My wife and I've been coming to the drum room for decades. We really love this fun hotel bar with a ton of history. Our latest adventure transpired on Easter weekend 2026. We encountered a lovely bartender by the name of Jennifer, who was super kind and helped us do a little tasting of some different spirits we were interested in. And she crafted our usual cocktails deftly. She even gave us a tip on how to get into another restaurant that we wanted to snag a reservation for. Jennifer's great service was appreciated and very well regarded by my wife and me. We look forward to another good afternoon or evening at the Drum Room soon. read more

The Drum Room Lounge - Entrance to the restaurant. - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Fun atmosphere and cocktails. The bartenders were friendly and service was appropriately paced for the number of guests. read more

The Drum Room Lounge - Pink Pony - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Service must improve, I am surprised that it was such a bad experience for me and the party I was with. We were part of the Educational Testing Service AP Readers who have come to K.C. for the last 3 years. We came to the Drum Room Lounge for drinks after a a hard day. We were drawn to it v because of its history. It turned out to be a terrible experience. Your bartender there, was terribly rude and unprofessional. When our people arrived it took her 20 minutes to come to get our orders, eventhough there was no one in the bar but us. She took our order and then it took her 30 more minutes for het to bring over 4 of the 6 drinks ordered. One of our party commented to the person sitting next to her that this bartender was very slow. Apparently she heard this and as the person was tasting her drink, your bartender took it away from her. I tried to get my drink and I was ignored. I tried 3 time s to get ky drink and was not served. Then when we decided we weren't going to be served and one of our group heard your bartender say good luck them being served she refused to give the person paying for the drinks a receipt. This behavior was unprofessional at best and it ruined a night thah could have been great. read more

Great location and good staff. Ordered a club sandwich with fries and it was delicious. Many beers on tap, fun cocktails and good selection of drinks. Lots of TVs to watch sports and includes bar top or table dining options. My only complaint is hours. Doesn't open until 4 pm and no option to book for after hour events. Orders must be placed at the bar, so no wait staff. With bartenders preparing drinks, the wait to order is sometimes long. read more

Nice small lounge bar in this hotel. We came here for a drink New Year's Eve, Had the espresso drink, which was a bit too strong for my liking, but again I don't really care for the taste of alcohol. The drink was good otherwise. The bar was quiet and apparently not a happening place for a New Year's Eve. The bartender was prompt and seemed to do well all by himself, making sure he got everyone's drink in order. read more

The Drum Room Lounge - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Classy Bar Great Evening. Adam and Scott provided top notch beverage service and the revelries were amazing. We had dinner at Providence and will provide a meal review separately. #fashionatstake read more

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Love this classy bar with great cocktails and atmosphere. Art Deco architecture with warm and comfortable vibe read more

The Drum Room Lounge - Spicy Margarita - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We went in on a sunday evening. There was one other table of people. The bartender was no where to be found. We sat for several minutes. We saw him come in and leave again. After about 5 minutes or so he came to take our order. We inquired about one of the cocktails on the menu- how is it, what's it like, etc. He said, "We're famous for our cocktails, bro. So yeah, they're all good". Um. Ok. So, the cocktails are fine. It's a hotel cocktail bar. Nothing worth going out of your way for but if you're near by and want a basic drink, it's fine. With so many other bars in town that actually have better cocktails, we won't likely be back here. read more

My server Drew was cool. Beverage was good but that prosciutto bruschetta was pleasantly surprising. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was glad my cousins were late and I didn't have to share. The place is small but seems like a cool place to watch a game or three. read more

The Drum Room Lounge - Prosciutto bruschetta. Delicious!!!! - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

We visited the Drum Room before and after a concert on the evening of 3/16. The bartender was very unhappy to be there, it seemed. We had a party of 8 of us, all staying in the hotel attached, and when we walked in he said, loud enough for us to hear, "Pretty big group for such a small place...". Not very welcoming at all. Since this was the bar attached to our hotel and closest to the venue, we decided to give him a chance despite his unwelcoming comment. We would also hear him talk about other tables as he walked away from them, under his breath but loud enough for us to hear. We waited a while for him to come over and take our order. He did not offer an explanation of the menu or specials and after we finished ordering our wine and beer he said, "Well, you all really screwed up because we are known for our craft cocktails." I have been a bartender for a while and my father, who was with us, has owned bars and restaurants for 50 years. Despite the attitude, we tipped $40 on our $60 bill - because we knew we'd be back after the show and thought maybe that would put our bartender in a better, more trusting mood. It did not and the service after the concert was similar. A little better, but similar. Everyone has bad days. I certainly have. And I know some senses of humor may not translate to everyone - and maybe that's what was happening here. But, I really try to connect with most humans and this bartender was not having it. I would go to the Drum Room again, but I will definitely looks to see if this particular bartender is working and choose somewhere else if he is. He probably could have made another $100-$200 that night for himself and the establishment had he been friendlier and not made us feel like an inconvenience. read more

