kc speakeasy tour

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy Kansas City

⭐ The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy is a chilling cocktail experience in Kansas City that brings four of his stories off the page and onto the stage as told through the Poe Historians while pairing them with four classic cocktails. Tickets for Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy in Kansas City 🎫 Standard Admission - includes entry to the experience + 4 cocktails Highlights ✨ Step into the world of Edgar Allan Poe in this 4-part chilling cocktail experience 🍸 Sip on delicious themed cocktails that are paired with each story 😱 Hear Edgar Allan Poe's work reimagined, as told by the Poe Historians General Info 📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector ⏳ Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes 📍 Location: Vox Theater or Ruby Room at Heritage Theater 👤 Age requirement: 21+ with valid ID ♿ Accessibility: the venue is ADA compliant 🍹 Mocktails and allergy substitutes can be made upon request with your server ❓ Please consult the FAQs of this experience here Description Step back in time and immerse yourself in the dark and mysterious world of Edgar Allan Poe. This exclusive speakeasy will transport you to a bygone era as you sip on expertly crafted cocktails inspired by four of Poe's most beloved stories. Led by the speakeasy’s lead mixologist and Poe historians, this immersive evening promises to be a chillingly unforgettable experience. Don't miss your chance to bring Poe's tales to life, one sip at a time, and get your tickets for Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy in Kansas City!

User reviews

• Barb C. Jul 2023 Edgar would be proud!! Great job everyone!
• Beverly Y. Jul 2023 Performers were EXCELLENT! Something different and it was a great show.
• Greggpatrick Jul 2023 Absolutely perfect thank you
• Marie S. Jul 2023 It was awesome! Very talented interpreters
• Scott G. Jul 2023 The show was amazing and the poeformers were phenomenal.
• Caitlyn L. Jul 2023 Great drinks and fantastic poetry readings

Getting there

Vox Theater

1405 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, 66103-1828

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Kansas City’s Speakeasies

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Swordfish tom’s.

Swordfish Tom ’s is one of the closest KC bars to an actual speakeasy (however the alcohol they sell is very much legal). Hidden in an alleyway in downtown KC you have to climb down a staircase where you’ll encounter a door with either a green or red light above it. Green means you’re free to enter whereas red means you might have to take a seat and wait until people leave (capacity is only 30). Once you’re in you’ll notice a large boiler in the middle of the room, that’s because it is in fact located in an old boiler room. The drinks at Swordfish Tom’s are some of the best the city has to offer. Owner and head bartender Jill Cockson’s menu focuses on pre-Prohibition era cocktails and the talented bar staff brings it to life with drinks like Negronis and Old Fashions. Swordfish Tom’s is cash only so come prepared or get some cash at their ATM machine.  

Hey! Hey! Club

This cozy hideaway spot located in the basement of J. Rieger & Co. isn’t technically a speakeasy but as you can tell we’re using the term quite loosely. After all, you do have to travel down some stairs and into a dimly lit room in the basement. The Hey! Hey! Club has an elegant ambience with tufted leather seating and a dignified bar with a large mirror behind it. The drinks are carefully crafted using high end liquors from around the world and liquor distilled right upstairs. They also have live music every Thursday night from 7–10 p.m. Reservations are encouraged. 

Panther’s Place

Panther’s Place makes this list due to the fact they do not keep normal operating hours. If you’re hoping to go to this oasis of a courtyard bar you’ll have to check their social media to make sure they’re open. They are typically open from spring to summer on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Also with no visible sign, the entrance is hidden behind a large airstream. Once inside you’ll find yourself surrounded by plants and succulents with string lights hanging above. There is also a second story lounge accessed by a spiral staircase where you can view the city below. 

Drastic Measures

Drastic Measures is not a speakeasy, but a red light/green light system and a knock on the door puts it on this list. After that Drastic Measures is an incredible cocktail lounge in downtown Shawnee. Recently the bar was nominated for Most Outstanding Bar by the James Beard Foundation. Owner Jay Sanders carefully curates his cocktail menu with creativity and innovation. New drinks are constantly being added to the menu by Sanders and his experienced bar staff.

P.S. Speakeasy

Probably one of the only self proclaimed speakeasies on this list, P.S. operates below the Hotel Phillips. The bar is open seven days a week and to access it an employee from the Hotel Phillips will let you in through a secret door behind reception. You can expect to sip on artfully crafted cocktails but you’ll have to make a reservation first.

