Boutique Hotels in Kansas City, MO

Resting on Missouri’s western edge, Kansas City boasts world-famous barbecue, jazz, and a wild history told through its many awe-inspiring museums. With countless restaurants and bars, parks, and activities for the kids, this is the perfect setting for a stay at one of the top boutique hotels in Kansas City.

Downtown, you won’t run out of history to uncover, as Kansas City is home to some of the most fascinating museums in the country, including the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Spend an afternoon visiting the first two, which share the same building in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District before popping over to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for a more traditional museum experience, where you can take in its nearly 40,000 works of art— from ancient pieces to contemporary collections. But if you can only swing one during your stay at a boutique hotel in Kansas City, consider making it to the American Jazz Museum for an unforgettable day of touring. Here, you’ll learn all about the history of American jazz music with fascinating exhibits on Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and many other influential artists of the jazz era. If you can, stay long enough to enjoy a cocktail from The Blue Room, a fully functioning jazz club that holds live performances multiple nights a week!

While staying at the best boutique hotels in Kansas City, shake things up— discover the spirit-making process on a one-hour Distillery tour of J. Rieger & Co., Kansas City’s iconic distillery, located in the historic Electric Park neighborhood of the East Bottoms district. Here you’ll learn the history of J. Rieger & Co, from its founding during “the wettest block in the world,” era, to its premature demise at the early stages of Prohibition—and lastly, its triumphant revival in 2014. From grain to bottle, this tour will conclude with a tasting of their four core products led by a knowledgeable guide and leave you wanting more!

For under $30, you can snag a ticket to the SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium, where you’ll get to discover sharks, jellyfish, starfish, and many other marine mammals all afternoon! From the heart of Crown Center, this aquarium provides an intimate look into dozens of ocean ecosystems from the jaw-dropping below-the-surface view into the aquarium’s ocean tank and underwater glass tunnel! Then, check out Doodle Reef, where the kids can create virtual sea creatures on a screen within a live display! For a bit of fun competition, test your marine knowledge on the aquarium’s quiz trail before heading to the food court for an afternoon snack.

Before skipping town, spend an hour or two shopping at The Country Club Plaza, a massive shopping center in the Country Club District of Kansas City. Planned in 1922, the plaza mimics the beautiful architecture of Seville, Spain, and offers high-end retail establishments, restaurants, and entertainment venues, making it a fun visit for all ages!

Enjoy your time in Kansas City, and don’t forget to check out our top boutique hotels nearby in Savannah, York and Atlanta.