A bar with books for sale and board games. What a neat concept! Got there around 8.45pm on a Saturday night after a LONG day and the place was busy already. The volume level inside was quiet enough to carry on a conversation, but with it being so full, browsing books wasn't really an option. Every seat was taken, but thankfully there's a patio that was open and with the weather cooperating, we were able to sit there and enjoy our drinks. At $14 a piece, it's definitely not cheap, but it was good. Im normally not a martini person, but this one was delicious. My Lemondrop tasted a bit weird at first sip, but maybe it just needed to settle a bit because sip #2 was great. Service was prompt and the bar tender was nice and attentive. Definitely worth checking out!
Arthur Decker D’avila
Love this place! You should give it a try if you haven't already!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric M.
A fun atmosphere, that lends itself to the reader and the person who loves to drink while doing it. The staff was friendly, prompt, and made great drinks for the most part... The whiskey sour was a bit too sour for my palate, but others may like it. It has great seating inside and also outside, if the weather is nice. Good for a medium size group, but I would say no more than six people, because it does fill up quick. Huge positive to this place is that it doesn't have a cover charge unlike the bars across the street, but we won't mention them. I would highly recommend this place for the chill atmosphere that has the vibes you would want, the drinks you like, and will get you at home earlier than other bars would since it closes by midnight. For the night owl, this is a great place to pregame before you go clubbing or whatever you people do when you're staying up past midnight. Haha
Kelsey A.
When I first walked by this place, I thought it was just a bookstore and maybe they served coffee. To my surprise they also serve cocktails. When you walk in you feel like you're visiting a cozy friends apartment there are couches throughout the bar and some fun and funky seating throughout. I noticed there was also a patio for some outdoor seating when it's nice out. It seems like their cocktail list does change pretty frequently but of course they do offer the classics all year. I tried the pretty and pink in the last dance. The last dance did have Mezcal so I was a little worried because I don't normally like Mezcal, but this might've been the first Mezcal drink that I've ever loved. Not too Smokey and a little sweet. When you think pretty and pink, I would think sweet, but this was a perfect combination of sweet and tart. Overall, this was a great cocktail bar and I can't wait to go back and try their new rotating specials.
Lou K.
Cozy cocktail bar with great books and great drinks. This is a lovely place to drink a cocktail and read a book or just chill with a friend. They had a sizable menu with many different options including cocktails, mocktails, coffee and tea. They also had some great deals during the week. Both drinks that I tried were delicious. The station 11 was my favorite. It had a bold and diverse taste with a lot of popping flavors it had rhubarb & ginger infused rum which was delicious! I also had the Unlikely Queen. It was light and simple but still very tasty. The seating was cute and comfy. The bartenders were nice. I will definitely be back.
Jennie L.
What a cute and cozy spot to grab a great cocktail and enjoy a book. The bar is actually very organized you can go to either end of the bar and order your drink then you just grab your spots. Afterwards offers plenty of seating and your just nestled into this amazing atmosphere that's surrounded by so many books. What's great about Afterword is that they also offer a booze and books membership - so you really can grab a drink and a book and just enjoy it. This is place is perfect for the best girls night or book club. Can't wait to come back to try the other coffee drinks - they use real espresso so I'm looking forward to the espresso martini nights! Excited to try more of the menu!
Scott R
Was told this is a must stop on our trip to KC. We had the Crying in H Mart and the Dealers Choice. Great craft cocktails in an atmosphere with a very cool vibe. I recommend trying g this place for yourself.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Zachary Preheim
I love their espresso martini. Very relaxing and nonthreatening atmosphere. My friends love to come here on weeknights to catch up and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Piper Rogers
This is a super cool book bar. My book club meets here once a month (make sure to make a reservation for large groups as seating is limited). They have a large cocktail and cocktail menu (both are delicious)! This is primarily a drinks bar, food is limited to a few prepackaged snacks. You can also buy some of your fav books here. For parking, I would recommend the garage next door. It has reasonable prices and always has lots of spaces and it adjacent to Afterword.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Natalie C.
I really like this place! As an English major, this is kind of my dream spot. However, it is small and usually crowded (which I am sure they love!) My book club meets here sometimes on Thursday nights, and it is pretty much full. Forget about getting a table on Fridays. I have had the best time here on a Sunday afternoon. The concept of playing games is fun but the tables are pretty small. It is really great that they have a space for groups to meet and the giant back sofa is pretty comfy. At the bar, they have two lines to order drinks which I guess keeps it organized but makes it really crowded in those areas. It is a very cute aesthetic and gives me dark academia vibes. The drinks are pretty good and I love espresso martini Thursdays, but I would suggest happy hour because they can be really expensive. Overall, I would definitely recommend visiting this place, just maybe on a weeknight!
