How To Brewery Alley
Take a stroll around Brewery Alley— where food, cocktails and of course, beer, abound!
Many of you have heard of Brewery Alley, although many of you probably haven’t (until now)...
One of the tucked away, hidden gems of Kansas City- Brewery Alley (or so it could be called, Brewery, Distillery + More Alley) has some of the best spots the Crossroads has to offer. Filled with bars and restaurants and some of the most unique dining and drinking experiences, you won’t wanna miss stopping by! Here is my synopsis of what each of these places do best.
Photos by Anna Petrow
DOUBLE SHIFT | 412 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Double Shift is one of the most unique beer experiences you'll find in KC. A 5 barrel brewhouse brewing high-quality beer in small batches, just for you! Their website explains their beer (and employees) the best- "they are plugged-in, far-out, authentic as they come, and hiding in plain sight".
Casual Animal | 1725 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Casual Animal is, you guessed it, another brewery. They have a lounge-like vibe with a cool skylight and hanging plants everywhere (I am a sucker for plants). If you are looking for unique beers on tap, I would come here. Maybe grab some taproom snacks while you’re at it.
MEAN MULE | 1733 Locust St, Kansas City, MO 64108
I cannot sing enough praise for Mean Mule. The best tequila and tequila based cocktail I have had in Kansas City. The interior isn’t huge but is so well decorated (the cactuses give me so much joy). There are two separate rooms with a bar in the middle. It’s distilled right here in KC from 100% organic blue agave (I don’t need to tell you this- you can look it up yourself). All I’m saying is you can taste the quality. And their logo, branding and marketing takes it to another level. Okay okay, I’ll stop fangirling now.
Parlor | 1707 Locust St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Another legendary KC food hall, Parlor houses a variety of food and gooood drinks. They have an upstairs patio (maybe it should be called a porch but you get the idea) and two large bars. Their espresso martini is one of my favorites, and their Mother Clucker restaurant is legendary. Parlor has something called “Deez Nachos” coming soon which, telling by the name, is going to be good. They have a basement but I have only been down there for a silent disco (First Friday offers some weird attractions). This place also gets lit at night.
LIFTED SPIRITS | 1734 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Smaller than I would have expected, Lifted Spirits is a great little cocktail bar on the outskirts of “the alley”. When we went to check it out they had the ultimate 2000s playlist going, which only added to the greatness (yes, Hilary Duff gets you bonus points). We tried the French 75 and a peach cocktail (which came with a peach ring candy on the top) and both were great! Friendly staff and no complaints here. They have an outdoor patio and doors that open up so this is a perfect spot when the weather is nice!
MIssion taco | 4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111
A classic taco joint in the midst of all the breweries! Mission Taco serves street style tacos that come as single tacos so you can mix and match and get a taste for a little bit of everything. Their spicy marg is my go-to! My only thing is that something about their salsa… has an unusual smoky flavor (you can try it and get back to me). But they’ve got some pretty solid tacos! And who doesn’t want to throw a marg in during their bar crawl?
international tap house | 403 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Conjoined with Mission Taco (which was confusing at first) ITap serves an almost shockingly large selection of beer. From craft to gluten free, you’re sure to find something here that suits you. When you walk in, the wall of taps will speak for itself!
GRINDERS | 417 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
I mean are you even from KC if you haven’t heard of Grinders? Their tots hold a special place in my heart. Grinders has one of the coolest interior design styles of them all, and a stage on their back patio. Grinders is a great stop to get some food and listen to live music. They’ve got some good pizza!
King G | 500 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
King G is a sandwich shop by day, and packed bar by night! This place goes from a chill sandwich joint to a going out *scene* after dark. With one large wrap-around bar in the main area and another in the basement, King G is definitely one of the best places to drink without tearing through your wallet (Hello Power & Light). They have all your bar basics, this is a great place to meet friends (and end up staying out till 2 am). Rumor has it the Chiefs players like to hang out in the basement.
Brewery Emperial | 1829 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Brewery Emperial all simmers down to a superior patio and great food. I mean their food is good good. BE is perfect for a nice day where you’re yearning to sit outside, grab some apps and drink some brews. The inside decor gives junkyard chic, with the brick exterior only adding to the solid atmosphere of this place. Bonus points for reverse happy hour.
Torn Label | 1708 Campbell St, Kansas City, MO 64108
With craft brews on tap and a rotating menu, Torn Label is a brewery with tons of fun events (like Flagship Fridays). Torn Label has the social and airy "public house" and dark, cozy "brewery taproom". Try it out for yourself!
Nimble Brewing | 1735 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Nimble Brewing is considered a nanobrewery (really really small brewery). They make their beer one barrel at a time to allow them to be as *nimble* as possible (haha). P.S. Happy Hour Thursdays 5-7!
City Barrel | 1740 Holmes St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Home to the famous RAD AF IPA, City Barrel is another great brewery with reclaimed wood taproom walls and top tier food. Check out their brewery or stop by for some brews and delicious food (as long as you follow the house rules: 1. BEER IS FUN! 2. BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER).
Don’t miss out on exploring the alley! Tag us in your adventures at @mikcexplore— we always love to see what you’re up to!
