The Monarch Bar

Alright, aging myself here. I’m 40, I was nervous the spot would be for just the younger crowd. This spot is lovely. Had an amazing time. The bartenders are fantastic. They all were on point. Everyone was so kind. It was just a fun atmosphere. Loved the drinks!! Had the potato flatbread for a snack, so good! We will for sure be back, again. Keep it up monarch, you’re doing amazing!!!

A truly elegant experience at The Monarch Bar! We came just for drinks and to enjoy a posh, upscale atmosphere and it absolutely delivered. The champagne selection was top-notch, with several options you don’t find everywhere. The service was equally impressive attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly without being overbearing. While we didn’t try the food this time around, it’s definitely on my list for the next visit. Perfect spot for a classy night out or celebrating something special.

This is hands-down one of my favorite upscale bars in Kansas City. The atmosphere is pure luxury—elegant, intimate, and effortlessly classy without feeling stiff or pretentious. It’s the kind of place you go when you want to feel elevated and taken care of. What really sets this bar apart, though, is the people. Every single person who works here is amazing—welcoming, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind. You can tell they care about the experience they’re creating, not just the drinks they’re serving. From the ambiance to the service, everything feels intentional and well thought out. Perfect for a classy night out, a date, or just treating yourself to a beautiful space with great energy. I’ll always recommend this spo

I recently had an opportunity to host a Kansas City Business Owners social event at The Monarch. The owner and staff were very accommodating to the organizations needs for the event, setup and we were able to host a large private event for approximately 150 attendees. Shout out to Cameron & Jameson and rest of The Monarch staff for a Fabulous Event!

We booked reservations in The Parlor and it was fantastic. It’s $15 extra per person but so worth it. It’s intimate and quiet compared to the front which is more of a bar/party vibe. Our bartender, Matt, was phenomenal. He was incredible and his recommendations just kept getting better while we were there. The Hotel Nacional is the best cocktail in Kansas City, hands down. We will definitely be back.

Visited the monarch a few weeks ago with my boss and friend. What an incredible experience! We had mixologist Cameron, he walked us through the custom cocktail menu. Each one of us like a different liquor. He made excellent recommendations based on what our request were. Cameron was attentive and entertaining. Made this a wonderful experience that's I cant wait to come back when I visit!

Wonderful bar! The guy (I didn't catch his name) put us in the private room and found us more chairs. Delicious drinks, beautiful atmosphere, and outstanding customer service!

Experience on a bday night amazing. I’d light to highlight a particular server. She was walking around and asked if we were okay. I kindly said yes thanks for asking. Being that this place is super busy and packed on a weekend night she made it her business to check on us. I happened to ask her what do they do for bdays and she said a round of shots. To my surprise I was not expecting this at all. I said thank you I have to make sure you shine bright. This was the highlight of my night. It made the group I came with special and we were definitely appreciative and I said I’d make sure this experience is highlighted. Very attentive and kind staff, and super pleasant experience I def recommend coming here to chill out and vibe on any occasion. And also look for the cute light skinned girl named Shylenta 🔥

Love this bar!! I was in town for a conference and wandered about to see where I could get a good old fashioned. After checking out the reviews on Yelp, I decided to investigate The Monarch. I had to get away from the conference so it was a bit early in the afternoon. Quiet and intimate. Which I adore! The bartender was wonderful. Super engaging, attentive, and fun to chat with. I adore how they went all out with the Halloween decorations! Halloween is the only holiday that matters (equally true for the month of October). The decor wasn't the classy, instagram basic stuff. Fun, campy-ish, and showed a real Halloween spirit. Highly recommend stoping by for a drink (or two)!

Love this place! Creative menu with many different spins in classics + creative house options. Very classy and professional atmosphere. Friendly service who will make an effort on celebrating special occasions. Kind of odd but I could eat 100 of the Lotus cookies.

Adorable - elegant, yet cozy (granted we went at like 5pm so it wasn't busy lol). The menu is sooo creative and just cute! Would say this is a fairly priced cocktail bar - one of the main perks of being in smaller city, I guess.

Thomas was our waiter at a table of 6. He was kind, patience and knowledgeable. He recommended the Charcuterie board. I typically am a bit leery of ordering those outside of me making them( soft cheese)etc. I was surprised how well everything paired and very fresh! We would definitely return simply because of the excellent service.

