Upscale KC cocktail lounge opens, promising out-of-this-world experience
A new Kansas City lounge perched over the Missouri River seeks to answer a question few have thought to ask: What would it be like to sip cocktails on the moon?
Moonstone, which opened over the weekend, will get patrons as close as possible on this side of the atmosphere.
The new spot is above riverfront beer garden Two Birds One Stone at 1000 Riverfront Drive. It neighbors CPKC Stadium and Origin Hotel, along with the many other developments popping up along the riverfront.
Inside, a long, gray bar — speckled like the surface of the moon — sits near a hi-fi stereo system. A low purple glow illuminates the space as ambient music rumbles and shrills. Heavy velvet curtains frame views of the river, as does its balcony seating.
Stephen Krantz, general manager of Moonstone and Two Birds One Stone, likened the space to a “rich, 1970s aunt’s house,” with rust-colored accents and brass barstools.
But the galactic theme is carried out through its jet-black ceiling and tile floors. A large, black-and-white photo of an astronaut hangs above a long couch.
“There’s just nothing like it in the whole city,” Krantz said. “Just offering a higher-end experience in a very unique setting on the riverfront.”
All of Moonstone’s barstools were handmade in Turkey. Initially, the space was set to open not long after Two Birds One Stone did in June.
But the first order of custom barstools were destroyed in shipping, and Krantz said the manufacturers began the laborious process of remaking the furniture all over again.
Hiccups aside, Krantz said he saw plenty of excitement about the space over its opening weekend.
“So far, it’s a pretty strong start,” he said.
Moonstone offers a variety of thematic cocktails. The Moon Landing ($12) contains gin, Genepi, simple syrup, lemon and Lambrusco. The Brew Moon Rising ($14) has Licor 43, amaretto, Mezcal, coffee liqueur and cold brew.
Appetizers (served in gray, crater-like dishes) include a smoked tomato and mushroom tartare ($12) and Brussels sprouts and cauliflower ($13).
As for main courses, the spot serves a 10-ounce bone-on pork chop for $40, beef tips $22, a short rib for $24 and an open-faced pork katsu sandwich for $18.
The spot is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and is bookable through its website.
The riverfront has been a hotspot for development. A $1 billion makeover is underway for the area, which will soon be home to hundreds of apartments, multifamily homes, and tens of thousands of feet of commercial space.
But Krantz said he’s honored to plant a flag as the first high-end bar on the growing riverfront.
As patrons climb the stairs to the experience, their eyes follow words painted on each subsequent step — lyrics from musician Paul Brandt’s “There’s A World Out There.”
“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”
This story was originally published November 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM.