Kansas, known for its flat lands, is ideal for building runways and airports. Many aviation-themed restaurants, bars, and coffee shops celebrate the state’s history in the aviation industry.
Aviation’s roots run deep in Kansas.
Carl Dryden Browne built an airplane prototype in his Freedom, Kansas, factory three years before the Wright brothers went wheels up in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Five years after the Wright brothers’ flight, Kansas’ first successful airplane, the Longren Flyer, was built in Topeka in 1910.
Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman launched Travel Air Manufacturing in 1925, and each one contributed to the state’s role in the aviation industry after that. Amelia Earhart spent her childhood daydreaming of aviation in Atchison, Kansas.
As an Air Capital of the World resident and a jet pilot’s girlfriend, I’ve visited my fair share of Kansas’s aviation-themed restaurants, bars, and coffee shops open to the public. I loved them all.
The following must-visit places aim to give the state’s aviation industry the honor the Sunflower State deserves.
Kansas: Aviation-Themed Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops
Coffee Shops
Flight Crew Coffee
Wheels up! Flight Crew Coffee in Manhattan is ready to serve you. The owner, Heather, has considered every detail to ensure seamless “in-flight service.”
The cafe’s interior transports you to aviation heaven. Navy blue walls, black and white prints of airplanes, and a cozy fireplace invite you to nestle up with a coffee in hand. Jazz music plays in the background. As they say, “Our Coffee Gives You Wings,” and after my first visit to Flight Crew Coffee, my mood is flying high.
Bonus: Cross the Missouri border to experience The Roasterie Coffee Company in Kansas City. There, a Douglas DC-3 aircraft is displayed outdoors. The airplane appears on the packaging of its air-roasted coffee and merchandise.
Bars
Flight 1868
As they say, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for take-off at Flight 1868, an aviation-themed cocktail bar in Wichita. Sip on a Mile High Mai-Tai or Wright Flyer between in-flight bites. The bar is stocked with countless bottles of bourbon and whiskey, and yes, flights of 1-ounce pours are available. View my tour video.
During winter, you can reserve an outdoor Patio Sky Lounge (an enclosed igloo with seating) for up to eight guests.
1906 Bar & Lounge
The 1906 Bar & Lounge in Wichita’s Hotel at Old Town is a sought-after evening cocktail space after 5:30 p.m. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to stop by and enjoy live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays after 6:00 p.m. from a velvety couch surrounded by books and artwork showcasing the Air Capital of the World.
You can also stay overnight in a guest suite, located on the hotel’s newly renovated Aviation Floor.
Fly-In Airport Restaurants
Kansas aviation lovers can dine at several restaurants at airports across the state, and you don’t have to fly a plane to enjoy a meal.
Airport Steakhouse
Airport Steakhouse in Hutchinson attracts diners seeking a fine dining experience with a view of the Hutchinson Regional Airport’s runway. The restaurant is known for its charcoal-grilled Angus steak dinners, but the lunch buffet Monday through Friday and Sunday are also popular draws.
Stearman Airfield Bar & Grill
Park your car (or airplane!) at Stearman Airfield Bar & Grill in Benton to enjoy a hamburger or a sandwich inside a building resembling a hanger. During the summer, garage doors lift to create an open-air outdoor patio, a front-row seat to watch bi-planes take off and land at Lloyd Stearman Field.
K18 Café
At the Lucas Airport, K18 Café attracts aircraft owners and pilots seeking comfort food classics and a slice of homemade pie for dessert. Ask about the daily meal special with a choice of salad, mashed potatoes, and a beverage. At lunchtime, hamburgers and cold sandwiches satisfy.
We B Smokin’ BBQ
We B Smokin’ BBQ at Osawatomie-Paola Municipal Airport is often a stop for general aviation pilots and foodies alike. Show up for slow-smoked barbecue meat and crave-worthy sides Tuesday through Saturday or enjoy a breakfast menu on the weekends.
Watch pilots land on Beaumont’s airstrip from the Beaumont Hotel Wednesday through Sunday. The restaurant, located in Beaumont, reopens every Spring to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The prime rib dinner is served every fourth Saturday of the month starting at 4:30 p.m.
Bonus: Although the following restaurants are not located at an airport, each restaurant’s interior is designed with aircraft in mind: Fly Boy Brewery & Eats (Sylvan Grove), 6S Steakhouse (Wichita), and Hangar One Steakhouse (Wichita).
I’m always eager to learn about new-to-me aviation-themed restaurants in my home state, so if you know of one I didn’t include in this post, please drop the name in the comments.
You may also enjoy reading my additional blog posts highlighting Kansas aviation, Visiting Doc, B-29 Superfortress in Wichita, Exploring the Historic Charm of Atchison, Kansas, and National Aviation Day from the Air Capital of the World.