Came here with some friends during a night out. Very chill vibe, they have outdoor seating with heaters for those who wanted to be outside. Definitely a good look for me when it gets warmer outside. Drinks were good, the bartenders were very friendly. Definitely recommend coming here. They also have sister bars; The Mercury Room, Verdigris, it's one more can't remember the but the two I listed are great as well.

This place is the top notch when it comes to upscale spots that deliver on both service and quality. Each cocktail was handmade from what we ordered and would absolutely recommend and return. If you want a handcrafted cocktail made with high quality ingredients come here. The atmosphere is perfect for romantic or business cocktails.

A classy bar with a drink menu full of unique cocktails! The bartenders were so friendly & quick. Monday nights they raffle off Louboutin heels - just coming in and ordering drinks gets you tickets to throw in the raffle.

I'm sure the drinks are amazing it just took forever to get another. The table of aspiring insta-Hoard Of Effortless Sugarbabies seemed to get all the services between camera flashes. I'm sure they enjoyed themselves, Everyone else not so much. Expected more from this establishment. Cheaper to drink elsewhere. Such is life.

The drinks here are top notch. They etched a butterfly on the ice cube for the old fashioned. There was a barbacoa slider on happy hour that was amazing.

Upscale place for fancy cocktails! The cold brew martini was delicious!! The staff greeted us right away. We didn't have reservations but stopped by early enough it wasn't busy.

Had such a great night celebrating my friends birthday at Monarch. So glad we reserved a table because it's the kind of place you'll want to sit in and enjoy for a while. The vibes are great, perfectly classy/upscale without coming off as pretentious. When we first got there, the music they played was a bit too loud - hard to have a conversation without nearly yelling. But, later in the night the lights dimmed to a more ambient blue/purple color and they switched out the playlist for a live dj who was awesome. She curated the vibes! Service was great as well. This would be a great spot for gathering with friends, or a date night!

Great service. Magnificent ambience. Exquisite cocktails. I definitely recommend, especially for anyone looking for a good cocktail, especially after eating at or shopping at the plaza

A beautiful spot to grab drinks with friends. I always try to come here whenever I'm in town as it has such a unique vibe to it! Bartenders continuously check in and know how to make a cocktail to my liking.

Date night at the Monarch! We just walked in on a Saturday evening around 6pm. Street parking. The ambiance was upscale and the drinks were extravagant and fun. They had a large drink menu and everything could be viewed online. We ordered the charcuterie board and kettle chips. Food wasn't great, but drinks were good!

It's was 10pm on a Friday. It was still early. We decided to go to Monarch for a couple of drinks before heading home. Security guy dressed in black check our ID before letting us in. We got seated at the bar. The place was packed. Nice outdoor seating with heated fireplace. Monarch butterflies on the ceiling above. Marble bar top. Seating around the bar. Dim lighting. Several drinks on the menu but not too extensive. Nice atmosphere just to sit and hang out with friends and enjoy a few drinks.

Super super cute cocktail bar! Pricey yes, but a vibe none the less. My cocktail was delicious! I had the Violet's Tone which had Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Big O Ginger, Tawny Port Blueberry, Maple, and Lemon. I would get this one again for sure! My friend ordered food, and we suggest skipping out on that. Stick to their drinks. This is a special occasion bar, I wouldn't just hang out here for fun. Reservations are needed if you want specific seating.

Came here on a weekend trip to Kansas City and WOW! What a fabulous cocktail bar! Came here with a group of my family and we were in the private room in the back room. Very posh and VIP. Highly recommend. Drinks are superb!

Quite disappointed with our experience this evening. I realize it's Christmas Eve eve and the wait time eclipsed 1 hour, however, we merely stopped in for a gift card. After finally making contact with a hostess, we were asked if we would be in town tomorrow and told to come back because it would be greatly appreciated. They unfortunately missed the mark on what would have been the easiest couple hundred dollar transaction of the night. Shame.

This place is so freaking beautiful! I felt like I was in a hotel bar, but it's a stand-alone cocktail lounge that feels incredibly intimate. The drinks were delicious (I ordered the margarita) and the server was kind! If you're in the mood for a great date night, go here!

