The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Kansas City

Get your culture fix at the Fontaine, with Renaissance-styled artworks adorning the walls | Courtesy of The Fontaine / Expedia

Daniel Stables

14 December 2021

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Kansas City is beloved for many things – with barbecue, jazz and trickling fountains chief among them. Our selection of the best luxury hotels in Kansas City is perfect for allowing you to enjoy all that and more in the ultimate style – varying from modern properties to beautiful heritage buildings with a rich history – now bookable on Culture Trip.

Ambassador Hotel Kansas City, for sleek design and live jazz

Panelled walls painted matte black with red painting and cosy lighting in living room at Ambassador Hotel Kansas City

Courtesy of Ambassador Hotel Kansas City / Expedia

For a hotel with a five-star feel in Kansas City, fit for a visiting dignitary, this stately property does the trick. Rooms have a voguish grey color palette and plush sofas, with views of downtown from floor-to-ceiling windows – while a 24/7 fitness center allows you to squeeze in a workout at any time. Lonnie’s Reno Club features live performers showcasing the rich tradition of jazz music in the city.

The Fontaine, for the rooftop pool and downtown views

Outdoor swimming pool at The Fontaine with glass-fronted building in the background

Courtesy of The Fontaine / Expedia

Aesthetes will adore this luxurious Kansas City hotel, adorned with original portraiture and other artworks. Rooms have a similarly design-conscious look – with tapestry-patterned headboards and beautiful bathrooms carved from Carrera marble. A full gym is on hand for fitness fanatics, but the headline attraction of the hotel is surely the rooftop pool – affording you unbeatable views over Kansas City.

21c Museum Hotel Kansas City, for modern art lovers

Dining area at 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City with geometric patterned fabric

Courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City / Expedia

Perched between downtown Kansas City Power & Light District and River Market, this hotel is unique in doubling as a museum – which exhibits the best of 21st-century art from the USA and beyond. Rooms have an appropriately stylish, yet understated look, with plush sofas and beds – the 21c suite features a stunning furnished rooftop balcony where you can take in views over the Kansas City skyline.

Crossroads Hotel, for industrial-chic style

Outside dining area at Crossroads Hotel with view of Western Auto

Courtesy of Crossroads Hotel / Expedia

Plush Persian rugs, exposed brick walls and modern four-poster beds are among the design features which characterize this hipsterish, stylish KC hotel, while the suites have extra special features – a pool table in the Prendergast suite being the most exclusive. Superb modern Italian cuisine is on offer at Lazia Restaurant – try the lobster mafaldine.

Loews Kansas City Hotel, for terrace relaxation and North American cuisine

The Bar Stilwell at the Loews Kansas City Hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows, plush seating and circular shelving holding bottles of alcohol

Courtesy of Loews Kansas City Hotel / Expedia

Minimalist, modern style and downtown views through huge, wall-length windows are what you’ll find at this luxury Kansas City hotel. For extra luxury, go for one of the suites – the deluxe studio suites offer outdoor relaxation on furnished patios, fenced off for your privacy. Superb American cuisine is on offer at the Stilwell restaurant – the smoked beef short rib is particularly recommended.

Hotel Kansas City, for historic architecture

Hotel

Courtesy of Hotel Kansas City / Expedia

The crenelated facade of this gothic revival building is striking in the context of downtown Kansas City – a historic look offset by modern guestrooms, which have a minimalist but very stylish design. The Carrara marble bathrooms are particularly lovely, as are the plush floral rugs and corner sofas. Try the lamb shoulder and the smoked sturgeon croquettes at the Town Company restaurant.

Hotel Phillips Kansas City Curio Collection by Hilton, for art-deco charm

Outside of Hotel Phillips Kansas City Curio Collection by Hilton with warm ball lights and sky at dusk

Courtesy of Hotel Phillips Kansas City Curio Collection by Hilton / Expedia

Connoisseurs of fine architecture will find much to love about the magnificent art deco building, which opened in 1930 and is still among the finest hotels that Kansas City has to offer. The guestrooms are beautifully designed – think plush sofas, minimalist metal four-posters and a muted, neutral color scheme. Other hotel highlights include the PS Speakeasy, where expertly crafted cocktails are on offer.

InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza, an IHG Hotel, for city views and North American cuisine

The outdoor pool at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza with a water feature and surrounded by loungers and greenery

Courtesy of InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza / Expedia

An InterCon hotel is always a good bet for reliable luxury and this Kansas City property is no exception – from the traditional lobby decked out with comfy sofas to the seasonal pool deck, where you can cool off from the summer sun with an outdoor dip. Rooms have a modish grey color palette and all have balconies overlooking the city, while the food at the American Slang is superb, with locals flocking for the cocktails and eggs benedict.

The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection, for opulent luxury

Outside of the front door at The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection with lights reflecting the rain-soaked floor

Courtesy of The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection / Expedia

The very definition of traditional luxury, this hotel is a beautiful property – with guestrooms decorated in checked wallpaper, plush carpets and wingback armchairs that create a down-home, almost farmhouse atmosphere. Live jazz is a regular fixture in the Chaz Lounge, with some of the finest performers on the bill in Missouri, while Chaz on the Plaza is a superb restaurant acclaimed for its juicy steaks.

Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, for unbeatable downtown views

Restaurant at Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center with views over the city

Courtesy of Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center / Expedia

Downtown views are everywhere you look at this luxury Kansas City hotel – nowhere better enjoyed than from the panoramic restaurant Spectators, where the specialty is classic Kansas City barbecue. Rooms are stylish but unpretentious, the most exclusive being the luxury suite – with plush seating areas and sweeping skyline views. A 24/7 fitness center and heated outdoor pool mean there is no reason not to get a workout in – whenever you may visit.

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