I came here on a Friday night after escaping the rising noise levels at the Quaff. There was a $5 cover, but that was no big deal. It was already fairly late in the evening. The atmosphere is dark and mellow. the crowd leans more adult. the music was excellent, old school blues and jazz. The drinks were good. My only complaint would be the service. Several waitresses passed my table without asking if I wanted to order a drink and in the end, I had to go up to the bar to order. Maybe it was an off night and I enjoyed the rest so much I'll keep trying. They do have a nice deck, but it's small and fills up quickly on a summer night. Also, you can;t hear the band out there. read more

This is an old reliable joint in Kansas City. The other reviewers are dead on: make sure you get there early if you want to get a table. Lonnie McFadden normally holds down the early Friday shift - which, if you live in KC and you haven't seen this man perform, you need to - and if you get there during his set (4pm to 8pm I think - check the calendar on the website, don't quote me!) you'll be resale set up for the other later music, if you want to stay, drink and listen the night away. Last time I was there there was a girl who had brought her own hula hoop as a dancing accessory. For a while I tried to discreetly look at her peripherally, but it got hilarious enough at one point to just turn my chair and watch her. read more

This place is a jazz club by night, but we were there for lunch so were treated to blues music over the speakers as we settled in at our table. For all that they had ONE waitress runninng around serving everyone, service was great and the food came out fast! My friend and I split the crab cake appetizer as our entree and then each got the sweet potato fries. The crab cake was tasty, with a drizzle of aioli, though the texture was distressingly fish stick-y. The fries were great, crisp and thick, not greasy or underdone. This place doesn't appear to be terribly big (? -- we were sitting off in a side room so maybe I missed a larger space) so when the joint is jumping it may really get loud, but at lunch time it was fairly mellow. Definitely a good choice. This one rises high to the top of our restaurant picks in KC. read more

What a fun place. Cozy and friendly. Tuesday was open mic night with great performances, singing and music.

This is my favorite place in KC, simple food done right (biscuits and gravy) very reasonable drinks and an amazing band! This was my first time here but I'll be back very often, It's an incredible venue! read more

As a music fan this is a good place. There isn't much of a stage but the sound is fantastic. It's not too loud and the acoustics make it very clear. The staff is sometimes slow on a very busy night but they make up for it in the friendliness. read more

Live music is apart of the Phoenix like marshmallows to Rice Krispy treats. There is always some type of musical ensemble. You can walk in and one of the McFadden Brothers tap dancing on the top of the grand piano. The next day, you might catch the Everette DeVan band with lots of KC great voices adding into a artists jam session. The half price apps during happy hour are pretty good. It normally is pretty packed around that time. Sometimes, good things come to those that wait. They do have daily specials besides what is on the menu. I always have them create me something. The drinks are good. They have a good selection. It is the wait staff that does it for me. They are nice and friendly All in all, a nice place to go.. read more

I am sad I didn't get to spend much time here however the staff the morning I stopped by in Kansas City was so friendly!! Words cannot describe it. In the middle of a pandemic, I took a road trip with my brother to go back home. Businesses we stopped at and spend money didn't let us in to use their restrooms and the 3 young ladies did not mind at all and of course we all had our masks on! I plan on coming back to Kansas City and I will stop here for food and drinks because of them!! read more

Very good place to go and eat some food while enjoying LIVE music. The night I went specifically had a very nice chill jazz trio which made it very enjoyable. Service was great and always made sure I was taken care of. read more

Great atmosphere, food and entertainment!! The waitress was handling us (a big party) and the rest of the bar wonderfully. Piano player was awesome and had go-go dancers with his act. Super fun night! read more

The Phoenix - Awesome entertainment! Great food and service! - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Ok this place is awesome. Live music is amazing and this bar tender (Josh?) Not only made some of the best drinks I have had but pointed us to a few other places to go. Didn't try the food but it looked good. Coming back tomorrow for sure. read more