Fat Matt’s Vortex

Fat Matt’s is no secret if you’re a regular to the Strawberry Hill area in Kansas City, Kansas. Many don’t know about this unique bar situated in downtown KCK. The bar was originally built as a funeral parlor and still has the crematorium in the basement. We’ll qualify it as a “spookeasy” as owners believe spirits reside in the bar but don’t believe any are harmful. If it’s your first time at Fat Matt’s owner Sam might treat you to a free shot of Grog. 

Hidden below Westport’s Ale House, The Fall takes you down the rabbit hole into an Alice and Wonderland inspired bar. The walls of the stairwell are covered in bright green spray painted leaves and various clocks. As you get to the bottom of the stairs you arrive at The Fall with its checked floor and centered bar that has a whimsical floral arrangement falling from the ceiling. The Fall is open Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m.–1:30 a.m. and features DJs like DJ Ashton Martin.  

Situated below the beautiful Hotel Kansas City, Nighthawk opens its doors at 7 p.m. Wednesday–Saturday. The late night spot hosts all sorts of different live music from jazz to bluegrass to country and DJ’s. Nighthawk doesn’t charge a cover and has a happy hour from 7–8 p.m. They also have food served until close curated by Johnny Leach of The Town Company (located upstairs). They also have their own house-canned seltzers, cocktails on tap and beer from Strange Days Brewing Co. 

The Parlour at The Monarch Bar

This dark, intimate space located inside The Monarch Bar on the Plaza is available by reservation only. The Parlour is hidden behind a door between shelves of liquor and is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. Once inside you get your own bartender, bathroom and curated cocktail menu. Decorated with black walls, black velvet curtains and black leather chairs this moody setting encompasses the essence of a speakeasy. 

Located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, The W also isn’t technically considered a speakeasy, but you’ll have to work a little to find it. The door is unmarked on a quiet street in downtown Lee’s Summit. From there you’ll walk up a flight of stairs into a narrow parlor room. Make sure to make a reservation if you’re hoping to try their elevated cocktail menu as this intimate space only seats 38. 

Tom’s Town Distillery’s Pop–up Bar

By our measure of going down stairs to qualify as a speakeasy we’re adding Tom’s Town Distillery to the list. Not the Tom’s Town you first walk into but their downstairs space. During certain seasons they transform their basement space into a themed pop-up bar. For Halloween it was a “spookeasy” called Cloven Hoof and for Christmas it was Tinsel Town. Each concept was paired with delicious, festive drinks. Make sure to make reservations if you’re hoping to get into one of their pop-ups and check their social media to see what pop-up is coming up next. 

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Speakeasies in Kansas City – Shhh don’t tell anyone about this huge list!

June 29, 2023 by Enza Ketcham Leave a Comment

Have you heard of Speakeasies in Kansas City?  Maybe because I am a blog blogger most have remained a secret from me.  A good Speakeasy is not just about the fun but it is about the experience! Kansas City has an entire market for tucked-away bars and restaurants that make the perfect hangout for a date night or friends’ night out!

We wanted to put together the BEST and most hyped-up Speakeasies in Kansas City!  

If you are not a big bar person but love coffee we created a list of the best Coffee Flights in Kansas City !

Speakeasies in Kansas City

What is a speakeasy.

In the 1920s drinking was prohibited but boy did people still like to party! Speakeasies were secret bars or clubs where people could gather to drink and socialize discreetly.  Although dancing and drinking aren’t illegal anymore the popularity of hidden bars, restaurants, and dance clubs has grown in popularity.

The word “speakeasy” was so that people would not bring attention and be very discreet about these locations.  

Kansas City has a lot of these Speakeasy establishments in basements, back rooms, and behind unmarked doors in legitimate businesses, such as restaurants, soda shops, or even barber shops.  It makes your night out fun and exciting!

If you know we missed one and want to add it to our list, just email me as we will continue to update this list along with some fun Pop Up Speakeasy locations!

