Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Ship

    4.1 (212 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Order The Ship Takeout or Delivery

    The Ship Photos

    Business Info

    THE SHIP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Hipster
    Casual

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Ship

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Chi H.

    This is the spot to go to after a wedding night or look on their social media for their schedule of events. My favorite is definitely the cougar club. They host every first Wednesday of the month. It was my first time and it was a blast. The DJs made our night and they were remixing the old and new music. If you want to get your steps in, you will definitely dance all night to get it. It's from 6:30 pm to 10:30pm, perfect for the 30+ crowds. There was a cover about $10 but also they got really reasonable price drinks. Bring your crew and just have fun. Definitely want to bring my girls here.

    Sachia P.

    Parking is not great. Entry has stairs up to security. There is drinks, food and late nite diner. KC restaurant week menu was fire! I loved the Cubano and fried pickles. Peach cobbler was fire. Staff is very helpful and even late at night (10 pm ) they were willing to cook up dinner for us. Bathroom doors need to be repaired as the doors are missing slats. I love the original structures of downtown. The plants and decor are unique and different. $10 cover charge to dance floor but I'm sure just wanting to eat this could be waived.

    KC Reuben
    Amri L.

    The Ship was a great experience for me! I love the KC Reuben and the season crinkle cut fries! Charlie was phenomenal bartender! The service was speedy and kind. The Ship is also known for having cool themed events and live music! I went on Cougar night, there were featured local businesses and something for everyone. The DJ was great and everyone seemed to be enjoying the drinks and dancing . Would definitely go again!

    Mark B.

    A group of us found ourselves in the west bottoms looking for somewhere to eat. My friend's uncle was once in the navy so The Ship seemed like the perfect destination. We weren't wrong. The dining area is a claustrophobic little place, much like a submarine interior, but in an intimate way, as though the seas above were nothing but calm. The menu is small but mighty, full of interesting selections and also vegetarian friendly. The same is true for the drink menu. The servers were super friendly, in a boldly unflinching manner. I'm guessing they don't easily suffer fools but thankfully we didn't test that theory. We had a great dining experience and will happily return, especially to check out the lounge area for some live music and delicious cocktails.

    Over-Salted Gumbo with only a few slivers of meat and an overcooked Shrimp skewer. Not good.
    Michael G.

    My brother and I came here for the live music as all of the live music I could find on a Thursday evening was lacking except for The Ship. Overall, the music was ten plus stars but when we added in a dinner, the experience was very disappointing. The facility is rather eccentric and eclectic with its ship theme but it's pretty cool. Very dive bar vibes in a "dicey" area of the City, The Ship has multiple areas and bars. Our female server was excellent and kept on top of keeping us happy. My mixed drink was weak, but the specialty beer made just for The Ship was decent. Where things went downhill was the food. Today, they could've put one ingredient on the menu and everything else was a side. Salt! The fried pickles were plentiful with a good ranch dip, but seriously over-salted to the point where they were not enjoyable and more than half were tossed. Same with the fries but with whatever seasoning was on them. The gumbo I had was mostly a bland salted roux with a few slivers of meat and the side of shrimp I ordered was overcooked. Garlic bread was nothing great. My brother's Reuben also unfortunately half tossed as it was just not that good although told to us that they cure their own meat for it. The Mac and cheese side was rather good surprisingly. The plan was to get some of the awesome sounding dessert, but after this poor meal, we weren't taking the chance to waste any more money. So, if not for the awesome music of Lucas Parker and Friends, The Ship was just about sunk for us. The staff and quirkiness helped keep it afloat for one star, and another for the music. About $75 for two people, a cocktail, beer, tea, two sides and two mains. Not worth it tonight.

    Found A Job 3/1/25
    Ralphie S.

