Let’s Dance

Feel the beat and find community on Kansas City’s dance floors.

By Kelly Bunch | Photo by Denis Nicholson

Kansas City’s music roots run deep with live music venues in every corner of the metro. But it’s not just about hearing great tunes — sometimes you want to bust a move. The KC region is known for its welcoming vibe, and the dance scene is no different. If you’re looking for a place to let loose, come as you are to shake it out — no experience required.

TWO STEP
Swap your ballcap for boots and bolos, and head to the West Bottoms for Honky Tonk Tuesdays. The Ship, one of KC’s most beloved live music venues, clears the dance floor every Tuesday night for two-step lessons and dancing with a live band.

SWING
Kansas City Swingout teaches the Lindy Hop, a social swing dance originated during the Harlem Renaissance that celebrates rhythm, connection and improvisation to jazz music. With weekly social dances on Wednesdays, classes every Saturday and quarterly live music events, the organization’s mission is to keep the legacy of swing jazz alive in Kansas City.

“Partnered dancing is such an amazing way to connect and create with another human being,” says Ariel Lacey, KC Swingout’s community engagement director. “And KC Swingout is such an incredibly welcoming community to start in.”

HI-FI
You can feel the music with the powerful sound system at In the Lowest Ferns in the West Bottoms. Enjoy craft cocktails and a moody garden atmosphere while you move to electronic beats from a rotating tap of DJs.

RETRO
When retro vibes are calling your name, Funky Town delivers each Friday and Saturday night with music from the 70s, 80s and 90s under neon lights. Decade-driven outfits are welcome and encouraged, so comb through your closet for your best vintage threads before a night of singing your favorite classic songs at the top of your lungs.

SALSA
Johnnie’s Jazz Bar & Grille in the Kansas City Power & Light District will transport you on a Latin getaway without ever leaving KC. Feel the heat each weekend with Salsa Saturday, a night of pure energy celebrating this vibrant dance. Lesson included!

Local Lingo

How to sound like a Kansas Citian.

KCK
Kansas City, Kansas.

KCMO
Kansas City, Missouri.

Boulevard Beer Hall.

BOULEVARD
You may think this is a street, but locals know this as Boulevard Brewing Company, the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest.

P&L OR PNL
The Power & Light District, a downtown hub complete with more than 50 restaurants, bars, apparel stores and nightlife attractions.

THE K
Kauffman Stadium, home to the Kansas City Royals baseball team.

KC Options Sponsor
Caring for you so you can care for others | AdventHealth

 

KCI
Another acronym for MCI, Kansas City’s primary airport.

Two girls drawing on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

THE NELSON
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where you can find KC’s signature giant shuttlecocks.

THE RIVER
The Missouri River. Not to be confused with the Kansas River, aka the Kaw, though both rivers meet up near downtown KC.

NORTHLAND
Anything north of the river.

Tulips in front of a tower on the Country Club Plaza.

THE PLAZA
The Country Club Plaza, an outdoor shopping oasis architecturally based on Seville, Spain. (Pro tip: Locals pronounce it PLAHzuh, not PLAW-zah.)

435 LOOP
Interstate 435 forms a loop that encircles much of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

JOCO
Johnson County, a Kansas county in the southern region of KC that encompasses Overland Park, Prairie Village, Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa and more.

WYCO OR “THE DOTTE”
Wyandotte County, a Kansas county in the western region of KC that encompasses KCK, Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Lake Quivira.

MAHOMIE
According to Patrick Mahomes himself, a Mahomie is “someone who loves to help others and loves to be a part of the community and make the world a better place.”

KANSAS CITY NICE
Kansas Citians take pride in the hospitality we show — there must be something in the water here.

New & Notable

Explore the latest innovations, expansions and coming attractions.

By Randy Mason and Abby White

From its earliest days, Kansas City has been a crossroads — a place where journeys began, routes intersected and travelers chose to say.

Today, the metro’s future is shaped by the same forces that built its legacy: connection, innovation and bold ideas that drive us forward. 

A man playing with an interactive installation at Atlas 9.

ATLAS9
Part immersive art, part cinematic adventure, Atlas9 is a choose-your-own-path experience unlike anything in the region. Think museum, movie and performance — all in one. Designed by local firm Dimensional Innovations and evocative of esoteric projects like Meow Wolf, Atlas9 is now open in Kansas City, Kansas.

