5 minute read
My buddy and I drove four hours from St. Louis to Kansas City, Kansas to check out the newly opened Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City. At the time of this review, the property had only been open for about six weeks. It’s tucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere, which makes the whole experience feel like a tropical mirage plopped down in the Midwest.
The theming is on-brand: bright, playful, and beachy. The vibes are there, but the experience still has some kinks to work out.
The Room
We stayed in room 434, which was clean, stylish, and clearly brand new. It had the kind of breezy, coastal decor you’d expect from Margaritaville. The only downside? It’s right next to the elevators, and at night it sounded like kids were doing laps through the hallway. If you want peace and quiet, definitely request a room further from the action.
You can watch my Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City room tour below:
Service: Friendly Enough, but Spread Too Thin
The staff across the hotel has been friendly overall, but they’re clearly understaffed. Whether it was waiting for drinks at the bar or trying to flag someone down poolside, we found ourselves frequently overlooked.
At the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, we sat for over three hours and managed to get just two beers. Multiple staff members made eye contact, then kept walking. One took our order… then vanished. Another bartender eventually brought the drink over with zero communication. It was odd and frustrating.
Same story at the pool. On our first day, not a single staff member came over to take an order. When we finally asked someone for help, they told us they weren’t currently serving guests, even though servers around us were helping others.
Cabana Life: Worth It, with Caveats
We booked a cabana, and honestly, it’s one of the better decisions we made. Spacious, shaded, and clean—plenty of room for six, even though it was just the two of us.
Grace, our server, was kind and attentive when she could get to us, but she was clearly juggling way too much. Not only was she handling all of the cabanas (which were full), but she was also running food and drinks elsewhere throughout the hotel. At one point, we waited close to 30 minutes just to place a food order. Again, not her fault—she was great—but the hotel desperately needs more support staff.
Food & Drinks
Dining is limited to three options: LandShark Bar & Grill, 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, and Joe Merchant’s Coffee & Provisions. We had meals and snacks at multiple times during our stay—too many to list in detail—but here’s a quick taste:
- Tacos – solid and shareable.
- Pimento cheese dip – great flavor and texture.
- Philly cheesesteak – a sleeper hit we didn’t expect to like as much as we did.
- Shrimp scampi – the only real miss; way too much garlic that actually burned going down.
Drinks were hit or miss. You’d think the margarita would be the star of the show, but ours felt small and overpriced. Strong, yes, but not satisfying. On the flip side, the dirty martini I ordered was a knockout—perfectly made and priced just right at $12. The beer selection is decent, and pricing overall is fair for a hotel setting.
So… What Do You Do?
This is the big question. Outside of the pool and an arcade aimed at kids, there’s not a ton to keep you busy. If you’re not here to drink all day or corral children, you’ll likely run out of things to do pretty fast.
The gym is small but well-equipped. It wasn’t packed when we used it, but some machines like the treadmills were in use the whole time. It gets the job done if you need to squeeze in a workout.
Final Thoughts
Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City has potential. It looks great, has a fun energy, and the rooms are solid. But it’s still working through growing pains. Service is hit or miss, there’s not much to do beyond the pool, and staffing issues create real delays across the board.
If you’re a family looking for a getaway where the kids can run wild and you can kick back by the pool, this place might hit the mark. But if you’re hoping for something a little more well-rounded, polished, or adult-focused, it may be worth giving the hotel some more time to settle into itself.