Kansas City Speakeasies List

Hand in Glove + The W Bar All Day Lounge + Speakeasy

Hand in Glove A fun hidden speakeasy for cocktails and coffee! 6 SW 3rd St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063

Photo: Hand in Glove

The W Bar All Day Lounge 6 1/2 SW 3rd St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063

Photo: Hotel Phillips

PS Hotel Phillips Speakeasy  The drinks look amazing and so fun and I am not a drinker!  I can’t wait to try this one out! 106 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64105 https://www.ps1931.com/reservations

Photo: Hotel Phillips PS

The Hey! Hey! Club An intimate and underground speakeasy experience with crafts and small plates. 2700 Guinotte Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120

The Boot Room (at Children’s Mercy Park) 1 Sporting Way, Kansas City, KS 66111

Green Lady Lounge A Jazz and Blues Club with all the feelings of a good Speakeasy! 1809 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108

Photo: Green Lady Lounge

Black Dolphin (next to Green Lady) 1813 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108

The Majestic 931 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64105

The Ship 1221 Union Ave, Kansas City, MO 64101 www.theshipkc.com

John Brown Underground 7 E 7th St, Lawrence, KS 66044

The Fall 4128 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111

Le Lounge at No Vacancy 1717 Wyandotte St, Kansas City, MO 64108

Nighthawk at Hotel Kansas City 1228 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64105

Drastic Measures 5817 Nieman Rd, Shawnee, KS 66203

J Rieger & Co 2700 Guinotte Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120

The Primrose 5622 Johnson Dr, Mission, KS 66202

SoT Cocktail Bar 1521 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108

Swordfish Tom’s Speakeasy This one is a pre-prohibition, premium spirits, and cocktail bar located in the Crossroads.  210 W 19 Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64108

Image: Swordfish Tom’s Speakeasy Facebook

Speakeasy Pop-Up Bars

You can even adventure out to a Speakeasy Pop Up Bar which will only be a club for a limited period of time. These are very themed and you will want to purchase tickets to attend.

There is a Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy Kansas City that looks like it would be so much fun for the true Edgar Allan Poe fans!

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Unveil a hidden gem for your next event/gathering at The Easy KC. This intimate speakeasy, tucked behind The Jewel KC, offers an atmosphere of effortless charm and sophistication. Accommodating up to 70 guests comfortably, the venue transforms seamlessly to host an array of events, from private parties and corporate gatherings to social mixers and milestone celebrations.

Contact us at [email protected]  

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The Easy KC

410 Admiral Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, United States

816-539-3552

Please follow us on FB, IG or Google for current events, specials, and up to date info regarding The Easy.  For information on renting The Easy for your next event/gathering call/text 816-539-3552 or email [email protected]

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Speakeasy-style bars in Kansas City

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P.S. Speakeasy is open seven days a week. | Photo via P.S. Speakeasy

What’s the password? Getting into a Prohibition speakeasy in the roaring ‘20s could be some whiskey business . Today, speakeasy-style bars — like these four in KC — act as a nod to the past.

P.S. Speakeasy

📍 106 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO

Under the radar, underground, and undercover. Those are the vibes you’ll walk into at P.S. Speakeasy . The bar is in a long-forgotten basement mail sorting room . Now, patrons must get a Hotel Phillips employee to open the secret door behind the reception desk. Bestsellers include Jet Fuel (made with J. Rieger’s dry gin), an old fashioned, a margarita, and Crime of Passion (featuring housemade blood orangecello).

Swordfish Tom’s does not take reservations. | Photo by @nataliegibsonxo

Swordfish Tom’s

📍 210 W. 19th Ter., Kansas City, MO

You’ll find the entrance to this quaint bar at a plain door with typeface font down an alley in the heart of the Crossroads . Capacity is capped at 30 people, meaning you’ll have to wait for the light over the door to switch from red to green before entering. The bar focuses on pre-Prohibition era cocktails and doesn’t serve beer, wine, or food.

The drink menu features a rotating Hey! hey! Club special. | Photo by Michael Robinson

The Hey! Hey! Club

📍 2700 Guinotte Ave., Kansas City, MO

Located in J. Rieger & Co. , this basement bar isn’t much of a secret. But the lavish leather furnishings, plush velvet accents, dark woods + strong libations are enough to transport you back to the era from which it was inspired. The original Hey Hay Club (yes, there was a spelling change) at 4th Street + Cherry Street operated from 1931-1938 and hosted jazz musicians like Count Basie and Lester Young.

