Why Wichita is Cooler Than You Think

2. Local Pride is Everywhere

Wichita loves Wichita. The flag is on shirts, murals, stickers, and probably at least one tattoo per friend group. There’s also huge support for local businesses, you’ll find way more mom-and-pop shops than chain restaurants here.

3. The Food Scene is Legit

We have food that even celebrities go out of their way for.

• Best Burgers:

  • TJ’s Burger House 

  • Dempsey’s Burger Pub

  • Fizz Burgers

  • Sickies

• Best Pizza:

  • iL Vicino = Pizza perfection.

  •  Knollas

  •  Picasso’s

  • Bob & Luigi

  • Casey’s (yes, it’s a gas station, but trust us!)

• Best Brunch:

  •   Homegrown = A favorite spot of Harrison Ford and Serena Williams!

• Best Desserts:

  •  Andy’s

  • Crumbl

  • Milkfloat

  • Cocoa Dolce

  • Frost

• Best for a celebration:

  • 6S

  • Chesters

  • George’s French Bistro

  • Firebirds

  • The Belmont

  • Red Rock

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg (lettuce). There’s so much more to try.

4. Breweries, Cideries & Wineries Galore

From Jenny Dawn Cellars (Black-woman owned and fabulous) to White Crow Cider (nicest staff ever), Wichita’s craft scene is popping. Plus, there’s a brewery on practically every corner, and they’re all different.

5. The Bar & Nightlife Scene is Fun, Not Pretentious

Think trivia nights every day of the week, pop-up events, and things like “Bitchy Bingo” with local drag artists.
Wichita has an active LGBTQ+ community, and places like XY Bar are always ready for a dance party.

Love Karaoke? Check out Vorshay’s Cocktail Lounge for karaoke or live music!

6. Check out the Arts

Want to see a show under the stars while sipping a local brew? Concerts at Riverfest, Somewhere fest, and the Wave outdoor venue offer the perfect venues.

Catch a show at one of Wichita’s theaters, like Century II, Flying Pig Improv, The Orpheum, or Roxy’s.

Or head downtown to take part in our First Friday art crawls, when many of our museums offer free admission.

7. Coffee Shops for Days

We have so many cute coffee shops, you could live here for 10+ years (like many of our staff have) and still not get to them all. Good luck trying, though.

9. Wichita is a Bike & Trail City

There are tons of bike paths, walking trails, and places to enjoy the outdoors without the hassle of climbing a mountain or freezing in a snowstorm. Some notable trails include:

• Redbud Trail

• Great Plains Nature Center

• K-96 Bike Path

• Botanica

• Sedgwick County Park

• Sedgwick County Zoo

11. The Arkansas River is Beautiful (and Yes, We Pronounce it "Ar-Kansas")

Walk along the river, check out the Keeper of the Plains sculpture, and catch the nightly fire lighting. It’s like our version of a beach bonfire, minus the sand and seagulls. Or head to Boats&Bikes to rent kayaks, paddle boats, or paddle boards!

12. Sports are Big Here

• Wind Surge Baseball = brand new stadium + fireworks show

• Wichita State Teams = basketball, volleyball, bowling (yes, bowling is serious here)

• Bonus: The Shockers have a whole vibe. You’ll see “WuShock” (our terrifying but lovable mascot) everywhere.