Kansas City Speakeasy Guide

When most people think of speakeasies they think of New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles. The trendy, big cities with hopping nighttime vibes and a prohibition history. I’m pretty sure you don’t think of Kansas City.

But as we found out on our first trip, Kansas City has deep prohibition roots.

During the prohibition era, Kansas City was quite the party town.  Partly because of the heavy mob rule as the government turned a blind eye. And partly because of its river access, making it a mini distribution hub.  There are actual secret tunnels built into some of the buildings. These would lead to the river for easily sneaking in and out of booze and other taboo items.  Y’all think it’s all about Chicago, but apparently not!

The Purpose of the Trip

*Our Speakeasy Rating System

Throughout this post you will see references to our bathtub rating system. We have an “objective” rating system of 1 to 5 bathtubs. One (or 1/2 in some cases) tub can be earned in each of the following categories. A full list of speakeasies and their ratings will be published in the near future.

• Hidden Entrance
• Entry task/Password
• Theme
• Cocktails
• Service

So here we go with some of the top places in Kansas City for the Speakeasy loving crowd. 

Swordfish Tom’s

We had Swordfish Tom’s on our list for our first trip, but they were not open on the day we were free to visit.  This time we made it a priority.

The Entrance

We are only scoring this entrance a half tub. If you are standing on the street it looks like an empty alley.  However, if you stroll down about two doorways, there it is, and the door is marked. So half a tub deduction.  BUT once you enter the door you head down a cool octopus staircase to a door. You have to knock on the door. We would recommend that you knock loudly (not pounding, that would be rude). But it is a bar, and they must hear you to let you in.  It might take a few minutes if they are busy, just wait, it’s worth it.

The Experience

Right up front, let’s be clear, we loved this place!!!

We were greeted at the door by Tim, who was funny and cool.  Turns out the bar is named after the owner’s favorite musician (Tom Waite) and his favorite album by that artist (Swordfish Trombones).  We completely expected it to be a tropical, Tiki bar feel with a name like Swordfish Tom’s. But no, it is actually a brick, dark, industrial feeling bar.  Although there is something about it that hints of old/naval touches. There is a sign on the door letting you know they are LGBTQ friendly and Black Lives Matter and if you don’t agree, don’t be there.  They have a bathroom sign that reads “all genders or gender expressions”, which I loved the phrasing of.

The cocktails were flat out amazing.  We love creative names on the menu, and they nailed them!  My drink was The Banana Stand (because, you know, there’s always money in the banana stand – if you know this reference, we can be friends), Peggy went with The Pharmacist.  They were so good we changed our “one and done” to another one and done.  Round two:  My choice was Violet, You’re Turning Violet, Violet!  Peggy had Good Omens.  Creative, tasty, not too weird, well thought out and balanced flavors.

It was impressive.  But we had other reservations to get to.

PS Lounge

As an intro, let me just spoil it by saying we didn’t love it. . . but we should have.  I blame the huge party of golfing buddies and brunch blondes who were waiting in line behind us. They were so busy trying to impress each other that it made us sneer just a little and roll our eyes.   Quite sure we walked in with a bad attitude. And, yes, we were judgey.

The Entrance

So, again with the half bathtub score.  I get it, businesses want people to know they are there. But the whole point of a speakeasy is to be hidden.  First off, it is found in the basement of one of the prettiest hotels in Kansas City.  The Hotel Phillips is gorgeous, wood carved staircases, very art deco. Very us, very eclectic, very much I can’t wait to go back and stay here.  Located in the Power and Light district, it is in a great neighborhood if you are looking for somewhere to stay.

You get in the elevator, and yep, there is a sign for PS Lounge.  You step off the elevator and there is another sign pointing down a staircase.  Descend the short staircase and there is an actual cool, big metal slider door that is not marked. Therefore, they are staying in this race for a half tub mark.  We arrived at opening time, second in line for our reservation. That group behind us was still throwing off our groove (it was a birthday party for one of them ,or so we heard multiple times).

The Experience

Once we were in, the room was beautiful.  Velvet chairs, art deco sconces and archways, mirrors, going for the old Hollywood feel – you can almost see Sinatra at the back booth.  A little dark, a little cold, but table candles and wall lights that they came around to turn on.  The service was great. The server and the bartender were both nice, friendly, and checked in to make sure everything was good.

One Goddess of Dawn (how do you not get the Goddess drink) and one Only Fronds. We enjoyed them both. They also do the classic cocktails with little twists of their own.  There was really nothing to not like about it, except our bad attitudes coming in the door.  It definitely feels a little upscale and would be a great date night option.

