Last Updated on January 27, 2023 by admin
Fine dining, shopping, and great eats are all found within the Country Club Plaza (“the Plaza”) of Kansas City. Taking up 804,000 square feet, the Spanish-inspired Plaza is a high-end shopping center surrounded by mansions and upscale apartment buildings.
Whether you are looking for quality work clothes or wanting to visit a store selling Kansas City local items strictly, the Plaza provides. Unlike typical shopping centers, the Plaza has parking only in garages beneath, beside the shops, or on top of shops, instead of open lots.
This covered parking allows visitors to walk more freely in the area and not need to worry about rain/snow/hail damage while they shop, or in the summer, guests may enjoy returning to a car that is not so hot. We’ll help you get the most out of the country club plaza!
Things to do Country Club Plaza
Shopping is likely the activity that most of the Plaza’s visitors partake in, but that is not all the Plaza offers. What the Plaza is most known for next is its food options. The Plaza offers several options if you are in the mood for food ranging from sit-in eateries to quick lunch stops.
That is not all there is to do, though; the Plaza offers gondola rides around the area. It even provides romantic horse-drawn carriage rides for the visitors who would rather experience the magic of the Plaza from a tour around it rather than shopping or eating within it.
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#1 – Nelson Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111 – Website
Inevitably when driving through Kansas City, you pass by an area with a giant, 18-foot badminton shuttlecock lounging in a field. That field holds four of those giant shuttlecocks and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Admission to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is free with an hour and fifteen-minute tour, but some featured exhibits are $6. Attendance at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art exposes you to over “5,000 years of humanity” and “34,500 pieces”.
The museum has two restaurants and a gift shop to serve its guests every want and need. For eats, an Italian buffet and a café are serving savory bites and mouth-watering desserts. Then, the gift shop is available to those who find a piece they love so much they need a replica or exhibition catalog to take home.
#2 – Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
4420 Warwick Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111 | Website
A leader among modern and contemporary art museums in America, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is a great place to enjoy a day off. Admission is free, and tours are one hour long, making Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art economical and time-efficient.
A visitor could visit the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and then enjoy the joys of the Plaza for the rest of their day. The entrance of the museum hosts a giant spider on the lawn and a figure sitting.
The contemporary art does not stop there; inside the museum are dozens of exhibits created by well-known, mid-career, and emerging artists. The museum also offers a café serving lunch and brunch for visitors who work up an appetite while viewing the exhibits. An easy choice for our list of the best things to do at the country club plaza!
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#3 – Kansas City Repertory Theatre
4949 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO 64110
Housed inside the University of Missouri Kansas City, the Kansas City Repertory got created to give theatre students a way to work side-by-side with professional stagehands, directors, and actors/actresses. Founded in 1964 and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1979, Kansas City Repertory is a 56-year-old leader in Kansas City’s arts community. Tickets can be as low as $20, and the shows can put on a range of shows from local productions to traveling theatre.
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Places to Shop Country Club Plaza
The Plaza offers several options for shopping visitors. Those who love to keep it local would enjoy “Made in KC Marketplace,” where everything, even the alcohol, is made by Kansas City locals.
from that, there are several upscale retail stores within the Plaza, such as Kate Spade, Anthropology, Michael Kors, J. Crew, and more. There are trendier options, such as Altard’d State, Free People, Francesca’s, H&M, and fitness clothing stores. If you are not shopping for clothing, there are options for you, too, such as Tiffany & Co., the paper source for any parchment needs, Sephora, Soft Surroundings, and more. The Plaza has all types of shopping options for all kinds of needs.
Also, check out our list of the best museums in Kansas City.
#1 – Hallmark Gold Crown
Also known as “Amy’s Hallmark Shop,” Hallmark Gold Crown at the Plaza offers a broad selection of year-round and seasonal gifts, gift wrap, Keepsake Ornaments, and greeting cards. Hallmark Headquarters is in Kansas City, and so shopping here continues to support local Kansas City. Amy’s Hallmark Shop offers something for customers to celebrate virtually “any special occasion, holiday, or even ordinary day!”. An easy choice for the best places to shop in the Country Club Plaza!
#2 – Charlie Hustle
419 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64112
Offering Kansas City shirts, vintage styles, and even wool hats, Charlie Hustle is a must-stop shop for Kansas City merchandise. Charlie Hustle at the Plaza offers T-Shirts for all the local businesses such as Jack’s Stacks, Joe’s BBQ, Boulevard Brewing, and many more. Charlie Hustle also has a collection of KC Heart items, with a pure heart and KC within it to show love for the city wherever you are. Great if you are visiting and are wanting a great T-shirt, pin, flag, or hat.
#3 – Three Dog Bakery
602 W 48th St, Kansas City, MO 64112 | Website
If you are looking for the ULTIMATE pet treat store, look no further than Three Dog Bakery. A Kansas City treasure, Three Dog Bakery creates fresh, baked-on-site, one-of-a-kind treats. Your furry friend is not only able but encouraged to come in with you to shop for their gifts! Three Dog Bakery provides a range of services and will even custom bake treats for your sweet puppy upon request.
Best Restaurants Country Club Plaza
The Plaza is home to several different places where you could satisfy your hunger. If you are visiting Kansas City, you must try the Barbecue, but if you are a resident and are in the mood for something other than Barbecue, the Plaza has different options for you as well. The Plaza houses “sit down” eateries and grab-and-go food chains for guests to enjoy. The Plaza’s cuisine choices offer Mexican, Italian, American, Asian, and virtually any other eating options in between.
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#1 – Gram & Dun
600 Ward Pkwy · In Country Club Plaza – Website
If you are looking for an upscale dining experience with drinks tailored specifically to you and your meal while dining on great comfort food, Gram & Dunn is the restaurant for you. Sophisticated, soulful, and crafted, Gram & Dunn is renowned for its “attention to pairing food with libations.”
Enjoy your food on the “best patio in town” while dining on cuisine prepared and adjusted for the time of the season you attend. Gram & Dunn is the place for upscale comfort food and relaxation. An easy choice for the best restaurants in the Country Club Plaza!
#2 – Rye
4646 Mill Creek Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112 | Website
Noted for being an upscale Midwest eatery, Rye is a fantastic place to dine if looking to experience Kansas City and Missouri flavors. At Rye, you are sure to find “succulent smoked pork chops, aged steaks, bbq ribs, fried chicken, seasonal vegetables from the garden, Parker House rolls, freshly made pies, fruit cobblers, and layer cakes” but also much more.
Chef Megan and Chef Colby make all of Rye’s food – both Midwesterners create each dish. They use their knowledge they gained from their families and the food they ate growing up.
#3 – Parkway Social Kitchen
616 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112 | Website
If you want “familiar yet distinct” food, i.e., burgers, chicken, etc., in an upscale establishment, Parkway Social Kitchen is the place for you. Parkway Social Kitchen opened its doors in 2017 and has since flourished.
For visitors looking to experience what it is like to call Kansas City home for a normal meal with a distinct taste. Parkway Social Kitchen has made its mission food with a sense of community. It is a “special place,” which “has the power to bring people together.”