THE RABBIT HOLE
Step inside your favorite storybook — literally. Recognized as one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024, The Rabbit hOle in North Kansas City is a radically immersive museum where beloved characters and scenes from over a century of children’s literature come to life.

SW19
SW19 at the Stadium is Kansas City’s new pickleball hot spot. This former hotel and water park offers a vibrant indoor venue with high-tech courts, local eats and is the proud home of the pro pickleball team: the Kansas City Stingers. The building has plans to convert the unused hotel space into 275 mixed-income apartments and enough hotel rooms to accommodate pickleball tournament guests.

KC STREETCAR MAIN STREET EXTENSION
The KC Streetcar added 3.5 miles to its route, extending the existing downtown loop all the way to UMKC. That means 16 new stops and a smooth ride through Midtown, Westport, the Plaza, the Art Museum District and more. This always-free ride is the easiest (and coolest) way to explore the heart of the city.

BERKLEY RIVERFRONT
The confluence of two major rivers kick-started Kansas City. Today, the Berkley Riverfront developments remind us of the metro’s beginnings. New apartments, shops and restaurants are all bringing folks back to the banks of the Missouri.

PENNWAY POINT
Yet another link to the city’s industrial past, Pennway Point is a growing place that reconfigures warehouse space as an “urban playground.” Featuring miniature golf and a giant Ferris wheel that provides a bird’s eye view of the downtown skyline, the entertainment district will soon add restaurants, live music stages and a neon sign alley.

ROY BLUNT LUMINARY PARK
Want to enjoy the great outdoors? Soon you will be able to — right in downtown KC. Plans are underway to “cap” the south downtown freeway loop, creating a public green space suitable for all kinds of gatherings and events.

AMELIA EARHART HANGAR MUSEUM 
Air travel is a big part of KC’s legacy, and no aviator fuels our imagination like Amelia Earhart. Her hometown of Atchison, Kansas, highlights her many achievements (and the mystery of her disappearance) in this interactive museum.

BLACK MOVIE HALL OF FAME
The historic 18th & Vine neighborhood boasts a reborn addition. The Boone Theater harkens back to the area’s heyday as an entertainment mecca. It’s also home base for the Black Movie Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 2022.

NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM
Before Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier, the Negro Leagues gave Black ballplayers a place to showcase their skills. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in the 18th & Vine district is building a new space to tell even more stories about these amazing athletes and their achievements.

A family viewing a shark at the aquarium.

SOBELA OCEAN AQUARIUM
OK, one thing KC has never had is an ocean. But the newest addition to the Kansas City Zoo is the next best thing, featuring a diverse, exciting mix of otters, turtles, sharks and other sea-faring creatures in a beautiful 650,000-gallon exhibit.

HISTORIC WEST BOTTOMS REDEVELOPMENT
KC history is truly alive in the historic West Bottoms neighborhood, where the Kansas and Missouri rivers meet. An ambitious new undertaking reimagines the former hub for trading, stockyards and industry into a live-work-play-stay community with new residential units, innovative restaurants and local goods everywhere the eye can see.


Changing the Game

The Dub is “not-your-dad’s-sports-bar.”

Photo by Paul Andrews

Kansas City knows sports, but founders of The Dub, Monica Brady and Rachel Glenn, are proving there’s still room to raise the bar. As the minds behind KC’s first-ever women’s sports-focused bar, they’re creating an inclusive environment for fans to gather, watch and celebrate. 

KC Options sat down with Monica and Rachel to get the scoop on what it’s all about. 

WHAT INITIALLY INSPIRED YOU TO BRING A WOMEN’S SPORTS BAR TO KANSAS CITY?
Monica: We have spent years going to “traditional” sports bars trying to watch a women’s game. The response usually ranged from annoyance to a flat-out “no, we can’t put that on,” so we wanted to create a space where women’s games would always be celebrated. We wanted to create a space we’d want to go to!

WHAT MAKES KC A GOOD BACKDROP FOR A CONCEPT LIKE THIS? 
Rachel: Kansas City is rich with community, especially around our local sports teams. Not just our men’s and professional teams — but sports in general, including women’s. Being in a city that was already championing women’s sports, we knew we were in the right place at the right time to bring the vision to life. 

