Travis Kelce’s favorite restaurants in Kansas City for dates with Taylor Swift, boys’ night with pals and more

Travis Kelce has found his go-to restaurants in Kansas City, Mo. since signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.AFP via Getty Images

Travis Kelce announced in March 2024 that he and Patrick Mahomes were opening a new Kansas City restaurant, 1587 Prime.

The new eatery was described as a “unique modern American steakhouse” — and Kelce has surely frequented enough Kansas City hotspots to know what he wants in the new joint.

The hunky football player has been known to hit the town with friends and family ever since he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.

Whether he is enjoying low-key date nights with girlfriend Taylor Swift or having a boys’ night at one of his go-to spots, here are Kelce’s favorite restaurants in Kansas City.

Prime Social

Prime Social was the first place Kelce took girlfriend Taylor Swift after they went public with their romance. primesocialrooftop/Instagram

Kelce’s friends and family joined the couple at the rooftop bar after one of his games. GC Images
Kelce and Swift confirmed their relationship in September 2023 after the singer flew to Kansas City to watch her beau’s game against the Chicago Bears.

After the game, the couple celebrated the win at Prime Social — which Kelce rented out for the night — alongside several of the athlete’s teammates and their wives.

Photos from inside the exclusive party showed the couple lounging near the bar area.

The rooftop bar, part of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants group, is a trendy spot downtown serving up fun cocktails and an array of different foods — ranging from sushi to pizza and even a dirty martini topped with a potato chip and caviar.

Piropos Restaurant

In October 2023, the pair also enjoyed a cozy dinner at Piropos Restaurant. Instagram/@piroposkc

The pair reportedly had the restaurant all to themselves as the staff agreed to stay open late to accommodate them. GC Images

The following month, the lovebirds enjoyed a romantic dinner at the Argentine steak house Piropos following Kelce’s win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Due to his game, the couple didn’t arrive at the restaurant until late at night; however, the staff agreed to stay open past closing to finish their two-hour dinner.

While it’s unclear what they ordered, some menu highlights include empanadas, grilled meats, seafood, fresh salads and vegetables with a touch of Spanish, Italian and French flare.

Swift and Kelce, who wore a striped tracksuit, left the spot holding hands and the footballer was photographed opening the door of his Rolls Royce for the “Anti-Hero” singer until she was safely in the car.

The Golden Ox

The NFL star has also dined at The Golden Ox on numerous occasions — including his 34th birthday. Instagram/@goldenoxkc
Kelce loves a good steak house and The Golden Ox is one of them.

The hunky tight end celebrated his 34th birthday at the old-school eatery — which is the oldest steakhouse in Kansas City — in October 2023.

“He just wanted a night out with his buddies where he could have a little birthday dinner in quiet,” Golden Ox general manager Craig Shannon told People at the time. “But, of course, he made time to stop and talk to people outside — super nice.”

Kelce and his friends sat at the exclusive “Chef’s Table,” giving them a bit of privacy.

The restaurant staff revealed that Kelce, who they described as a “gentleman,” ordered several cuts of meat, the lobster mac and cheese and broccoli. GC Images
While the establishment is known for its meat, the menu also features decadent sides like parmesan creamed spinach and their famous baked potato.

According to Kelce’s server, who waited on him multiple times in the past, the athlete “ate the same thing he eats all the time” — a giant “porterhouse, medium-rare, “a filet side,” the lobster mac and cheese and broccolini.

Both the waiter and general manager gushed about what “a gentleman” Kelce was to the restaurant staff, calling him “one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet in the world.”

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que

The entire Kelce family is a big fan of Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. Instagram/@joeskc

Both Travis and Jason Kelce have been spotted waiting in line for the famous smoked meats. Instagram/@joeskc
Kansas City is known for its barbecue and Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is one of the best places to get it, according to the Kelce family.

The three-time Super Bowl champion has been spotted waiting in line to get his hands on their famous burnt ends and Z-Man sandwiches on numerous occasions.

He even seemingly got his mother, Donna Kelce, and brother Jason Kelce, hooked on the spot as they have also been spotted there.

Their mom, Donna, also frequents the BBQ joint when she is in town. Instagram/@joeskc
Although the local restaurant is a hot spot for Chiefs players, Joe’s general manager, Victor Brummel, told Parade in October 2023 that the athletes “just want to wait in line like everybody else.”

“It’s part of the experience,” he explained. “They don’t want to feel any better than anybody else. They just want to come and enjoy.”

The no-frills restaurant — which is attached to a gas station— has three different locations in Kansas City, all serving up the same award-winning smoked meats and sandwiches.

Rye

Rye is also a go-to spot for both Travis and Swift. Instagram/@rye_kc

Swift hit the Midwestern eatery with some girlfriends in January after Travis recommended it. Instagram/@rye_kc
One of Travis’ favorite spots in Kansas City is Rye — in fact, he once recommended it to Swift for a fun-filled girls’ night out.

The “upscale urban farmhouse” run by a husband-and-wife team is known for its famous crispy fried chicken and decadent cinnamon rolls, which is one of Kelce’s favorite items on the menu.

In January 2024, the “Cruel Summer” singer treated herself and her new Kansas City girl squad, including BFF Brittany Mahomes, to some Midwestern comfort food at the popular eatery.

At the time, the restaurant’s owner, Megan Garrelts, told us that Kelce is a big fan of their two local locations.

One of the co-owners told us at the time that the NFL star was a frequent customer of theirs — and particularly loves their cinnamon rolls. Instagram/@rye_kc
“He comes in pretty often to both. He’s awesome. He’s super nice,” Garrelts told us at the time.

“He loves saying, ‘Hi,’ to people in the restaurant … He’s been a little bit more private, he sits in the private room, but normally he sits in the main dining room with his friends and handlers. He’s great.”

 

The following month, Travis was spotted rolling up to Rye in his Rolls Royce alongside one of his friends.

After enjoying a quiet meal with his pal, the athlete was photographed slipping out the back door with a to-go bag.

Chicken N Pickle

The Chiefs star also invested in Chicken N Pickle, a rooftop restaurant with pickleball courts. Instagram/@chickenpicklegpv

Travis is also planning to open up a restaurant. chariah/Instagram
While Patrick and Travis didn’t decide to open their restaurant until 2024, they started investing in other KC eateries years ago.

In August 2023, the duo was part of a group of investors that raised $10 million in financing for Chicken n Pickle, a “chicken-centric joint” in Kansas City with a patio, rooftop bar & pickleball courts.

With Travis’ help, the pickleball restaurant chain scored their first location in Houston, Texas, as it continues to expand throughout the country.