Megan Garrelts is co-owner of Bluestem, which has been voted number one for top food ranking in Kansas City by Zagat in 2005, 2006 & 2007. Bluestem offers an eclectic dining experience with local ingredients from local farmers and reinvented dishes for dinner and Sunday brunch.

What’s so special about dining in Kansas City?

Kansas City has always been known as a food town for barbecue and steak but this city is more well-rounded than that. We know how to dine and our region has great produce and meat.

What do you love best about Kansas City?

You can run into people you know here. Also, it’s very well connected and easy to get around.

What are Kansas City’s best-kept nightlife and dining secrets?

The older boutique hotels like the Hotel Phillips with a great historic interior also has great food at Phillips Chophouse. Also, the Drum Room Restaurant and Lounge has a neat bar in the Hilton President.

What’s your insider-tip for someone visiting Kansas City?

Staying in a hotel in Midtown or Country Club Plaza allows you to walk to many destinations. Boutique hotels are very affordable. Also, Christopher Elbow Chocolates has a shop downtown and a drinking bar with high quality stuff.

If you only had three places to take a visitor in one night, where would you take them?

We’d start at JP Wine Bar for wine flights and pairings, then we’d go to the Drum Room for cocktails and appetizers. We’d finish at Harry’s Bar and Tables with the 1 a.m. crowd.