Grabbed drinks at Monarch to start off my birthday celebration. It was dead at 4:30 on a Wednesday. Reservations definitely not needed. Also: heads up, if you make reservations, they require a deposit and they will not refund you if you don't spend that much on drinks. The menu is huge, and neither of us could decide what we wanted. We told the bartender what we liked and he chose our drinks for us. My husband had the smoked old fashioned type drink and I had the pink elephant. Both drinks were good. Our bartender was great- good drinks, nice, and funny. Also, the place is beautiful. It's a nice stop for a celebration

Cute fancy cocktail bar! We got some of the appetizers to share, the chicken skewers were a bit dry, the pasta verde was so good and lemony, and the tostada only comes in 1 but was good. Drinks were different but came in a variety of flavors. They only had a scanning menu and it was a bit hard to read. It is very loud with the music and people talking but with a reservation, you get a table! Those without reservations had to stand. I got the jungle bird cocktail and it was fruity and strong. Will definitely come back for a chill "drinks with the girls" night!

I came here with a group of girls for a bachelorette party. The service was great. Everybody was so kind. Didn't take very long to get our drinks. I had two mocktails that the bartender made. One was sweet, and one was sour. In my opinion, I like the sweet better.I also lappreciate that they put it in an elegant glass because most places don't. The other ladies had a couple rounds and looks like they enjoyed their drinks. As for the charcuterie board and the cost of it I expected a little bit more grand. Overall we all had a good time!

This was a really fun, once-in-a-while experience! To reserve you'll have to pay $25/head, but it will get applied to your tab. We went for a joint birthday celebration and tried a bunch of cocktails! The menu is low key overwhelming. It's organized by continent/butterfly migratory patterns currently, and it's a lot to read through. We had our server recommend some drinks and that ended up working well for me! The coolest cocktail was one with dry ice that got thrown on the floor - the bartending was very theatrical and fun! My friends ordered the cauliflower and chicken appetizers and they enjoyed. The bar itself is gorgeous, all marble and plush seating. Definitely recommend if you have a special occasion to celebrate!

It's safe to say this is my favorite bar, not only in Kansas City, but maybe even in the country. The owners have nailed each and every detail of the cocktail bar experience. It's so lovely, with the art, the couches, and the bar tops, that I want to just copy everything and translate it to my home. It smells amazing, with their own unique and secret cologne that makes the experience all the more memorable. Their staff are very knowledgeable, and know how to recommend the perfect drink. Their menu also changes throughout the seasons, so you'll never feel bored. It's wonderful with a great vibe. You can dress up or dress down, and you'll have a great time.

I have always liked the drinks I have gotten here! This is the kind of place you should plan to go to for a special night out or for an occasion in which you are planning to really get dolled up. I would define this place as high class and "boujie". I enjoy their little patio and of course, the location is prime! Be ready to spend a pretty penny for the cocktails, but they will be worth it in taste and appearance!

Cool ambiance and great drinks. We came on a Friday and it the service was quick and attentive. I like the vibes and would return for sure.

The music was good, 2004s hip hop and r&b which is just up my alley. Cocktails were fine.

service was terrible. I had to get up twice and ask where my drinks were. never have I seen a bigger rip off. they had the nerve to ad a 24 dollar service charge. don't go! there are lots of great bars in Kansas City but this is a fake.

Excellent vibe, drinks are fantastic, and I promise you won't want to leave! From the patio to the beautiful interior, you'll be impressed! Check out @Steve.N.KC (KC blogger) for a video review on it!

Excellent place! First date with the lady that is now my wife! It's been our go to place for almost 3 years now. Green tea shots, whiskey, wine, and food are all highly recommend. You can't go wrong on food or drinks. But definitely get the green tea shots. Sausage and cheese platter is key for those of us that go meat and cheese over pasta and bread. #NSAYF

Been here a few times with friends, and I enjoyed each experience. The ambiance is hard to beat - beautiful homage to butterflies that make up the central bar that is surrounded by the seating. Kind and attentive service too. I think their cocktails are unique and for the most part good, but I do think some of the flavors are a risk and aren't for everybody. Still, I would come again and bring people from out of town.

Okay, who would have known about this hidden gem! The Monarch Cocktail Bar is just that. Stop in to have.a unique cocktail that will fulfill your taste buds. It's not a huge establishments, it just the right size to hang out solo, with a friend or friends. There are plenty of rooms around the bar alone with several couches. They also have a patio; it faces Belleview. The inside has butterflies hanging from the ceiling. It's a "must try".

