The Riot Room

The Riot Room is my go-​to bar when I go out to Westport. When you first walk in, there’s a circle bar surrounded by couches where you can grab a beer & socialize with randoms. Then there’s a stage in another room where they usually have rap /​acoustic /​metal shows. Up the stairs & there’s a separate smoking area, another bar and they have dance music on the patio a lot of nights, and local rap artists. I love going here in the summer because the atmosphere is so laid-​back, and the drinks are ridiculously cheap. I always bring my friends from out of town here and they have a blast. I’m sure I’ll be coming back for as long as I live in KC. Be sure to tip your bartenders well & they will take care of you! The best nights to come are weekends, but I’ve been during the week and it’s really chill for the most part.

What a gem! I came up to The Riot Room from out of town. If you’re driving too fast you’ll fly right by it! It’s located near some great places to eat and grab a beer before the show. Once you’re in the venue they’ve got a great bar of their own, talk about beer selection! That is probably what sold me right away. :p Typically I drink IPAs, here I was able to choose from a multitude of just that. The room where the bar is is connected to the stage room. You can take your beer with you right up front and watch the show. It is non-​smoking, and if you are a smoker there is a cool back patio that is connected from the stage area and you can take your beer out there too where you will find ANOTHER BAR. :O
My one complaint about this venue is the bathrooms, WOW. There was actual human crap on the floors when I walked in there. I avoided it the rest of the show… eek.
Regardless, I will return when another band I dig comes to town!

It’s all about the rock. Riot Room has hosted so many incredible shows (some of which I’ve had the pleasure of playing) that it’s at the top of the list of KC music venues. Whether you’re catching a show on the indoor stage with a couple-​hundred of you closest friends, or being part of a dance party to a DJ set on the outdoor stage, Riot Room delivers a great time.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that this place has seen KC through decades’ worth of music, locally and nationally, and is an institution in this town. Raise a pint at their carousel-​bar and toast what a great music town this is, and that Riot Room helps bring the rock (in all of it’s forms).

My favorite bar in all of KC! The music here is always good, some of my favorite concerts have been at this place. I usually go for the DJ’s, they bring in a lot of upcoming artists or some that aren’t as well known in KC but I’m always very impressed. It’s small and intimate but not tiny and I love that during the spring/​summer they open the patio which usually gets pretty packed. The drinks here are CHEAP, I brought my sisters here recently and they fell in love with the place mostly for this reason! Basically, it’s the best place to go and get sloppy drunk and dance to some good music. can’t say enough good things about riot room!

This is a great, intimate feeling venue without it being too small. The bar is surprisingly well stocked and the drinks are strong, but not «untrained bartender» strong. I will be back for many more shows!

