14 Best Shopping in Kansas City

The Village at Briarcliff is just a short distance from the centre of Kansas City. Surrounded by lush hillsides and featuring a Tuscan-inspired design, this local shopping community is all about keeping retail personal, as the vast majority of places found here are family-owned and operated.

At Nell Hill's, you'll find opulent furnishings to take your interior design game to new heights. Meanwhile, Made in KC features an enormous range of crafts produced by the region's most beloved artists and designers. Meanwhile, premium restaurants, fresh delis, and even a luxe day spa flank the shops.

Crown Center is home to some of Kansas City's best shopping experiences. Located south of the Downtown area, the entire suburb is named after its sprawling mall. Spanning 3 vibrant levels, there are more than 40 restaurants and shops to explore, ranging from high-end fashion to trendy boutiques.

The beating heart of the Crown Center is undoubtedly the Halls department store, which has luxury clothing for the whole family. If you choose to shop at Crown Center, you'll also be within close proximity to many of Kansas City's world-class attractions, including the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, SEA LIFE Aquarium and the Hallmark Visitors Center.

The Crossroads Arts District is certainly one of the coolest parts of Kansas City. Once-dilapidated warehouses have been transformed into creative art galleries, while hip restaurants and bars have sprung up on essentially every street. For those that seek out hedonistic pleasures, this is where you want to visit.

Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates is a top choice for your sweet tooth – its decadent selection of innovative chocolate creations ranges from single-origin varieties to bourbon-infused delights. A few streets over, Cellar Rats Wine Merchants offers an incredible selection of beer, wine and spirits, while Messenger Coffee Co. sells award-winning coffee beans and baked goods that are produced on-site.

Zona Rosa is one of Kansas City's largest shopping and entertainment districts, featuring an expansive landscape that stretches over a million square feet. Throughout its wealth of prized retail, office and residential space, you can wander through the throwback design and hunt through more than 100 distinct shops.

Each year, over 10 million shoppers make their way to Zona Rosa, seeking out its exclusive fashion storefronts. You'll be spoilt for choice as renowned retailers like Sephora, Zumiez, Victoria's Secret and Forever 21 are located here. As you walk the bustling streets, there are courtyards equipped with fountains and playgrounds that your kids will love. Plus, there are pubs and outdoor dining options that open late into the evening.

Park Place, which forms an essential part of Leawood's vibrant community, is the suburb's hotspot for shopping and entertainment venues. Having only sprung up in recent years, Park Place is especially busy on weekends, when families arrive in droves to explore the plaza's wealth of handicraft stores and stylish boutiques.

Highlights include elegant clothing by Alysa Rene Boutique and bright bouquets at Flowers by Emily. There's also a selection of bridal stores, high-end jewellers and barbers. Park Place has a range of great dining options, including healthy juice bars, sushi joints, and even a lively gastropub.

The Brookside Shopping District is a standout retail destination dating back to the 1920s. The surrounding area flourishes with leafy boulevards and family-owned shops. Matching the venerable history of the area, many of the storefronts situated in Brookside offer antique collectables and furnishings from bygone days.

Stop by A Store Named Stuff, a delightful store owned by a pair of sisters. They curate an array of homemade creations together, so you’ll definitely find a unique gift or two here. Elsewhere, you'll find unique items at Brookside Toys and Science, The New Dime Store and The Fiddly Fig. Don't forget to take a break at nearby ice cream parlours and artisan bakeries.

Oak Park Mall is the largest shopping complex in all of Kansas, covering an incredible 1.5 million sq ft. Having undergone many upgrades over the years, it's become the go-to for department store shopping. Besides much-loved anchor stores like J.C. Penney's, Nordstrom, Macy's, and Dillard's, there's also the likes of H&M, Vans and American Eagle to fulfil all of your retail needs.

For something great for the kids, you can't go wrong at either the Disney Store or Lego. Oak Park Mall also has a vast food court, which is home to all your fast food favourites and a selection of healthy dining options.