The Phoenix - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

So, I visited here during an icy, snowy weekend where not much else was open. They were not only open, but they had their (from what I came to learn was) usual live music for brunch: the place has the BEST vibe. And their food... wow. I got the Hangover Cure with fried egg hard and gravy on the side. Folks. So dang good. Run, don't walk to this place. Thanks for a great time and even greater food! read more

Jazz brunch at the Phoenix: approved! The chicken and waffles (not pictured) were my fave, but my crab cakes eggs Benedict were excellent as well. read more

The Phoenix - Skillet at brunch - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Cozy place to spend the night listening to good music and enjoying well crafted drinks. Live jazz music is the new part of this quaint venue. There was a cover charge at the door but the music and atmosphere was worth the $5. The food we ordered came out quickly and it was really good! The music wasn't so loud you couldn't carry on a conversation which is a plus when spending an evening with friends and family. Overall a great time! read more

The Phoenix - Old Fashioned with a burned orange peel and real cherry - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Visited one of my favs post New Years and had a great time. The crowd was small and into the performances. Stayed for two sets. Drinks were strong and reasonably priced. As always a great spot to relax and enjoy local artist sharing their craft. read more

The Phoenix - Enjoying the show... - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I went here today for brunch with a friend. I went to a jazz brunch in New Orleans and really wanted to check one out back home. The place was great. Right when we walked in there was excellent live music playing. We were able to snag a table fairly close to the musicians (we got there a little before 11:30 and I think we got the last open table, but plenty of bar seats were available!) The food and service were great. The food isn't anything fancy, just straightforward and reasonably priced. The vibe is nice. It's an old bar that has clearly been taken care of. The only reason this place is getting four stars instead of five is that it seems they've gotten rid of bottomless mimosas, which is one of the reasons we picked this place. I saw reviews on Yelp that talked about it and even saw a menu with it posted. The bottomless mimosas were not listed on the menu, but instead a pitcher of mimosas is now $15 (bottomless was previously listed at $12). It wasn't a big deal at all- my friend and I split a pitcher and still had an excellent brunch- but the website does still advertise endless mimosas and bloody Mary's at lunch, so they might need to fix that. Would highly recommend! Told my parents they need to come next weekend- I think it's great for all ages. read more

Food: I had the Ruben and sweet potatoe fries. The Ruben and fry sauce are the best I have had in the city. This isn't your classic Ruben sandwich so I was a bit skeptical, but it let all my taste buds satisfied and I find myself constantly wanting to go back for another. Atmosphere: The jazz music was a bit more contemporary rock with a taste of jazz when I was there. I have seen other bands playing here that have a different style so I would recommend reviewing that nights band before going. The location is small and personal, not very comfortable sitting and a bit loud, as to be expected for this type of jazz bar. read more

This is our third visit here and WOW. It seems that no matter who is playing here, this place embodies Kansas City Jazz - it is hard not to love it all. If you go, DO NOT MISS the sweet potato fries...they are unique and "to-die-for". They were so good as a side dish, we asked if they would fix more as a separate order. The Rubin is superior too. Everything and everybody was super busy but the waitresses hustled and made it work. Special thanks to Lauren and Racheal, they worked their hearts out. They call this place "iconic" for several reasons- don't miss it. read more

We stopped in mainly for the music and weren't disappointed. We did have two apps, the pretzel with cheddar/jalapeno sauce and the fried vegetable platter. Both were very good and they also had a good variety of wine, beer and cocktails. They dont take reservations and it's not a large venue so come early. read more

The Phoenix - Outside eating area. - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Sunday Morning Brunch with Live Music.... Warm and Inviting atmosphere ..... Delicious food and drinks 10/10 Service was top tier!!!! Great family memories created once again!!! read more

