Entry No. 27 — the Kansas City file — filed under: art
The Blue Palm
Located in the gritty-cool Strawberry Hill neighborhood, this intimate tiki lounge has blacked-out front windows to completely block out the sun and transport guests to a tropical escape. Guests enter through a side patio to find a dark, moody space serving hand-mixed, rum-heavy classics and original creations like the taro-coconut-whipped 'Tarot Deck.'
The story
Strawberry Hill isn't where you'd typically look for a secluded tropical retreat, but 204 Orchard Street makes a point of hiding in plain sight. Co-founded by Roxie Danner and Houston DeFoe, The Blue Palm sits behind completely blacked-out front windows designed to shut out every stray beam of Kansas sunlight. You don't walk in through the front. Instead, you slip past the side patio into an intimate, artificially perpetual night.
Once inside, the bar leaves touristy sugary slurries at the door. The menu leans into heavy-handed rum craft, pouring proper flaming Zombies alongside house creations like the coconut-infused Rogue Coconut and the Tarot Deck—a drink layered with taro and whipped coconut. It's dark, neon-lit, and deliberately detached from the street outside.
What it's like
Approach from Orchard Street and look for the side patio—that's your actual entry point, since the front glass is pitch-black. Inside, you'll step straight into a low-lit room glowing with neon accents and lined with snug booths. Space is limited and the bar fills up quickly on weekend nights, so showing up early in the evening or on a weeknight is your best move for securing a booth without a wait.
The move: Slip through the side patio entrance into the pitch-black, neon-glowing room, grab a cozy booth, and share a flaming 'Zombie' or a coconut-infused 'Rogue Coconut' cocktail.
- 📍 Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 204 Orchard St, Kansas City, KS 66101
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Weird Stuff Antiques — Pair an afternoon spent digging through vintage neon and carnival relics in the West Bottoms with a dive into this pitch-black tiki den.
- The Ship — Double down on nautical-adjacent drink dens by following up your rum session with live music inside this West Bottoms warehouse staple.
- Klā Sanctuary — Offset the rum-heavy lounge environment with a silent thermal soak just a few minutes away across the river.
Good to know
How do you actually get inside?
Ignore the front windows—head around to the side patio to find the main door into the bar.
What kind of drinks should you expect?
Expect rum-forward tiki classics and custom house creations, including flaming Zombies, the Rogue Coconut, and the taro-and-coconut-whipped Tarot Deck.
Where is it located?
It's at 204 Orchard St in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas.
Are food items available?
The bar occasionally features special food menus and pop-ups throughout the week, though drinks remain the main focus.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · kansascitymag.com · kansascity.com · visitkansascityks.com · Yelp
last checked: 2026-07-21