Sometimes it can be hard to get away from our responsibilities – work, chores, kids. But everyone deserves a night out with their friends once in a while. The Northland has seen a ton of new businesses in the last year or so, and so now, more than ever, is a great time to get out for a guys’ night out — without having to venture too far! Here are our picks for a great night out in a few neighborhoods without crossing the river.
North Kansas City
Getting cooler by the day, North Kansas City has no shortage of things to do up and down Armour Road. There are plenty of old standbys in NKC, like Chicken N Pickle for a pick-up game of pickleball, to watch the game or to play some cornhole while enjoying a beer. You also can’t go wrong with a dinner at Chappell’s, the iconic neighborhood restaurant and literal sports museum, which touts an impressive display of sports memorabilia from the Midwest and beyond.
There are also plenty of breweries to try in NKC, such as geek-themed The Big Rip, classic Cinder Block Brewery or the new location of Callsign Brewing, now on Burlington, which hosts frequent barbecue pop-ups. There’s also Outlaw Cigar and Brewery, where you can light a stogie in one hand and hold a pint in another as you sit in one of their many leather chairs.
And, of course, it’s always a good idea (or is it?) to end the night at one of NKC’s many dive bars. My favorites are Helen’s JAD and their hangover-curing pub grub, or the firefighter bar Christine’s Firehouse with their live music and their legendary pork tenderloin sandwiches that are bigger than your head.
Parkville
The city limits of Parkville are a host of both beloved Northland favorites and a lot of new fantastic businesses. If you’re around downtown Parkville, we suggest starting the day off with a round at Parkville Mini Golf. Once you’re done, you can walk down the steps to Main Street, where Cool Vintages Watches where their amazing collection of watches, vintage records and antiques are definitely worth a stop. When you’re done, you can grab a world-famous hot dog at KC Cattle Company’s storefront and take home some mouth-watering wagyu steaks, and then have a beer at The Craic, the Irish pub.
If you’re looking for a new district to explore in Parkville, The Old Town at Creekside is a new mixed-use development along I-435 in Parkville with a lot of hot spots. Westport favorite Char Bar has a new location there, but this one has indoor and outdoor pickleball courts so you can have a barbecue-filled brunch and then sweat it off on the courts. If the weather isn’t ideal, you can enjoy a round of indoor golf at X-Golf, and then chat about your handicap at Whiskey River Pizza & Pub just around the corner.
Kansas City North
Whether you’re up and down Barry Road, North Oak Trafficway or over by Metro North, there are lots of places to visit in KCMO for a guy’s night — or afternoon — that you don’t have to cross a bridge for. A new favorite that’s been getting plenty of buzz is Danny’s Burger Shack on North Oak, which has phenomenal burgers — and amazing onion rings, if they haven’t sold out first. After grabbing a burger, you can choose your own adventure over by Metro North, either at T-Shotz where you can work on your long drive or welcome summer with an afternoon at The Sandbox on their sand volleyball courts.
If you’re looking for something a little more worldly, we’re in love with Mesob Restaurant and Rum Bar, the new Ethiopian/Eritrean/Caribbean restaurant off of 64th Street. Or perhaps your tastes fly further east — there’s always Sakae Sushi just up the road. Afterward, challenge your buddys’ brains at Mission: Board Games in Platte Woods, where they have tables so you can try out some of their best-selling games, pop in for one of their tabletop events, or buy a game and play it there right away.
Weston/Platte City
If you’re wanting to explore the western side of the Northland, Platte City has a few hidden gems. The new Barley and Vine, a brewery and wine bar in the historic downtown, is great place for a guys’ group or mixed company. Maybe you want to enjoy the great outdoors on your outing — the Prairie Creek Greenway is a great trail for hiking or biking, or of course there’s Weston Bend State Park, where you can camp, too (though biking should be left to those who like the extreme).
While you’re in Weston, act like you’re on American Pickers with a stop at Jeff’s Architectural Salvage, where they also have a quirky bar made from reclaimed materials, and then show your friends you know where the secret hot spots are with a visit to the speakeasy-like Whiskey Snug on Main. Walk across the street to two places frozen in time — the Hiatt Motors photo op gas station, and then explore the cluttered aisles of Sebus Brothers hardware store. Of course, no visit to Weston would be complete without a night at O’Malley’s, the antebellum underground Irish pub, where you can sing along to Bob Reeder’s vaudeville-esque act in the upper pub or loudly sing the Irish Rover in the lower bar with their live acts.