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Explore these 5 new bars and restaurants in Kansas City

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Kansas City's nightlife scene expands with a mix of themes and offerings in its new bars and restaurants. Across the board, these establishments tap into unique concepts to attract visitors.

Tom's Town in Crossroads introduces The Vault, a speakeasy-style bar. It offers simple cocktails and hot dogs in a space rich with local historical nods. The bar aims to bring back some of the old rowdiness with entertainment options like DJ nights and trivia.

Arrow Dart Club, a new Crossroads establishment, modernizes the dart-playing experience with arcade-style games and a computer system. It sits next to Cosmo Burger but maintains its own identity with distinct food and drink menus.

Waldo will soon welcome Audrey's Wine + Bourbon, a bar that teaches its patrons to pair wine with bourbon. This concept highlights a 1920s flair and provides an educational drinking experience. Staff will guide customers on how to enjoy combinations of Oregon and Washington wines with popular bourbons.

In the West Bottoms, Laila, an international club, combines East and West influences. The venue hosts multicultural performances and serves drinks named after global goddesses. The club reflects diverse cultural backgrounds and offers unique entertainment experiences.

The Vault opens Friday in the basement of Tom’s Town. By David Hudnall

NO. 1: CROSSROADS BAR WILL OPEN A NEW SPEAKEASY WITH NODS TO KANSAS CITY HISTORY

“We wanted to bring a little bit of that old rowdiness back downstairs,” one manager told The Star. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Hudnall

A robust 2019 red wine pours freely at Darling Wine Bar in Greyline Station, located in suit 164 on March 20, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 2: NEW WINE AND BOURBON BAR OPENING IN KANSAS CITY, WITH 1920S FLAIR

The stylish space will serve a variety of wine, cocktails and more. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Cosmo Burger has opened a Crossroads location at 1815 Locust St. By Emily Curiel

NO. 3: INSIDE NEW KANSAS CITY RESTAURANT SERVING SMASHBURGERS, SHAKES AND COCKTAILS

The restaurant built its following cooking out of a bar and farmers market stall. Now it’s got its own spot. | Published July 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Hudnall

People are seen at the bar and booths inside Laila Lounge, where pink walls and gold accents cover the space. By Emily Curiel

NO. 4: SEE INSIDE KANSAS CITY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL NIGHTCLUB AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

Who is Laila? | Published August 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Arrow Dart Club offers 10 high-tech dart lanes. By Jenna Thompson

NO. 5: LOOKING FOR A DARTS BAR? NEW CROSSROADS SPOT PROMISES ‘NOT YOUR GRANDPA’S DARTS’

When customers reserve a dart lane at Kansas City’s newest entertainment bar, they’ll likely find it’s not quite the same game they once played in their basements. | Published October 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.