The Fall also offers bottle service packages. | Photo by @leahandrus

📍 4128 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO

Where whimsical storytelling and the Prohibition era style meet. 🤝 This underground experience is tucked away in an unlikely location at Westport Ale House . The amber bar boasts electric décor + VIP rooms — and is themed around “Alice in Wonderland.” You’ll run across cocktails that pay homage to Lewis Carroll’s story, like the “ Queen of Hearts, ” made with handcrafted strawberry syrup.

A Guide to Kansas City's Cultured Cocktail Scene

An influx of cocktail lounges and mixologists has Kansas City buzzing. Less a service and more an artform, watching the people behind the bar is like witnessing Picasso paint or Rodin sculpt. Forget the hyperbole—KC’s cocktail scene is supremely cool and infinitely creative, which, not coincidentally, are two ingredients essential to any of the drinks these places serve.

Here are some of the best cocktail bars in KC:

Speakeasy Style

Kansas City was once home to “the wettest block in the world.” Sure, Prohibition may have ended, but the 1920s live on in spirit—and spirits—thanks to a collection of new-age speakeasies that can be as secretive as they are sensational.

Travel to the Crossroads Arts District to find Tom’s Town , a distillery that touts a tasting room rivaled by few in the city. Grab reservations in advance if you’re looking to hit up The Hey! Hey! Club, a suave destination for cocktails and live music tucked beneath the ground floor of  J. Rieger & Co.

Hotel Phillips demonstrates classic art deco style done right all throughout its lobby, as well as in its underground speakeasy, P.S. Concealed among a variety of other shops and stores, The W is a Lee’s Summit hotspot with an inspired menu and warm environment. 

House Special

Mean Mule  Distilling Co.  is a proud Midwestern label that handcrafts its sole product, Silver Mean Mule American Agave Spirit. Though Silver Mean Mule isn’t technically tequila—which, much like champagne in France, can only be produced in certain regions in Mexico—it  is  distilled from blue agave, so it tastes pretty darn close, with its own Heartland twist.

Love bourbon? Head to Julep and The Belfry , two bourbon haunts that boast drinks made from the iconic American whiskey. Slip over to Ça Va for champagne and champagne cocktails unlike any else you’ll find in Kansas City.

Classic Cool

Sometimes you don’t mess with a good thing. Take Harry’s Country Club , for example. You could spend hours scrolling through its extensive drink list, but that’s not the point. The River Market watering hole is a perennial favorite for happy hours—and was recognized by Esquire as one of the best bars in America .

Step into the neon-lit SoT —“South of Truman,” if you’re savvy—for carefully concocted drinks served with eclectic flair. The Kill Devil Club draws Power & Light traffic with live music and special events while an evening at The Mockingbird Lounge means incredible patio views and a charming ambiance.

Swordfish Tom’s , an understated member of the club, uses only premium spirits in cocktails that are both approachable and complex. Its newer companion in Shawnee, Drastic Measures , offers the same laser focus on spirits in a low-key setting.

Meanwhile,  Lifted Spirits  resides in a converted stable that pays homage to the city’s rustic roots—and churns out vodka, gin, wheat whiskey and the area’s only locally produced absinthe.

Not Quite Cocktail Lounges

With a cocktail culture as wide-spanning as KC’s, there are bound to be overachieving establishments that craft excellent mixed drinks in addition to their main attractions. Burnt ends or smoked fried chicken, know that the drinks at Q39 perfectly complement whatever kind of barbecue you have on your plate.

Sample James Beard Award-winning food at Extra Virgin  to toast with exquisite beverages.

CHECK OUT SOME OF KC’S HOTTEST COCKTAIL BARS

• United States
• Kansas City / Kansas
• Kansas City, MO

Kansas City

Sorcerer's Speakeasy

• Great for creative cocktails

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

Dining areas

Additional information.

• Dining style Casual Dining
• Price $30 and under
• Cuisines Cocktail Bar
• Hours of operation Fri–Sun 4:00 pm–12:00 am
• Phone number 8165412800
• Website https://www.powerandlightdistrict.com/events/20240202_sorcerers-speakeasy?cid=opentables
• Dress code Business Casual
• Location 1323 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64105-2916
• Neighborhood Kansas City
• Parking details None
• Additional Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar

What 70 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews.

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

• 3.4 Service
• 3.6 Ambience

Noise • Moderate

Dined on February 25, 2024

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How is Sorcerer's Speakeasy restaurant rated?

Sorcerer's Speakeasy is rated 3.4 stars by 70 OpenTable diners.

1323 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64105-2916

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