Exploring Ludo’s - Keep Your Biscuits Out of the Kitchen
Kansas City’s cool new retro lounge boasts shuffleboard, pinball, feel-good vibes
Photos courtesy of Made in KC
With many of us so engrossed with our phones, creating a unique environment that cultivates human connection and genuine fun is not easily accomplished. But Kansas City has a brand new hangout that does all that and more. Toss in some retro vibes, a cool atmosphere, old school video games, pinball and shuffleboard and you’ve got Ludo’s.
Located in Martini Corner, adjacent to the Made in KC/Black Pantry and the newly opened (and incredibly cool) Made in KC Cafe, Ludo’s is the perfect spot to gather your friends for an experience that pays homage to the hangouts of yesteryear. The space feels like you’ve taken a step back in time with its loungy, surf-style decor and beachy vibes — perfectly accompanied by vintage pinball and the earliest iterations of video games (Ms. Pac-Man, anyone?).
Ludo’s boasts a full cocktail menu, appropriately themed with drinks like Old School, Midtown Swizzle and the ol’ Biscuit Slinger. Not a cocktail fan? There’s a rotating selection of beer, wine, frozen boozy drinks and some light snacks. Need some caffeine? The Made in KC Cafe is a few steps away and easily accessible, as long as you catch them at the right time.
And then comes the shuffleboard, arguably the highlight of the space, and for good reason. Three courts bask in the glow of Ludo’s neon sign, eager to be reserved and shuffled upon. If you need a refresher on rules, one of Ludo’s awesome staff members will walk you through the process. Here’s precisely how that conversation went for me:
Me: “Okay, so how do you play?”
Them: “The pucks are called ‘biscuits’ and the area right behind the scoring zone is called the kitchen. Your team will lose points if it lands there.”
Me: “So, I want to keep my biscuits out of the kitchen. Got it.”
Taking my newfound knowledge into one of Ludo’s first official shuffleboard games, fellow Explore Editor Anna Petrow Mulvihill and I slung those biscuits against Anna’s husband, Patrick, and my favorite redhead — Explore Newsletter Editor Grace Pritchett. It was an intense session that Anna and I ultimately won, even though the majority of the game she forgot we were paired together. So paying attention to the rules is pretty important but the game also created a fun memory for all involved. That’s what Ludo’s is all about — fun and memorable experiences with friends.
Moody ambiance with underlying energy, great drinks and feel-good vibes are what make Ludo’s a truly enjoyable time. But, as usual, please don’t take my word for it. Gather your crew, a pocket full of quarters and head down to one of the coolest new spaces in town.