WHY IS INCLUSIVITY SUCH A CENTRAL VALUE FOR THE DUB, AND HOW WILL YOU BRING THAT TO LIFE?
Monica: Sports bars tend to have a stereotypical environment that not everyone feels comfortable in, and we believe that sports should be accessible to everyone. More than that, it’s rooted in our own beliefs that all people deserve to feel seen, welcomed and respected, no matter their life situation. We lead our lives with a sense of intention and purpose to build community and inclusion, so it only makes sense that The Dub be centered on those values as well. 

A bartender stirring a drink at The Dub.

MONICA, AS A CERTIFIED SOMMELIER, HOW DOES YOUR BACKGROUND SHAPE THE DRINK EXPERIENCE AT THE DUB?
Monica: My first love is soccer, and my second love is wine, so the environment of The Dub is my haven for combining the two. Much like my belief about sports, I believe that wine should be inclusive to all people. The wine list is approachable and experimental, featuring both classic drinks and fun, on-theme house cocktails. There are also great mocktail options because enjoying sports at The Dub doesn’t require drinking alcohol. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COLLABORATION AND GUIDANCE FROM OTHER WOMEN’S SPORTS BAR OWNERS. WHAT HAVE YOU GAINED FROM THAT NETWORK?
Rachel: There’s always a feeling of sisterhood when you talk to women, especially in business, and knowing there are women out there who have done exactly what we are doing gives a sense of community unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. It’s extremely exciting to see the U.S., Canada and other parts of the world fall in love with women’s sports, and the women we’ve met opening these businesses share that excitement and pride. 

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU, PERSONALLY AND FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, TO SEE THE DUB BECOME A GATHERING PLACE WHERE FANS OF WOMEN’S SPORTS CAN FEEL CELEBRATED AND CONNECTED?
Monica: I truly believe that bringing The Dub to life in KC is what I’m meant to do with this era of my life, so I will feel very proud that I was able to give something back to the community and grateful that it is received well. 

Rachel: I believe The Dub has already become a place where women in sports and fans of women’s sports feel celebrated. We’ve had nothing but an outpouring of support from this city so far — and when we can look around and see people building community through our space, I will feel a sense of fulfillment, but also a drive to create more spaces like The Dub throughout the city.

A Little Slice of Heaven

International travel inspired Jhy Coulter to create some of KC’s favorite pizza.

By Weston Owen | Photos by Paul Andrews

Pizza is communal — a familiar, approachable dish that brings family, friends and loved ones together. Yet, for native Kansas Citian Jhy Coulter, its purpose has served a much greater role, one that helped her launch a thriving business and altered her life trajectory. 

Originally from Olathe, Kansas, Jhy began studying graphic design at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 2014. Like many college students making their way through school, she began working in the service industry, specifically at a local pizzeria, making deli sandwiches. During one shift, due to short staffing, Jhy was shown how to make pizza. She quickly found that she loved the process — from the methodical preparation to the creativity involved. Everything about pizza-making was fun to her, especially seeing how happy it made people. 

A pizza and carrot salad.

While Jhy was in school and after she graduated in 2017, her partner was teaching English in Spain. When in need of a long-overdue vacation, Jhy visited for what was only meant to be a few weeks. Yet, she found herself drawn to Spanish culture, energized by the community and its shared love for food. So, not only did Jhy end up staying longer than expected, she also decided that she’d join in teaching English abroad.

After months had passed and her teaching program had concluded, Jhy came back to the States and began looking for roles that aligned more closely with her degree in graphic design. Yet that time spent overseas and her exposure to new cuisine had altered her worldview and aspirations. Recalling how much she’d enjoyed her time in the restaurant industry, Jhy chose to return to the kitchen. By 2019, she was learning and growing within Kansas City’s food scene.

It was then that she entered an Instagram giveaway sponsored by Chef Matty Matheson and Gozney, a manufacturer of commercial ovens. The prize? A Roccbox — the company’s flagship portable pizza oven. While she knew the odds were long, she gave it a shot. Ultimately, despite thousands of entries, it was Jhy who received a direct message that she’d been drawn as the winner.

Pizza ovens at Orange by Devoured.
Jhy Coulter standing behind the counter at Orange by Devoured.
An Orange by Devoured beanie.