Ah, the Riot Room. I would love to remember specifics about my 21^st birthday, but I cannot, as it was spent here when this was the Hurricane, on 2-​for-​1 Corona Thursday nights, with great friends and Roland playing the most upfront house and techno of 1999.
How many nights have I spent, standing around the circle bar, or waiting at the patio bar, for another cheap strong drink? Guided by Voices brought rock music back into my life on that stage in 2002. I’ve seen some amazing acts there over the years, and have spent plenty of time supporting local talent as well. It’s one of those Westport institutions that, love it or hate it, you are probably going to end up traipsing through it at some point in the weekend.
The past few years have seen The Riot Room expand its already-​stacked lineup of rock and metal shows to include a wider diversity of acts, especially on the dj/​electronic front. One up-​side to the Riot Room is there is often a show booked both on the inside stage and often something going on on the outside patio stage as well. For instance, a few months back, the Yin Yang Twins and surf-​punk legends Man. .. Or Astroman? were both booked to play the same night. Not only can you drift back and forth between the two areas, the merger of two often entirely disparate crowds can make for an interesting evening.
Although the name has changed from the Hurricane, and there has been a fresh coat of paints and a few new seats and box-​tables by the Broadway entrance, there are also a few things that haven’t changed in the nearly 15 years I’ve been going to this place. For one, the bathrooms. I recently got to show a newly-​21 friend of ours what he was in store for now that he was of drinking age. Yes, there’s no door on the men’s room. Yes, the women’s room looks directly into it. On our last visit, only 1 of the 3 stalls in the women’s room was flushing. I guess some would consider this a negative, but. .. it’s been that way for so long it’s now part of the Westport charm, like that intersection at Westport and Southwest Trafficway that can’t be changed because of the historical trails that run through it.
The spots out in the patio around the drainage opening where the concrete is broken, the wooden railing/​seating outside on the patio that looks like it might have more communicable disease than a truckstop lounge lizard, the ingress/​egress that leads directly through the patio dancefloor, or that extra step down inside towards the bar that makes it impossible to see the stage if you happen to get stuck back there. .. these are all traits of a place that has been around and will continue to be around for quite some time, I’m sure.
This past Friday night was no different — a reggae-​ish band was playing inside, and as they finished and their crowd spilled out to the tech/​house on the patio, it was clear this was going to end up another wild night at the Riot Room. The inside bar keeps the sound either quiet or minimal usually if there’s some sort of dj out back — I’m sure to give the regular metal/​punk crowd a respite away from the oontz oontz oontz they love to hate.
By last call, though, there was the usual air of drunken enjoyment throughout the place. Couples rubbing up on each other, total strangers grinding on new friends, and large area to the back of the dancefloor for those who’d rather witness the spectacle than dive in. Even a couple of guys coming up to the door at closing remarked in passing that the bouncers were just letting everyone trickle into the night instead of forcefully kicking drunken patrons out. The Riot Room knows its patrons, and knows how to take care of them.
With the merciful passing of the Beaumont a few years back and Record Bar’s concentration on more indie-​minded music, the Riot Room has really stepped up its booking practice to bring in huge name talent at very affordable prices, without losing the charm of being a local neighborhood dive bar the remainder of the time. The bartenders recognize you and refer to you by name, having your favorite drink ready to go as soon as they see you walk up, and it’s not uncommon to see that night’s talent enjoying their drink right, immersed in their fans.
Sure there are a few things the Riot Room could fix — the number of people who fall in that broken concrete outside becomes a bit of a Hi/​Lo game for the evening — but at this point, the place is rooted in the culture of Westport. I look forward to forgetting many more nights there in the future!

Body odor, check. Constant selection of awesome bands, check. Awesome dive bar, check.
They make a decent whiskey sour. (Still can’t figure out how so many places fail at this simple drink…) The bartenders are totally cool, laid back, hard working, and just plain awesome.
The variety of beers on tap is quite large for the type of place it is.
Seating is very limited as well as places to sit a drink. There are a handful of bar stools around the bar and a booth running along the wall in the bar area. No tables with the booth. Generally with a concert you want to be up and moving, but also with this being a bar, some high tables and more stools around the bar might be nice.
I ignored the guy filling straws and touching absolutely every part of the straw as I sipped my whiskey sour through a straw. I am sure he washed his hands…
I felt there was way too long of a wait between bands. This is where some tables and more bar stools would be nice.
I watched two people who left their phones sitting get them returned… Temples crowd or Riot Room crowd? I don’t know, but way cool vibe for the place.
There are some odors outside of some of the patrons to deal with. When the smell of smoke is not drifting through the open door, there is another odor. Not sure what it is, but it screams dive.
The sound was surprisingly very good. I had heard mixed reviews and was pleasantly surprised.
Overall, this is a great venue. The talent they bring through the doors with fantastic prices makes a night out affordable often. Although it is an SRO music venue, worth the trip down to enjoy the talent brought in.

This pace has quite the draft selection inside, and some pretty good specials (Tallgrass Tuesdays $ 3!) This place is also known to host a number of concerts. Generally it’s a lot of smaller named up-​and-​coming type bands. Nonetheless, the tickets are cheap and the stage set up is pretty nice. The one real setback is super egregious in the summer: air conditioning. There is none; or that’s just how it feels in the middle of a show. I never knew I could sweat so much as I have at a few shows. Maybe it’s a ploy to get me to go buy more to drink to cool off. (if so, touché. It’s working.)
Anyways, on the back wall there is a blackboard that has several beers sorted out by light, dark, and seasonal. The staff is knowledgeable, and will help you make a selection if you still can’t decide. They have one of my personal favorites, Avery’s White Rascal, on tap. The selection does change constantly though, so be sure to keep checking in.

