The Mercury Room Bar — Restaurant in Kansas City

We don’t write reviews often, but our experience at this trendy downtown KC venue was upsetting enough that we felt compelled to share — especially for others who may be considering spending their time and money here.

We had a reservation with friends, who had paid a significant fee for 1 hour and 45 minutes at a reserved table. While we were running late (approximately 25 minutes), our friends proactively contacted the venue to inform them — and were told the 15-minute grace period still applied. They attempted to call again twice more as we were en route, but received no answer.

When we arrived, we were squeezed into a small, awkward waiting space while the hostess went to “check” on our table. She returned but were waiting for some time while other patrons were seated, when a young man — presumably a manager — informed us that our table had been given away. Despite our friends’ prior contact and the remaining time we would have had at the table, we were told, without apology or grace, that we had “missed our opportunity.” When our party expressed understandable frustration, the manager dismissively told us “that plane has already left.” That was the gist of the phrasing — and the tone matched it.

We understand policies exist, and we don’t dispute that our party was late. But what we do expect, particularly from an upscale venue, is professionalism, respect, and basic hospitality — none of which we received. Given that the venue had already rebooked the table and replaced the potential revenue, a gesture of goodwill (such as refunding part or all of the reservation fee) would have gone a long way. Instead, we left not only disappointed, but embarrassed and humiliated.

It’s hard to shake the feeling that if we had been a different type of group — say, younger, flashier, or more in line with the aesthetic this place seems to cater to — the outcome might have been different. It’s not just about the reservation; it’s about how people are treated.

This may be the “it” spot in Kansas City right now, but there are many other exceptional venues in town offering great ambiance, well-crafted cocktails, and — importantly — professional, welcoming staff. We recommend you spend your evening at one of those instead.

Thankfully, our weekend wasn’t ruined. But unfortunately, this experience stood out for all the...

This is NOT a place that welcomes Black Excellence. I had a reservation on 2/4/23 for my birthday dinner. I reserved for a party of 15. We were dressed in our finest garments ready to have a nice vibe & experience to end my birthday night. A $300 deposit was paid. I had 18 with me, plus the photographer. Before bringing the photographer, I was told it was allowed, he just could not interfere with other guest. No problem. We would be in our own space. I was also told they take walk ins if I had additional people. Immediately upon entering the lady working the door was NOT welcoming. Nose tuned up & irritated immediately by our presence. Then the owner comes to tell me they are preparing for us to come up because it was past 11pm, our check in time & the previous reservations were not gone. THEN he says he can’t accomodate the extra people. He was quite rude and was not trying to work out the situation. Two people left so we are down to 16 and the photographer. He goes on to then say the photographer has to be in a seat. He was only going to be there about 30min. Clearly the photos on the website are not taken by anyone sitting. He was not trying to work out the additional person and was quite rude about it. I will never patronize this space or any of the other spaces they are affiliated with. The experience was embarrassing & ultimately tried to ruin my birthday night. It was very evident by the way we were treated VS the other guest, that we were not welcome there. We left at 1130 and the previous party was still not gone. Seems to me, they didn’t want to make them leave when their reservation was up either. So, we decided to take our money somewhere it was appreciated and where we were welcomed. I do NOT recommend. We will patronize places we are welcomed. No apology, NOTHING. Just rude and...

Our recent visit to the Mercury Room fell short of expectations. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the host whose demeanor came across as blunt and dismissive, which set an unfortunate tone for the evening. After checking in, we proceeded upstairs where we were welcomed by Chase, who was warm, informative, and gave us a thoughtful overview of the space—his hospitality was a highlight.

However, the experience quickly lost momentum. The individual who appeared to be our server never engaged with us, choosing instead to stand silently rather than provide any table service or interaction. This created a noticeably cold and impersonal atmosphere.

The cocktails themselves were underwhelming—pungent and lacking balance, with overpowering flavor profiles that left little room for nuance. The garnishes, such as a freeze-dried peach ring and a packaged gummy, felt like an afterthought and detracted from the sophistication we expected. As avid cocktail enthusiasts, we’ve had far more refined experiences elsewhere.

That said, we want to sincerely thank KJ, the bartender, who clearly recognized our dissatisfaction and made a genuine effort to turn things around. Despite managing the entire room on his own, he remained professional and attentive, and we appreciated his efforts.

While the 14th-floor location offers potential, the overall ambiance did not deliver. The light installation was underwhelming, and the plastic high-top chairs felt out of place in a venue positioned as upscale. We had planned to stay longer, but ultimately chose to cut the visit short.

In summary, the experience missed the mark in several key areas, though we are grateful to the few staff members who did try to make...