Rainy Day Books is kind of the best of both worlds - a book lover's paradise staffed by book…read moreworms. It's a cozy space, but it's jampacked with books from all subjects. If you can't find what you're looking for - which for some reason happens me a lot - the staff is happy to order a copy for you. They're book club friendly. They also host a ton of fun book-related and author events. If you're interested, please follow their social media accounts. They'll keep you up to date.

Indie bookstores are the best. This one being the oldest in KC, just celebrating 50 years is…read moreabsolutely amazing. They have amazing author events either in their shop or the Unity Temple on the Plaza. There is a great kids section with a ton of options. Employees are super helpful and will help you look up books as well. I needed to make sure a book was appropriate for kids and they looked up the details for me! Great bookstore all around!

There are so many amazing coffee shops in the kansas city area, and every time I try a new one it…read morebecomes my favorite. This one was no exception, but I do believe it might remain the reigning champion. First of all it is a coffee shop in the basement of a church, and its name implies that it is religious. So the reviews that act surprised or give lower ratings for that reason are silly gooses. The ambiance is outstanding! It is a whole vibe. You are surrounded by books, some of the tables have pew seating, there is a kids area, they sell T shirts cheap ($7) and used books at an amazing deal. New books are priced as marked with regular retail pricing. I was shocked at the number if new hooks they had. The crowning jewel for me was they have natural house made (or local bought) syrups so you are not getting a run of the mill commercially based anything. I expected that to limit their menu but it didn't! I had the caramel crunch chai, hands down best chai I have ever tasted. I wanted to chug it. My friend loved her drink that had winter mint! I also splurged on a winter pomegranate spritz and cake pops to go. This is a coffee shop where you come in, slow down and enjoy the experience. I do not recommend this place if you want a quick coffee to go. The Barista was exceptional and she put time and effort into each drink. She did get backed up because she was all alone when a coworker called in and got slammed! She was clearly overwhelmed but never once rushed a conversation or made any of the customers feel like she didn't have time for them. Rare beauty in this rushed world we live in. She encouraged checking out the gorgeous sanctuary and stained glass windows upstairs in the sanctuary and shared stories about them. I never once felt like I was in a church basement- if that makes sense. It was warm, cozy and inviting. This is my new weekly spot! PS the kids area has a full tote of scrapbooking stuff, and the tables all have cards where you can write up a handwritten note and they send them of somewhere to spread joy and kindness. It does not get better than this.

I had assumed that Holy Grounds Coffee had taken the former St. James Catholic Church and created a…read morecool coffee shop in the building. The last I knew that the space had been an events / wedding hall, a B and B and vacant. Little did I know was that it had been reformed as an Anglican church and the coffee shop was being ran by the church in the basement. The vibe was just kinda weird...it's basically a cluttered Christian book store and gift shop serving coffee and sandwiches. The staff were polite but not very welcoming; I felt like I was intruding on a private function that didn't want me there. I took my Mocha Cream Breve' and went out on the patio for some views of the beautiful historic structure. When asked about their source for coffee beans, I was told "we get em from someplace in Arkansas". OK!?? I'm sure that some demographic here in the bible belt will find this basement quaint and charming, but it just gave me a desire to go spend my money at a more secular venue.

When my friend and I were in the Saint Joseph area this past weekend, we wanted a really good…read morecocktail and this place was on a few lists so we had to try it. We both walked in and grabbed the comfy couch. We went up to the bar and ordered a couple cocktails, both were really good. The bartender was super nice, chatty in a good way, and knew his stuff. I think I would come back here again.

Fantastic ambiance. Cozy atmosphere with alcoholic and non alcoholic choices. Lounge type areas…read morewith niches and comfortable seating. Loved it. Music was quiet enough for conversation without shouting. Perfect for a relaxing drink and visiting.

I'm no book snob, but I enjoy reading. I typically gravitate toward sci-fi, fantasy, and comics,…read morebut this Barnes & Noble is typically well stocked and easy to navigate. There is also a coffee bar here that I haven't used. I'll usually hang out upstairs with a book and read for a while as my wife browses all around. We have visited once when they had live music from a local high school jazz band. It was pretty neat. Usually, it is a nice quiet place to relax and hang out. One of my favorite places in Zona Rosa!

