The love for Bloody Marys is real, and Kansas City restaurants are killing the brunch scene with their creative and delicious concoctions! And why exactly are Bloody Marys so popular? Well, legend has it they are the hangover cure, and the true die-hard brunch fans may even argue it's even the "healthy" alternative to mid-morning drinking!
From your simple, classic recipes focused on the heart of the tomato- and vodka-based drink, to the perfectly overstated with garnishes galore (read: cheeseburger sliders, chicken wings, burnt ends, wagyu meatballs, and more), we've compiled over 30 restaurants and bars satisfying the savory at heart for you to TRY EACH and EVERY ONE!
From mouthwatering photos to descriptions and recipes to whet your appetite: Bookmark, scroll, drool, schedule, and most importantly, ENJOY these wildly good brunch (or any time of day!) cocktails!
In no particular order, here is your guide to the Kansas City brunch sphere's Bloody Marys: You. Can't. Miss.
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Rye: Plaza | Leawood
*Photo Credit: Bonjwing Lee
Westport Cafe: Westport
Westport Cafe's Bloody Mary is "made with Tito’s vodka, our Bloody Mary is made fresh every Sunday with fresh lemon juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, grainy mustard and other secret ingredients!"
Smoke Brewing Company: Lee's Summit
"Hangover Bloody Mary: House-made with bacon-infused Jameson and jalapeño-infused vodka. Topped with a cheeseburger slider, bacon, pork belly burnt ends, pork ribs, asparagus, chicken wings, chicken strips, and a variety of stuffed olives."
Port Fonda: Westport
"Bloody Maria Verde: Tomatillo and green chile Bloody Maria mix, Altos tequila or Del Maguey mezcal (or both) and your choice of garnishes at our build your own Bloody Maria bar."
J. Rieger & Co. Distillery, The Monogram Lounge: Electric Park
"J. Rieger & Co.'s Recipe: KC Canning Co. Bloody Mary + 1.5 oz J. Rieger & Co. Premium Wheat Vodka + 4 oz KC Canning Co. Pickled Bloody Mary Mix. Garnish: KC Canning Co. Pickled Green Tomatoes + KC Canning Co. Sriracha Green Beans, Lemon Wedge."
*Photo Credit: Charlie Burt
Fox and Pearl: Westside
"The popular Bloody Mary is part of Fox and Pearl’s brunch cocktail menu and is made with local produce, house-fermented hot sauce, and fresh-pickled horseradish and seasonal garnishes. As the seasons change, the garnishes vary to include seasonal pickled vegetables, such as tomatoes, green beans, peppers, and onions, lime and olives. Suggested spirits for the Fox and Pearl Bloody Mary include Tito's vodka or Fidencio Classico mezcal from Santiago Mazatlan, Oaxaca."
*Photo Credit: Pilsen Photo Co-op
The Pressed Penny Tavern: Westport
"Grand Bloody: It's is a 32-ounce Bloody Mary made with Tito's, Worcestershire sauce, Arty's Bloody Mary mix, a splash of Guinness, and a secret spiced rim and garnished with shrimp & bacon."
Mildred's: Crossroads | Downtown
"Bloody Milly: Mildred's version of the boozy classic. House-made bloody mix with smoked bacon, olive, pickle, pepper jack cheese and fresh celery."
*Photo Credit: Jessica Cain
Stock Hill: Plaza
"The Monroe Mary: House-made Bloody Mary mix, shrimp cocktail, wagyu meatball, pork belly, blue cheese olives, celery, & lime. Fun Fact: We named her the Monroe Mary, not only because Marilyn Monroe is part of our black & white photos that slide show throughout the restaurant. She drank them in the 1950s, but they were under the name Red Snappers back then because Bloody Mary was a little bit too racy for the times."
*Photo Credit: Meredith Schulte
Cacao Restaurante: Prairie Village
Cacao Bloody Mary (Left) and a Cacao Michelada (Right): "Everybody's got their own way of making a Michelada, but a Cacao Michelada is a must-try. We can not give out the exact recipe since it has been closely guarded from public disclosure, but we can share that it contains clamato, hot sauce, lemon juice and tomato juice. We serve it with a Tajin rim, a slice of jalapeño and a couple of olives. It is meant to be mixed with beer (Modelo Especial, preferably) and not with vodka."
*Photo Credit: Rene Aguirre
Kelly’s Westport Inn: Westport
"When something works, we don’t change it! Over 20 years ago our daytime bartender, Bob McGuire, added Guinness to a Bloody Mary and that’s what we have been doing ever since. We keep things simple around here: Little Tabasco, a few shakes of celery salt, pepper and Worcestershire. But we swear this is the best Bloody Mary in town."