Concur, this is a friendly, even historic, watering hole in one of the original grand downtown hotels of KCMO. And thank goodness they didn't mess with the original woodwork and theme of the place. The neon sign outside is precious and should never be allowed to be messed with! Whether you're here to watch (or catch) a game or just hanging out with some pals for a nightcap, hard to beat this small venue away from the huge crowds some places downtown are seeking. I can keep coming back here just fine. read more

Great ambiance inside the Hilton hotel. Lively crowd on a Monday when everything else was dead. Had a great time, great bartender definitely a must stop to have a cocktail read more

The Drum Room Lounge - two drinks on a table - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Small lounge in an historic hotel. The Tru-manhattan was very good and aptly titled for a lounge in a Presidential hotel!

Bartender was great, good selection of cocktails and great place to end your night after hitting up a concert. read more

The Drum Room Lounge - Jackie-O - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We visited The Drum Room on a busy Friday mid-evening, ordering a few cocktails and some food. I had the Come Fly With Me, which was a superb cocktail full of flavor and served in this beautiful etched glass. The service struggled to keep up tonight, but they were working hard to keep everyone covered. The food, however, seemed to be an afterthought. The chicken wings had lots of gristle and the breading was odd (see picture). My friend ordered grilled cheese, which literally looked like two pieces of wonder bread. We expected more at the Drum Room. If i were to return, I would definitely order a cocktail but no food. Compared with other historic hotel bars downtown, The Drum Room holds its own on cocktails but their menu needs attention. read more

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Menu as of October 2022 Always great service and food options Try the Truman manhattan read more

The Drum Room Lounge - Menu as of October 2022 - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I can't believe I had forgotten how great this place is. Not only is the atmosphere warm and welcoming, the cocktails are incredible, service quick and friendly, and the history of the place is fun to take in while you're there. We stopped in before heading to the music hall (it's so close and the perfect pre show location) and had a burger, salad, crispy cauliflower, and a couple Manhattans. The burger was one of the best I've had in a long time. Simple and perfectly prepared!! The sweet potato fries were awesome, too. I will probably be craving the cauliflower for weeks to come, it was incredible. Thank you for such a great experience!! We will be back sooner rather than later! read more

The bartender we had was top tier! Great drinks and atmosphere! His recommendations were great! Will remember that for years to come!

Hotel bar. Nice spot, good vibes. Somewhat upscale in an approachable way. Great place to knock a couple back ahead of spending the night with your coworkers. Not a dive, but the dirty martini (gin, of course) is reasonable in quality and price. Room for improvement on the temp. Bartenders are helpful yet reserved - the perfect combo. read more

Stayed at the Hilton President so thought we give The Drum Room a try since it's inside the hotel and convenient. Superb cocktail, wine, and whiskey menu. Food was deliciously prepared, recipes that can't be duplicated at home because it's that good! read more

The Drum Room Lounge - From top to bottom: braised short rib & salmon both delicious! - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Very good food and tremendous service. This place has so much history. It is so cool. The nachos and beef sliders are on the starter menu but both are great and could be an entree on their own. read more

The Drum Room Lounge - Nachos - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Excellent service. Cool atmosphere. Food and drinks were reasonably priced. Will definitely return.

Best old fashioned I ever had. Bartenders are super attentive. Can't wait to go back.

My favorite cocktail bars in the Kansas City area do not serve food, and they make such great cocktails that it has ruined my dining experience at so many places that have great food but terrible drinks. I am therefore elated when I find a place that does both food and cocktails well. It is a lounge, so the menu is not huge, but the food I tried was pretty good, and the cocktails were exceptional. It's a very small space, and for some reason they do not provide barstools at roughly half of the bar. As a huge plus from my perspective, they are open on Sundays. I have definitely added place this to my rotation. read more

Was in town for a concert and stopped here for their selection of whiskey. I was very disappointed to find out the list was mostly not available. It is a great location inside a very nice hotel. Service was good, and our appetizers were well prepared. It was an enjoyable but disappointing (truth in advertising) visit. read more

I tried several cocktails but the best is definitely the original Old Fashioned. The Salmon was good but could be better read more

The Drum Room Lounge - The original "drum room old fashioned" - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Great cocktails and large delicious portions! They could use extra bar staff but otherwise everything was great!

