild energy that, if I were to check its pulse, gives a reading that anything can happen here.
It welcomes you with its bar snug up against the entryway. To the left, darts and tiki toss don the walls. A pool table commands the right side of the space.
The screens in the joint play tastefully curated movies or shows—unless you stumble upon a chance karaoke night. For the average introvert, sit in the left corner booth nook. With your back against the wall, western-style, and a speaker above bellowing the evening’s tunes, you can watch friends play darts and tiki toss from the comfort of your music-loving seat. Plus, the kitchen is known for burgers and tacos—in fact, we recommend the Wednesday special.
You’ll know you’re in the right spot at both bars: literal signs congratulate you for avoiding the Power and Light District.
