North Kansas City is just across the Missouri River from downtown Kansas City. It has a vibrant downtown business district that has a number of new businesses from fun coffee shops, distilleries, restaurants and microbreweries. I recommend trying:
Colony Espresso & Beer Co. is now Post Coffee Company: At 312 Armour Rd., this is a local cafe featuring espresso and coffee drinks plus some food items. The owner is delightful and is the son-in-law of a friend I grew up with in St. Joseph, MO. They have several other locations in Kansas City and the suburbs.
Chicken N Pickle: At 18th & Burlington, this is a pickleball venue with a casual restaurant and bar next door. It is a fun spot featuring wood fired rotisserie chicken, sandwiches, salads and sides.
Cinder Block Brewery: Make sure to stop by their attractive taproom to taste one of their wheat beers, ciders, porters and IPAs. Tours are available, plus they have outdoor food trucks. It has a great outdoor patio for warmer months. 110 E. 18th St. North Kansas City.
Restless Spirits Distilling Co.: At 109 E. 18th Ave., this is a local distillery celebrating the owner’s Irish-American heritage since 1853. They feature their Builder’s Botanical Gin, Duffy’s Run Vodka, Sons of Erin Irish Whiskey and Stone Breaker Whiskey. Sign up online for a tour and tasting.
Calibration Brewery: This is a new microbrewery at 119 Armour Rd. in North Kansas City. They feature food and craft beers. I enjoyed tasting the All Day, All Night Coconut Brown Ale and the Let it Flow Golden Ale. They feature a number of ales, porters and IPAs.
On my last trip, I found the hip and colorful Iron District, which is comprised of colorful shipping containers, arranged to create a unique outdoor dining and retail destination. With restaurants, a tiki bar, ice cream shop as well as boutique shops and a rentable podcast studio, it is a fun spot to visit when you are in the area. 1599 Iron St.