Elated and with her newly acquired pizza oven, Jhy viewed this as an opportunity to begin forging her own path and perfecting her pizza-making craft, but that didn’t come without some growing pains along the way. 

“At first, I was burning a lot of pizza for family and friends in my backyard,” joked Jhy. “Pushing my boundaries and gaining a deep understanding of the process really helped drive me to create something unique, yet approachable. That’s how the Devoured Pizza brand was born.”

During the height of the pandemic and shortly thereafter, Devoured Pizza skyrocketed. From selling pizza out of her home to partnerships and local pop-ups — more than 200 over a four-year span — Jhy’s pizza gained immense popularity within the community. So much, in fact, that she had to buy another oven to keep up with public demand. 

Jhy Coulter throwing pizza dough in the air.

Understanding that opening a brick-and-mortar storefront was the next logical step in her journey, Jhy began raising funds to create a space of her own. After finding the perfect location in one of Kansas City’s favorite neighborhoods, Martini Corner, and spending nearly a year retrofitting and carving out her niche, Orange By: Devoured opened to the public in August of 2024.

Now, a thriving pizza business focused on communal dining experiences and unique topping combinations inspired by her time abroad, the continued support from her community has propelled Jhy’s career in ways she’d never before imagined. While the journey hasn’t been easy, each decision she made led to this moment in time, welcoming a community to gather and exist over a slice or two.

“While Spain’s approach to offering fresh ingredients, approachable plates and communal gathering areas served as my ultimate inspiration, it’s Kansas City and this community that’s given Orange By: Devoured life and personality,” said Jhy. “The namesake may have been born of the bright, vibrant colors of the Spanish countryside, but the warmth and positive energy of KC is why I couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else.” 

Fire + Glass + Gas = Magic

Second-gen neon shop in the Crossroads is adding a ‘glow’ to KC. 

By Randy Mason | Photos by Paul Andrews

If you see a strange glimmer coming from a nondescript building off to the side of Highway 71, no, you’re not going crazy.

Element Ten, named for neon’s spot on the periodic table, is a small studio at the east end of Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District. The shop is inconspicuous, unless the front door’s open — the brilliant colors, abstract shapes and a distinctive glow are a dead giveaway.

Dylan, Olivia and Randy standing in the Element Ten neon studio.

Neon has always been a part of the lives of siblings Dylan Steinmetz and Olivia Shelton. Their father, Randy Steinmetz, traded farming for the sign business more than forty years ago. It wasn’t long before he was hooked on the art form. 

“I told my wife, ‘I know what I want to do,’ the elder Steinmetz grins. “And here we are.”

Dylan still remembers his first time working with glass. “I think I was probably 10 or 11 the first time I got to hold glass and try to bend it. It was kind of familiar, but also kind of exciting,” he said. 

In 2022, this trio formed its own family band — with each member bringing distinctly different skillsets to the table.

Randy, of course, has decades of know-how and contacts in the signmaking industry. Dylan went to art school in Washington and now leads their drafting stage, while Olivia pursued a career in marketing before she, too (with guidance from her dad) started on neon pieces of her own.

Randy holding a neon "KC" sign.
Dylan working on a draft of a neon sign.
Olivia working on a neon sign.

“In our case, the family dynamic is very positive,” Olivia says. “We have a kind of communication that’s often nonverbal. And we understand each other’s sense of humor. That makes it easier.”

In a world where computers play an outsized role in just about everything, working with fire, gas and glass remains very hands-on.

“You have to have a plan before you start making what you’re making,” Dylan explains as he holds up a pattern traced onto paper. “Ideally, you bend the glass once and it lands where you intended to put it.”

What can’t be planned are the jobs that will come through the door. The workload at Element Ten varies from vintage sign repair and restoration to completely new creations commissioned for businesses of all kinds.

The studio has crafted striking signage for Ragazza Food & Wine, the Seven Swans Creperie, and a Japanese collectibles store called Bubble Wrapp, to name just a few.

In 2024, a new cocktail bar named Sagebrush needed a large decorative feature to hang above the bar. Dylan recalls it as “a perfect scenario — with clients who trusted us blindly and liked what we gave them.”

Collaborating with local artists is part of the master plan for Element Ten. They recently teamed up with Paulina Otero, an artist and jewelry maker, on a series of neon wall sconces.