All the cocktails are great, the book prices are decent, and the atmosphere is super fun.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Alfredo G.
This is a lovely corner bar with a fun vibe. Love books? Then this is the place for you! There are games to play, chess on tables, and books to purchase. There were several bibliophiles at the bar enjoying their books, and I came prepared with my Hemingway. That being said, I had a negative experience with service: they had started new spots to order at the bar, so I stood at the wrong place and was ignored for several minutes. The bartenders avoided making eye contact, so things just got more awkward. The signs were hidden on music stands below the bar, and nobody said anything to me. I used to bartend for years. If someone is standing there, you simply acknowledge their existence and let them know you'll be with them soon. And if they're in the wrong place, then instruct them! A fun vibe of a place, but I was disappointed with the bartenders. Just say something and avoid the awkwardness.
Rachel M.
This could quite possibly be the coolest place I have ever been to in my life. I was in Kansas City for a writing conference, so of course, as the little book nerds we are, we all congregated in Afterword post-conference. I was told by a local that the vibe could be pretentious, but I didn't feel that at all. This felt like one of the old, smoky 90's coffeehouses I used to go to (minus the smoke.) With small intimate tables, velvet couches stuffed with pillows, the exposed ceiling and brick walls, it felt like hanging out in a chic loft in Brooklyn. While you sip on aptly named book-themed cocktails like Crying in H Mart, you can peruse the books or play games with a friend. They also played a nostalgic millenial soundtrack of alternative hits from the early 2000's. If I lived in Kansas City, I would likely be a regular at this bar, haunting the cafe like Jack Kerouac and his beatnik friends.
JC Higginbotham
This is our neighborhood watering hole and can't imagine the Crossroads without it. The staff are so friendly and incredibly imaginative as well as knowledgeable about the cocktails they create and serve. Seasonal rotating menu of innovative combinations all named after boot titles or authors, but they keep their classics as standard so you don't ever have to be without them! Couldn't ask for a better combination of a warm, welcoming environment filled with books and booze. The crowd is fairly eclectic, and the music can get a little loud sometimes - but it's nothing they don't manage right away when you ask them to. I don't know what we would do without this establishment! We love this group of talented professionals!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Grace Y.
A weekday visit to Afterword is the way to do it. Compared to the chaotic Saturday we had our last visit, the place was relatively quiet--- a little less than halfway full. The weekday special on Thursday is Espresso Martinis, so that's what we went with. Drinks are pricey, but aesthetic and strong. It was a great, cozy & chill atmosphere.
A bar with books for sale and board games. What a neat concept! Got there around 8.45pm on a Saturday night after a LONG day and the place was busy already. The volume level inside was quiet enough to carry on a conversation, but with it being so full, browsing books wasn't really an option. Every seat was taken, but thankfully there's a patio that was open and with the weather cooperating, we were able to sit there and enjoy our drinks. At $14 a piece, it's definitely not cheap, but it was good. Im normally not a martini person, but this one was delicious. My Lemondrop tasted a bit weird at first sip, but maybe it just needed to settle a bit because sip #2 was great. Service was prompt and the bar tender was nice and attentive. Definitely worth checking out!
Love this place! You should give it a try if you haven't already!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A fun atmosphere, that lends itself to the reader and the person who loves to drink while doing it. The staff was friendly, prompt, and made great drinks for the most part... The whiskey sour was a bit too sour for my palate, but others may like it. It has great seating inside and also outside, if the weather is nice. Good for a medium size group, but I would say no more than six people, because it does fill up quick. Huge positive to this place is that it doesn't have a cover charge unlike the bars across the street, but we won't mention them. I would highly recommend this place for the chill atmosphere that has the vibes you would want, the drinks you like, and will get you at home earlier than other bars would since it closes by midnight. For the night owl, this is a great place to pregame before you go clubbing or whatever you people do when you're staying up past midnight. Haha
When I first walked by this place, I thought it was just a bookstore and maybe they served coffee. To my surprise they also serve cocktails. When you walk in you feel like you're visiting a cozy friends apartment there are couches throughout the bar and some fun and funky seating throughout. I noticed there was also a patio for some outdoor seating when it's nice out. It seems like their cocktail list does change pretty frequently but of course they do offer the classics all year. I tried the pretty and pink in the last dance. The last dance did have Mezcal so I was a little worried because I don't normally like Mezcal, but this might've been the first Mezcal drink that I've ever loved. Not too Smokey and a little sweet. When you think pretty and pink, I would think sweet, but this was a perfect combination of sweet and tart. Overall, this was a great cocktail bar and I can't wait to go back and try their new rotating specials.
