Travel Tuesday: Kansas City, MO

It's not a Travel Tuesday....and I can't believe I've not updated my blog for over a year!!!

So/But here are a few recommendations from my awesome trip to Kansas City, MO (for more ideas, check out #DCA2MCI2024 on instagram).

Kansas City, MO 

If the first two things you think about Kansas City, MO are barbecue and baseball, think again!

The city is full of diverse food, great museums, and street art. Below are some of my favorites from my first time in Kansas City this past November.

Food

Jack Stack Barbecue: this is a great option if you want barbecue in the city without having to drive or Uber to the outskirts. If you love ambiance, choose the Freight House location near Crossroads Arts District and a short walk from The Union Station. I’ll be impressed if you are able to finish your entire meal.

Lidia’s: save room for dessert after Jack Stack and walk a few minutes to Lidia’s: I highly recommend tiramisu.

Manny’s: 41-year-old Mexican family-owned restaurant is perfect for a casual lunch or dinner and gives you chips and salsa before you even have a chance to go through their large menu. I ordered Manny’s burrito but asked to have it made into a bowl to save a few calories. Flavorful, filling, and fresh.

Novel KC: if you are looking for a fancy dinner out, Novel KC should be on your list. Prepare to splurge on contemporary American cuisine in this beautiful restaurant with an open kitchen. Bring a few friends who love to eat so you can taste multiple dishes.

Muni: this was a fun find located in the City Market location. The restaurant is a fusion of Thai and Mexican cuisine with such a fun menu that I was disappointed I only could fit in one meal there. I had their birria ramen on a cold night, and it was perfect.

The Savoy KC: I’m not usually a fan of a hotel restaurant, but The Savoy located at the 21C Museum Hotel where I was staying had one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve had (bonus points: my hotel stay included vouchers to the restaurant). The sandwich included breakfast sausage, scrambled egg, aged cheddar, potato rosti on an English muffin and served with crispy breakfast potatoes. The restaurant also had a seasonal apple cider doughnut made in house with apples inside!

Tarahumaras Tacos: if you find yourself in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City (and I hope you do because that’s where the Strawberry Hill Museum is), make sure to get tacos at Tarahumaras Tacos. The tacos reminded me of street tacos I had in Mexico City, and they even had lengua (tongue) tacos.

Museums

Hallmark Visitors Center: if you love Hallmark cards, ornaments, or movies, this is a place to check out. Make sure to watch a short video to learn an impressive story of J.C. Hall.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: great architecture, outdoor sculpture garden, not an overwhelming collection of contemporary art, and it’s free! What else could you want? Bonus: it’s walking distance from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Strawberry Hill Museum: this museum is like none that I’ve ever visited. The museum is only open on the weekends, and you must sign up for an hour guided tour: no regrets! The museum tells a story of a house that was turned into an orphanage after an influenza epidemic. The orphanage was open to children from different nationalities and races. After the orphanage closed in 1988, the building became the museum with some of the rooms showcasing the story of many nationalities who moved to the Strawberry Hill area in the early 1900s, while other rooms were restored to what they looked like before the orphanage. During my visit, the museum was decorated for Christmas and looked spectacular.

Extra Extra

Crossroads Arts District: if the weather is good, stroll around Crossroads Arts District and be on a lookout for beautiful street art. Love plants? Check out a gorgeous Verdant. Want Thai food? Baramee Thai Bistro has an open kitchen, lovely service, and a very spicy Labb salad.

21C Museum Hotel: perfect location with quirky design and a mini museum in the hotel itself!

I hope these suggestions will spark your interest in visiting Kansas City, MO.