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    Swordfish Tom's

    4.7 (190 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Open 4:00 pm - 1:30 am (Next day)

    Swordfish Tom's Photos

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    SWORDFISH TOM'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Swordfish Tom's

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    Jennifer O.

    Such the hip vibe!! Showed up shortly after opening, green light-- knock, knock and there we were! Tremendous craft cocktail menu! Fun, intimate-- great date or romantic stop before/after dinner.

    Passenger Side is their version of a Sidecar with cognac.
    John F.

    Best cocktails in the city!!! I've been here 4 times now and am never disappointed. The bartenders & servers are so friendly and will make any drink that is to your liking. If you're unsure what to get just let them know a drink you've had in the past that you like and they'll make a great suggestion. Can't say enough about this place!!!

    alfred d.

    Wow!!! What a treat. Top notch drinks for the win. The cocktails are next level, so self control will be key. The ambiance and the hospitality we experienced was what any business should put into practice. Two thumbs up.

    Tornado warning, Smoking and sorry I forgot the name of the yellow one.
    Sheri R.

    Great hidden Speak Easy Bar. The decor is low light cozy small to medium group setting. The service was top notch. The specialty cocktails are impressive and the bartender turned out the drinks quickly and well balanced across the board. Our group of three thoroughly enjoyed, ordering a range of cocktails and sharing so we got a decent sample of the variety of drinks, which was a lot of fun. Our server that evening was one of the owners who we enjoyed getting to know. It's definitely a place we will bring our guests to in the future. My only suggestion would be that offering a quick easy appetizer-snack mix to order (cracker, bread or nuts) would be great complement to the experience. I definitely will be adding this place to my go to favorites!

    View from the far wall. The door is in the far right corner in this picture.
    Janie G.

    Apple Maps takes you to some venue with a plate glass window and you are like where is the speakeasy? Go around the right side of the building and in the alley you will find an entrance. The sign blends in extremely well. You're not sure where you are until you get close enough to read it. Next, go down the octopus stairs And down into another concrete and brick room. There is a green light outside the door. (it's red if they are full to capacity) You rap on the door using the knocker. Then you may be admitted to this hidden gem. First, you are faced with a giant boiler that lends a steampunk speakeasy vibe. Don't bring your visa or Mastercard. Bring small, untraceable bills. There Is an atm for your convenience. The drink menu is amazing. From the Manhattan project to the Exorcism, and everything in between. Come in open minded and enjoy the offerings. They were universally good. Prices are reasonable for this sort of venue. It's an experience. Our server was fabulous and recommended drinks. We sat in cozy chairs under dim lighting and the vibe was friendly and quiet. We had a chat with the couple next to us, and the guests were couples and small friend groups. Dress was casual to slightly dressy. We will be back on our next trip to KC.

    Bill T.

    This tiny, cash only bar is all of what a speakeasy can be. In a cold gusty alley, down a basement, behind a locked door, swordfish Tom's make excellent drinks in a friendly and intimate boiler room. I loved all of the drinks I had. You can tell they put a lot of thought and care into creating their cocktails. Milk punch, peanut butter washed scotch, mushroom syrup manhattan, the lone bartender and server can do it all.

    Tory O.

    This speakeasy had a very nice calming ambiance to it. It's a smaller bar so getting here when they open is probably better if you don't want to wait. I got the Leo Summer and my friend got a drink that I forgot the name of unfortunately. Both drinks were very good!

    Jeffrey M.

    Swordfish Tom's is the epitome of speakeasy entrances. Down an unmarked alley you'll find the door to this underground bar where a single lantern will inform you if they have seating available with its red or green light. The atmosphere here is amazing and the owner couldn't be more friendly. We had a wonderful time and I must recommend the Random Rules cocktail with its delicious blackberry notes. I also sampled the Abandoned Highway, which is a warm cider, but I didn't care for this one. This is one of the top two speakeasies in all of Kansas City, so be sure to arrive early or you might be waiting a while for a seat. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/A508y__Cka4

    Marshall Mathers.
    Robb R.

    Walk down an alley. Go down a random staircase. Wait in a room with old movie theater type seats. When they have room for you enter the tiny and crazy good bar. They do a crazy good job of crafting strange things like mushrooms into a deep and mysterious riff on a Manhattan. Find this place and g for the taste ride. One of my favorite bars anywhere.

    Mikaylie P.

    Lovely intimate speakeasy! Only two bartenders, so the line can be a little long to be admitted. All the drinks were as you would expect from an elevated bar--interesting combinations, made with care. Great place for a date as it is rather small and easy to talk with one another. They only accept cash. There's an ATM on site that charges $1 to withdraw money.