It’s a sauna! Wow guys… that was bad… I went to the Meg Myers concert on Tuesday (101 outside I believe) and it was a packed, sold-​out house. We got there a little after 7 because the doors were to open at 7. Naturally it was a 30 minute bake in the sun outside before they let anyone in. Once we did get in, I wished I was back outside. It was miserable in there and definitely hotter than outside. The layout is pretty awful in order to see the show and the stage is hardly raised at all. At 5’3″, I have enough trouble seeing concerts. I couldn’t see a thing and I wasn’t even on the «step down» area by the bar. It was so hot in there that the performers mentioned it and a girl near by fainted during the show. My friends and I were all soaked to the bone with sweat by the end of the night and we, obviously, weren’t the only ones since the place reeked of BO by the end. Meg Myers still sounded great, but I won’t be returning to this venue during a hot day.

Forgive me for not having the benefit of nostalgia on my side to overlook the fact this is the most illogical layout of a music venue ever conceived. But then again, who cares what centuries of theater/​arena/​colosseum construction have taught us, go ahead and put the focal point at the high end of the room. Leave room for about 40 people to see the show comfortably, then put in a huge step down with room for another 20 to stare at their backs. Attach another room, another step down, where the sound can barely be heard over the bar chatter, and then book bands that should be in venues 5x its capacity.
How is it even legal to have that kind of step down behind people facing a stage? How many more times do I have to see someone step backward off the ledge being pushed from the swell of the crowd? Seeing people faceplant forward off the step is a little less distressing because they almost always have a drink in their hand, so it’s obviously their fault amirite?
It’s a good place to go if you don’t really want to be there, like when humoring a friend’s local band. You can sit on those big couches in the back and not have to hear them while getting drunk.
I know that in a way it sounds cool to hear one of your favorite big time bands is playing at the Riot Room, but in reality it blows. Unless you’re willing to commit to the stage, you might as well take a seat at the side door for free and get a better show than over half the people on the inside, and meet the band without even trying.

Great variety of beer? Check.
Killer shows? Check.
Supreme and intimate stage? Check.
Sound system and lighting? Check.
CLEAN? Check.
This venue, my friends, is the sheet. Last weekend we traveled up for the Midlake and Sarah Jaffee show and I instantly fell in love with accessibility of the bar and how it still had distance from the stage.
Don’t want to see the show up close? No worries, There are some cool benches with light up tables (not in a clubby way) around for a more relaxed experience. Whether or not there’s a show here, I’ll be checking out more of their fantastic beer menu whenever I’m in town again.
PS — There’s a Unilocal check-​in offer for a buck off a beer!

Came here for a show Thanksgiving night. A little miffed that they charged full cover for the show when there was less than 45 minutes of it left when we got there…
They have a great beer selection on tap, including my favorite Austrian beer, Stiegl Grapefruit Radler.
A pretty cool place.

I have only been to the Riot Room two times in the last 4 months but that is ok because I live in Iowa. Great selection of beer and cool circular bar. Everyone in Des Moines knows about The Riot Room so if word travels that far it must be good.
Shakey Graves was a great show and this time we just stopped in after the Iron Maiden concert. Everyone is very welcoming and ready to sell some booze.
Both times I was here they have a D.J. outside and its pretty relaxed atmosphere. I love the Firestone Black Rye IPA and Candice knows her beer and is ready to make a recommendation. Great job people!

I went to three concerts in about a two-​week span, and they were all big names: 1) Ra Ra Riot, 2) Telekinesis, and 3) Sea Wolf. After this show-​seeing spree, I looked on the calendar and saw a half a dozen more shows I wouldn’t mind seeing… one was a completely free Saturday night show by locals the ACBs, a part of their «On the House» concert series.
Covers are fairly cheap, the club is small enough to feel intimate, and the crowd hasn’t been crazy, even for weekend shows. I’ve gotten a good spot every time — side stage is my preference, as I’m only an inch or two past the five foot mark. Visibility is a huge plus in my book.
The taps are impressively varied — I don’t know how well they’re stocked on liquor or wine, but they have a ridiculous variety of craft beers on tap for a little music venue. The brew prices aren’t outrageous either.
Great bands, great venue. Thanks for bringing great sounds to KC.