We stopped into this location since we were in the area. The store is large and the customer…read moreservice was fine. The prices were typical for new books and magazines. My husband purchased some magazines and I looked around in all the areas. The toddler books were reasonable for new books. They have a good selection of a variety of genres. I did look in their children's toy and game area, but I think their prices are exceptionally high even with clearance items.

We were in the area and we stopped by this bookstore. We have been to this bookstore at a previous…read morelocation years ago. The store itself is completely unorganized and you wonder if the shelves are going to topple in. But he has an exceptional collection of used non-fiction books. He has all types of genres and classic books. His Christian section is better than most Christian bookstores. He has very high-quality authors. He has manuals, a selection for black voices, various countries, cookbook, health, psychology, you name it on the non-fiction and he probably has it. He is friendly and helpful and it would probably be best to ask him where some items might be since the store is overcrowded and not organized very well. Some books have the prices on the inside cover and some you have to ask him and you can bargain with him as well as long as your bargaining is reasonable. Even though the photos that I have submitted show disorganization, he really does have an exceptional amount of good books.

Original review no longer accurate…read more So, when I first went to this place it was filled with books and heavily disorganized. It got a little better over time. They buy books but only twice I guess? I reached out a couple times to sell books or trade and been told they're not buying. Which is perfectly fine if you don't want to buy customers books. You get final say. It just ruined my view on the business.

I had some time to kill today before brunch and went into The Dusty Bookshelf. What a great place!…read moreIt has a very solid selection and the staff was helpful. I love the table with the Grab Bags! I only ended up purchasing one book, but I would love to go back next time I'm in Lawrence.

As longtime fans of the dusty in Manhattan, we had to stop at Lawrence's…read more It's so interesting in here! Like a really old library you just want to move into. It's packed with books and every corner has another cool thing to see

We made a trip this past weekend to KC and had a blast. This was our first stop! I had seen clips…read moreon social media and knew my little book worms would love it. We bought our tickets ahead of time, so we could secure our time slot. However, it looked like you can get tickets there the day of. Tickets are fairly priced, $16/person. This place is a lot bigger than I thought. Once you go down the rabbit hole, there are little burrows to crawl through, stop by and check out the rabbits little house before making your way through. It took us about 2 hours to go through, my kids loved all the interactive pieces to it. They could climb in nearly everything, there was a slide, a fire pole, etc. If you aren't familiar with the books, don't worry, they keep them stocked at each section so you can read it! Once we were done, we made our way to the bookstore. They had a wonderful large staircase that people could just relax and read books which I thought was wonderful little touch. They had a great selection of books and had a section of all the books from the displays. They have a coffee shop but unfortunately it was closed when we were there. The staff was wonderful, the volunteers are all scattered throughout to help customers. The volunteers and staff truly love books and children. We will absolutely be back again!

Well put together museum where all the books you grew up comes alive…read more Brought my kids and their cousins here. They loved it. Got to sit on a story time and caught the bus. Make reading great again!

I was wondering around on a Saturday evening and found this local gem. What an incredible place…read more Enchanting. I immediately felt at home exploring the 3 floors. The books cover every subject. Some were probably harder to find. I happened upon a hardback about Eleanor Roosevelt and the years she spent alone after FDR's death. I also found a copy of an old magazine which explored all sorts of Tibetan culture. I purchased both. The book on Eleanor was found in the basement which is a bit of a labyrinth. I got tickled because I was entranced by the books so much that I nearly tripped several times on the very uneven floor. And it's painted all the same color so you can't see the weird level changes well but I was weirdly not even upset about it because it added some intrigue to the mystery of searching the shelves in the basement. Even on a nearly 100 degree day, it was chilly down there. Cool! Upstairs on the 3rd floor where it was toasty, I found the magazine. There were some cool lounge areas up there too. Record albums and a music section. I was mesmerized. I believe there were a couple of people putting out books but I'm not sure. I never asked anyone for help because I wasn't sure who worked there and I didn't really need any. The guy who checked me out seemed pleasant but I can't speak too much on the service except to say it was fine. I felt it was very acceptable to read through books even though they were for purchase and except on the crowded main floor, they had places for you to sit and read so it was even encouraged! I love that! The only thing I'd have liked that I did not see is a bit more merchandise that is book and reading related. They had a few Prospero Books tshirts and a tote bag but that was about it. I admit it wouldn't necessarily fit the vibe to have a section like this or maybe it could if done in a nonchalant way. The messages from customers written on the walls and shelves throughout the store along with photos were absolutely perfect! There were some photos that showed the basement before it became the magical place it is right now. Reading the messages and seeing the photos let me know I was in the realm of my people. All the books and magazines I saw were reasonably priced. I spent less than $15 on my large hardback and magazine. I didn't have nearly enough time to explore. I hope to go back!! You should definitely go and support a local bookstore treasure!!! I'm so thrilled they are here! We need more like them! And they carried ALL types of books. There is no censorship. As noted on Prospero Tshirts, "There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." - Joseph Brodsky And you'll find in my friend's book, The Sun Does Shine, they can strip you of everything but if you have an imagination, they can't take that. Books and reading develop that ability. Let the words transport you! READ!

