Our Favorite Historic Restaurants in Kansas City

Kansas City is so rich in its history in so many ways, and our favorite historic restaurants in Kansas City are no exception. Having been a cultural landmark for over 100 years, Union Station takes immense pride in sharing the unique stories of the places that make Kansas City what it is.

With all of the great new spots popping up every day, we wanted to highlight some of the most historic restaurants in Kansas City’s Downtown! Below are some of our favorites. 

Milwaukee Delicatessen Company

This iteration of the Milwaukee Delicatessen Company may be newer, having opened less than 15 years ago, but its location makes it one of the most historic restaurants in Kansas City. The original building dates back to 1881, with the original Milwaukee Deli opening in the year 1900! More companies occupied the space in the years that followed, but the space eventually sat vacant from 1981 all the way through 2010. 

Today, the Milwaukee Delicatessen Company has gone to great lengths to revive the look of the building. Continuing to give diners the unique experience of stepping into a time capsule while enjoying great food and amazing pizza!

Peanut Downtown

Another remnant of the Prohibition era, The Peanut stakes its claim as Kansas City’s oldest bar and grill and was even a speakeasy during the 1930s. Today, you probably know about The Peanut because of its famous wings and multiple locations throughout the Kansas City area. Step inside and enjoy all of the charms of a historic dive bar with the added bonus of great bar food!

Brown & Loe

Brown & Loe currently sits in what was formerly the Merchant’s Bank building—originally constructed in 1920. In fact, in the 1940s, the original Brown & Loe was a produce broker operating out of the second floor of the building!

You can still feel that tradition today thanks to the architectural details of the two-story establishment. Brown and Loe features a façade of plate glass and verde marble floors and walls. And perhaps most importantly, you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of this bistro with fantastic, traditional American comfort dining. 

The Savoy

Luminaries such as Harry Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and John D. Rockefeller have spent time in the building now known as The Savoy, and the restaurant has gone to great lengths to show their pride in that history. Today, the Savoy features a restored and reimagined space that includes both historical elements and modern touches. Here, you’ll enjoy a fantastic seasonal menu with dishes inspired by chefs from all over the world.

Pierpont’s & Harvey’s at Union Station 

Finally, we get to our very own slice of history! Both Pierpont’s and Harvey’s are located within the walls of Historic Union Station—with each establishment offering a distinct vibe. 

Pierpont’s is one of our favorite historic restaurants in Kansas City. Because it’s one of the most elegant! The definitive “culinary jewel of Kansas City”, is a three-story fine dining restaurant steeped in history. Pierpont’s retains much of the same look as the original building back in 1914. In fact, 60% of the restaurant is historical space and still possesses both original women’s and children’s waiting rooms. In addition to the original women’s smoking lounge. 

Harvey’s, meanwhile, is located in the heart of our historic Grand Hall. This modern, open-air restaurant offers several gorgeous views of the interior of Union Station. The most notable of which is a patio located on the roof of the establishment. Harvey’s specializes in creating delicious breakfast, brunch, and lunch options from scratch ingredients. This makes it a perfect treat for both early risers and the lunch break crowd. 

Make Your Visit Historic With Union Station!

Whether you want to dine with us or experience more of the most historic restaurants in Kansas City, let Union Station be your guide to all things KC. We remain an iconic Kansas City landmark and source of civic celebration for over 100 years. So we’re always thrilled to offer our insight to Kansas City locals and visitors alike. 

Visit us today and enjoy the many attractions our historic building has to offer! And when you’re done, feel free to stop over at Harvey’s or Pierpont’s to enjoy some of the best dining options in the Kansas City area.