We went last night Friday around 7:30pm after bar hopping from 3 different places already. First time here. It was not busy at all at 7:30pm. There was a well dressed bouncer who ID'd us, asked if we had reservations (we did not), asked us to mask up, then walked us to the door, and opened the door for us to enter. We sat at the bar area. This place reminded us of the speakeasy bars in Las Vegas! It's so modern and beautifully decorated. There's a lot of patio seating outside in the front entrance. Lots of seats inside and at the bar area. The DJ starts spinning at 9:pm though. Drinks are priced almost as much as the Vegas speakeasy bars. Next time we'll make reservations after 9:pm and sit outside at the patio if weather permits. It's a hip place to be sipping your $17 and up drinks at. Employees were nice and very knowledgeable.

Such a vibe!!!!! This bar is gorgeous! Very high class cocktails and good energy! We enjoyed one of the private rooms with a personal bartender!!! He was great, drinks were delicious! Plus we could have our own playlist going if we didn't like what the in-house DJ was playing. Now the drinks are pricey but I would expect that from this type of service and class.

Absolutely fantastic cocktails. Long list of unique complex drinks with prices from around $14-42 per drink. The bartender we had was a man with short brown hair (so sorry I forgot his name- Matt? William?) and he was unbelievably talented! He made me a custom drink to accommodate my need for lower sugar content and desire to drink something spicy and smoky. The ambiance was busy but not too loud. Food is basically not an option here with just a couple options like expensive sumac honey nuts or gazpacho.

This is such a cute bar. The marble bar, comfortable, cozy, and modern couches, and fire place make for a beautiful atmosphere. The outdoor seating area looks so pretty. My only issue is that that outdoor seating appeared to be reserved but there was no out for the majority of the time we were there (about 2 hours). The service was great as well. Our waiter was a woman whose name I cannot remember, was very friendly. Downside: upon our exit there were 3 male staff at athe door and not one of them opened the door for us. Whereas we saw them hold the door for multiple other groups of women. It was certainly a moment that made me reflect on whether or not to return. The drinks were also pretty good. I do not recall a cocktail on the menu less than $15 so beware of that, but we were satisfied with our drinks. Very tasty! Date worthy: heck yeah! This is the place to take your boo or your girls.

Looking for a good girls night out? Cute cocktail bar date spot? Well The Monarch is an upscale spot to put on your list. Went on a Saturday night for drink with a few friends. Usually it has a glitzy but mellow vibe, but the Saturday I went (around 12am) there was definitely a club vibe ( lots of pop music and people dancing around the bar). The space is a bit small, but there is ample seating around the perimeter with small tables and seats. They have an extensive cocktail menu with drinks for every taste (the menu could be a short novel!). I asked the waitress for popular options and went with a gin based cocktail with green tea (I think it was called Sixth Sense?). YUMM. My friend got another gin based cocktail (the Stingray) which was also very good. Be warned: the prices here are steep ($16 for a cocktail). But it's a good "treat yo' self" once in awhile.

Ambience is warm, cozy and classy. Everyone is made to feel special at monarch - a great place to try specialty drinks you don't make at home! Servers are friendly and knowledgeable - and hard working. Monarch is thr best place to go on a date with a new love or an old friend! Just go! Get out! Enjoy life! The best of KC! Go Chiefs!

I was treated to this place on my birthday so I was excited to try them out. It's a bouncer outside, dimly lit inside. Small tables, all around booths, bar centered in the middle of the floor. Waiters and waitresses in black, I guess this is supposed to be the "it" place but it just seemed like a place with overpriced cocktails. I had their margarita and it didn't do anything for me presumably because there was hardly any liquor in there. I ordered 2 of them and was ready to go. I tried to enjoy the scenery but it was just not the place for me. Nice if you want to spend some money on "fancy" drinks and small bites to eat. I won't be back anytime soon. I suppose nice for a special occasion. Staff was nice and attentive didn't order food, as I wasn't feeling it.

The drinks, service, ambiance, and prices were amazing! I went home to visit and had heard so much about this spot. So I decided to check it out and I was not disappointed.

The few times I have visited The Monarch Bar (prior to Covid) it has been really crowded and a bit out of my comfort zone. While the pandemic has certainly taken a toll on the bar and restaurant industry and we are saddened to be unable to congregate with other fun seekers, I must say it was nice to visit The Monarch on a Tuesday evening for a quick after dinner drink. It was not crowded but there were patrons safely spaced around the room and we grabbed a seat by the fire. It was warm and cozy and we enjoyed both a Coconut Ghost and a Louisiana Purchase cocktail. The Coconut Ghost was sweet like a Pina Colada without being creamy and fatty. The Louisiana Purchase was reminiscent of a Manhattan with their own twist of cardamom bitters. Perfect by the fire on a cold winter evening.