The Phoenix! My husband and I are obsessed with this place. To be honest, before we moved to the area we were unsure about the 'Jazz bar' scene. Being in our mid-twenties, we were not quite sold on the idea of it. Well, THANK GOD we received a gift card and decided to give it a shot. It only took 10 minutes after arriving for us to be sold. Live music, attentive staff, delicious drinks... Why did I ever question this place?? The happy hour is a must (3 to 6pm) - the Carmel Apple Tang and Spiced Sangria are two of my favorite drinks. In addition to the booze, the food is on point (Bavarian Pretzels with beer cheese, Baked Potato Soup, BBQ Chicken Tenders, etc etc etc). The Phoenix is a place where you can bring your buddies, your coworkers, your parents, your neighbors (anyone really), and they will always have a good time. 5 Stars for being our "new" favorite jazz bar! read more

Found out about this neat place from the nice people at Green Lady Lounge. I loved my visit here. The music, people, and food were great. The sliders here were amazing. The vibe is a lot different than what I've experienced at the blue room and green lady lounge, but it was by no means less. Highly recommend giving this place a go. The only thing is they have cover fees, which hasn't been my experience with Green Lady Lounge and the Blue Room. Granted, I have only been once, I think the quality of music wasn't quite as stellar as the aforementioned jazz bars, but the great food and drinks compensate. read more

The Phoniex's first Sunday brunch is a hit! The dining room is pleasantly packed with hungry patrons and theres great live music. I had the breakfast burrito stuffed with sausage, eggs & cheese...extra jalapenos. My friend ate the fluffly biscuits and super sausage gravy. You need to get here! read more

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The food was just okay. Pretzels were under cooked, and queso was very bland, but the entertainment was fun!!

Awesome place for snacking, drinks, and jazz tunes. We came in on a Friday night when Lonnie McFadden was there. It was a full house for his show but the service was above par and not overwhelmed. They run a good swift operation when its a full house on a Friday night. The happy hour menu and drinks are very appealing if you make it in time. Also the burger, chicken tenders, and spin dip are all very well done to snack on while the jazz is playing. Great spot to visit especially on Friday evenings. read more

We loved everything about our brunch here-- the Texan was delicious, as was the Garden Omelette and the fresh fruit. Dara and Cheyenne (sp?) were absolutely delightful. All smiles and what appears to be genuine delight to be here and making us happy during our meal. The love music by Millie Edwards & Dan Sturdevant was the perfect accompaniment for Sunday Brunch. Do yourself a favor and bring yourself here sometime. You'll find much to enjoy! read more

5 stars for the entertainment, 4 stars for the food....Visited the Phoenix last Friday night. I'm a return customer and, having been her several times before, I knew what to expect. As always, I wasn't disappointed. The entertainers that night were talented and entertaining but the food was mediocre. Service was good, especially considering how busy the place was. When talking to someone about the Phoenix, I always describe the atmosphere as cozy and intimate, a great place for a first date, birthday celebration, or girl's night out. Located in the heart of downtown Kansas City, the Phoenix is located in a little, historical, brick building on a corner. Seating is limited since it is such a small establishment so get there early especially if you plan to visit on a weekend. They also offer a weekend brunch which I hope to try soon. read more

I don't have enough good things to say about The Phoenix. But for starters, here's a list: 1. Early HH (starts at 4:00 I believe?), for those who like to get the party started (or ended) early. 2. HH specials: $6 house martinis and 1/2 off all apps. 3. Lonnie McFadden, who is there on Friday evenings, is just phenomenal and covers a variety of jazz, blues, and motown songs as well as some of his own originals. 4. Lonnie McFadden tap dances at the end of the set!!! 5. For a $5 cover charge you get to see this great man. Some have complained about this but remember you're not just going to a bar, you're going to see a performance. You can tell that Lonnie McFadden truly loves what he does, and that feeling is contagious. And totally worth the $5. 6. I don't know how she did it in the crazy crowd, but our server checked in on us frequently and made sure we were never hungry or thirsty the whole evening! Care to add to my list? Go to the Phoenix and check it out! read more

