When the hot sun warms the cool breezes in Kansas City, it is time to find a nice new patio to land on to take advantage of the gorgeous weather.
Whether you are just looking for a place to land for a drink with a friend, or perhaps thinking about dining alfresco, here are 10 patios you should definitely consider in Kansas City right now.
There are only a few short months during the year where this kind of outdoor entertaining is possible, so be sure to take advantage of it while you can.
Aep
One of the things that Aep, the new regional Thai restaurant on 39th Street, inherited when it opened in the former Thomas location, was that fantastic rooftop patio. To the east, you’ll enjoy colorful views of 39th Street, but to the west you’ll marvel at the space age look of the new KU medical buildings that are nearing completion at 39th Street and State Line Road. Gone is the old patio furniture, soon be replaced with new tables and chairs, and owner and executive chef, Jakob Polaco is thinking about creating a special menu just for rooftop revellers.
815 W 39th St, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.832.8866, aeprestaurant.com.
Affäre
Maybe one of the best kept secrets about the modern German restaurant, Affäre, located in the Crossroads, is their hidden courtyard that sits just outside their back door ready to welcome guests for happy hour or dinner when the good weather hits. Surrounded on three sides by the neighboring buildings and businesses, it feels like you are tucked into the perfect urban oasis for private dining or drinking. Request the long picnic table set with linens and flowers for communal dining or larger parties and order one of the Affäre to Share plates featuring charcuterie, local Green Dirt Farm cheeses or German sausages, or grab one of the more intimate two tops for outdoor dining and drinking experiences that will have you feeling like you are dining in the city square of one of Germany’s most stylish restaurants.
1911 Main St, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.298.6182, affarekc.com
Brick House
A new owner has brought new life to a patio that has been rocking it since its days as the Velvet Dog. The Brick House is the new steward of this popular Martini Corner patio, and they have now added wooden picnic tables, more television screens and spruced up yard games to the red brick patio, making it a more casual spot to socialize when the weather gets nice. Stop in during the week and take advantage of their happy hour specials or enjoy a tall glass of Boulevard’s Tank 7 to go with your K.C. Burger that features pepper jack cheese, burnt ends and BBQ sauce with French fries and kick back with your friends and catch up on the game as the sun sets. 400 E 31st St, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.255.3912, brickhousekc.com
Bella Napoli
This neighborhood charmer is cozy during the winter, packing customers from Brookside, and beyond, into every nook and cranny for lunch, dinner or really any special occasion. But when the weather gets warm, owner, Jake Imperiale, sets tables and chairs underneath his signature royal blue and maroon striped awnings that provide the right amount of shade to make the sidewalk feel as intimate as any Italian bistro in Rome. Over the years the patio went from being a mere suggestion, to a full-on must do, now featuring handsome wood panel walls that define the space and give this pop-up patio a sense of permanence. Come for lunch for an extraordinary soup and salad experience, or for dinner order a bottle of wine and meet friends for an authentic pizza or pasta dinner.
6229 Brookside Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.444.5041, kcbellanapoli.com
Brown & Loe
You’ll have to decide whether to end your day with happy hour or dinner, or start your weekend with brunch before hitting the Farmers’ Market. Either way, the patio at Brown & Loe is the place to accomplish both of those goals surrounded by unique views of the downtown Kansas City skyline and the bustling market all around you. If you prefer a quiet place to land during the week for happy hour, then this red brick perch is the perfect spot to watch the sun set while enjoying cocktails from the bar and comforting and creative nibbles from the kitchen. But brunch on the weekend is a hustle and bustle affair with a comforting and cozy menu full of favorites like sweet potato waffles, shrimp and grits and jerk chicken chilaquiles.
429 Walnut St, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.472.0622, http://www.brownandloe.com
Char Bar Smoked Meats & Amusements
To call the Beer Garden at Char Bar in Westport a patio, is an understatement. It is a playground for adults complete with a firepit, croquet court, bocce ball field, ping pong tables and a corn hole toss. Not to mention plenty of picnic tables to sit at and a large outdoor bar that keeps the games going as long as there is a cold drink in your hand. Sitting outside in the beer garden is the right time to order something messy, like a half a slab of ribs or jumbo smoked chicken wings to share with the table. Smoked meats, ice cold beer and a couple of friends to play games with will make you feel like you are at the best backyard barbecue ever.
4050 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.389.8600, charbarkc.com
Il Lazzarone
If authentic traditional Neapolitan-style pizza is what you are craving, then Il Lazzarone is the right patio to find yourself landing. One of the best parts about this patio, aside from the large pizza oven and matching bright red chairs that seems to becon you onto it, is the fact that it stays open until 1:30 am Monday-Saturday and until midnight on Sunday. This means you can get your favorite glass of wine and a pie after your event, concert or show, and eat it outside on the patio. With plenty of outdoor seating underneath several large trees that provide the right amount of shade and plenty of cool breeze, Il Lazzarone will begin or end your night out on the town on the perfect note.
412 Delaware Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.541.3695, illazzarone.org
Novel
Although Chef Ryan Brazeal and his wife and pastry chef, Jessica Armstrong have announced plans to move Novel their new restaurant location in the Crossroads before the end of this year, there is still time this year to enjoy one more season of their glorious outdoor patio located in front of the darling house on the Westside that serves as their current home. Get there early on a gorgeous day to get the primo seats outside, as the neighbors tend to come early and steak out their claim for the evening. Enjoy their 6-course Chef’s Prix Fixe dinner for $45 that includes savory and sweet dishes – that coupled with a seat on the patio, has the makings for a great day, indeed.
815 W 17 St, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.221.0785, novelkc.com
Rye
For a patio with a little southern exposure, it doesn’t get more peaceful or relaxing than the waterside patio at Rye located in Mission Farms shopping center. Take the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely lunch out on the patio, where you and a friend can get caught up over a quinoa and smoked salmon salad or a cup of loaded baked potato soup. But for a bit of whimsy, why not just stop in almost any night of the week for dessert only. Get a delicious and decadent slice of homemade pie or cake, made by Chef Megan Garrelts, like Chocolate Mint Grasshopper or Banana or Coconut Cream pie. That, along with a cup of coffee, or an after dinner drink out on the spacious and welcoming patio is a great weekday treat when the weather is nice.
10551 Mission Road, Leawood, Kansas, 913.642.5800, ryekc.com
Stock Hill
Kansas City’s newest local steakhouse also has a fabulous patio that takes advantage of the sun and shade provided by modern façade of the glass and steel building that is home to this luxurious new restaurant. Handsome wood tables and mesh chairs are scattered on the patio right outside the front door of the restaurant. Order a steak and sides and share it alfresco with your significant other on the patio. Add in a couple of great cocktails from the bar and you have yourself a great date in the making when Mother Nature works her magic on the temperatures outside.
4800 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.895.8400, stockhillkc.com
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