Nestled in the vibrant Crossroads Arts District of downtown Kansas City, the Crossroads Hotel is a beautifully restored homage to the city’s past—housed in century-old brick buildings once occupied by a Pabst brewery and notorious political boss Tom Pendergast’s offices. Redesigned with an industrial‑chic aesthetic with exposed brick, reclaimed wood, and a dramatic four‑story atrium, it blends contemporary luxury with artistic soul and is smack dab in the middle of KC’s creative community.
With 131 stylish rooms, lush linens, rainfall showers, minibars and free Wi‑Fi, the hotel offers comfort and charm, not to mention a casual, youthful vibe and unstuffy service-with-a-smile. Inside, guests will discover curated gallery space, rotating exhibitions, and immersive creative programming tied to the local arts community. There are three restaurants/bars, including the Italian‑inspired Lazia, the lively lobby café/bar XR (wood‑fire pizza and coffee), and the rooftop bar Percheron, consistently named among KC’s best rooftop lounges. I went up to check it out on a Saturday midnight and was easily the oldest fossil to be found within three square miles!
A footnote: You don’t have to be a Gen Z influencer to feel at home in what feels like a haven for cool cats and kittens. In fact, the weekend we were at Crossroads, the hotel was playing host to dozens of 10 to 13-year-old girls in town for a volleyball tournament. Their high-pitched squeals as they zipped through the halls was an amusing distraction, as was their dominance of the nicely-equipped fitness center. In other words, the hotel is family-friendly to a fault.
Crossroads Arts District: hipster-heavy and squeaky clean
Stepping outside, you’re in the beating heart of KC’s creative scene. Former warehouse spaces house dozens of galleries such as Leedy‑Voulkos Art Center, Haw Contemporary, and Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, featuring everything from local emerging artists to fine installations. Street art blooms in alleys and facades across the neighborhood, with tours to take in its ever-evolving mural collection. Be sure to catch First Fridays, KC’s largest free art crawl, where galleries, food stalls, pop‑up music and nightlife bring the streets to life. And Crossroads’ Italian eatery, Lazia, is hosting its 2nd annual Appetite for Art: Il Postino with Heidmann Art Salon. Food, drinks and aesthetics all in one delicious evening.
The free KC Streetcar runs directly through the district, making it easy to hop to downtown theaters, museums, and Union Station without driving. Just a few blocks away, the iconic Kauffman Center hosts world-class performances in Helzberg Hall and Muriel Kauffman Theatre. It’s architecturally stunning and regularly features symphony performances, ballet, opera, and national touring acts. A short ride takes you to the birthplace of Kansas City Jazz–The American Jazz Museum–sharing a building with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and showcasing exhibits on legends like Charlie Parker and Ella Fitzgerald—and which also includes a live‑music club called The Blue Room. Swing daddy swing!
Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque: Food fit for Presidents and the rest of us
Ok, I confess: The stunning Crossroads Hotel is reason enough to visit Kansas City, but 51% of my protein-starved soul was looking forward to doing due diligence and visiting legendary Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, a mere five-minute drive from the hotel. A thrumming, dinner-hour service was well in progress, with a cool salt-and-pepper crowd lining up in patient anticipation whilst awaiting such specialties as baby back pork ribs and The 3B–that would be a burnt end sandwich topped with an onion ring aboard a perfectly pillowy bun. Savory baked beans and creamy potato salad make for tasty companions, as do any of the three variably-spiced bbq sauces. Old-school Formica tables and fluorescent lighting have seen the likes of Bill Clinton and Steven Spielberg over the years, as well as swells like Harry Truman and Jack Nicholson. Word gets around and then some–downhome fare and a funky-but-clean atmosphere make for a truly memorable visit.
Suggested Itinerary for a fun KC Weekend
Morning:
Coffee at XR lobby café, then walk the Arts District. Tour local galleries or hunt for murals.
Afternoon:
Lunch at the Crossroads food hall Parlor or any neighborhood restaurant. Explore Tom’s Town Distilling Co. or grab a craft brew at Brewery Emperial or Double Shift Brewing.
Evening:
Rooftop drinks at Percheron before walking or streetcar-ing to the Kauffman Center for a performance. For late-night, head to the Blue Room at the Jazz Museum for live music and cocktails.
Bonus:
If your stay includes the first Friday of the month, take part in First Fridays—an immersive and social art crawl that pulses through the district.