Favorite fountain, restaurant, shopping district and more announced today
January 16, 2019
KANSAS CITY, MO. – After months of voting and campaigning, Visit KC announced today the winners of its Visitors’ Choice Awards, an annual program that honors area businesses, museums, fountains and more as traveler favorites, each selected exclusively by voters who reside outside the five-county metro.
Developed by Visit KC, the Visitors’ Choice Awards is the only awards program that gives Kansas City visitors and convention attendees the opportunity to recognize their favorite Kansas City businesses in 48 categories, such as Favorite Barbecue Restaurant and Favorite Jazz Venue. Winners will be showcased on digital platforms throughout the coming year, including on VisitKC.com.
“Month after month, Kansas City thrives on the visitors who dine in our restaurants, explore our museums and stay in our hotels,” said Visit KC President & CEO Jason Fulvi. “Their Visitors’ Choice Awards selections showcase the true vibrancy of KC culture, and we’re proud to continue this tradition into its 12th year.”
For the first time ever, Union Station was honored with the most-coveted award, Best of Kansas City, as well as four additional awards in three separate categories. A comprehensive list of this year’s winners follows:
Arts & Entertainment
- Favorite Art Museum – The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Favorite Art Gallery – Hilliard Gallery
- Favorite Mural – Lewis & Clark (River Market)
- Favorite Performing Arts Group – Kansas City Symphony
- Favorite Nightlife Spot – Crossroads KC at Grinders
- Favorite Concert/Live Music Venue – Starlight Theatre
- Favorite Jazz Venue – The Blue Room
- Favorite Casino – Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway
- Favorite Gay Bar – Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille
Attractions
- Favorite Family Friendly Attraction – Science City at Union Station
- Favorite Free Thing to Do – The City Market
- Favorite KC Neighborhood – Brookside
- Favorite Historical Attraction – Union Station Kansas City
- Favorite Romantic Spot – Country Club Plaza
- Favorite Place to Snap a Photo – Country Club Plaza
- Favorite Daytrip – Lawrence, KS
Sports & Recreation
- Favorite Landmark or Monument – Union Station Kansas City
- Favorite Fountain – J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain (47th & Nichols)
- Favorite City Park – Loose Park
- Favorite Golf Course – Shoal Creek Golf Course
- Favorite Professional Sports Team – Kansas City Royals
Special Events
- Favorite Family Festival – Kansas City Renaissance Festival
- Favorite Music Festival – Rockfest
- Favorite Beer Festival – KC Beer Fest
- Favorite Art Festival – Plaza Art Fair
Food & Drink
- Favorite Restaurant – Rye
- Favorite Steakhouse – Hereford House
- Favorite Barbecue Restaurant – Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
- Favorite Fine Dining Restaurant – Pierpont’s at Union Station
- Favorite Brunch – The Farmhouse
- Favorite International Cuisine – Bo Lings
- Favorite Burger Joint – Westport Flea Market
- Favorite Pizza Place – Minsky’s Pizza
- Favorite Food Truck – Crave of KC Truck
- Favorite Patio – Gram & Dun
- Favorite Bakery – McLain’s Bakery
- Favorite Coffee Shop – The Roasterie Café
- Favorite Winery – Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery
- Favorite Brewery – Boulevard Brewing Co.
- Favorite Distillery – Tom’s Town Distilling Co.
Shopping
- Favorite Shopping Center or District – Country Club Plaza
- Favorite Local Shop or Store – Made in Kansas City
- Favorite Local Product or Souvenir – Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
- Favorite Antique/Vintage Store – River Market Antiques
Accommodations
- Favorite Hotel, More than 300 Rooms – The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center
- Favorite Hotel, 300 Rooms or Less – The Raphael Hotel
- Favorite Inn/Bed & Breakfast – Chateau Avalon
Best of Kansas City
Union Station Kansas City
About Visit KC
Visit KC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ignite global passion for Kansas City. Through marketing, sales and service of the convention and tourism industries, Visit KC supports a vital and growing component of the local economy—generating nearly 48,000 jobs and $5.5 billion in economic impact annually. For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com.
## KC ##