Scooter's Bar Journal » River Market

Block 15 Tavern & Exchange

scooterj — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 18:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1861st bar, first visited in 2025.

This was a last-second impulse stop after riding the streetcar around to various Christmas destinations. It was exactly halfway between where we got off the streetcar and where the car was parked.

This is a basement bar, albeit a walk-out basement if you enter from the alley side. Good to see more basement bars in KC, we don’t have as many as other cities. (I later learned there’s another newer one a few days earlier whose main entrance is also in the alley.) There is foot in the form of a taco truck on the patio.

We arrived to a nearly-empty bar just after a group left, but by the time we left ourselves it was starting to fill back up. The bartender said it’s busiest after 10pm.

I only had a few minutes to stay so had a Guinness. I’ll have to come back another time to spend more time here.

This is a bar that actuallypours Guinness correctly, so it took several minutes.

The shower curtain is an interesting design choice.

311 Delaware St, Suite 102 A
Kansas City, MO 64105
US
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+18164378873
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River Bluff Brewing @ River Market

scooterj — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 18:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1512th bar, first visited in 2022.

The second location if a brewery out of St. Joseph that conveniently opened in the same building where I work, so I’m doomed.

There’s a small bank of pinball machines and a covered patio along the east side next to the alley. Currently there is no food but kitchen appears to be planned in the future.

On opening weekend I had the Market Milk (milk stout) a couple of different times, and also the Jerry’s Porter

210 Main, Ste 101
Kansas City, MO 64106
United States
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+18162552360
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Strange Days Brewing Company

scooterj — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1223rd bar, first visited in 2018.

New brewery in the River Market that seems to have hit a gold mine on location as it’s always busy. I tried three of their beers: Australian Gold, Estranged, and Japanese Black IPA. I forgot to take any indoor photos due to being distracted by a great dane that pooped nearby, smelling up the place.

Doesn’t technically have outdoor seating, but the front wall is all garage doors.

316 Oak
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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816-469-5321
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Le Fou Frog

scooterj — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 533rd bar, first visited in 2009.

French restaurant on the edge of the River Market neighborhood downtown. the dining area is in the back, in front is a friendly little bar that isn’t anywhere near as pretentious as one might think a bar in a French restaurant would be.

400 E 5th St
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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(816) 474-6060

Bo Ling’s

scooterj — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 532nd bar, first visited in 2009.

Upscale Chinese restaurant in the City Market. The bar is backed by large windows looking out over 5th street.

20 E 5th St
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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(816) 423-8036
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Delaware Cafe

scooterj — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)
Formerly Delaware Market Cafe

Scooter’s 503rd bar, first visited in 2008.

Nice restaurant with bar on the side.

300 Delaware St
Kansas City, MO 64105
US
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(816) 842-0303
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Cafe Al Dente

scooterj — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 346th bar, first visited in 2007.

Pizza/pasta joint with a small bar

412 Delaware St
Kansas City, MO 64105
US
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(816) 472-9444

Dos Hombres

scooterj — Sat, 06 May 2006 17:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location.
Closed Fall 2009. Reopened in January 2011 as Hickock’s Southwest Bar & Grill

Scooter’s 51st bar, first visited in 2006.

Tex-Mex restaurant with separate bar in the front.

528 Walnut
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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(816) 474-4696
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Vivace

scooterj — Sat, 06 May 2006 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location.
Now the Redhead Tavern.

Update again: Now it’s Thirsty’s Cantina

Update: Now it’s called Thirsty’s and looks like it will actually be pretty stable.

Scooter’s 50th bar, first visited in 2006.

Famous for its ice bar. Bar open until 3am.

Update: As of being reincarnated as Thirsty’s, the ice bar gimmick is gone.

As Thirsty’s, it offers a food menu based on the defunct Dos Hombres that was across the street. Serves Schlaffly beer as the “local” offering due to a debt to Boulevard left by the previous owner of the license.

529 Walnut St
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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(816) 527-0999
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Winslow’s City Market Barbecue

scooterj — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 30th bar, first visited in 2005.

BBQ restaurant with a separate bar on the other side of the kitchen. The bar opens to the largest patio in KC. Several beers on tap, poker nights, live music on weekends. No cover.

20 E 5th St
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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(816) 471-7427
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Cup & Saucer

scooterj — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 17:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location.
Closed in 2006

Reopened Jan 2010 as a wine/coffee bar called K City.

Scooter’s 29th bar, first visited in 2005.

Coffee shop / bar that catered to hipsters who like live local music. The drink selection was rather sparse.

412 Delaware St
Kansas City, MO 64105
US
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(816) 813-0944

Harry’s Country Club

scooterj — Tue, 23 Sep 2003 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 14th bar, first visited in 2003.

Hands down one of the best bars in Kansas City!

Great tap beer selection including all the local Boulevard favorites, plus an extensive collection of bottled imports. Great food too!

Live music some nights on the outdoor stage. Outdoor patio is a great place to people-watch or drink under the stars in front of the backdrop of the downtown skyline. On chillier nights there may even be a fire going in the outdoor firepit.

The jukebox continuously plays a good mix of classic country, Sinatra, and other gems from a bygone era. A small humidor contains a respectable selection of cigars.

The bartenders are highly skilled and both the bartenders and the servers make an effort to get to know you and remember you. Just an all around great place!

112 Missouri Ave
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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(816) 421-3505
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Minsky’s Pizza

scooterj — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 11th bar, first visited in 2003.

Good pizza, sandwiches, and appetizers. Great bar with a terrific selection. Service can get pretty slow at lunchtime. If you want to watch sports on a TV in a bar this is THE place in downtown Kansas City to do it! In addition to numerous small TVs there are three gigantic projection screens that can be seen from nearly every seat in the three-level terraced seating area.

427 Main St
Kansas City, MO 64105
US
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(816) 421-1122
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River Market Brewing Co

scooterj — Fri, 18 Apr 2003 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

OUT OF BUSINESS
Closed at the end of business on January 31, 2009.

Scooter’s 9th bar, first visited in 2003.

Good home-brewed beers plus bottled standards. Live music and karaoke on some nights.

500 Walnut St
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
[launch map]
(816) 471-6300

Oldham

scooterj — Sat, 20 Apr 2002 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

OUT OF BUSINESS
This later became Kabal, which was forced to close after numerous fights, shootings, and a firebombing. It then reopened as Skybox, and history repeated itself. It has been empty since being shut down by the city in 2007.

Scooter’s 5th bar, first visited in 2002.

This was a restaurant/bar on the ground floor of the former Oldham Hotel, it opened in 2001 and lasted about 2 years.

I was here for a private party in April 2002. The upstairs was a more formal bar while the downstairs had a more lounge atmosphere. After closing it reopened and closed 2 more times with new names. It’s been closed since 2007.

All Dressed Up: A restaurant teaches the Oldham Hotel new tricks

(Photo by ‘The Pitch’)

105 E 5th St
Kansas City, MO 64106
US
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(816) 421-1779