Missouri · best-of list
The 8 Best Bars & Cafés in Missouri
All 8 bars & cafés our route editors picked in Missouri, across 5 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect bars, cafés and tasting rooms, with Kansas City contributing the most (3).
Our curated picks
8 bars & cafés in Missouri, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Kansas City 3 picks
Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
KC's largest brewery, with tours and a rooftop beer hall.
Tip: Book tours ahead; try Tank 7.
Photo: Boulevard Brewing Company · Google
The Blue Room
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
Jazz club inside the American Jazz Museum with live music most nights.
Photo: Dave Adams · Google
Tom's Town Distilling Co.
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
Art Deco distillery and cocktail bar named for Prohibition-era boss Tom Pendergast.
Photo: Tom's Town Distilling Co. · Google
Downtown Kansas City 2 picks
Green Lady Lounge
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
A red-lit jazz lounge on Grand Boulevard with live Kansas City jazz every night, including New Year's Eve.
Tip: Seating is limited; arrive by 9 p.m. on Dec 31.
Kelly's Westport Inn
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
Westport's oldest building and a classic Irish bar that drops a ball at 6 p.m. for Ireland's midnight, then again at midnight.
Tip: Do the 6 p.m. drop, then head downtown for dinner.
Branson 1 pick
Buzzard Bar at Big Cedar Lodge
Branson · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Cozy lodge bar with a fireplace and lake views at Big Cedar.
Tip: Pair with dinner at the lodge; dress casual.
Photo: John Jensen · Google
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch 1 pick
Grand Hall at Union Station
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Barrel-vaulted 1894 lobby of the old train station, now a bar with a light show projected on the ceiling.
Tip: The light show runs on the hour in the evening; get a seat near the center.
Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
Springfield 1 pick
Mother's Brewing Company
Springfield · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Downtown brewery taproom in a former bakery building.
Tip: Try the Lil' Helper IPA; check the event calendar.
Photo: Mother's Brewing Company · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in Missouri?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 8 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Missouri has the most bars & cafés on this list?
Kansas City has the most (3 of 8), followed by Downtown Kansas City (2) and Branson (1).
More lists for Missouri
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- Kansas City 3 on this list
- Downtown Kansas City 2 on this list
- Branson 1 on this list
- Downtown St. Louis & the Arch 1 on this list
- Springfield 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.