Cozy cocktail bar with great books and great drinks. This is a lovely place to drink a cocktail and read a book or just chill with a friend. They had a sizable menu with many different options including cocktails, mocktails, coffee and tea. They also had some great deals during the week. Both drinks that I tried were delicious. The station 11 was my favorite. It had a bold and diverse taste with a lot of popping flavors it had rhubarb & ginger infused rum which was delicious! I also had the Unlikely Queen. It was light and simple but still very tasty. The seating was cute and comfy. The bartenders were nice. I will definitely be back.
What a cute and cozy spot to grab a great cocktail and enjoy a book. The bar is actually very organized you can go to either end of the bar and order your drink then you just grab your spots. Afterwards offers plenty of seating and your just nestled into this amazing atmosphere that's surrounded by so many books. What's great about Afterword is that they also offer a booze and books membership - so you really can grab a drink and a book and just enjoy it. This is place is perfect for the best girls night or book club. Can't wait to come back to try the other coffee drinks - they use real espresso so I'm looking forward to the espresso martini nights! Excited to try more of the menu!
Was told this is a must stop on our trip to KC. We had the Crying in H Mart and the Dealers Choice. Great craft cocktails in an atmosphere with a very cool vibe. I recommend trying g this place for yourself.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I love their espresso martini. Very relaxing and nonthreatening atmosphere. My friends love to come here on weeknights to catch up and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is a super cool book bar. My book club meets here once a month (make sure to make a reservation for large groups as seating is limited). They have a large cocktail and cocktail menu (both are delicious)! This is primarily a drinks bar, food is limited to a few prepackaged snacks. You can also buy some of your fav books here. For parking, I would recommend the garage next door. It has reasonable prices and always has lots of spaces and it adjacent to Afterword.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really like this place! As an English major, this is kind of my dream spot. However, it is small and usually crowded (which I am sure they love!) My book club meets here sometimes on Thursday nights, and it is pretty much full. Forget about getting a table on Fridays. I have had the best time here on a Sunday afternoon. The concept of playing games is fun but the tables are pretty small. It is really great that they have a space for groups to meet and the giant back sofa is pretty comfy. At the bar, they have two lines to order drinks which I guess keeps it organized but makes it really crowded in those areas. It is a very cute aesthetic and gives me dark academia vibes. The drinks are pretty good and I love espresso martini Thursdays, but I would suggest happy hour because they can be really expensive. Overall, I would definitely recommend visiting this place, just maybe on a weeknight!
Restaurantji Recommends
All the cocktails are great, the book prices are decent, and the atmosphere is super fun.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This is a lovely corner bar with a fun vibe. Love books? Then this is the place for you! There are games to play, chess on tables, and books to purchase. There were several bibliophiles at the bar enjoying their books, and I came prepared with my Hemingway. That being said, I had a negative experience with service: they had started new spots to order at the bar, so I stood at the wrong place and was ignored for several minutes. The bartenders avoided making eye contact, so things just got more awkward. The signs were hidden on music stands below the bar, and nobody said anything to me. I used to bartend for years. If someone is standing there, you simply acknowledge their existence and let them know you'll be with them soon. And if they're in the wrong place, then instruct them! A fun vibe of a place, but I was disappointed with the bartenders. Just say something and avoid the awkwardness.
This could quite possibly be the coolest place I have ever been to in my life. I was in Kansas City for a writing conference, so of course, as the little book nerds we are, we all congregated in Afterword post-conference. I was told by a local that the vibe could be pretentious, but I didn't feel that at all. This felt like one of the old, smoky 90's coffeehouses I used to go to (minus the smoke.) With small intimate tables, velvet couches stuffed with pillows, the exposed ceiling and brick walls, it felt like hanging out in a chic loft in Brooklyn. While you sip on aptly named book-themed cocktails like Crying in H Mart, you can peruse the books or play games with a friend. They also played a nostalgic millenial soundtrack of alternative hits from the early 2000's. If I lived in Kansas City, I would likely be a regular at this bar, haunting the cafe like Jack Kerouac and his beatnik friends.
This is our neighborhood watering hole and can't imagine the Crossroads without it. The staff are so friendly and incredibly imaginative as well as knowledgeable about the cocktails they create and serve. Seasonal rotating menu of innovative combinations all named after boot titles or authors, but they keep their classics as standard so you don't ever have to be without them! Couldn't ask for a better combination of a warm, welcoming environment filled with books and booze. The crowd is fairly eclectic, and the music can get a little loud sometimes - but it's nothing they don't manage right away when you ask them to. I don't know what we would do without this establishment! We love this group of talented professionals!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
A weekday visit to Afterword is the way to do it. Compared to the chaotic Saturday we had our last visit, the place was relatively quiet--- a little less than halfway full. The weekday special on Thursday is Espresso Martinis, so that's what we went with. Drinks are pricey, but aesthetic and strong. It was a great, cozy & chill atmosphere.