Barbecue date ideas in Kansas City
Each of these has a barbecue stop, with the rest of the date close by.
- 32 dates
- $20 to $195 for two
- Usually about two and a half hours
Quick summary
- Most are in 18th & Vine, Kansas City, KS and Lee's Summit & Independence. Try “Rosedale Barbecue, Then the Point Where the Rivers Meet”, “Burnt Ends, Then a Jazz District Stroll” and “Heritage Center & Burnt Ends”.
- Expect $20 to $195 for two.
- Some barbecue places close in the afternoon. Check the hours before you plan around one.
Cheapest first
Rosedale Barbecue, Then the Point Where the Rivers Meet
Lunch at Rosedale Bar-B-Q, a Southwest Boulevard barbecue joint since 1934, then a drive up to Kaw Point to watch the Kansas and Missouri rivers meet.
Stops: Rosedale Bar-B-Q, then Kaw Point Park
No reservation needed
Early Barbecue, Then the Nelson on a Late Night
Dinner at Joe's at 5:15, then the Nelson-Atkins, which stays open until 9 PM on Thursdays and Fridays.
Stops: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (47th and Mission), then The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
No reservation needed
Burnt Ends, Then a Jazz District Stroll
Burnt ends at Arthur Bryant's, then the self-guided walk through the 18th & Vine jazz district.
Stops: Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, then 18th & Vine Jazz District walking tour (self-guided)
No reservation needed
Late Barbecue, Then a Dive-Bar Nightcap
Barbecue at Gates on Main Street, then a late drink at Hi-Dive Lounge on West 39th, which pours until 1:30 AM.
Stops: Gates Bar-B-Q (Main Street), then Hi-Dive Lounge
No reservation needed
Black History & Brooklyn Avenue Barbecue
Start with Kansas City’s Black history at the Black Archives, then eat at a family barbecue landmark.
Stops: Black Archives of Mid-America, then Gates Bar-B.Q. (Brooklyn Ave)
Check whether to reserve
Heritage Center & Burnt Ends
A free museum on Kansas City's African American history, then barbecue at an 18th & Vine classic. The barbecue rotates by date.
Stops: Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, then Gates Bar-B.Q. (Brooklyn Ave)
No reservation needed
RiverNorth Smoke & Stroll
Barbecue or a firehouse pork tenderloin in North KC, then a walk in the park. The dinner rotates by night.
Stops: Hawg Jaw Que & Brew, then Macken Park reset
Check whether to reserve
Saturday Barbecue Lunch & Gallery Bogart
Barbecue for lunch at Chef J's in the Bottoms, then a Saturday-only gallery visit nearby.
Stops: Chef J BBQ, then Gallery Bogart
No reservation needed
Barbecue, a Rose Garden Walk and Frozen Custard
Joe's for lunch, a stroll through Loose Park's rose garden, then frozen custard in Brookside.
Stops: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (47th and Mission), then Loose Park Rose Garden, then Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard
No reservation needed
Kaw Point, Then Lunch at Slap's
Walk out to Kaw Point, where the Kansas and Missouri rivers meet, then drive a mile to Central Avenue for a barbecue lunch at Slap's.
Stops: Kaw Point Park, then Slap's BBQ
No reservation needed
Coffee, the Point, and Joe's for Lunch
A Kansas City, Kansas day: Strawberry Hill coffee, a river walk at Kaw Point, then pulled pork and brisket at the original Joe's.
Stops: Splitlog Coffee Co., then Kaw Point Park, then Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (47th and Mission)
No reservation needed
Blues Matinee & Ice Cream
Barbecue and a free live blues matinee on a Saturday afternoon, then ice cream in Waldo. The sweet stop rotates by date.
Stops: B.B.'s Lawnside Blues & BBQ, then Betty Rae’s Ice Cream (Waldo)
Check whether to reserve
Unity Village, Then Barbecue on Main
Walk the Unity Village nature trail and fountains, then drive into downtown Lee's Summit for lunch at Smoke Brewing Company.
Stops: Unity Village (nature trail and grounds), then Smoke Brewing Company
No reservation needed
Barbecue on Main, Then Trivia at Llywelyn's
Ribs and brisket at Smoke Brewing Company on Main Street, then a short walk to Llywelyn's Pub for free Wednesday team trivia.
Stops: Smoke Brewing Company, then Llywelyn's Pub (Lee's Summit)
No reservation needed
Burnt Ends & the Blue Room
Kansas City barbecue, then live jazz in the club inside the American Jazz Museum. The barbecue rotates by date.
Stops: Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, then The Blue Room
Reservation recommended
Food Hall & Kansas City Shopping
Eat from the local vendors at Plaza Provisions, then walk over to shop for a KC shirt or gift.
Stops: Plaza Provisions, then Charlie Hustle (Plaza)
No reservation needed
Burnt Ends, Then a Vine Street Brewery Night
Dinner at a barbecue landmark, then live music and a pint at Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery.
Stops: Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, then Vine Street Brewing Co.
Check whether to reserve
A Distillery Tour, Then Burnt Ends
Tour Restless Spirits Distilling in the River North arts district, then eat barbecue at Hawg Jaw.
Stops: Restless Spirits Distilling, then Hawg Jaw Que & Brew
No reservation needed
Roller Rink & Barbecue at 18th & Vine
Lace up at the new roller rink near 18th and Vine, then Kansas City barbecue. The barbecue rotates by date.
Stops: Blues Park Roller Skating Rink, then Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque
No reservation needed
West Bottoms BBQ & a Tasting
Craft barbecue for a late lunch, antique browsing, then a winery or whiskey tasting. The tasting rotates.
Stops: Chef J BBQ, then West Bottoms antique hunt, then Amigoni Urban Winery
Check whether to reserve
Freight House Barbecue Lunch & Union Station
Kansas City barbecue in the historic Freight House, then an afternoon at Union Station while its attractions are open.
Stops: Jack Stack Barbecue (Freight House), and maybe Union Station Kansas City
Reservation recommended
Jazz, Baseball & Burnt Ends
Two museums under one roof at 18th & Vine, then dinner at a Kansas City barbecue landmark.
Stops: Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, then American Jazz Museum, then Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque
Check whether to reserve
Slap's BBQ, Then Tiki on Strawberry Hill
An early barbecue supper at Slap's on Central Avenue, then a short walk up to The Blue Palm on Strawberry Hill for tiki drinks on a patio facing the skyline.
Stops: Slap's BBQ, then The Blue Palm
No reservation needed
Barbecue and Beer on Main Street
Smoked ribs and brisket at Smoke Brewing Company, then a block down Main Street to Stuey McBrew's for a beer in downtown Lee's Summit.
Stops: Smoke Brewing Company, then Stuey McBrew's
No reservation needed
That is 24 of 32. Tell the planner your day, budget and mood and it will build more like these, with the stops and timing worked out.
How these were picked
A date is on this page when it has a required stop that serves barbecue. Cheapest first, by the top of each price estimate. At most 24 show here, and prices are our estimates for two.
We last checked these dates on November 1, 2026. Hours and prices change, so check with each place before you go.