Meanwhile, I hope you visit one of these aviation-themed restaurants, bars, or coffee shops the next time you’re wheels up (or driving your car) in Kansas.
You’ll quickly be impressed by the high-quality selections as you peruse the bookcases. Of course, my eyes darted right to the cookbooks and travel guides, but I also found myself gazing at the rest of the gently-used books. The backend of the story is dedicated to the littlest shoppers, while the rest of the store stocks books for all ages.
The store is organized and managed by a small group of volunteers who are eager to help you find your next read. Open six days a week, book lovers can peruse well-stocked shelves for every genre from non-fiction to true romance. They make searching out a new book easy, too. The volunteer workers have painstakingly categorized the books and created thoughtful displays.
Open since 2015, the store is operated as a non-profit with the hope of connecting people with the resources they need. Within moments of my visit, I spotted books and supplies for every age. Parents with children in tow will appreciate the kids’ section devoted to their reading needs.
A haven for college students, the upstairs tables are typically occupied by college-aged scholars seated behind laptops. Downstairs, the register area doubles as a cafe.
Decorative ravens cut from paper dangle from string overhead as shoppers choose their next read. Like any good indie bookstore, a couple of curious cats are known to greet customers.
Shoppers can expect fiction and non-fiction titles, and I was impressed to see several best-selling titles in stock. Are you on the hunt for a good read during a road trip? Do you have a young adult reader interested in a new book? You’ll find multiple genres at Seven Stories.
You’ll notice that they don’t carry just best-selling titles but also curate new books that might not find elsewhere. For example, they stock a sizable selection of books by Indigenous authors, and the children’s book inventory is sizable.
But you’ll find more than books at Red Fern Booksellers. I was impressed to discover hand-made gift wrap, stationary for sale, puzzles, stickers, and handcrafted greeting cards. My visit ended perfectly when a butterfly greeted me as I exited the store, a delightful experience.
The café offers patrons a place to sit back and relax with a book or meet as a small group. During my visit, several locals met friends and colleagues at oversized tables with access to free Wi-Fi. Other areas of the coffee house were dedicated to families with kids, and the back patio offered a quiet, more secluded place to unwind.
I particularly appreciate their local interest and Kansas history books, a modest section located on the second floor. In 2021, I was proud to see they stocked my first book and encouraged me to sign them when visiting.
In business since 1977, the store regularly hosts author signing events and book talks.
Also in Wichita, adults will appreciate 
In Manhattan, 
In Andover, the entire family will find something to love at 
Outdoor landmarks worthy of touring include 
Other places to view well-known holiday light displays include 
You don’t have to be an experienced painter to appreciate the fun of adding paint to canvas at 
Hopefully, this list inspires you to add more delight to your Thanksgiving break spent with family. It’s the time of year when we’re reminded that quality time spent with family is important.
It’s the best place in town to gather with friends or family over a cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast, and it’s an ideal hideaway if you want to work behind a laptop at a corner table.
During a return visit, I sipped a steaming chai latté as the kitchen staff prepared breakfast sandwiches for us. Small groups of residents chatted over omelet bowls and biscuits and gravy. The barista quickly crafted expresso drinks for dine-in and drive-thru customers.
The BuCo Burrito (pressed like a panini) and The Hack Attack are prepared made-to-order, which was worth the short wait. I’d recommend BG Basket or one of the larger sandwiches if you’re extra hungry.
PRO TIP: Order a coffee-inspired cocktail from a special menu list or walk up to the adjacent bar to inquire about seasonal cocktails.
We perused shelves of gently used books for sale available for purchase with a one-dollar donation. At a nearby window, we watched bluebirds compete for nesting boxes as butterflies flew from flower to flower at the library’s garden. To my surprise, I also discovered a partially completed puzzle on a table, which I sat down to work on for awhile.
Additionally, the library offers endless fun for families. The children’s section includes activity bags parents can check out that teach kids about science, baking, and the outdoors.
PRO TIP: The Andover Public Library hosts events open to the public. View their 
We played the 
The map and signage make the course easy to follow, and the scenery consists of mature trees and George Lake. The play is moderately complex, with short and long shots from well-kept, wide fairways. Although the map included amateur and pro-play options, pro baskets were unavailable during our visit.
On occasion, a basket is partially hidden or elevated, making for unique shot opportunities. We were the only ones walking the course during the early morning hours on a weekday, and very few people walked the paved pathways near the course.
Walking from Hole 1 to 2 requires golfers to meander a woodland path under a tree canopy. Holes 13-18 are designed around Lake George, a home to waterfowl.
If you need to rest between holes, I recommend choosing a shaded bench seat near Hole 13 and 15.
