Kansas City has a lot of great and plenty of good. For our annual Best of KC issue, we skip right past all that and go straight to the tippy-top. In the pages that follow, you’ll find 53 picks for the best of the best poutine, selfie studio and death-themed boutiques from our editors. Plus, we have the best in barbecue, TV newscasts and 138 other categories as voted by readers.
Looped In
Some of the best things in Kansas City are hidden in plain sight. You never know when you’re going to find a parking deck with a grassy dog park on top of it or a Catholic Church with an old-school bowling alley in the basement.
Best Crosswalk: Augusta & Northridge Drives in KCK
Best Miniature Golf: Nelson-Atkins Art Course
Best Roof: Cosentino’s Market P&L Parking Deck
Best Secret Concert: SoFar Sounds
Best Frisbee Golf Hole: Hole 1 at Waterworks
Best Place for an Internet Date: Parlor
Best Audiophile Party: Listyn KC
Best Fiction-Based Sports Team: Kansas City Stampede
Best Random Street Artist: Pop Up Charlie
Best Random Photographer: Photo Bus
Best Selfie Studio: Wonder Wonder
Best Genre Film Festival: Panic Fest
Best LEGO Geek Group: Kansas City Brick Lab
Best Basement Bowling Alley: St. John’s Catholic Club
Food & Drink
When it comes to the best food and drink in KC, we’re not here to argue with you about barbecue or wings. Rather, we want to introduce you to some tastes you may not have yet encountered, such as the unique taco style at the Northland’s In-A-Tub or the killer beef jerky at a bougie River Market butcher shop.
Best Hoagie (Pork-Free): Hook ’Em Up at M&M
Best Historical Taco Style: In-A-Tub Powdered Cheese Tacos
Best Taco Thursday: P.R.’s Place
Best Brigadeiro: Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro
Best Food Delivery Service: Fritz’s
Best Place to Get Cookies With Your Face on Them: Swoon Cookie Crafters
Best Waffle Imported From Hong Kong: The Waffle Bar
Best Chicken Strips (Breakfast Division): Kate’s Kitchen
Best Sports Museum (With Beer): Chappell’s
Best Mobile Coffee Shop: The Wild Way
Best Ultra Zen Coffee Shop: Monarch
Animals, Humans & Media Personalities
You’re holding your favorite magazine in Kansas City, obviously. But what about your favorite local podcast or pig rescue group? Wait, you don’t have a favorite pig rescue yet? Well, here are our picks for the best animals, humans and media personalities in KC.
Best Famous Football Dog: Cupcake
Best-Dressed Restaurant Manager: Keith Goldman of 1900
Best Mascot’s in Kansas and Missouri
Best Goat Yoga: Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Best Student-Run Broadcast Program: N2 Sports
Best Feline-Themed Paradise: Whiskers Cat Café
Best Pig Protectors: Kansas City Pig Rescue
Best Seafood Podcast: City Rag
Best Local Food Podcast (Non-Seafood): Open Belly
Shopping and Self Care
Whether you’re in the market for a cool new T-shirt or a hat worthy of a trainer’s box at the Kentucky Derby, Kansas City is a great place to shop. Here are some of our favorite unique spots.
Best Writer’s Paradise: The Pen Place
Best Capturing of Kansas City Ethos on a T-Shirt: Raygun
Best Make-Your-Own-Candle Spot: Embers
Best Hat Store: The Missing Piece
Best Antique Store to Get Lost In: River Market Antiques
Best Gaming Experience That Never Happened: FlipSwitch VR
Best Pay-It-Forward Clothing Brand: MADI Apparel
Best Winter Wonderland: The Painted Sofa
Best Pop-Up Flower Shop: The Petaler