This review is strictly for happy hour, as i am ashamed to admit i have yet to go here during a weekend night. That must be corrected soon... A few weeks back i purchased a couple of groupons for Phoenix, and last night the boyfriend and i went in for happy hour. We actually had our first date here a year ago (tomorrow!) and for some reason hadn't came back. Last night we both resolved to come back VERY soon. The staff was VERY friendly, with the perfect amount of sass. I forget her name, but she's excellent. There were probably 6 or so groups either at the bar or at a table and she had everybody well taken care of. Our beers were never empty and empty plates were gone promptly. She left us alone for the most part, but you could tell that she had an excellent relationship with her regulars. The food was DAMN good. Excellent crabcakes and onion rings. The hummus was just regular hummus, but hey i like it! Nice happy hour specials. We had boulevard pints for $3, but they also had (i believe) $4 wine by the glass, and $5 martinis. All small plates were1/2 off, which is good. It lasts until 7 BTW. I think everybody needs to go here soon, as this place deserves to be more popular. I'll be doing my part to bring along my friends and show them how great it can be. read more

I'd been dying to come to Phoenix for some time now... as I am soon departing KC, it was on my "TO DO BEFORE I LEAVE KC" list. Mission accomplished. I can't remember what night we went, perhaps it was a Tuesday. BUT the pianist/guitarist on deck was amazing. I liked how at the end he spiced it up with some folksy renditions of Outkast etc. I was very, very amused to say the least. We sat towards the back of the club, so we could audibly chat and still hear the music, and I must say that was a very good choice. What also was a good choice was the reverse happy hour that was happening. Great choices. However, what really excited me was GOOSE ISLAND! I love this Chicago-brew. As an Illinois native, I had not seen this in any place in KC until Phoenix. I asked our server about it, and she said the owner really loves it. Brownie points for Phoenix! Lastly, my love for Phoenix help me sell my friend on signing a lease to an apartment on the same block. I told her if I were her, I'd be rolling into Phoenix all the time for some jazz and Goose Island. I'd be a total "regular" and with pride! read more

I've driven by it, heard about it and wondered what it was like for years, but never made it there until today for lunch. The building itself is very cool, both inside and out. It's old, but not worn down in the least; when you walk in, it's easy to imagine being here eighty years ago wearing a three-piece suit, fedora and trenchcoat - you know, The Untouchables/gangster era kind of thing. I love that era, so I love the look of the Phoenix. On to the food...the menu consists of appetizers, a nice "pick 2 for $6.95" list of lunch items, a variety of sandwiches, and a few "big plates." Nothing out of the ordinary on the list, and they don't seem to have a signature dish or anything. We started with the Pepper Jack bites - deep fried pepper jack cheese with ranch sauce - yes, they were as delicious as you're imagining right now. For the entree, I got their Philly Cheese Steak and fries; my colleagues each got the Buffalo Chicken Wrap. My Philly was pretty darn delicious, and the fries were awesome. They have that slightly rough taste, like the skins weren't taken off the potatoes before being cut into fries and I love fries like that. One of the guys with me got the Sweet Potato Fries and thought they were great too. Portions were big for sure - plenty of food for me. I finished off the meal with some carrot cake, one of two desserts they had today. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. The plate had raspberry sauce on it, which was an odd compliment to carrot cake that I could have lived without. Being Friday, we had beers with lunch; I was a bit disappointed that they only had Guinness, Stella, Boulevard Wheat and Boulevard Pale Ale on tap; I expect more than four on-tap beers from a good bar (EDIT: got a nice note from Matt Jones, owner of the Phoenix - they also have Blue Moon and Boulevard's delicious Tank 7 on tap). The liquor selection looked huge though. I'll definitely be back to try it again; I need to come at night now for drinks and music! read more

