12th Street Lounge

This is the bar located on the west side of the lobby in the Downtown Kansas City Marriott.

The 12th Street Rag features a large table seating area in the middle, backed by a stage with a grand piano as the centerpiece.    The bar itself is on a platform along the inside wall.   Music-related murals adorn the walls, while a handful of TVs allow gusts to catch the game.

From the looks of the place, you'd think it would be stuffy and highbrow.   And there are certain times it might be.   But I've found the bartenders to be good-natured, humorous, and good sports.   While the bar is geared of course to hotel guests, it's perfectly okay for regular Kansas Citians to walk in and have some fun here too.

Is this my first choice for going out for a drink?  Of course not.   But it's nowhere near the bottom of my list either.   Since the other customers are mostly traveling, you can meet all sorts of interesting people here.

Officially, I've  been told "4:00," "4:30," and "5:00" as the opening time, depending on who I ask.   But I've gone there as early as 3:30 and found it open.

Also... Guinness on tap.