Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Kansas City

Westport Coffeehouse is not your average coffee shop that only serves good coffee and some baked goods. This cafe takes it one step forward and offers excellent entertainment to its patrons. Westport Coffeehouse definitely serves the best coffee in the neighborhood and is an ideal place to unwind after a hectic day at work. The cafe has a theater at the basement as well. Here's where you will find a great line up of shows ranging from comedy to drama. So, while you enjoy your cuppa, you can treat yourself to a fantastic show. If you feel hungry, they have the typical cafe food- sandwiches and baked delicacies. Since its inception in 1996, the cafe has been a popular hangout for many locals and tourists alike.

There is almost nothing better than a great burger and a nicely crafted beer. Here at the Green Room, guests will definitely find both. The burger and fries menu has some interesting variations, try the Fiddler Fries made with jalapeno, bacon, cheese and a fried egg alongside the 'Dubbel Dubliner', a beef behemoth served on a pumpernickel bun. In addition to the delicious burger combos, the beer is equally phenomenal with at least six different rotating beers on tap throughout the week.

Hi Dive Lounge is another restaurant in the Westport area that continues to impress those on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas border. The kitchen churns out fresh salads, pasta and sandwiches during lunch service and for dinner guests can find pork chops, vegetable kabobs and a wonderful Penne Bolognese. During the week, the bar hosts a few beer drinking trivia nights, so be prepared with your pop-culture knowledge if you find yourself here!

Miami Ice has dessert with a twist. They have all the traditional flavors of ice cream, including some wild ones like peanut butter and banana. You can choose from any of the mix-ins like peanuts, candy, and fruit. The best thing about this place is their shaved ice. Not only do they have every flavor, but it can also come with custard at the bottom, a surprisingly delicious treat! They serve other summertime food like hot dogs and hamburgers. Their patio is a great place to spend a hot afternoon.

Vegans in Kansas City couldn't have been happier when the city got its first all-vegan bakery and coffeehouse in 2011. The menu at Mud Pie Vegan Bakery and Coffeehouse is certifiably gluten-free and a hundred percent vegan. The place offers a wide variety of cookies, cupcakes, tarts, muffins, and scones, to name a few. Apart from this, they also serve brilliant coffees and teas that give you a fantastic start of the day.

D’Bronx’s slogan, "Simply the Best Pizza in Town," is not an exaggeration. Their pizzas are gigantic, cheesy, and flavorful, with a sweet and spicy sauce that is unlike any other. The restaurant has an authentic New York feel to it: chalk graffiti covers the brick walls and waiters run down the aisle shouting your number. You can even watch the chefs precariously spin pizza dough over their heads. Like a true deli, they also serve every kind of sandwich imaginable. Catering is available, including a party pizza 30 inches in diameter. -Robin Sontheimer