I came here after looking it up on a search one Saturday morning. I was staying here on business for a few months.. The Saturday brunch atmosphere is perfect.. Low key and great music.. Great morning jazz http://thephoenixkc.com/saturday-jazz-brunch/ And they have a great small menu which means the quality is there.. I have had two brunches both have been great I have had the Crab Cake Florentine Benny Two crab cakes topped with steamed spinach, poached eggs, Canadian bacon and house made hollandaise . Side of grits. 13.5 And the Good ol' Steak n Eggs 6oz. filet, home fries and two eggs your way 13.5 I loved both of them They also offer a "Bloody Mary bar"on Saturdays they pour you the vodka and you do the rest you can make it anyway you like they have the condiments out on the bar with your choice of Bloody Mary mix a great way to get your Saturday started:).. The crab cakes with poached eggs was fresh and incredible! And the steak had tendon issues but was very tender and very well seasoned .. The bartenders are fantastic they make you feel like you are at "cheers" they make you feel apart of the "family" my interactions with Tuesday,Lou,and Adam were fantastic so inviting and for a guy from out of town made me feel right at home.. At times if they are busy at night the wait for things could take awhile as they are sometimes staffed low.. But they work their asses off even though the service may not be top notch on these nights. Everything else makes up for it I love this place and the people !! I would highly recommended the Phoenix jazz club read more

The Phoenix - Poached eggs and crab cake with grits - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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My husband and I walk in a couple of weeks ago and hear the band playing AMAZING music. I got so excited thinking that I had just found my new hangout! The music was the only thing that was amazing about this place. It seemed to take forever for the bartender to notice we were there, she seemed to be too busy chatting with 2 guys at the bar abou her kid. She finally noticed we were there, came over to the table tripping along the way. Smelling of booze as she spoke and rolled her eyes, it seemed like we were an inconvenience to her. I ordered a cosmo martini, when it arrived it was AWFUL! I have always been under the impression that it should have a splash of cranberry in it, I think cranberry was the only thing it had. When I brought to her attention she told me she makes "hundreds of cosmos" every week, then asked me if I had ever had one before. After she remade my cosmo (still sub par) we ordered the hummus appetizer. We had intended on ordering dinner too but she ran away so quickly we didn't get a chance. Once again she was chatting at the bar with the same customers as when we arrived. Although we figured out what was so important, she went to make three shots and then took the shots and the two guys she had been chatting with outside! Twenty minutes later, no appetizer. My husband finally got her attention after she returned inside from smoking and doing shots, and asked about the status (we were one of maybe 4 tables in the place). She shockingly gasped and ran to the kitchen because she had "forgotten all about it". When the hummus arrived it looked like it had melted under the heat lamp! My husband took a bite of the pita bread and got an awful look on his face. He turned the pita over and it was BLACK on the other side! All of the pieces were! My husband asked to speak with a manager, she proudly announced she was the General Manager! What a mess! He explained how we were not satisfied with the service, the quality of what we were being served and how we were concerned she was drunk. She told us we were being "ridiculous" and walked away...never apologizing. When she brought our ticket over she slapped it down on the table. Not only did she not take off the hummus we didn't eat but she over charged us, putting things on our ticket we didn't order! On the way out of Phoenix I overheard her talking about Yelp reviews and thought it was a GREAT idea! I would have given this place 0 stars in Yelp allowed it! Needless to say we will never go back! read more

We came here on a Friday night around 6:30/7 and the place was already packed! We were lucky and scored a table in the back. The crowd is definitely a little older but we didn't feel out of place and really enjoyed ourselves. Thing to note - Friday is a super long happy hour. We were pleasantly surprised when all of our appetizers were half off. And the drinks were a super great deal as well...$4 for house wine? Hell yizzy. Also, the performance was fabulous, entertaining, and fun. And all the wait staff was friendly, attentive, and on top of their game. Overall...a great experience. read more