My visits to the Riot Room are all about the concerts. This is a great, great venue to see some up and coming artists on the cheap. Unless there is a bigger name band coming through, the place doesn’t get too packed and there isn’t a bad view. The acoustics are average, but nothing that distorts the sound or makes it unenjoyable.
Surprisingly, Riot Room also features a great tap selection — maybe just ask the price before you decide to order or you could get surprised at the tab when you close out.
All that being said, this is your typical Westport bar that is kind of rundown. Which, the aesthetic meets the purposes it serves, but it can you wanting for more. Also, there is some odd smell that permeates the place. I get used to it after 30 minutes, but always have to prepare before I enter.

I dig this place. The patio is bigger than the venue itself but the small venue is one of my faves. I love catching up and coming acts here in an intimate setting before they hit big.
The inside though has one of the worst layouts ever. The viewing area and the bar are positioned wrong the bar is on the lower level and you have to take a step up to stand in front of the stage… which leads to opposite theater seating… but whatevs the place is still fun and they have great music.
I’ve only ever heard dance music played on the patio and i LOVE it. I love hearing something so infectious you cant help but get your body moving. AND the patio bartenders are the best in the city. Quickest drink I’ve ever gotten at a packed bar.
Riot room has my heart!

I love The Riot Room. I saw signs tonight about remodeling and that makes me scared. I hope they do not remodel it to death.
Things I like about The Riot Room include, but are not limited to:
Lots of seating, good variety of shows, two bars (in & out), outside stage and seating area, you can usually find decent parking even though it is in Westport, even though I’m getting old (er) the crowd is mixed so I don’t feel like I’m the grandma of the group

Oh the delicious brews they serve. I had heard Riot Room’s famed reputation for having beers on tap long past when everywhere else in town ran out but had never experienced this for myself. When one of my favorite, and lesser than obscure Vancouver bands, scheduled a show there for the first weekend in March, I was ready to test this for myself.
The brew that had me so worked up? Among others (trust me, I didn’t have to drive home so I mayyyy have taken a little extra advantage of their selection than I normally would have) Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout. And Southern Tier’s Crème Brulee Stout. For well under $ 10 a glass when most places were charging upwards of $ 20 for both in bottle, it was a tad more pricey than I would have liked but still much better than other bars where they were only found in bottle format.
The atmosphere in the Riot Room is intimate-​one room concert room with stage set about one step above the bar area and extra standing room area for larger concerts. Lights are dim and the unique circular bar in the middle of the room allows listeners to walk around to see what is available on tap but if it’s crowded, there is huge chalkboard opposite the door with all the brews listed. I loved this bar design and never had to wait very long. With their GA shows, if you want to get up close and personal with a band, Riot Room (much in the vein of Record Bar or Czar Bar) let’s you get right up to the stage or if you’d rather relax and just observe, there is a tiny seating area stage right. I’d recommend getting there early because when that seating is gone, there really isn’t much to choose from.
Now that I’ve seen it for myself, I can say that I will be paying Much closer attention to shows that are scheduled there. Atmosphere and drink selection alone make this a concert venue to attend, but the music and people you can meet there make it a venue to love. You have found a new fan, Riot Room. Well played. See you soon.

Ooh, that smell!
We walked in moments after the place opened on a recent Friday night before a concert. I can only attest to the drinks and service.
They had plenty of taps and both people working there were very friendly. I think it would be a fun place to see a band.
On our way back, the place was hopping! The atmosphere and smell inside brings back good memories of a place back home that I LOVE, so I would totally go back.

Oh boy. Please leave your inhibitions and pretenses at the door, but please bring your enthusiasm and a designated driver if possible. If not then please put Yellow Cab’s phone number in your phone.
The Riot Room has arguably, Kansas City’s finest craft and specialty brew selection. If you still want an old standby like PBR or Miller Lite, they have that too, but if you’re a little bit picky and want a higher quality malt beverage, this is the place to be.
The venue books a lot of up and coming good bands mostly in the hipster indie and the blue collar louder rock niches. The deck out back is a perfect place to lounge and to see and be seen. Beware, it seems like many of The Riot Room’s customers are smokers and they are not bashful about lighting up. If smoke bothers you then you might want to hang inside.
I will say at peak times the bar staff, while very friendly, can become a little bogged down and lines will form around the round bar. At the same time this happens at a lot of bars at peak times. I recommend coming out a little early and having a few drinks already in you so then the wait isn’t as bad.
I will say this is one of my favorite hang outs in Kansas City. If you decide to stop by, please hang on and enjoy the ride.