Downtown KC cocktail tour: Pitch Picks for warm weather sips
Rooftop view at Percheron // Photo by Sarah Sipple
Picture this: it’s a beautiful day in downtown Kansas City. The sunshine is bouncing off brick buildings, patios are buzzing with energy, and there’s just enough of a breeze to justify that light jacket you’ve been dying to wear. It’s the season where day drinking is practically a civic duty, brunches stretch into golden hour, and every street feels like the perfect backdrop for a second (or third) round.
We hand-selected our favorites from River Market to Crossroads to help narrow down an abundance of choices when chasing that perfect solo sip in the sun or easing into pre-show happy hour with friends. From bright citrus blends to smoky stunners and off-menu gems, these downtown drinks are ready for their moment.
City Market Coffee // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Cucumber Basil Refresher at City Market Coffee, $6
Kicking off the list with a mocktail that’s anything but boring. This bright, herbaceous drink is made with fresh basil, cucumber, lime, club soda, and City Market Coffee’s house-made honey simple syrup. It’s giving garden-party-in-a-glass energy! Cooling, balanced, and not too sweet. Perfect for a sunny morning stroll through the market.
City Market Coffee is located at 305 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64105.
Muni // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Tommy’s Margarita at Muni, $11
This downtown gem is keeping it classic with their Tommy’s Margarita made with Blanco tequila, fresh lime, and agave. That’s it. No frills, just a smooth, citrusy, and slightly sweet pour that hits every time. Fair warning, it’s the kind of drink that makes you want to linger at the bar a little longer. In fact, try the KC Loaded Nachos if you need some food to soak up some of your tequila before moving on.
Muni is located at 1006 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64106.
Spaghett at Varsity Club // Photo by Sarah Sipple
Spaghett at Varsity Club, $8
Simplicity at its finest. I would never believe you if you told me that a beer-based cocktail would be a must-order for me. But here we are, no less than ten visits in and I’m still ordering a Spaghett every single time. It pairs so well with a burger and the salty, crispy fries available from Disco Burger on the patio.
The batched cocktail is available on draft, making it a quick and easy pour for the staff. It is made of Miller High Life, Aperol, and lemon. See, simple!
High Life offers a slightly effervescent and mild canvas for Aperol to add intrigue. A hint of lemon (customizable with the lemon wedge) lifts it for a bright finish, leaving it refreshing and simply happy. I find it easier to drink than a cocktail–and not just because of the price point–and slightly more pleasant than a standard beer. A non-alcoholic version is also available.
Varsity Club is located at 319 Delaware St, Kansas City, MO 64105.
Lula’s Southern Cookhouse // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Chatham County Hibiscus at Lula’s Southern Cookhouse, $14
Bold, floral, and unapologetically delicious, this cocktail is spring in full bloom. The hibiscus flower infusion pairs beautifully with Una Familia silver tequila, orange juice, lime, agave, and soda water. It’s bright and refreshing, with a slightly tangy edge that can be sipped alone or paired with one of their amazing meals.
Lula’s Southern Cookhouse is located at 1617 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Mean Mule // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Cowtown Martini (Off-Menu) at Mean Mule Distilling Co., $15
This one’s for the savory cocktail lovers. The Cowtown Martini isn’t on the menu, but if you know, you know. It’s a smoky, briny, deliciously unexpected riff made with Mean Mule’s own poblano spirit, mezcal, house-made cactus brine, a pinch of salt, and garnished with pickled cactus in place of olives. Each sip was a reminder that cocktails don’t need sugar to be interesting or delicious. I’m definitely here for savory spring cocktails if they’re all this tasty.
The space itself is a whole vibe. During the day, it’s airy and relaxed. But when the sun dips down and the candles flicker to life, it transforms into something sultry and low-key.
Mean Mule is located at 1733 Locust St, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Vye Cocktail Lounge // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Vye on Fire at Vye Cocktail Lounge, $20
Vye has a first-floor lounge and a rooftop space, and the vibe? Seductive without being stuffy. On this particular visit, they also had a DJ playing a perfect mix of songs that made you subtly dance in your seat without realizing it. Not quite a party, not quite background noise—just the sweet spot in between.
The “Vye on Fire” layers reposado tequila, lime, agave, and a luscious mango cordial. But the real magic? The mezcal and Grand Marnier brulée on top—it’s made to order, so no pre-batched basic cocktails here. It’s also smoky and slightly sweet. A little dramatic, totally delicious, and worth every pretty penny if tequila is your thing.
Vye Cocktail Lounge is located at 3200 Gillham Rd Suite 101, Kansas City, MO 64109.
Cafe Corazon // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Ronchata at Café Corazón, $11
The Ronchata is what happens when horchata stops being wholesome and starts staying out past midnight.
Aged rum, cinnamon, and housemade horchata come together in a drink that’s creamy, spiced, and just rebellious enough to feel a little dangerous. Especially if you’re doing a little day drinking. It’s smooth without being boring, sweet without tipping into syrupy, and exactly the kind of downtown rendezvous you deserve.
Café Corazón is located at 110 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64108.
Still No Pickles at Fern Bar // Photo by Sarah Sipple
Still No Pickles at Fern Bar, $15
Fern Bar’s early summer menu is inspired by movies and television. The acclaimed agave bar gives off effortless cool, with nearly scientific-level ingredient curation. So what am I choosing to feature? Why, the Spongebob-inspired cocktail of course!
This particular drink is an ode to season 1, episode 6, where a surreptitiously devious customer interaction leads to a crisis of confidence in Crabby-Patty-slinging-expert Spongebob. And, just like in the episode, this drink is not lacking the vinegary veggie. (Sorry for the spoilers, but this did come out over 25 years ago.)
Similar to the Cowtown Martini above, this is a uniquely savory cocktail that can add some variety to your night out. Using a surprising blend of Arette Classico Blanco, Neisson Rhum Agricole, pickled tamarind, Lillet Blanc, yogurt, lemon, passionfruit, and mustard, the cocktail is served in a frosted metal tumbler. It is bold, dynamic, and unique. Depending on how long you let it dilute, various elements shine, but the strongest flavors are lime, pickle, mustard, and then passionfruit.
Fern Bar is located at 2041 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Orange Crush at Percheron // Photo by Sarah Sipple
Orange Crush at Percheron, $14
We’ve saved dessert for last. This boozy and bright slush is a grown-up version of some childhood nostalgia, like stopping at a shaved ice shack after a long, hot bike ride.
In past Percheron seasons, these were served in slightly smaller, minimalist rocks glasses, sometimes known as a Spanish-style rocks glass, and garnished with an edible flower. Now the sweet bevvie comes in a footed highball with a dried orange garnish. In this frequent consumer’s opinion, the switch makes it less cutesy and ‘grammable but more practical for another ounce or two.
Orange Crush is made of frozen orange wine, Aperol, grapefruit, and lemon. Sweet and tart playfully dance on the tongue as frozen crystals shock the senses on a sunny evening. In fact, the tartness and authentic fruit flavors help it stand out from other frozen drinks and batched slushes one may encounter this summer.
This is a non-negotiable for me on each visit. I’m at my most extra here at Percheron, which means that my mind stops registering the price tag as I order a second or third of this.
Percheron Rooftop Bar is located at Crossroads Hotel, 2101 Central St, Kansas City, MO 64108.