    Lindsey L.

    It's first Friday and we went to Swordfish Tom's. But we only waited 20 minutes! We arrived around 9:50pm and there was a group of 6 and a group of 2 in the waiting area. And before we knew it we were inside the speakeasy. If you don't already know Swordfish Tom's boasts some of the best cocktails in the city and is the a speakeasy in the truest sense - doorway in an alley,down the stairs, rustic, very if you know you know kind of vibes, and, of course, cash only. But don't worry they have an ATM. They are currently serving their Spring/Summer menu and I got the Celadon City. It was just the tiniest bit too sweet for me - but overall a really great, inventive cocktail. Husband had the Bourbon Heaven and Earth and a mezcal drink for his second. If you haven't been yet, just go! Don't be afraid of the red light!

    Colleen L.

    What an awesome speakeasy! The labyrinth that you have to go through to reach the door is awesome and filled with cool murals. The instructions are very clear and posted appropriately. The inside is perfectly dark and mysterious. And the staff are all friendly and helpful. They have an extensive cocktail menu and will also customize your drink if you'd prefer. I started with the Random Rules-Four Roses Bourbon, blackberry infused cocchi americano, nocino, and lemon. Now I don't know what half of those ingredients are but I will say that this drink was fantastic and I'd definitely order it again. I also tried a sip of Heaven, Bourbon, and Earth: angels envy bourbon, barolo Chinato, spiced chocolate bitters, homemade mushroom syrup, with a dark chocolate powder rim. This was a super interesting and you could really taste the mushrooms and chocolate. It was super earthy. Finally, we tried Babylon's Garden: Still 630 Confluence gin, Ophir gin, pear liqueur, lemon, and champagne. This one was super refreshing and light. We will definitely go back!

    Jeri L.

    It's a cash only establishment but I promise you the drinks here are out of this world. The entrance to this place is a little tricky but once you find it and head down it's pretty straight forward. Like I said above it's a cash only establishment. Prices ranges around $15 per drink. The bartenders are super duper friendly. We've came here close to closing time and they're still super friendly and serve us. The interior in here is also a bonus for those who loves taking pictures. Definitely a spot to check out!

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    3 months ago

    Excellent place to hard launch your boo on Instagram! Waited about 30 minutes to be seated, but a great ambiance!

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    11 months ago

    Best cocktails. Great service that will get you exactly what you didn't know you needed.

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    Swordfish Tom's Reviews in Other Languages

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    Review Highlights - Swordfish Tom's

    I have been to many cocktail bars in Kansas City, and while Manifesto gets all the hype, this is my favorite.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

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    Fern Bar

    Fern Bar

    4.6
    (95 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    Romantic vibe
    Locally owned & operated

    Holy...OMG. Come here, come here, come here…read more By some spark of light and luck we start the Valentines Day evening here. Drinks we got: - No Fly Zone - Off the Rails - Mr. Collage - Mescal Espresso Martini I got a cocktail caviar bump which - YES! Appetizer burritos complimented everything. We didn't have a reservation, but they were able to sneak us in, and I couldn't be happier!! You must come here.

    I've driven past the Fern Bar countless times, but had never stopped in. Truthfully, I knew next to…read morenothing about it. That changed yesterday, when Diana Condori, the bar manager, was named a 2026 James Beard Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service semifinalist. As we love supporting restaurants and bars that receive that kind of recognition, my wife and I headed to Fern Bar that evening. I was especially curious what exactly a "sugarcane and agave bar" meant. We arrived around 5:30pm and found only a handful of guests inside. After congratulating the bartender who first served us, he mentioned that Diana was working that night and would stop by to meet us. During our conversation, Diana shared that she didn't even know she had been nominated. She woke up Tuesday to a call from owner Bryan Arri, who said he had big news and was coming over. Her first thought was that something terrible had happened--like the bar had burned down. Instead, he showed up with coffee and told her she was a James Beard honoree. Diana is originally from Bolivia and has lived in Kansas City most of her life, with the exception of time spent in San Francisco during the pandemic. She further refined her cocktail craft through local pop-ups in Kansas City under the name Condor's Cove. When Bryan was preparing to open Fern Bar, he reached out to bring her onto the team. The printed cocktail menu immediately reminded me of the Monarch and the Mercury Room--not surprising given Bryan's background at Manifesto and the Monarch. Thoughtful, intentional, and clearly designed for people who appreciate serious cocktails. We planned on having one or two drinks but ended up staying for three, thanks to an outstanding lineup and a memorable conversation with Diana. We tasted: * No Fly Zone - Rum, agave, pineapple foam * Mr. Collage - Smooth, elegant, egg-white cocktail * Three Negroni Lunch - Bitter, boozy, and beautifully balanced * Pendergast No. 4 - Complex and spirit-driven * It's Bananas - Banana liqueur with bright tropical notes * Off the Rails - Creative and well-executed rum/agave cocktail One downside of many cocktail-forward bars is the lack of food, but Fern Bar offers two varieties of mini burritos for $4--just enough protein to keep things balanced while indulging. Great concept, exceptional service, and truly memorable drinks. Check it out--and be sure to say hello to Diana.

