Firefly Lounge

Do not come here! Ghetto!!! Hood! One associate became aggressive w my cousin (female), coming w/​in 3 inches of her face yelling. Oh, why, you ask??? This was to enforce how «stressful» his job was. When I approached the manager, Pat, he stated that he wasn’t there so he feels his associate wasn’t yelling. No apology. No reassurance that her (my cousins) safety was never in jeopardy. I wouldn’t recommend this place to ANYONE who wants a safe, chill spot.

One star is the best I can do. The DJ is a complete. The staff is rude and has no allegiance to those who have served in the military. My friends and I went there to relax and hang out but ended up getting shit talked and challenged about our great country. Please don’t go there. The drinks aren’t worth it and there are plenty of other places to have fun in Westport.

Place used to be a hot spot for young locals, but the staff and management have changed. Poor service, and the debilitated space cimbined with lackluster ambience has driven most locals to more prominent bars including Harry’s and Kelly’s just down the street. Can no longer recommend.

All else is cool, but the DJ is overbearing.
Remove yourself from the music.
Learn how to let songs ride for more than 45 seconds. Don’t remix to your preferences, read the room. Keep themes and rhythms consistent. He’s going from Drake to Jackson 5 to Busta Rhymes in the matter of 3 minutes.
Get Real OG.

Bartenders were really nice and the drink prices weren’t bad but this place is in serious need of some updating and cleaning.

The downstairs club is like going to someone’s unfinished basement. It smells like sweat and throw-​up.

Stopped in for dancing and refreshment with the girls a couple of weeks back.
We were early and the place hadn’t started poppn yet so bartenders were nice and friendly :) lol. (Thx for the kisses)
Once the DJ got started it was a straight on party — music was groov’n!
I love Westport because of the diversity and this night was no different — a good mix of people there and everyone I talked to was very friendly! Of maybe I was the one who was so friendly? LOL it was fun and I’d go back for sure.

Daniel is the man! PERFECT! This is what we came here for. Award winning chef. Great food. Oh they have steaks too. Brisket n burnt ends were righteous. Beans n slaw were a religious experience.

Didn’t realize it was a gay bar until I paid $ 5 to get in and $ 8 for a drink. Crowded with lots of obstacles. Hard to move around. Terrible layout.

Lovely staff, great dance music and a really fun time! I will certainly be back!

I’ve been here twice and both times for special morning events (Kegs & Eggs) so I can’t really tell you how it is on a «normal» day. The staff seemed friendly enough and there is a big patio. A lot of the patio furniture is in pretty serious disrepair and could probably stand a few new low-​maintenance replacements — even plastic chairs would be better than some they have.
The place could stand a good cleaning. There is a lot of dust around, like on their accent wall and the back of the booths. The booths and tables weren’t dirty, but you notice stuff like dusty crust on things and it gives you a feeling if ickiness.

I think my expectations were wrong from the get-​go, which led to a less than stellar experience. I expected a Manifesto setting with great craft drinks and what I got was a dance club that calls itself a lounge complete with the drama and fighting.
I was happy with the place when I first got there. We easily found a table and the bartenders were very nice. The setting itself is very cool with the low lights and a blue tint. They didn’t have the craft drinks that were compared to Manifesto and when I asked he said they weren’t doing that right now, because they were updating their drink list. No offers to make one of the old ones. I ended up with a beer and glass of champagne since we were there for a birthday.
The drinks were ridiculously expensive with Boulevard Pilsners on special for $ 6 — really?! It was not busy when we first arrived. There were a few birthday celebrations sprinkled here and there and the mood was light and positive that quickly changed as the people piled in. Once it got busy the fights began and the bouncers jumped into place.
I would not go back unless I read some reviews of stellar drinks they were having comparable to Manifesto and I would go before 11 when things seemed to slip downhill.

First time @Firefly I have to say that as a 36-​year old male it was AWESOME!
I live in Springfield, Missouri and am used to most nightclubs being overrun with college students and Firefly proved to be so much more.
Great music, amazingly friendly people, great bar staff and a really nice locale. The patio, though being small offered smoking options and reprieve from the loudness.
5-​stars, I shall return!

