Olio 8: Best Hotels in Kansas City

We’ve rounded up the best accommodations Kansas City has to offer, from downtown in the Power and Lights District to the shopping mecca of Country Club Plaza.

The Raphael

Perhaps the classiest hotel in KC, The Raphael is located just steps away from the retail paradise that is Country Club Plaza. It’s bucolic hued rooms and brightly patterned upholstery are reminiscent of Europe. The hotel’s restaurant, Chaz on the Plaza, offers modern, regional American cuisine and features live music in the lounge nightly.

The Fontaine

This trendy and fun boutique hotel is also close to “The Plaza” (as it is locally known). With its modern art, contemporary furniture, and upscale bar and restaurant, The Fontaine feels more like Manhattan than Missouri. Amenities include complimentary breakfast, Egyptian cotton sheets, a gym, and a chic rooftop swimming pool (open seasonally). They also offer free shuttle rides within a five-mile radius, so getting downtown to the Power and Lights District is a breeze.

InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza

If cramped rooms leave you yearning for the days of more spacious accommodations, look no further than the InterContinental. Renovated in 2017, it now has ultra-modern, roomier rooms. The sophisticated hotel sits on the corner of The Plaza, overlooking the shopping mecca’s Seville-inspired architecture and fountains. While The Plaza offers many fine-dining choices, the hotel's Modern Slang is a solid one. Plus, The the lobby smells of rich mahogany and is filled with live jazz music six nights a week.

Hotel Phillips

Hotel Phillips' 11-foot gilded statue of the goddess Dawn in the grand lobby has been stunning guests since 1931. This iconic hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular event venue due to it’s original Art Deco design elements, including elaborate bronze and nickel metalwork and a 20-story mail chute. But the rooms at Hotel Phillips’ ooze modern elegance and are equipped with all of the contemporary amenities you expect. The coffee shop Kilo Charlie (KC, get it?) offers Tom's Town infused Nitro on tap, as well as pastries, sandwiches, and salads. Tavernonna features farm-to-table Italian dining, wine, and cocktails, but P.S. Speakeasy is the place to go for a real drink.

Ambassador Hotel Kansas City

Weaving neoclassical architecture with modern amenities, the Ambassador Hotel is a tapestry of timeless elegance. The former bank was built in 1920, complete with ornate details like marble walls in the lobby. The Ambassador opened in 2012 after a $7.5 million reno that restored the building’s historic charm. Reserve, the hotel’s aptly named contemporary American restaurant, is a solid dining choice, but you also have all of the many choices in the Power & Light and Financial districts, which happen to be within three miles of the hotel and its free shuttle service.

Great Wolf Lodge

Have kids will travel? THIS is the best hotel for kids in Kansas City. Great Wolf Lodge has a massive indoor waterpark, themed suites, a candy store, arcade, and seasonal childrens’ activities. Located right next to Kansas Speedway, the log cabin-style hotel resembles a hunting lodge in every way, except for the amenities. Grown-ups will appreciate the fitness center, spa, and Starbucks, and kiddos will love the cave-themed bunk beds and water slides.

Hilton President Kansas City

Feeling presidential? You will when you walk into the luxurious lobby of the Hilton President. The 1920s ambiance is played up with bold chandeliers, gold banisters, and ornate ceilings. The Hilton is located downtown in the Power and Light District—within walking distance of The Sprint Center and Kansas City Convention Center. The upscale rooms are also decked out with art deco. Enjoy two on-site restaurants, The Walnut Room and Providence, and happy hour at the Drum Room Lounge, famous for hosting such celebs as Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline back in the day.

21c Museum Hotel

This 21c property is more than a place to sleep—its a museum, boutique hotel, and chef-driven restaurant—all in one. Art and design lovers flock to 21c Museum’s rotating, curated exhibitions and site-specific installations and cultural programming, which is always free and open to the public. Newly opened in 2018, 21c put nearly $50 million dollars into turning the historic Hotel Savoy into a contemporary marvel, with a stunning rooftop terrace and a full renovation of the hotel’s famous restaurant, The Savoy. You’re close to the city’s action at this convenient location between the Power & Light district and River Market in downtown KC.