*Photo Credit: Colleen Kelly
Plate Restaurant: Brookside
"Plate's Bloody Mary Recipe: 360 Vodka topped with house-made Bloody Mary mix, blend of Tomato Juice & V8 Juice, Horseradish, Brown sugar, Lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tobasco, celery salt & black pepper. Built in a pint glass with Celery Salt & Pepper Rim, Garnished with Olive, Lemon & Lime."
*Photo Credit: Jim Nemo
blue bird bistro: Westside
"Our house-made, organic bloody mary mix with Restless Spirits 'Duffy's Run' vodka."
Coach’s Bar & Grill: Overland Park 135th | Overland Park College Blvd
"Milwaukee Bloody Mary: Our Coach's Bloody Mary Special garnished with a 1-oz. Slider made to order, cheeses, bacon, celery, asparagus spear, onions, beef jerky, shrimp, red & green peppers and a pickle spear. A snack & a drink all in one!" (available Sat & Sun ONLY 11am-2pm)
*Photo Credit: Angela Bond via Kansas City Originals
Pierpont’s at Union Station: Crossroads
Left: "Dirty Mary" – Olive infused Tito’s, house bloody mary mix, salt rim, olive & house pickle garnish
Middle: "Bloody Maria" – Chipotle infused Mean Mule, house bloody mary mix, Cholula, lime juice & a chili-lime salt rim
Right: "KC Massacre" – J. Rieger & Co. whiskey, house bloody mary, bbq sauce, splash of IPA
Strang Bar: Overland Park
"Tito’s vodka, Zing Zang mix, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, dash of salt, and a splash of Fénix house-made hot sauce to spice it up!"
Bull Creek Distillery: Spring Hill
Rock & Brews: Overland Park
"Sunday Brunch 'Hot Blooded' Mary with Stoli Hot Vodka, Tomato Juice, Lime Juice, Sriracha, Creole Seasoning, Bacon, Pickled Okra, Olives, and Celery."
*Photo Credit: Michelle Rauter
CocoBolos Mexican Grill & Cantina: Overland Park
"'Coco's Bloody Bolos' - This vodka and tomato juice-based cocktail has just the right caliente kick to wake you for our Saturday and Sunday brunches!"
*Photo Credit: Elizabeth Sowell
Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen: Midtown | KCK | Independence
"Cajun Bloody Mary: Absolut Peppar Vodka mixed with our award-winning secret bloody mary mix."
Shack Breakfast & Lunch: Overland Park 135th | Lenexa | Overland Park College Blvd
"'The Meaty Mary' – Cucumber Vodka, Bloody Mix, Shacked Rim, Bacon, Cheese Cube, Lime, Olive & Beef Jerky Straw"
Red Door Woodfired Grill: Brookside | Lenexa | Overland Park | Leawood | Lee's Summit
"Tito’s Vodka, Demitri’s seasoning, horseradish, bacon-slice garnish, salt rim"
Plowboys Barbeque: Not available in-restaurants
The Well Bar Grill & Rooftop: Waldo
"Surf & Turf Bloody Mary: Cucumber vodka, jalapeno spiced bloody mary mix, ancho powder rim, topped with a beef stick, shrimp, cucumber, celery, ghost pepper cheese, lime, and olives."
The Homesteader Cafe: Downtown
"House-made mix featuring horseradish and roasted garlic. Just the perfect amount of kick and flavor."
District Pour House: Waldo
"Pineapple and Jalapeño infused Bloody Mary"
Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop: Crossroads | Westwood
"Using the flavors of the East and our signature house-made chili vodka, we craft our bloody mary to 3 different spice levels to fit even the bravest brunch warrior. A blend of tomatoes, pepper, and a few secret ingredients garnished with olives, lemon and lime, it's a truly one of a kind bloody Mary."
Tavern: In the Village | At Mission Farms
"Tavern's own bloody mary mix, served with a single shrimp cocktail, slice of bacon, pickled asparagus spear, heirloom grape tomato & a lemon wheel."
Grinders: Crossroads
"Signature Bloody Mary made with tomato juice, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper, creepy salt, Worcestershire sauce, Grinders High Noon Pub Ale, olive juice and Grinders Molten Sauce."
Bristol Seafood Grill: Leawood | Downtown
"Bristol Bloody Mary: Choice of vodka and seasoned rim, celery, lime, olives, million dollar bacon"
The Brass Onion: Overland Park
"The Spicy Onion Mary:" Recipe HERE
Paulo and Bill: Shawnee
"Paulo and Bill’s 'Third-Alarm Bloody Mary' features Hanson’s Organic Habanero Vodka with a zesty house-made Bloody Mary mix, a pickle/celery/tomato garnish, and celery salt rim. The recipe is a bartenders-only secret! Paired with our featured Chorizo Buttermilk Biscuits, it’s the best way to wake-up on a lazy Sunday morning. With the perfect dose of heat that doesn’t leave you sweating, it’s sure to get you fired up for a Chiefs football game in the afternoon!”
*Photo Credit: Mika Cummins