UPDATE:
Sorry Firefly, you went from 5 stars to 3. How? by taking a quiet «speakeasy» kind of place and turning it into a full-​on, thumping, packed wall-​to-​wall dance club. Not sure how you managed to do that but the $ 5 cover at the door tells me why.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
You know what? I’ve been here enough now that I can break tradition of most other reviews of Firefly. I think it’s a five-​star place. There are downsides but I don’t think that alone is worth counting Firefly out.
The best thing about Firefly is either the people watching or having the place all to yourself. Either way, you’re going to have a good night. Any night besides Friday or Saturday is bound to have lots of empty seating, you’ll get to sit anywhere you’d like.
Friday or Saturday — well, lately, that’s a different story. The noteworthy part about a busy night is the graciousness of the crowd. It’s strangely opposite of Firefly’s sister business next door. There’s no chest pumping or cross-​eyed looks. It’s almost as if, the whole «speak-​easy» thing, as loosely tied to it’s origins as it is, bonds the people there.
I’ve never felt threatened at Firefly, even with it’s central Westport location. The crowd has always been gracious and warm.
This past Friday, I spent a couple hours on the couches watching the crowd in full jerk dance mode. there was a full crowd around the dance area just having a great time.
So after lot’s of visits to Firefly, it’s with great pride that I consider it one of my «home bars».

I’m honestly not really sure how to rate Firefly, based on my first and only experience there so far.
The atmosphere for dancing was really good. We had no problem finding a table on a Saturday night. The cocktails were delicious.
The problem? I’m fairly certain I was charged what I like to call an Ugly Tax.
I and a group of other young women visited Firefly for a bachelorette party. One of the bridesmaids is very pretty in the conventional blonde-​and-​skinny way. Which is not to knock her looks at all. She’s flipping gorgeous. The bride-​to-​be described her as looking like Cinderella stepped right out of a Disney movie and came to life. She’s not wrong.
Anyway, said bridesmaid orders a lemon drop martini from the bartender. She receives a very well-​presented cocktail with a corkscrew lemon peel garnish, which she allows me to taste. Absolutely fantastic, especially given that she’s only charged $ 6 for the drink. I decide to keep this in mind for later.
After having another cocktail (a savory one called a Transmet, which was also amazing), I decide to order three lemon drop martinis for myself, the bride, and another friend. The same bartender neglects the pretty lemon peel garnish on ours and then charges me $ 21 for all three.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I am not the best at math, but I’m fairly certain that if you divide $ 21 by three, that comes out to $ 7 per cocktail. Which means I either got a $ 1 Ugly Tax on each drink, or my lovelier counterpart got a Pretty Discount on hers.
Either way, that’s messed up.

Firefly has a lot going for it: smoldering ambiance, a fabulous bartender, an interesting cocktail menu and good food. One enters via a loooong narrow brick hallway, all the way towards an inviting room that is the ultimate speakeasy. They’ve decked out the rather large room with intimate booths that are as conducive to small groups (we had anywhere up to 9 people at ours) as they are to couples «wanting to get to know each other– wink, wink.»
It was quiet last night, except for my group. Quiet. Not «dead.» When I was a bartender it drove me nuts when people said the latter and it still kind of bugs me. Nothing is as insulting and rude as someone who walks into a place and declares, «Why is it so *dead* in here?!» It blows my mind that people actually do this. It’s like adding insult to injury. I know this place thrives on the weekends, but I prefer a more laid back kind of scene. That is, *no* scene.
I think there is a lot of potential here (I’m thinking some kind of 1950s Naples jazz clubesque scene) and I get the idea they are going through some changes. For example, their website states that Thursdays is an all night happy hour from 6 pm– 3am. We got there at 7 and was told they don’t open until 8. When we asked about the specials, well, there’s no more Thursday night thing going on apparently, which was kind of a bummer. I guess I don’t get the point of having *nothing at all* on special, especially in a city where the buyback is all but non existent (not that I’m complaining when you consider the deals that most bars have!)
It’s all good, though, because I was so adoring of the environs (and they have a secluded back patio), I had no intentions of leaving. The DJ was good, our bartender took excellent care of us and when you’re surrounded by good company, well, that’s all you need for a great night out, isn’t it?
I look forward to a return visit.

First stop Westport, location: Firefly Lounge. Ahh yes driving around in circles looking for parking I could not wait to get inside!
If you are in a rush and not paying attention Firefly might not happen for you. It’s a small sign hanging above the door. The one attention grabber is probably the ice blue illuminating light from the windows and door way.
As you enter you will walk down a long hallway and the, BAM… you have entered this trendy, oddly decorated lounge.
My travel partner and I grabbed two seats at the bar and James the awesome and very friendly bartender really was attentive. He recommended our drinks, except we splurged for a PB&J Shot, hahah!!! Well it wasn’t PB&J like I remember but it was good.
He introduced us to a beer, Lips of Faith. HOLY GREATNESS! It was crisp, light and refreshing. I’d drink it again for sure!
he also had me try another beer cannot recall the name but the background notes were a lot like balsamic vinegar, not a bad thing if you like balsamic. I do.
We really liked this place and would certainly go again. It’s a good spot for a drink before it’s get really late and packed. Nice atmosphere, good beats and fun people!