The Legends Outlet Kansas City features over 100 designer outlets and eateries, making it a great choice for an all-day shopping experience. Here, visitors will find an extensive offering of recognisable names, including J. Crew, Levi's, Brooks Brothers and Michael Kors. Meanwhile, there are sportswear stores galore, with the likes of Adidas, Nike and Under Armour each taking up space in the complex.

Across a huge range of discount storefronts, the Legends Outlet is a great place to score some outrageous bargains. Situated close to the famous Kansas Speedway, around the shopping complex, you'll find statues of 80 renowned local figures, including legendary jazz saxophonist Charles 'Yardbird' Parker and aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.

Hawthorne Plaza is in the leafy city of Overland Park, on the edge of Kansas City's metropolitan area. It offers locals and visitors a great variety of high-end retailers, with popular shopping boutiques, restaurants and speciality stores. In terms of fashion, there are great options for formal wear, swimwear and exercise attire, while men can pick up a smart tuxedo suitable for a big night out. 

Once you've finished wandering the shopping strip, you can take a well-earned break at one of the many eateries on offer. From bustling juice bars to modern Korean cuisine and healthy sandwiches, there's no shortage of choices in Hawthorne Plaza.

The Overland Park Farmers' Market is a long-standing destination for fresh food lovers, with the open-air marketplace celebrated for its outstanding farm-to-table produce. Having been operating for over 30 years, the region's farmers and growers make their way to the city twice a week for this culinary extravaganza.

Supporting the incredible ingredients on offer, the market also includes a wealth of musical performances, lively giveaways, and live cooking demonstrations. With over 80 top-notch vendors setting up stalls at the Overland Park Farmers' Market, there's a diverse assortment of seasonal goods that are bound to make your meals simply delicious.

West Bottoms might be traditionally known as Kansas City’s industrial zone, but in the last couple of decades, it’s grown into something much more interesting. With young people moving in and setting up shops and boutiques, there are countless vintage stores to explore. However, it also has a thriving nightlife scene that you don’t want to skip.

The Ship is certainly one of the hottest venues in town, featuring live jazz and soul performances, alongside late-night dance parties. Make your way to Stockyards Brewing Co. and sample a variety of craft beers from the region, while the Lucky Boys dive bar offers burgers and pool tables for when you just want somewhere laid-back.

In terms of venerable histories, the River Market is one of Kansas City’s most fascinating. Renowned for its popular marketplace known as City Market, the area dates back to 1857 and has featured everything from travelling circuses to horse-trading events. These days, it’s much-loved for its incredible shopping, dining and entertainment venues. 

Spread along the Missouri River across numerous distinct blocks, there’s no shortage of bars to wander into. Hang out with the locals at The Blue Line, a hockey-themed sports bar that raises the roof on game days, while Harry’s Country Club is ideal for when you want to pair your pub meal with a colourful cocktail.

The Power and Light District, spread across 9 blocks in the centre of Kansas City, is a renowned dining, shopping and entertainment neighbourhood. Completed in 2008, this Downtown area attracts crowds with regular live performances and a wealth of fun-loving venues that operate late into the night.

The complex features over 50 delicious places to eat, ranging from contemporary Japanese restaurants and hip taco joints to huge sports bars. For partygoers, KC Live hosts jam-packed music events across 2 levels. Plus, there’s a selection of high-end retailers showcasing the latest trends for fashion-conscious shoppers.

The Country Club Plaza brings a touch of European shopping to Kansas City. One of the region’s most vibrant landmarks, American real estate developer J. C. Nichols designed this precinct in 1922 as the country’s first suburban shopping district. Having previously travelled to Europe, Nichols was inspired by Spanish architectural styles, such as stately towers, landscaped courtyards, and stucco facades.

Across 18 different structures throughout the plaza, you can roam between antique sculptures and fountains as they shop. Featuring 804,000 sq ft of retail space, there are an array of delightful restaurants and bars, as well as luxury fashion boutiques and homeware superstores.