Andrew G. is the best bartender in Kansas City! The Old Fashioned and the TruManhattan were amazing! On the food side, the Matcha Chicken Wings, the Brick Chicken and the Sliders are first rate! read more

Club sandwich is 5/5, cheeseburger 5/5, grilled chicken sandwich is 3/5 needs seasoning. It was pretty busy for a Wednesday night. Felt bad for the server/bartender. read more

Whenever someone tells me "you're staying at the Hilton President," I only hear this: "you get to drink at the Drum Room." This is the best hotel bar I've ever encountered, and it's worth a stay at the President alone. The specialty cocktails are out of this world, and they also have a great food menu. My favorite drinks are the Sassy Champagne Cocktail (lime juice, seasonal fruit shrub, vodka, topped with prosecco) and the Ford's Bramble Tonic (gin, lemon juice, tonic, homemade tonic syrup, and fresh blackberries.) The staff is super friendly & I love how dark it gets in there at night... it really sets the mood. I also find it awesome that people like Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline played there. You can tell there's a lot of history in this place. Huge fan of the Drum Room! I hope to visit again as soon as I'm in KC. read more

The history here makes the pit stop worth it, but it felt more so like an old school hotel bar than the lively, historic place that Frank Sinatra, among other big names, performed at. The menu is an extension of the hotel (all presidential themed drinks), which only adds to my first point, but I appreciated the creativeness and enjoyed the jest. The place isn't big, but it isn't squished either. There are a few pillars in the middle of the room that act more like nuance and space hogs than they do as a constructional necessity. The staff was friendly, but a little slow given that it was a Monday night at 9:30 p.m. and the place had maybe 5 other people in there. The drink menu doesn't list prices, but you'll pay an average of $10 per drink, sometimes more. The ambiance is intimate and dim with fake candles at every table and booth. Overall, I'm glad I got to check out a staple of KC Jazz and to be able to say that I ordered drinks at the same place Sinatra did, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. If I happen to be around this area, I would pop in again. read more

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Hotel bars are stepping up here in KC, and the latest remodel of The President Hotel's Drum Room Lounge is continuing the trend! As somebody who spent time in the space pre-remodel, I can say that it's a MAJOR upgrade! The biggest physical difference is that place is tighter, more intimate and thus more welcoming. Dark lighting and dark wood. If I was staying in the hotel, I'd be here most every night for at least a drink, and even as a KC resident, I'll still come here on occasion. The specialty cocktail list is quite impressive, though my favorite is definitely Truman's Last Drop. I can't quite remember the ingredients, though it has coffee ice cubes, and whiskey. Seriously, what's NOT to like? If that's not your flavor, they have something here to wet your whistle. As a fan of quality hotel bars, I am definitely a fan of Drum Room Lounge! read more

The Drum Room Lounge - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Stopped by for a quick drink before an event. Small bar, dark atmosphere which makes it feel cozy and intimate and plenty of helpful smiling bartenders. I ordered a mojito which arrived quickly and was well made, kind of hard to go wrong with a mojito though! To me it was nice to have a quiet drink in a space made for lingering and conversation, rather than a sports bar! Interesting crowd - great for people watching. Great location downtown. Footsteps away from a great restaurant too! read more

Matt, thank you for best Margarita Eva!!! Great time in a historic bar and had a blast with patrons from near and far. read more

The Drum Room Lounge - I can not remember a better Margarita, thank you Matt! - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Stopped in on a Saturday mid to late afternoon so it was packed as wedding season was in full swing but the servers worked their tails off getting everyone taken care of. After about 40 minutes the place cleared out so we moved to the bar and conversed with some folks from out of town and had a great time. The bartenders couldn't have been better. Great atmosphere. read more

As guests of the President Hilton hotel, we stepped in for some after dinner cocktails. There were not many people in the bar so physical distancing wasn't a problem. Our waiter Matt was wearing a face shield and was super nice and attentive to us, chatting about the cocktail menu. The cocktails are named for historical events or persons, and came with fun facts-such as the last time Patsy Cline performed was at this very bar! Hubby had the Drum room old fashioned to start, and I had the fruity (pink!) Jackie O. We finished up with an unusual drink in honor of Frank Sinatra, the Come fly with me. I've never had a drink with that combination, but it was pretty good, just kept growing on me. When Matt found out we were celebrating our anniversary, he brought two flutes of champagne, gratis, for our celebration, and took lots of pictures of us. Great cocktails, great staff. Would recommend a stop in if you're in the KC power and light district! read more

Very cool Prohibition type of bar. Specialty drinks using interesting ingredients. Tabes are set up for social distancing. Very hip place to go. read more

Wonderful historical bar in a cute boutique hotel. Friendly atmosphere, great service and good drinks.

Woohoo! This is my 1000th review and what a special place it goes to! Sinatra among many others performed here and it's on the historic national register. It's a swanky old bar with "that smell" - you would know what I'm taking about upon walking in. Nice place, before or after a show or for a special evening out. read more

The atmosphere is awesome - dark and intimate, the drink menu looks amazing, but when I actually got my "Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider" cocktail, it had way too much bitter lemon which made it almost undrinkable. It sounded delicious on the menu - Elderflower Liquor, Shpilka Vodka, Ginger Infused Apple Cider and Bitter Lemon Syrup. ($9.50) It sure was pretty but that drink gave me quite a pucker! Of course, I still drank it... read more

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