The inter-generational Element Ten team sees a glowing future in the neon business, fusing innovation with the historic nature of neon. 

“The association with neon and nostalgia is alive and well,” Olivia says. “But I think this is a transitional moment where a new generation is excited about what neon can be. And we want to serve both audiences.”

A neon sculpture created by Element Ten.

Living Big, Spending Less

Money’s on everyone’s mind — see how KC stacks up.

By Addie Linn 

KC’s affordability isn’t just measured in numbers; it’s felt in everyday life. Meet two Kansas Citians whose stories show how dollars stretch further here, and what that means for the lives they’re building.

Jack Carr

30, Human Resources Professional, Morton Salt
Limoni, IA → KC
🏡 West Plaza

💼 Rising Professional  
🐕 Dog Dad 
⛷️ Travel Bug

Jack Carr and his dog at the park.

As a recent graduate of Graceland University, Jack was contemplating his next move. With a small-town past, he had an appetite for city life and narrowed it down to two options — KC and Houston. After weighing factors like cost-of-living, job opportunities and proximity to family, he chose KC.

Outside of work, Jack stays active in KC Crew’s recreational sports leagues and gives back through his position on the Love Fund’s Emerging Leader Board. At home, he’s just as committed — adopting his dog, Saint, from a local shelter, KC Pet Project.

Following a handful of rental situations, from having roommates downtown to living solo in the suburbs, Jack eventually decided to buy. He saved up for a down payment and snagged a quality condo in the West Plaza neighborhood.

“I was trying to identify places that I knew were going to grow in value,” Jack said. “My mortgage is about the same, or sometimes even less, when compared to rent. And it’s going towards my assets and equity.”

Everyday luxuries: The cushion in Jack’s budget allows him to splurge on a healthforward meal delivery service — roughly $12 a meal — saving him some precious time. On the weekends, he’s an avid golfer with friends.

More disposable moolah: With Jack’s everyday life expenses in check, he’s able to fund one of his passions — travel. “Every year, I go on a pretty big ski trip to Utah or Colorado with 12 or more buddies. It’s certainly not cheap! When I plan these trips with my friends, I know it’s going to be around $1,000 for lift tickets, lodging and skis.”

KC is the ultimate home base for travel enthusiasts. Not only does the cost of living afford you more jet-setting opportunities, but the central location in the U.S. (and beautiful new airport terminal) makes it easy to get away. Three-hour non-stop flights to either coast, easy. Ka-ching! Ka-ching!

Jenn Miller

39, Sr. Director of Philanthropy, Community, and Culture, McCownGordon Construction
Ft. Lauderdale, Ll → Nashville, TN → KC
🏡 Lee’s Summit

📈 Business Leader 
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Family-Centered 
☕️ Coffee Connoisseur

Jenn Miller holding a latte at a coffee shop.
A suburban home.

Jenn and her husband, Thomas, had a decision to make. While Nashville had its perks for their non-traditional family of nine, the cost of living wasn’t cutting it. When Thomas’ company had an opening in KC, they jumped on it.

Fast forward four years, their family is settled in Lee’s Summit, and Jenn is a well known professional in the KC business community. She’s been named a Kansas City Business Journal “20 to Know” honoree, The Hope Center’s SHERO of the Year 2025 and is an alumna of the prestigious Centurions Leadership Program.

“I got in very rapidly to the business scene here because it was more accessible,” says Jenn. Comfortable living, whether it’s the lower costs or simply the ease of getting around, has granted Jenn a fulfilling work and home life.

“You can live in any suburb of Kansas City and still be 20 minutes away from the city,” says Jenn. “I’m in the city four or five times a week doing business, but it’s never laborious to get on the highway.” 

She’s right — the average commute time in the KC metro is 23.3 minutes, compared to 27.9 in Nashville and the U.S. average of 26.6. 

Everyday luxuries: As a former Starbucks operations manager, Jenn is a big coffee fanatic, and KC’s abundance of unique local coffee shops made an impression. She loves a good oatmilk mocha, and a few of her favorite spots include Made in KC Marketplace, The Roasterie and Post Coffee. 

The big picture: “It was a huge gamechanger to be able to own property and have a spacious backyard. Cost of living, accessibility — those are the things that brought me here. What keeps me here is the excitement and the people.”