First of all, I realize that I probably come across as a little schitzo when it comes to Firefly. Does ANY business really warrant 3 review updates? Well, my experience at Firefly last night left on me a strong enough impression that i realized i had to update my take on Firefly…
On any typical night i would highly recommend a night at Firefly. In my opinion, it is one of the best bars in town, with an amazing look and music, an eclectic, classy crowd, and top notch drinks.
«Sexy Saturdays» is NOT a typical night at Firefly. It is everything that Firefly shouldn’t be, and it pisses me off that they even do it.
My friends and I walked in a little after midnight and the sign on the door said «Girls of KU». uh oh, that doesn’t bode well. We walk in and the place is PACKED and everybody is sloppy drunk and seemingly we missed the memo that the theme of the night was «Jersey Shore». Popped collars, awful fake tans, big hair. Loud and obnoxious.
Equally loud and obnoxious was the early 90s hip hop throwback that the DJ was spinning that this d-​bag infestation was eating right up. We immediately knew we weren’t going to stay long, but since we all just paid a cover we’d have one drink then go.
We belly up to the bar, and not only did they tell me that they weren’t making me my favorite drink, the Pendergast, but then they served me my bourbon and coke in a plastic cup! what the fuck!!!
1) Firefly is all about their top notch cocktails. I don’t care how busy you are. don’t plan a big event party that is still open to the public if you can’t keep your standards up.
2) A PLASTIC CUP??? Harpos is across the street, and I didn’t walk in there for a reason.
While we were drinking our drinks as fast as we could, we caught people rolling around on the furniture, a couple grinding on each other so hard that the guy had to spend the next 5 minutes hiding his hard-​on from his new friend, and a fight! I have NEVER felt like the crowd at Firefly was this sketchy and on edge.
Firefly people, if you’re listening… I understand the need to make a buck. But don’t you think that evenings like this, evenings that are a total mess and completely go against your image, that will alienate the people that actually come on other nights, are incredibly short-​sighted?
I sure do.
I’m not giving up on Firefly, as i generally really do like it. But I can assure you that from now on, I will make completely sure that i’m not there on «sexy saturdays», which means my friends and i wont just be randomly coming in on a Saturday night.
5 stars for every other night + 1 star for «Sexy Saturdays» = 3 stars overall

I like the concept of this place so that’s why I’m giving it 4 stars. However, this is not a dance place. For some reason I thought it was. I even asked the DJ to play dance stuff (which he did not appreciate, haha) and he told me people dance later on. Never saw that.
I went here with a rather large group that grew and grew as the night progressed. Eventually people were dragging furniture over and we probably made a mess of the place.
This is a good place for conversation. I agree that the lighting could be better. The furniture is cool but I ended up spilling some wine on my dress (can I blame it on the couch?). The waitress was very nice and brought me some club soda. The patio is nice for the smokers.
I do like this place more than most Westport bars. It is a laid-​back, dress-​up type of place. I will be back.

EDIT: I hate to do this, but my latest experience at Firefly was dismal at best.
After moving from Kansas City in July 2010 I couldn’t stop telling people about the wonderful little gem tucked away in the increasingly douche-​bag laden Westport. The drinks! The service! The crowd that’s as unpredictable as it is vivacious!
Last week I came back, excited to return to my old haunt and sip on the drinks that I had come to love. I was taken aback by a new bartender, but fearlessly ordered my Hendrick’s martini with a cucumber. My eyes widened as he measured a stirring spoon’s worth of vermouth, continued to grow as he dumped in ONE (yes, ONE!) jigger of gin, and became saucer-​sized as he then proceeded to stir the drink. After placing the cucumber on the rim he poured his mysterious mixture into my glass, and I was shocked when the drink didn’t even touch the cucumber. He then charged my $ 9 for my third-​of-​a-​drink.
This is, admittedly, the first time I’ve ever had anything but top-​notch service at Firefly. Maybe my absence skewed my perception, or maybe the institution is making detrimental changes. I certainly hope it doesn’t become one of those «I went there when it was cool, but now it’s a dump» sort of places. Dear Firefly, please go back to excellent.
Nonplussedly yours,
Tyson
ORIGINAL: Wow. I’ve found my new favorite «martini-​type» place to go in KC, a title previously held by Harry’s.
Wonderfully mixed Manhattan (and I’m pretty picky) for the right price ($ 6.50 and worth it). The atmosphere, even on a Saturday night, was relaxed and conducive to conversations, though that could be due to the snow on the ground.
Going back tonight.