Shopping · Kansas City · United States
Shopping in Kansas City
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nightryder84, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Shopping runs from the Country Club Plaza's brand-name streets to the West Bottoms' warehouse-sized antique dealers, with barbecue sauce and Chiefs gear the default souvenirs. Best souvenirs: Barbecue sauce, Chiefs and Royals gear and Boulevard beer merchandise.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Barbecue sauce
Where to shop
Country Club Plaza
Outdoor shopping district with national brands and department stores among fountains and Spanish-style towers.
Crown Center
Indoor mall built by Hallmark, with a Hallmark store and family attractions.
West Bottoms
Multi-storey antique and vintage dealers in old warehouses, open mainly on First Friday weekends.
Crossroads
Galleries, design shops and local makers in converted warehouses.
Markets
City Market
Weekend farmers' market and year-round international grocers in the River Market.
What to buy
Barbecue sauce
Bottled sauce from the famous pits is sold at the restaurants and in grocery stores.
Chiefs and Royals gear
Team shops at the stadiums and around Power & Light sell jerseys and caps.
Boulevard beer merchandise
Glassware and apparel from the brewery's shop on Southwest Boulevard.
Vintage finds
Mid-century furniture, signs and clothing from the West Bottoms dealers.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Country Club Plaza
Country Club Plaza
Opened in 1922 as one of the first shopping districts in the US designed for people arriving by car, the Plaza copies the look of Seville with a replica Giralda tower, tiled roofs and many fountains and statues.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Architecture
- Couples
- After dark
Market · River Market
City Market
Kansas City's public market has run on this site since the 1850s.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat. On tap almost everywhere, and at the brewery's own tasting room on Southwest Boulevard. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Crossroads Arts District | $$$ | Converted warehouses full of galleries, coffee roasters and restaurants south of downtown |
| River Market | $$ | Weekend farmers' market, international grocers and lofts by the Missouri River |
| Country Club Plaza | $$$ | Spanish-style towers, fountains and outdoor shopping streets built in the 1920s |
| Westport | $$ | Historic outfitting town turned bar district between the Plaza and midtown |
| West Bottoms | $$ | Former stockyards and brick warehouses under the bluffs, now antique malls and haunted houses |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–20% at table-service restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per drink, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Counter-service barbecue places often have a tip jar or screen prompt, which is optional.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- September: Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs (weekends, usually September–October)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping, luxury and families
Country Club Plaza
Spanish-style towers, fountains and outdoor shopping streets built in the 1920s
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Kansas City?
Barbecue sauce, Chiefs and Royals gear, Boulevard beer merchandise and Vintage finds.
+Where is the best shopping in Kansas City?
Country Club Plaza: Outdoor shopping district with national brands and department stores among fountains and Spanish-style towers.
+What are the best markets in Kansas City?
City Market.