Home to Champions

A vibrant sports culture shapes the KC region and nurtures a community of champions.

By Pete Dulin

Fandom itself is practically a sport in KC. Native residents and transplants find a common language, a mutual enthusiasm for sports that lasts a lifetime.That invigorating spirit resonates through every season. 

Each spring, Kansas City hosts the Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship, where more than 150,000 ticket holders watch hoops at the T-Mobile Center. March Madness fans rally behind powerhouse and Cinderella-story college basketball teams. We attend watch parties at the Power and Light District to root and hope, rain or shine. Electric cheers reverberate city-wide. 

And when football season rolls around, members of Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom flock from Midwest cities and gather at Arrowhead Stadium. The Sea of Red begins in the parking lot. Fragrant smoke whets our appetite. We prepare barbecue slow and low, temperature rising at the tailgate, and show hospitality to visitors. Since 2014, Arrowhead has held the Guinness World Record for the loudest outdoor stadium, with crowd chants and decibel-busting roars frustrating opponents and thrilling fans. 

Generations of sports lovers pass on traditions backed by local pride. Young athletes throughout Kansas City learn and grow not only in schools, but also on the field, in gyms and at sports complexes. They develop leadership and sportsmanship skills that serve them in competition and in life.

Backed by family, coaches and friends, we show solidarity after a setback. We bond over triumph and celebrate achievement.

Our winners’ list is long and worthy. We tout Super Bowl wins, World Series championships and MLS Cups. 

Champions themselves, KC Current has made history by playing at CPKC Stadium, the world’s first purpose-built stadium for a women’s professional sports team. Fan-based KC Blue Crew and Undertow KC keep Teal Rising spirits raised high on match days.

And the ultimate win for KC? Hosting fans from around the globe for FIFA World Cup 26™.

Nothing slows us down. We are home to champions, a community proud to support our sports heroes and each other year-round.

Mind & Movement

Explore KC’s diverse pathways to balance, health and living your best life. 

By Maggie Smardo

Wellness is about discovering what ignites your spark — and KC offers an array of avenues to do so. There’s something here for every path toward well-being, so embrace the journey and step confidently into the best version of yourself. 

A woman on a massage table at Hand & Land.

HAND & LAND
Tucked into the historic Luzier Building in Midtown, Hand & Land is your destination no matter where you are in your journey to “clean things up.” This tranquil spa and shop offers sustainable, organic products — each one intentionally curated. From holistic spa treatments to planet-friendly gifts, it’s a trusted space for anyone seeking mindful self-care in Kansas City.

Chiefs Fit sign.

CHIEFS FIT
With locations at The Country Club Plaza and in Overland Park, Chiefs Fit is an elite wellness destination where high-performance training meets restorative recovery. From personal training to Normatec compression, every detail is designed for champions. Plus, with KC’s only rooftop training turf, it’s the ultimate environment for maximizing fitness potential and enjoying the city view.

A group yoga class at Kalos.

KALOS 
Breathe. Move. Feel. The KALOS Experience in Westwood reimagines every element of yoga by honoring body movement as a form of art. Combining traditional flows, breathwork and an uplifting environment, they’ve reconceptualized the feeling of group fitness.

Woman reads smoothie bar menu at Woodside.

WOODSIDE
Woodside is a luxury health club with a deeply devoted following. Specializing in collective spaces within their Westwood campus, Woodside offers more than 50 group fitness classes, tennis courts, pools and more.

Bottles of juice from Zen Donkey Farms.

ZEN DONKEY FARMS
Wellness with a cause. Zen Donkey Farms is tapping into both ends of the wellness pendulum by supplying a fresh-pressed juice delivery and a space for people with special needs to experience donkey-assisted activities. Patrons of this unique farm concept can order juice straight to their doorstep, catch the team at a pop-up event or schedule a meet-and-greet with their herd in Greenwood.

A spa pool at Kla Sanctuary.

KLĀ SANCTUARY
Celebrate the ritual of pause at the serene Klā Sanctuary, located in the heart of the West Bottoms. This urban oasis bathhouse blends sanctuary with specialty treatments, offering a transformative sensory journey. Connected to the space is Selah, a haven for reflection and replenishment where anyone — spa guest or not — is invited to indulge in tea and small bites in a soothing setting.