I went to the Phoenix on a Saturday morning with a group of friends. I loved the atmosphere. There was a live jazz band and people dancing! The food was amazingly delicious! Everyone at my table tried something different and we all enjoyed our meal. The service was excellent ! The only reason why I can't give it a full 5 is because the bathroom was not the cleanest. Overall, it was a great experience and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys jazz or wants to try something new! read more

Went here last night (the first time we'd gone at night). I had been there at least twice for lunch. We got there at Happy Hour and stayed later. $4 wells with LOTS of liquor and great service. The bartender came over quite often to check on us and was very friendly. We liked the entire staff. We ordered 1/2 price apps. One was hummous, pita and sricha sauce. LOTS of hummous and a decent amount of pita. The sauce gave it a good kick, however the hummous itself was eh. I ordered a burger with fries. They put a ginormous amount of fries on your plate, but I got the burger well done when ordered medium. The fries had way too much salt on them and the burger was just eh. They had live entertainment from when we walked in till we left. NO COVER! Piano player playing Billy Joel hits among others. At 7, they changed up to a 2 piece band playing jazz music without the vocals. I thought the live entertainment was average. So, my suggestion is don't come here for the food as it's just eh, though if you're into eh food, it's a good bang for the buck. It's a good bang for the buck for entertainment, service, and drinks. read more

Overall, I had an enjoyable time at The Phoenix and would return if I was with a group that was interested in some live jazz. Prices were not terribly high, but there is a $5/person cover to get it. The performer we saw was quite good and had the crowd very entertained. Our waitress was slower than molasses though and didn't seem too "with it". We arrived around 7:30 and stayed for about an hour (until the band was finished). It is street parking only, which means you may get lucky or you may circle the place a while before finding a spot. One thing I found very strange was that a Shirley Temple was ordered by a member of my group (due to them not being able to have alcohol). We were (luckily) informed that they make their own grenadine and that it has liquor in it and that they do not have a regular grenadine. That's a bit of a bummer for designated drivers, pregnant woman, recovering alcoholics, etc... read more

I love the Phoenix! The atmosphere and jazz are incredible. Friday nights, Lonnie McFadden between 5 pm-8 pm, is a great night to go for jazz. $5 cover. Lonnie has so much personality and is made for singing and the stage, his pianist and drummer are great as well. It's a great place for entertainment in Kansas City. Get there early for a table and seat, it's tough to come by seats after 6:30 pm on Friday. It's loud, so don't plan on having a heart to heart with someone here over drinks. The service has always been wonderful and the staff are friendly. Drinks are AWESOME! Try the one with smoke in it! The crab cakes, sweet potato fries and firehouse chicken are our go to menu options. Great jazz, great ambiance, great drinks, decent food...only thing more I could ask for here is more space for more seating, but don't let that stop you! read more

Despite the big neon sign that promoted jazz, there were so many clues that perhaps this wasn't the right club to find Kansas City Jazz on a Saturday night. It started with a $5 cover charge along with getting carded (I'm double the legal age). Once we got inside, the crowd looked like a school PTA meeting in a rich suburb. The singer was really good despite having a cold. But this was more lounge music than improvisational jazz. At times, they reminded me of the Saturday Night Live skit where Will Farrell and Ana Gasteyer played a soft spoken lounge act. Unlike the other jazz clubs, the Phoenix serves food. We didn't order anything, but could see into the kitchen where cooks were taking food out of a freezer. Frozen food? No thanks. The servers were omnipresent, but the mixed drinks were terrible. read more

"Dark and tan, young and lovely, the girl from Iponema was walking and when she passes, each one she passes goes 'ahhhhh'" I heard that song tonight and it took me somewhere else. Of course we met friends at the piano bar, during the show's half-time. I had a happy hour cabernet, which I really warmed up to, and a few sweet potato french fries, (I've had better) but the place was happenin'! It was exciting! I caught myself gleaming/smiling REAL big and JAMMING like I haven't JAMMED in a while. Mark Lowrey is AMAZING! I would definately go back. read more