The Drum Room

The Experience

The Drum Room came highly recommended.  Inside the Hotel President Kansas City, this historic landmark claims that it used to be more speakeasy-ish. The rumor goes that it was uncovered during excavation and had been previously unknown. Today, it is just a hotel corner bar packed with the after-work crowd.  It wasn’t terrible, but we wouldn’t hype it up.  My note from the stop reads “What is this supposed to be?  Feels like a non-chain Capital Grill, local afterwork crowd but highly recommended by the hotel staff” – Interpret that as you will.  A big whiskey selection, presidential themed cocktails. We had the Jackie O and the Café Liberation (espresso martini), standard bar choices.

The Hey Hey Club

The Hey Hey Club hides in the J. Reiger & Co Distillery. We arrived during a Christmas Market and found out that the Hey Hey Club was also done up as a Christmas Pop Up – so yay for a theme!!!

The Entrance

While not exactly hidden (yes, again), and no secret way to enter, all you need is possibly a reservation (and a keen observation skill of seeing the sign on the wall pointing down the stairs).

The Experience

It is hard for us to judge this accurately and fairly because it was a themed set up.  But given how much we loved it, and how well the theme was executed, we have rather good sense that it’s probably always fantastic – and it did come highly recommended by several locals and other service workers. 

This year’s holiday theme was a Christmas Tiki Bar (no, it’s not typically a Tiki bar).  The cocktail list featured standard Tiki drinks with a holiday twist. These fun drinks were served in cool tropical Christmas style glasses (shark tiki glass, Santa Surfing, Reindeer, etc.).  They also offered a short list of snacks, and we absolutely loved the Sweet Chili crab wonton nachos.

Our server (dangit forgot to write down her name), was awesome, friendly, almost perky, without being barbie level perky.  We loved her, she should go drinking with us! 

We would say, get in an afternoon at J. Rieger’s Distillery. J. Rieger has a unique Kansas City pre- and post-prohibition history and is well worth the visit. They have a tasting room, tours, and a café.  So multiple stops to drink, and a great, upbeat atmosphere.

The Mercury Room

We are revisiting this to share with you, because although we hit it 2 years ago, it has some speakeasy qualities, and we did love it.

The Entrance

It’s pretty hidden, not completely, but one of the better KCMO secret entrances.  It is on the top floor of a building.  There is a sign outside that simply has the Greek symbol for Mercury on it.  If you don’t know, you don’t know.  You can see it from the street, but it’s just pretty lights from the street level.  When you go into the building, there is a security desk where you must check in.  Reservations are appreciated, but if they can fit you in, they will.  You need to have them grant you elevator access to the top floor.  So, pretty close to a full tub rating.

The Experience

This is a beautiful lounge.  The room is dark velvety blue with white lights strung up all over the ceiling like a sky lit up with stars.  There were low lounge style tables, naturally we sat at the bar where we met our besties, Andrew and Liz (it was their 30th anniversary, and they were celebrating it up).

The bartenders were amazing, the drinks were amazing, and they will create cocktails for you based on your likes and dislikes.  They are true expert mixologists (hint, go read our updated KCMO day drinking blog, as one of the bartenders who served us that night now owns his own fantastic bar).

We highly recommend this for a romantic date night, or a fun night out with friends, it is slightly upscale without being snooty.

And the grand Finale of our Kansas City Experience:  TIL DEATH!!!

So as the story’s been told, our friends bought a mortuary.  Liz’s family is in the mortuary business.  This is just outside Kansas City in Raytown, MO.  They take over ownership, and multiple times people come to services there and ask where the bar is (or if it was still there, little fuzzy on specifics).  They have no idea what people are talking about until they go to renovate the basement, and you guessed it, bar in the basement.

So now, they have a speakeasy.  But do not get your hopes up, this is a special event venue only, and the Repeal party is invite only – but also a fantastic fundraiser for homeless veterans.  You should make friends with them and get on the invite list.

The Experience

So, Andrew and his bestie, Phil, worked as the bartenders.  They created their own upscale cocktails, and they were honestly amazing.  Like professional level, mixed with love and appreciation for the craft.  One of the best espresso martinis I’ve ever had, top 3 at least.  They also served a drunk rabbit punch, that I loved! 

Peggy and I walk in, we are greeted by Lori at the door, we introduce ourselves as Peggy and Patti, and we hear the shriek from across the room from Liz “OMG, the sisters are here”, to which Lori replied “OMG, you’re the sisters!!!”  For future reference, I always want to be greeted this way, always. 

The speakeasy has grown and expanded over the past few years (not that we knew, but they walked us through the history). Their kids worked the door and served, and it was a whole fun family affair.  We loved meeting their kids, and Phil and Lori, and all their friends.

There may have have been too many prohibition style cocktails drunk, and all the fun we could squeeze out of this event we did. This included staying too long after hours to catch up with our friends. We love these people, and their families. There are plans at some point in 2025 to do a “Til Behaving” event in a new city, stay tuned for that.

Other Speakeasy Guides

• Las Vegas
• Chicago
• Denver
• Seattle