Global Eats

Kansas City’s international food scene is a world of its own.

By Tyler Shane | Photos by Anna Petrow

Some may view Kansas City as a flyover country, not a cultural destination. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. With deep immigrant roots, a spirit of collaboration and a growing sense of pride in its diversity, KC’s dining scene tells a global story — one dish at a time. From James Beard-winning tortillerias and nationally recognized delis to Thai-spiced barbecue and locally invented Italian dishes, KC is full of surprises. It’s the kind of place that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about Midwestern food.

You may have already heard of Baba’s Pantry, a tiny, ten-seat Palestinian deli in Brookside named one of Bon Appétit’s best new restaurants in the country in 2022. Or Yoli Tortilleria, founded by Sonora, Mexico native Marissa Gencarelli and her husband, Mark, which won a James Beard Award for Best Bakery in 2023. Caramelo Tortilleria, known for its delicate Sonoran-style tortillas, was recently profiled in The New Yorker and featured on Netflix’s David Chang Live. Add in Lidia’s Kansas City, the namesake Italian restaurant from world-renowned chef Lidia Bastianich, and you’re just scratching the surface.

A plate of food and drink from Baba's Pantry.

Even with these nationally celebrated names, some of KC’s most exciting flavors can be found in unexpected places.

In Overland Park, one of KC’s top pitmasters, Tyler Harp, is adding Indian spices to his Texas-style barbecue to cater to the local Indian population. Think of andouille sausage with tandoori notes and a hint of turmeric. Not far away, Chef Swetha Newcomb blends the Indian and Midwestern flavors of her upbringing at her upscale restaurant, Of Course Kitchen & Company. French fries dusted with peri peri spice, filet mignon swimming in coconut moilee and lamb ragu with pumpkin masala are just a few examples of her modern cuisine.

Travel a little farther east on the culinary map and Japan’s quintessential eats — ramen, sushi and egg sandwiches — are all well accounted for. At KC Craft Ramen, Tokyo native Kenichi Ota makes his noodles in-house. The way they grip the pool of rich, flavorful broth is incomparable. For sushi, there are omakase-style restaurants like Sushi Kodawari, helmed by Karson Thompson, a lawyer-turned-sushi-chef, or Akoya Omakase. For the lesser-seen hand-rolled variety, head to the 24-seat sushi bar in the Crossroads Arts District, Kata Nori. There, the chefs present you with some of the best quality fish around town and you can order sake in a wooden box, complementing the experience. Looking for Japan’s beloved egg sandwich? James Beard-nominated Chef Johnny Leach has created one for the bar food program at XO in the Westside, where you can enjoy it infused with bits of nori while listening to hi-fi Japanese beats on vinyl.

Other global highlights are just as eclectic. Rakar Dumpling House, a Chinese restaurant that operates out of an antique furniture shop, serves Beijing-style dumplings. Clay & Fire, a Persian and Turkish restaurant that sits in a classic Westside home, uses a wood-fired hearth to infuse each kebab and vegetable with irresistible char and smoke.

And then, of course, there are tacos. Kansas City, specifically the Kansas side, is considered America’s Taco Capital, with the city’s Taco Trail mapping more than 60 taquerias. You’ll find everything from street-style al pastor to Tex-Mex fusion. GiGi’s Barbacoa brings barbecue traditions from Tabasco, Mexico, while T’ÄHÄ on the Plaza takes things upscale with tender rabbit in a deeply layered mole sauce made with more than 20 ingredients.

With the city’s Vietnamese food scene growing quickly, there’s no shortage of brothy bowls of pho and crisp banh mi sandwiches. Locally owned Vietnamese coffee shops such as Café Cà Phê and Origin Coi Nguon Coffeehouse are drawing crowds for their bold, Robusta-based brews and community vibes.

A decadent ice cream dessert from Le Fou Frog.

For more romantic nights out, French spots like Le Fou Frog and Westport Café offer European elegance with Kansas City soul. Helmed by French chefs, both restaurants have that elusive je ne sais quoi that never goes out of style.

All of this adds up to a dining scene that’s as diverse as it is approachable, where international flavors are part of the local fabric, and where chefs are constantly blending heritage with heart.

For those considering a move to Kansas City, the food is just one window into the culture here. But it’s a pretty delicious one.