My wife and I decided last minute that we should celebrate our wedding anniversary with something special. This visit was unplanned and on a whim, but we decided to check it out. As soon as we walked in, we felt unprepared and extremely underdressed. Even though the few people there turned to look, the bartender and manager were still very nice as we strolled to a small table. Not sure if you call them individual behind the bar an actual bartender or a mixologist...who knows, but the drinks were pretty delicious. I order the Stingray while my wife went with the Planters Punch. Reminder, I did not do research into pricing of this fine establishment but it is a little on the expensive side. That could also be because we just went on whim and didn't prepare ourselves for the environment. We still really enjoyed our drinks and the politeness of the bartender.

Fantastic fun vibe, great food, and beverages. We had the loaded sweet potato tots and goat cheese peppers with cocktails. Everything was very tasty. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. We will for sure be back!!

Amazing drinks, amazing ambiance, amazing service, what more could you want? I have come by a few times before, and every time the staff has been incredibly accommodating. Our parties of 2-3 were always seated very quickly, despite not having a reservation (although I highly recommend having one). On this evening, we were seated at the bar by the fantastic bartenders. I ordered a dirty martini, to which the bartender asked, "dirty, extra dirty, or filthy?" I decided to try the extra dirty first, which was extremely strong and yet delicious! The second time I tried filthy. Now, my friend tried it and laughed at my "olive juice", but let me just say that my drink took me from tipsy to moderately drunk. Definitely a dangerous drink, but absolutely delicious! I also love the service of the staff! Towards the end of our stay, my date came and joined us, and the female bartender looked at him, looked at me, and made sure that my glass was always full of water. I really appreciate the way she made sure that I would be okay. I can't wait to be back!

Service ambiance We're superb a Terrific experience - love the birds and intimate modern library setting

The Monarch Cocktail Bar is world class. After enjoying three amazing cocktails, I said this place could be in New York or Los Angeles. And how lucky we are to have something so amazing in our backyard. I guess when an architect designs a cocktail lounge, and also owns it, you should expect an amazing décor, energy and vibe. The white-marble center bar features a ceiling with 1,000 acrylic monarch butterflies. I almost thought this is what a cocktail lounge in heaven would look like. Beyond an incredible menu of craft cocktails and small bites, I'd suggest sitting at the bar to chat with the mixologists while they perform their magic. The whole experience reminded me of Cirque du Soleil, with liquor flying thru the air from one shaker to another. This is the place I'll bring all my out-of-town friends to show them that KC is no longer a fly-over town.

This bar is gorgeous! Good vibes with great music. There are plenty of selections on the menu. Monarch is up there with the best bars in KC

Really beautiful architecture and decor on the inside. Modern, clean, chic, sleek. I did not opt for an alcoholic beverage, but their menu is huge!!! I requested a nonalcoholic mocktail, was asked what my taste palette was, and was given a vet yummy and refreshing drink. It's a much quieter atmosphere, so if you're looking to have good conversation with your friends, you won't need to worry about needing to yell across the table. Wait staff were lovely and friendly. Our water glasses were always full.

My wife and I hit the town every weekend, but FINALLY made our way to Monarch last weekend. We made a cocktail reservation for the bar and sat close to the dedicated bartenders in the room. As you enter, the attention to detail, wonderful decorations and the unique vibe is obvious. The room wasn't "packed," but loaded with a perfect occupancy to both substantiate the vibe and energy while not causing delayed beverage service or having to bump into others. As frequent Vegas travelers, the Monarch offers a level of sophistication, place making and (depending on you) romance akin to that of a swanky Vegas lounge. It was refreshing to have experienced this in KC!!!! Upscale, unpretentious and welcoming of everyone! The drink menu is vast and vastly incredible! Selecting any of the craft cocktails was almost difficult because of the grand assortment composed in an amazing bound book. First class! The bartenders not only knew their craft, but were seemingly enjoying their work! It wasn't showy, but far more impressive than simply pouring drinks. A level of pride and skill was obvious. All in all, the Monarch is a tremendous Kansas City asset and we will frequently return! I'm embarrassed to admit we had not visited the establishment earlier. It's totally our jam and completely marvelous. 10 out of 5 stars!!!! Amazing!