    I lived downtown in the 80's and 90's and there wasn't a lot going on at that point and the options for an adult beverage were limited to a handful of old school dive bars inside the business loop: The Office, Joe's Standard, Soakies, The Auditorium...they could all be a bit sketchy after dark, but they were all unique and had great allure for me in my youth after I had escaped the suburbs and found the delights and intrigue of the city life. The Ship was my favorite and was my go-to for several years. The original location at 9th and Cherry was the perfect haunt. Definitely in a seedy neighborhood with a mixture of regulars that included low-income retirees from the nearby rundown apartments, hustlers of all trades, KCAI students and general followers of the stereotypical no-nonsense- but lovable- short Italian evening bartender - Vinnie. Not only did I gravitate here because of the regulars (Cleo- aka Mr. Jolly, Mary #1 and Mary #2) but the space was the most oddly eclectic in the city. The Ship opened in the 1930's and was created to look like the interior of a ship with lifeboats, marine vessel type doors, lightbulbs screwed into the walls that illuminated the murals to look like lighthouses, and with it's dark lighting, large wooden bar, a few rickety tables and a pinball machine and jukebox; The Ship was the hippest and sketchiest place in the metro. A vibe that attracted those looking for the out-of-ordinary and with its location, keeping out the "Westport / PnL" type of partiers. My last visit to the original Ship was in 1993 for a going away party for myself when I took a job in Alaska for a while. Shortly after The Ship was closed to make way for Ilus Davis Park, yet before it was torn down scenes from Robert Altman's "Kansas City" were filmed here and thankfully the interior was salvaged, put into storage and later used to re-birth The Ship for a new 21st century cult following. Using the original interior pieces, they have built a large complex in an old warehouse space in the West Bottoms that not only plays homage to the original, but expands upon the vibe with art, found objects and decor that creates a places that is not a cheap rip-off of the original but a bar and live music venue worthy of this great city. The best renovation and architectural salvation project in town. I was a bit leery to visit at first because of my distant and fond memories, but The "new" Ship now has a returning passenger. My last two visits over the past 3 weeks have been for live music. The Ozark Cobras in the original small space and then for Found -a-Job in the newer larger space. Once again The Ship provided opportunities to run into people from my past life and make some new friends as well, while soaking up the history and nostalgia and enjoying some great music and some local beers. We are blessed in this city to have Knuckleheads in the East Bottoms and The Ship in the West Bottoms - two of the most unique and organic music venues in the midwest. I wish Vinnie and the old gang were here to see it!

    Cubano
    Colleen L.

    This is a super fun and one of the most unique venues in KC. It's large with different rooms for dinner, drinks, and live music. And the ambiance is on point with the nautical theme. We started with some drinks and dinner. I went with one of their drink specials, the Dragonfruit margarita-Silver Tequila, fresh lime, agave, and dragonfruit. It was really sweet and summery. This would be fantastic on a hot summer evening on their patio. My partner ordered a fig Manhattan and thought it was good. I ordered the Cubano: shaved ham, salami, roasted pork loin, swiss cheese, pickles, mayo and mustard, pressed french roll. This version reminded me of a Cuban that the foundry had before they closed. It was one of my favorites and I'm so glad I ordered this one. I love the addition of the salami and I appreciate the pressed French roll. I'd definitely order it again. I upgraded my side to the smoked Mac and cheese: creamy classic mac and cheese, hickory smoked Kansas City style. This was some of the best Mac and cheese that I've had in KC. I would totally order it by itself as an entree. My partner tried the KC Reuben: hickory smoked pastrami, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, kc special thousand island, marbled rye. He said it had good flavor but the meat was a little on the fatty side. But he still ate it and said it was overall good. He also tried the coleslaw. He said it was alright. It had celery and red peppers so it was a little non traditional and it was chopped pretty large. We also ordered a cup of the chicken and sausage gumbo. It also had a good flavor and we'd definitely order it again. After dinner we made our way over to the music venue side. They do have a few tables throughout but you'd need to arrive early to snag one because they fill up fast. They also have bars in a few different locations so you can easily grab a drink. The dance floor in the middle is fun. It quickly filled up with people and there were even some dance offs. Definitely check out this spot and grab food, drinks, and listen to some music.

