Best Happy Hour in Kansas City

Article Written by Courtney Dever

Looking for the perfect place to go for your next happy hour in Kansas City? Just a quick search might prove overwhelming– there are tons of options, from casual or good for watching the game to classy and sophisticated. Are you having a quick drink after work with work-friends? Or are you inviting your closest friends to a fun evening out? Even in each of these categories, you could find an unlimited number of options in Kansas City, but you want to make sure you’ve found a great place to go.

Top Happy Hours in Kansas City

When specifically looking at happy hours specials versus simply the bar or restaurant by itself, there is more to consider when choosing where to go. While rating the best happy hours in Kansas City, we tried to get a range of types, and of course we selected the best from each option. If you’re looking to branch out and try a bar you haven’t before, make sure you’re considering these top-rated happy hours. Also, check out our Kansas City Brunch Specials.

#1 – Blue Stem

900 Westport Rd. Kansas City, MO 64111 | Bluestemkc.com

Happy Hour: Tuesday – Friday, 4-6 PM

Atmosphere: Classy

If you wouldn’t normally have an excuse to visit Blue Stem, their happy hour is the perfect reason. You can order $6-7 cocktails and a range of food items from the bar side, from Marinated Olives ($7) to a full Charcuterie Board ($26). They also offer all 9-oz glasses of wine at the price of the 6-oz glass and 30% off all bottles. The place is impressive to say the least, as the restaurant side offers fine dining, but since you’re just having a few drinks at the bar, it’s the perfect place to go when you’re feeling like dressing up with somewhere nice to go.

#2 – Julep

4141 Pennsylvania Ave. #104 Kansas City, MO 64111 | Julep Website

Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3-6 PM

Atmosphere: Classy but also relaxed

This is a great spot for special occasions and having fun while trying a new drink. They focus mainly on whiskey drinks and some creative cocktails, around the $8-15 range, but you can get a few deals during happy hour including cocktails for $6 and 25% off whiskey. Their behind-the-bar showpiece is their massive wall of liquor, complete with an old-fashioned rolling ladder.

#3 – Extra Virgin

1900 Main St. Kansas City, MO 64108 | extravirginkc.com

Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 4-6 PM

Atmosphere: Nice but casual

Extra Virgin is a tapas restaurant with a great happy hour. You can get half-priced small plates of tapas and save $2 per glass on wine and cocktails. There’s the option to sit at the bar, but when their main attraction is their creative flavors found in their tapas, you’ll probably be focusing on their food menu more than the drinks. Their variety, plus the half-price, will keep you coming back for more happy hours.

#4 – The Oliver

4807 Jefferson St. Kansas City, MO 64112 | OliverKC.com

Happy Hour: Monday – Sunday, 3:30 PM-6:30 PM

Atmosphere: Nice and classy

The Oliver calls themselves an American tavern redefined, but their feel seems more sophisticated than that. Their happy hour is called “social hour,” and it’s little details like this in the restaurant that make it especially charming, as they strike a balance between old-fashioned and modern. They offer a few cocktails for $5, $5 glasses of wine, $3 beers, and $6 food items during happy hour.

#5 – Bar k

501 Berkley Pkwy. Kansas City, MO 64120 | Bar K

Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 4-6 PM

Atmosphere: Very casual

Bar K makes the list as one of Kansas City’s favorite happy hours for their unique concept as a dog bar. More specifically, it’s a bar, with an indoor and outdoor area, with a staff-supervised off-leash dog park. Bring your dog or love of dogs, and enjoy $2 off all snack items, $3 domestic beer (canned), or $5 craft beer (canned). The dogs make this place have an infectiously-happy atmosphere, and they even offer snacks on the menu for dogs.

#6 – The Phenoix

302 W. 8th St. Kansas City, MO 64105 | The Phenoix

Happy Hour: Tuesday – Saturday, 3-6 PM

Atmosphere: Nice but casual, with live music

The Phoenix sets itself apart from other bars by their live, local music that’s scheduled every night they’re open. There can be a $5 cover for the music, but if you come before the music during happy hour, you’ll find deals such as $4 local drafts, $5 glasses of wine and cocktails, plus some appetizers for $5. They even include Saturday for happy hour.

#7 – The Well

7421 Broadway Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64114 | Waldo Well

Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3-6 PM

Atmosphere: Casual, with TVs

The Well is a popular place to grab a drink with an enticing happy hour. You can get half-priced appetizers, $4 glasses of wine, $5 mules, and $3.50 local craft beers, just to name a few specials. Upstairs, their rooftop patio has another bar area, yard games, and a fire pit.

#8 – Il Lazzarone

412 Delaware St. Kansas City, MO 64105 | illazzarone.org

Happy Hour: Monday – Sunday, 3-6 PM and 10 PM – Close

Atmosphere: Casual

Il Lazzarone deserves a lot of credit for the time availability of their happy hour, and their discounts are worth checking out. It’s 20% off all alcohol, plus the Margherita or Marinara pizzas for $6, which are normally around $9. The bar has a great selection of beers on tap, over 30 options, and you won’t get pizza like Il Lazzarone’s from anywhere else near here– the massive pizza oven was shipped in from Italy.

#9 – Ale House

4128 Broadway Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64111 | westportalehouse.com

Happy Hour: Monday – Thursday, 4-7 PM and Friday, 11 AM-7 PM

Atmosphere: Very casual, with TVs

Ale House is a great spot that can easily please a large group, and they have enough space for a crowd. They have a second story patio area and plenty of TVs for watching the game or hanging out in a relaxed bar. Their happy hour specials include $5 half-basket appetizers and $4 draft beers and cocktails.