Best Cocktail Bars in the Crossroads Arts District

Some evenings in the Crossroads begin with a dinner reservation. Others start with an alley entrance, a green lantern and the promise of a good cocktail downstairs. Either way, this Kansas City neighborhood rewards a little exploring.

The Arts District’s cocktail scene gives you plenty of ways to spend the evening, from intimate rooms built for conversation to distillery tasting experiences and live jazz. You can choose somewhere that takes your favorite spirit seriously, find a new drink with a bartender’s help or settle in for a set and let the music shape the night.

Here are some of the best cocktail bars in the Crossroads, along with ideas for putting an evening together.

Swordfish Tom’s: For a Tucked-Away Cocktail Date

Finding Swordfish Tom’s is part of the experience. Look for the octopus mural by the east alley entrance on West 19th Terrace, then follow the steps down. A green lantern in the waiting area lets you know when there’s room inside.

The intimate, speakeasy-inspired setting suits evenings when conversation is the main plan. The bar specializes in spirits and cocktails, with no beer, wine or food served, so it’s worth arriving after dinner. Guests must be 21 or older.

This is a good choice for couples or a catch-up with a friend. Give yourself time to read the menu, talk through what you like and enjoy the room rather than treating it as a quick stop between reservations.

Best for: Date nights, small groups and an intimate speakeasy atmosphere.

Tom’s Town Distilling Company: For Local Spirits and Kansas City History

At Tom’s Town Distilling Company, the connection to Kansas City runs through both the setting and the glass. The Main Street distillery takes its name from political boss Tom Pendergast and draws on the city’s Prohibition-era history, serving cocktails in a tasting room housed in a building more than 110 years old.

Its locally made gin, vodka and bourbon give you a starting point for exploring the menu. If you’re curious about how those spirits come together, book a distillery tour or look for a cocktail class among the available experiences.

That extra activity makes Tom’s Town especially useful for a weekend with friends. Plan around a tour or class, then leave time to settle into the tasting room afterward.

Best for: Distillery enthusiasts, visiting friends and an evening with an activity built in.

Fern Bar: For Rum, Tequila and Mezcal

Fern Bar on Broadway Boulevard puts sugarcane and agave spirits at the center of its drinks program. Rum, tequila and mezcal lead the way, making it a natural stop if those are your usual orders—or spirits you’d like to get to know better.

The current menu offers familiar starting points, including a Daiquiri, Margarita and Paloma, alongside drinks such as an Oaxaca Old Fashioned and Mezcal Espresso Martini. There are also nonalcoholic options, giving friends with different preferences more ways to enjoy the same stop.

Choose a favorite classic to see how the bar approaches it, or ask for a recommendation based on the flavors you enjoy. You don’t need to know your way around the spirits list before taking a seat.

Best for: Rum and agave enthusiasts, discovering a new favorite and groups with mixed drink preferences.

Black Dolphin: For Cocktails and Live Jazz

If your ideal night out includes a live soundtrack, put Black Dolphin on your list. Located on Grand Boulevard, it gives you a way to bring Kansas City jazz into an evening in the Crossroads.

Make the performance the focus of this stop. Arrive with time to find a seat, order a drink and settle in for the music, rather than squeezing a set into the gap before another reservation.

Green Lady Lounge’s current notice directs visitors next door to Black Dolphin for live jazz while Green Lady is temporarily closed. Check the venue’s latest updates and performance information when planning your visit.

Best for: Live jazz, a music-led date night and visitors exploring Kansas City’s jazz scene.

XR: For a Lively Neighborhood Gathering Place

Inside Crossroads Hotel, XR brings locals and travelers together in the lobby. It’s a neighborhood bar and lounge with food served throughout the day, making it an easy place to meet friends before heading out or settle in when everyone arrives with different plans.

The appeal is in that flexibility. Start here while you decide where the evening will go, stay for food and another conversation, or return after exploring the neighborhood.

For hotel guests, it also makes meeting up simple: there’s no need to coordinate a separate starting point before the night begins.

Best for: Meeting friends, drinks with food and an easy start to the evening.

Percheron: For Cocktails Above the Crossroads

When the weather calls for an open-air evening, head upstairs to Percheron. Crossroads Hotel’s seasonal rooftop bar pairs drinks with views across Kansas City, giving your night a different perspective before or after exploring the streets below. It operates seasonally from spring through fall, so check current opening information before visiting.

Make this your choice when the view is part of the occasion. Leave time to enjoy the skyline rather than fitting it into a hurried stop, especially if you’re celebrating or showing friends around the city.

For more places to take in the skyline, explore our guide to rooftop bars in Kansas City.

Best for: Skyline views, open-air drinks and a rooftop start to the night.

Plan Your Crossroads Night Around What You Enjoy

You don’t need to visit every bar to have a good night in the neighborhood. Choose a dinner spot and one main destination, then leave room to stay longer if you’re enjoying yourself.

For a Date Night

Begin with dinner at Lazia, then head to Swordfish Tom’s for cocktails and conversation. Keeping the evening to two places gives you time to enjoy both without watching the clock.

Our Crossroads date night guide has more ideas for pairing dinner with neighborhood exploring.

For a Weekend With Friends

Build the evening around a distillery experience at Tom’s Town, or choose Fern Bar if your group wants to explore rum, tequila and mezcal. Make any bookings first, then choose dinner around the time and location.

For somewhere to eat, browse our guide to the best restaurants in the Crossroads Arts District.

For Live Music

Plan dinner before a jazz outing at Black Dolphin, leaving the rest of the evening open for the performance. Check the latest venue information before setting your plans.

For Art and Cocktails

Give yourself time to explore the neighborhood before choosing your evening stop. If your visit coincides with First Fridays, our First Fridays in Kansas City guide can help you build art into the outing.

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

Smaller cocktail rooms work best with a little flexibility. Check each venue’s reservation policy, opening hours and group arrangements before setting out, especially if several friends are meeting you.

Eat beforehand if your chosen bar doesn’t serve food, and check the current menu if anyone wants nonalcoholic options. For a night on foot, map your chosen stops from the hotel so you can pick a route that suits your group.

Most of all, leave space in the plan. Finding a bar you want to linger in is a good reason to let the next stop wait.

Make a Weekend of the Crossroads

Staying in the neighborhood gives you time to discover more than its nightlife. Spend the afternoon exploring local art and independent businesses, head out for dinner and cocktails, then leave the next morning open for coffee and another walk.

Crossroads Hotel puts you in the Arts District, with XR downstairs and Lazia ready when dinner is part of the plan. Explore our rooms and suites to find your place for a Kansas City weekend.