    Firecracker Shrimp PoBoy
    Samantha W.

    Our server was nice and friendly. The food was pretty good. My red beans and rice were kinda bland. My husband enjoyed his shrimp po boy. The one negative thing was someone in our party walked into an area where there was a bar and an employee came up to her and said what are you doing here and she said I'm just looking. He said "get out" very rudely. She saw when she walked out of the doors which were propped open that there were 2 little signs that said "ship crew only". So while it's understandable that she wasn't supposed to be there - the way she was spoken to was completely rude and unnecessary.

    Cubano - it was okay

    See all

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Chi H.
    405
    964
    3307

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    we had delivery and the food was very good ,we will order again this was our first time

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Food, service, and drinks were great. Fantastic restaurant and bar! Excellent vibe and cool atmosphere - will definitely be back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Crys F.
    275
    225
    1433

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Ship

    Review Highlights - The Ship

    Love this place visited on a Saturday around 3 pm when the other West Bottom restaurants weren't open.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Fern Bar

    Fern Bar

    4.6
    (95 reviews)
    1.1 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
    To-Go cocktails available now

    See all

    To-Go cocktails available now
    Wild Child

    Wild Child

    4.6
    (72 reviews)
    8.2 mi
    $$$

    I was in the area and stumbled upon this cute little spot. It happened to be open so I went inside…read more I loved all the plants and the decor. The space is smallish but they do have bar seating in addition to seating throughout. The service was friendly and the drinks were great. They don't offer food, but they do offer cocktails, beer, wine, and mocktails. I went on a Sunday and they have a special menu called "Almost Monday." It's a smaller, simpler cocktail menu and the prices are very fair compared to other cocktail spots. I tried the Caipirinha (pineapple) and the Negroni sour. Both were good. My favorite between the two was the Negroni. It had a pretty color and wasn't too sour or strong. I'd def recommend it and get it again. Definitely stop in and check out this cute spot in Shawnee.

    Stopped by Wild Child after a nice dinner out in Kansas City. We were just looking for a nearby…read morebar, but wow did this surprise us. When you arrive there is parallel parking available outside the bar. When you walk in you'll feel like your bright, vibrant, and feels incredibly welcoming. Also, they have some really fun drinks as well that have been thoughtfully put together. We ended up sitting at the bar and I started with the Reformed Porn Star (vanilla vodka, bronson's tropical milk punch, passion fruit, Prosecco, citric acid and popping boba) which was by far my favorite drink and felt like I could have drank a couple more of these. Second I tried the Neo Cosmo (white rum, strawberry, cacao, coconut, rose hip, lime, bubble) which was good and was a fun drink with an ice cream shaped cup and a bubble on the top (meant to look like an ice cream cone). If you are in the area, this bar is a must try, the bartenders were awesome and took good care of us. Between the creative cocktails, fun atmosphere, unique floral setting, this was a memorable experience I'd definitely return for.

    Photos
    Little Storm
    Little Storm
    Karma chameleon
    Karma chameleon
    Reformed Porn Star

    See all

    Reformed Porn Star
    Prime Social

    Prime Social

    4.4
    (256 reviews)
    4.1 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.

    Prime Social is the perfect spot if you're looking for amazing rooftop views and a chill vibe! The…read moreskyline is beautiful, my coworkers spent more time taking pictures than eating... .... and honestly, I don't blame them. The food and drinks are a little pricey, but they were really good. This is definitely a place to relax, enjoy a cocktail, and take in the view. We were in the mood for something a little livelier afterward, so we headed to Westport. Overall, great atmosphere, clean, good service, and definitely worth checking out!

    Photos
    Inside Prime Social
    Inside Prime Social
    Truffle Fries
    Truffle Fries
    Hamachi

    See all

    Hamachi

    The Ship - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...