    Photos
    Comfortable & ample seating
    Comfortable & ample seating
    Don't worry, the outlets were photoshopped out, but there for you to charge your phone
    Don't worry, the outlets were photoshopped out, but there for you to charge your phone
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    To-Go cocktails available now
    The Blue Palm

    The Blue Palm

    4.9
    (23 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Strawberry Hill has a "new" gem that took me 2 years to just cross the Kansas River from KCMO to…read moreget to LOL. The former Mockingbird (aka The View for us "old-timers") has been reimagined into one of the highest quality tiki bars I have ever experienced. The outdoor patio has been tidied up and the interior is like The Little Mermaid meets Pirates of the Caribbean with New Orleans flair (think hanging lanterns, skulls and a Velvet John Wayne) and you will get the vibe. Roxy was delighful and crafted fabulous drinks and stories. The seasonal menu changes every few months and current highlights include the "Better to Sea You With" and "Chai and Mighty". The "Zombie " was potent and "Morning Wench" with rum creme, spiced rum, black coffee liquor and cinnamon is the BEST "espresso" without espresso martini I have ever had! Take a ride on over to Kansas City Kansas or better yet take a Lyft, because you won't be able to have just one of their delicious drinks.

    The Blue Palm is great. It blends a great tiki bar with a great neighborhood hang and has the most…read morechill vibes in KC. Now is the *most* authentic tiki bar? I'd say no, but don't let that stop you. I like it better here than Kon Tiki and while I'm still really sad over the loss of Tiki Cat (RIP you unicorn gem of a bar), The Blue Palm is divine it's own unique way. I stopped in here for a springtime patio meet up with friends and was not let down. The cocktails are some of the best tiki inspired drinks in town, and they have a great happy hour to boot. Shout out to the servers here as they are fabulous. I'll be back!

    Photos
    The Blue Palm tiki bar
    The Blue Palm tiki bar
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    Prime Social

    Prime Social

    4.4
    (252 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    We had a wonderful evening at Prime Social Rooftop at the Plaza. We were seated right away, and the…read moreambiance was fantastic with beautiful views overlooking Kansas City. It was the perfect night to sit by the windows and watch the clouds roll in as a thunderstorm approached. The service was excellent. Our server, Jenna, was friendly, attentive, and quick throughout the entire meal, making the experience even better. The food was delicious. We ordered the lobster roll, Braised & Blue pizza, meatballs, oysters with caviar, and the chicken and shrimp yakitori. We also had a couple cocktails- Spicy Paloma and Pineapple Express made with reposado. Everything was flavorful and well prepared, but the lobster roll was definitely my favorite of the night. Between the stunning rooftop views, great atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food, Prime Social made for a perfect evening in Kansas City. I would absolutely come back and highly recommend it for a date night, special occasion, or simply enjoying the city skyline with friends.

    We discovered Prime Social a couple of years ago and we were impressed…read more So when we were traveling back through KC we wanted to go back. The vibe is very cool as well as the decor. We ordered Old Fashioned which was what you would expect. The Suburban Sunset was different and good but a bit syrupy. I finished with the espresso martini which was very good and very strong. For food we had oysters on the half shell that were fresh and hit the spot. Next Yard Bird which is chicken meat balls. The flavor is good but they are mushy. Probably won't get them again. The chicken, steak and shrimp sticks were ok. The chicken had a rubbery texture. The star of the night was the fried lobster bites. Very good. Chicken and beef sliders were good but again the chicken was rubbery. The fries were also very good. The flat iron steak was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. To me it reminds me of lamb chops which I love. We finished with the 24 carrot truffle which was nice but not great. Overall we had a good time at Prime Social and would come back.

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    Inside Prime Social
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    Truffle Fries
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    Swordfish Tom's - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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