See what travel site recommends World Cup visitors eat, see & do in Kansas City
As the Kansas City area makes its final preparations ahead of the month-long World Cup takeover, national outlets have their eyes on KC — and opinions about what’s good here.
Lonely Planet, a travel media outlet, posted on Instagram last week its guide to Kansas City during the World Cup, in paid partnership with the city’s tourism arm, Visit KC.
“The World Cup comes to Kansas City this July, and with four national teams setting up shop — England, Netherlands, Argentina and Algeria — the city is destined to be a true global hub,” the caption on Instagram said. “Do it right: Don’t just fly in for a match and leave. Build an adventure-filled long weekend around it.”
The list includes plenty of places to dine and imbibe, as well as spots to shop, stay, and explore in Kansas City.
The publication’s recommendations span neighborhoods, from Crossroads to Waldo, and also cross the state line into Kansas.
Lonely Planet is no stranger to guiding visitors around Kansas City, especially in recent years. In 2023, the travel publication listed KC in its global “Best in Travel 2024” guide.
At the time of publication, Lonely Planet noted the newly built CPKC Stadium, the city’s culinary scene and the Rock Island Bridge entertainment district as reasons KC made its annual travel guide.
What made its list this time? To start, here are the restaurants and bars that Lonely Planet recommends:
Restaurants and Bars to visit in KC, according to Lonely Planet
- Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que: 3002 W. 47th Ave., Kansas City, Kansas (also has locations in Olathe and Leawood)
- Slap’s BBQ: 553 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas
- Q39: 1000 W. 39th St. (also has locations in Overland Park and Lawrence)
- Jack Stack BBQ: 13441 Holmes Road (also has locations in Crossroads, Country Club Plaza, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park and Lenexa)
- Boulevard Brewing Company: 2501 Southwest Blvd.
- Café Trio: 4558 Main St.
- Ragazza Food & Wine: 4301 Main St.
- Affäre: 1911 Main St.
- Ricochet KC: 1720 McGee St.
- Succotash: 2601 Holmes St.
- Buenos Aires Restaurant: 10919 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
- The Monarch Bar: 4808 Roanoke Parkway
- Kelly’s Westport Inn: 500 Westport Road
- Messenger Coffee: 1624 Grand Blvd. (also has locations in Country Club Plaza, Cascade Hotel and Kansas City International Airport)
Lonely Planet made special mention of several notable Kansas City barbecue restaurants, noting the array of eateries that can be found with just this one cuisine. Want a no-frills experience? Head to the former gas station that is Joe’s or the counter-service joint Slap’s. For an “elevated” barbecue experience, Q39 and Jack Stack will meet your needs.
Missouri’s largest craft brewery, Boulevard, was also recommended as the spot to visit before matches, given its proximity to the FIFA Fan Festival.
What else does Lonely Planet recommend seeing and doing while in Kansas City? See the list below:
Things to do in KC, according to Lonely Planet
- The RideKC Streetcar
- The Blue Room: 1600 E. 18th St.
- The Phoenix: 302 W. Eighth St.
- Green Lady Lounge: 1809 Grand Blvd.
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: 4525 Oak St.
- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: 4420 Warwick Blvd.
- Cerbera Gallery: 2011 Baltimore Ave.
- The Beautiful Game at the National World War I Museum and Memorial: 2 Memorial Drive
- United We Play at Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum: 500 W U.S. Highway 24, Independence
- Union Station: 30 W. Pershing Road
- Made in KC: 306 W. 47th St. (also has locations in Lee’s Summit, Lenexa, Overland Park, Barrywoods Crossing, Red Bridge Shopping Center, Prairie Village, The Village at Briarcliff, Union Station, Downtown, Leawood, Fairway and Waldo)
- Shopping in Country Club Plaza, River Market and West Bottoms neighborhoods
- Crossroads Hotel: 2101 Central St.
- Hotel Kansas City: 1228 Baltimore Ave.
- The Fontaine: 901 W. 48th Place
Do you agree with the Lonely Planet list? Where should incoming World Cup travelers visit while they’re in Kansas City? Let us know at kcq@kcstar.com.