Pro Tip: The park is home to Capitol Federal Amphitheater®, which hosts live events. Bring a lawn chair and a friend to enjoy concerts and theatrical performances when you’re not playing disc golf.
The cozy store is stocked to the brim with treasures. I recommend walking to the rear of the store to view the clearance table, where each item is priced at one dollar. The owner is also known to announce store-wide sales.
Reward yourself for scoring good deals with a slice of homemade pie, a cupcake, or a cinnamon roll. Renew Consign & Cafés outdoor patio is open year-round.
The staff member told us that most of their meat selection is processed in El Dorado. A fan of sourcing groceries close to home, I also appreciated their dry goods inventory and jarred pickled vegetables.
Whether it’s a thick-cut fresh or frozen steak or pork chops you’re after for dinner or a package of Honey BBQ Snack Sticks, Walnut Valley Meat Market’s got your covered.
Add men’s and women’s new and gently used apparel and shoes to your closet. Well-organized racks of kids’ clothing for all ages, toys, and board games are displayed.
You can feel good about purchasing items at Sunlight Thrift Boutique because proceeds from each purchase are donated to Sunlight Children’s Services, which provides resources and a temporary safe home for abused and neglected children and their families.
We bought new-to-us board game and a couple of men’s polo shirts. You’ll be shocked at the low prices of most items. New inventory is added six days a week.
I was curious about the latest trend, Forever Jewelry, a product and service the store offers during appointment-only sessions. Designed to be worn every day, a gold or silver necklace, bracelet, or anklet’s end pieces are welded together. The store also offers charms or a connector for each piece during select events.
The family-owned and operated jewelry store’s selection will please you. Whether you desire a new treasure for your jewelry box or need one repaired or restored, K. Westphal Jewelers does it all.
Made-to-order sandwiches like The Philly are prepared with sirloin (more like a ground beef patty than sliced meat), onions, Swiss cheese tomatoes, and crushed ripple potato chips. The non-traditional lunchtime meal is one of eight featured sandwiches, including their signature sandwich, The Bistro Burger. It was my favorite of the two options.
But it’s not your usual burger. Expect unique ingredients added to toasted Cuban bread. Burger meat is topped with grilled portobello mushrooms, fresh arugula, Fontina cheese, and red onion and drizzled with copious amounts of balsamic sauce. Side items are available upon request.
I was pleasantly surprised to find non-dairy sorbet and 100 percent vegan, plant-based 
Of course, CuppaYo’s topping stations include chunky bites of chocolate, cookies, and gummy candies, but for more health-conscious customers, you’ll also find fresh sliced fruit and nuts available.
A staff member weighed my frozen yogurt bowl at checkout to finalize pricing. It was less than four dollars. The experience was so much fun that I signed up for the loyalty program to earn points toward free frozen yogurt.
A newly constructed sports park, it is truly a remarkable place for families and friends to gather. Open to the public, an event lawn is available for hosting events and food truck parking. With so many options for exploration, we immediately selected one of four available pickleball courts for a game.
I had a blast learning how to play the game, and let’s just say we didn’t keep score. All the same, I appreciated the newly surfaced courts, positioned at a comfortable distance from other pickleball players.
PRO TIP: Bring your sports equipment, and don’t forget to pack sunblock. Follow Andover Parks and Recreation’s 
The rail-trail features different surfaces depending on your route of choice for walking or biking, including concrete, crushed limestone, and gravel flanked by wooded areas.
The trails are 10 feet wide, making it easy for dog walkers, joggers, and bikers to navigate together. The Andover-August rail trail is well-marked, and free parking is available at the 13th Street trailhead.
Our host ushered us to a dining table with a view of the putting green, Hole 1, and Hole 18. Seated near a stone fireplace and dark wood accents, we sipped Oak Grove wines by the glass between appetizers, bone-in wings, and ahi tuna bites.
Happy Hour specials feature $3 off wine by the glass, $3.50 well drinks, and $3 Coors Light and Bud Light draft beer on Tuesday-Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and all day on Wednesday.
We appreciated watching golfers at play and chatting about the day while waiting for a dinner selection; a Grilled Chicken Caeser wrap with a choice of side dish. Opting for the roasted Brussels sprouts, I loved them even more than the sandwich wrap as they were perfectly prepared and sitting on a bed of semi-sweet sauce.
The locally owned and operated restaurant, known for its American cuisine, serves a variety of appetizers, lunch, and dinner options for every kind of diner. I recommend dining on the patio (weather permitting) or indoors with a remarkable golf course view.
PRO TIP: Our drop-in visit on a Tuesday did not require reservations; however, groups will want to reserve a table or private room in advance. Arriving solo? Sit at the newly remodeled bar.
I’m a big fan of Andover’s 