A three story book store!? A book girls dream! It was so easy to navigate and figure out how the…read morestore is divided. They have a large sign explaining where you'll be able to find genres between the three floors. I was pleasantly surprised to see the prices were also reasonable! Of the books I looked at, the most expensive price was $15 for a fiction novel. I highly recommend you take a stop here if you're in the area!

Just wanted to update the community on the current state of The Book Barn…read more Yes, there are books in this store. Yes, you'll probably find what you're looking for. Yes, you'll be greeted by the sweetest lady with a ton of book knowledge. You will need to squeeze through books piled on the floor. You might see a broken shelf or two held up by books. The store is only open on Saturdays, I'm thinking from 11am-5pm or so.

I would love to open a bookstore like this one. Piles upon piles of books all over the place…read more Somewhat organized, but the real gem is in the people. The older lady will tell you everything and can find anything. I talked to her just about my history with the Book Barn. In 1998, Lansing Middle School had an accelerated reader program. You read books and take tests on the computer (big deal at the time) and you are awarded points. I earned enough points that I was awarded a gift card to The Book Barn. It was written on a card with the amount, and each time you spent some of it the cashier would write the new amount on it. I walked in and asked for any recommendations. The younger lady working there gave me Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. She gave Atlas Shrugged to a 13 year old. I tackled that beast. It took me 9 months, but I plowed through it and can now proudly say that I have read Atlas Shrugged. Overall, great service, great place to get lost it for an afternoon. Support your local book store!

I go to romance bookstores in cities I visit and Under the Cover is probably the best I've seen!…read moreIt's large and organizes books by tropes. There's just a lot of small details that the owners have taken note of and implemented in the store. It's 2 large stores now (it's gotten bigger) and the decorations and gifts are wonderful. Very Instagrammable. Lots of books and gifts like candles, shirts, bags, knickknacks. Cute signs and decor. Books by local authors are highlighted. Staff is very helpful. Bathroom is clean and cute. There's lots of ladders that remind you that you're not Belle, do not stand on them! A must-visit if you're in KC!

I used to be in the bookstore business. Remember bookstores? Those cavernous spaces with endless…read moreshelves of books of which maybe only 5% actually got purchased? Yeah. Good memories. That's not the case at Under The Cover. This is a legit, almost boutique-ish, book and gift store. It's not a warehouse of books and just 'stuff'. No, their specialty lies with LGBTQ+ literature, awareness, and advocacy and that theme is everywhere in this cozy space. Under The Cover is moving books aplenty and their merch and sundries game is amazing. Throw up a hand if you're an LGBTQ+ supporter. Heck, throw up a hand if you're on the other side of those lifestyles, because Under The Cover will WELCOME you, too. There are plenty of Christian bookstores, so balancing that ledger with inclusivity and love by patronizing an alternative choice & lifestyle business should be on anyone's radar. The service is uber-friendly and they will give suggestions for just about anything. Sign their guest book (so fun!) or just drop your email to receive future discounts, notice of specials, or even in-store author events. Support local is not just a rallying cry for farmers markets or service industries. It's critical to buttress our friends and neighbors who pour their hearts and souls into offering the great city a neverending array of shops & locations by supporting their businesses. The value in a place like Under The Cover is not just in the price tag of the items. No, it's more in the merit of small businesses and their place in the fabric that is Kansas City. Parking is city-style, which can mean you're on your own. Prices are fair and consistent, and you will appreciate what this space has become and how it can add to the Union Hill area. Take the time, and the opportunity, to stop in and feel the love.