Velvet Dog, Kansas City

This Westport favorite was the first Kansas City nightspot to jump on the "Martini Bar" bandwagon. The atmosphere is "Dean Martin cool," with extremely low lighting, lots of velvet and cozy corners to cuddle. The music is not live, but the CD jukebox makes up for it by offering swanky tunes by Frank Sinatra and other hip cats. Two menus are available: one features pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and munchies and the other has a mouthwatering list of martinis. A tree-lined patio offers bocce ball and outdoor dining.