Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Wichita

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Wichita? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Lava & Tonic

5.0

5 (207)

$30 and under

Hawaiian

Wichita

About the restaurant

Our bar seating is first come first served. We recommend reserving space ahead by calling 316-364-4141 or reserving on open table. Welcome to our little oasis in the middle of Kansas! Lava & Tonic, Wichita's finest immersive tiki bar. Our normal hours are Wednesday - Thursday 5 PM - 11 PM, Friday - Saturday 4 PM - 12:30 AM, & Sunday 4 PM - 10 PM. Drop by at 1716 E Douglas, located directly west of the Donut Whole.

Please take note your reservations have a time limit of two hours! We require this in order to maintain proper flow in our establishment!

Top review

Lauren

Dined on Oct 20, 2024

We came in for drinks to celebrate a birthday. The atmosphere was so fun and we enjoyed that it was quiet enough to still have conversations! We didn’t eat this time but will definitely be back again!!

Newport Grill

4.8

4.8 (1716)

$30 and under

Seafood

Wichita

About the restaurant

Newport Grill is a progressive seafood restaurant in Wichita, Kansas. We receive "top of the boat" fresh fish six days a week! Executive Chef Ivan Garcia has created a diverse and delicious menu that will make anybody's taste buds dance! We are located next to the water fountain in Bradley Fair shopping center.

Top review

Toddvip

Dined today

Gavon was our server today and did a fantastic job!

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Popular dish

Oysters

Popular dish

Agridime Filet Mignon

First Mile Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (27)

$31 to $50

American

Wichita

About the restaurant

Chef Nick Korbee is bringing locally grown, seasonally driven, elevated cuisine to Wichita, KS.
Winner of Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association's(KHRA) best new concept award, & several other accolades; including best cocktail & best brunch bite, the First Mile Team will deliver an amazing culinary experience.
Located in famous Bradley Fair, upon arrival you will be greeted by an open concept kitchen with a wood-burning fire hearth.
Guests can relax by the fireplace lounge while enjoying our sommelier-tailored wine list, craft cocktail menu, locally sourced beer, or even an extensive non-alcoholic list of craft mocktails, N/A beer and N/A wine.
Settle in & Listen to records at our amazing bar.
Our ash bar was crafted by hand through local carpenters sourcing all material from Kansas.
We have an extensive collection of vinyl records & you can oftentimes find our owners playing music during dinner service. Feel free to bring your favorite record & we will spin it for you!

Top review

Chris

Dined 6 days ago

Fantastic experience! Food was fabulous and we were celebrating a birthday and they took great care of us!

Chester's Chophouse & Wine Bar

4.7

4.7 (904)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Wichita

About the restaurant

An iconic Wichita steakhouse overlooking the lake at Waterfront. Chester's serves classic steaks and fresh seafood specialities, complemented by signature desserts, classic cocktails, and an extensive wine list. Comfortable dining rooms, inviting bar and a beautiful lakeside patio all designed to make you comfortable. Our Lake Room is available for private functions and is equipped with state of the art multi media capabilities. Whether you are enjoying a business meal or dining with friends and family, your experience will be unforgettable.

Top review

Paula

Dined 2 days ago

Best place to eat!! Our waiter Dillion (Dillions..lol) was excellent!! Very attentive and personable.

Vora Restaurant European

4.7

4.7 (790)

$30 and under

European

Wichita

About the restaurant

At Vora, our menu features timeless European cuisine focused on traditional French and Italian dishes to capture the essence of cross-regional European dining. Perfectly paired with an extensive variety of Old World wines, craft European beer, and masterfully curated cocktails, Vora offers itself to our patrons as a window into a dining experience once far off, now so close as just around the corner.

Top review

Lynne

Dined on Nov 12, 2024

What an amazing dining experience! The food was outstanding, the energy of the restaurant exceptional and our server Rat prob one of the best I've had! He kept up w our orders, we went crazy w appetizers and drinks, and he didn't miss a beat!! I would recommend him and Vora to anyone looking for an amazing dining experience!

Twelve Restaurant & Bar

4.7

4.7 (63)

$30 and under

American

Wichita

About the restaurant

Locally owned upscale-casual restaurant and bar featuring fresh classic American cuisine, including steaks, seafood, specialty salads and sandwiches. Located in the Westlake shopping center at 119th St. and Maple.

Longtime restaurateur, Bryce Kuhn, brings over 14 years of experience to Twelve Restaurant & Bar. Bryce's experience includes 8 years of management with Houston's in Kansas City, Denver, and Los Angeles. Bryce returned to his hometown of Wichita, KS to open and manage the Bonefish Grill. He later opened and served as General Manager of the Newport Grill. Most recently, he was General Manager of the Lakeside Club. Opening Twelve fulfills Bryce's dream to open and operate a neighborhood restaurant serving his hometown friends and families.

The Twelve menu includes several of Bryce's personal favorite dishes including smoked salmon, sweet corn risotto, spinach-artichoke dip, hand-cut steaks, ribs, and fresh seafood.

Top review

Ken

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

Prime rib and salmon cooked perfectly; outstanding service!

Siena Tuscan Steakhouse

4.6

4.6 (711)

$30 and under

Italian

Wichita

About the restaurant

Located inside the beautiful Ambassador Wichita, is the upscale, Italian-style steakhouse, Siena Tuscan Steakhouse. Our Executive Chef is passionate about local sourcing, fresh ingredients and innovative dish preparation. Siena offers an ambiance that will make you forget you are in Kansas. Join Siena for breakfast or dinner while you are there, stay the night and see the gorgeous Ambassador Hotel, the only AAA Four Diamond Hotel in the State of Kansas.

Siena is located downtown Wichita. Enjoy Happy Hour Monday - Friday and our award winning wine list on any day of the week. Siena can accommodate most dietary needs. Siena Tuscan Steakhouse received Open Table Diner's Choice Award for 2022 and Peoples Choice Award for 2022 recognition Great Chefs of the Midwest.

Top review

Bill

Dined on Nov 5, 2024

Very nice for an upscale hotel restaurant. It was a nice experience.

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4.6

4.6 (343)

$30 and under

Speakeasy

Wichita

About the restaurant

Introducing Dockum, a speakeasy-style bar serving exquisite craft cocktails in downtown Wichita. Packed with intrigue, this subterranean lounge will bring you to another time and place—one that entices the senses with unforgettable tastes, sights, and sounds.

Step into a place built with classic elegance. Established in 1926, Dockum is a speakeasy-style bar where time slows, and discretion reigns. Find yourself sipping the finest handcrafted cocktails and well-prepared tonics. Our homemade bitters and syrups, fresh-squeezed juices, and selection of small bites are the talk of downtown Wichita, possessing the power to cure any ailment.

Top review

Paige

Dined 1 day ago

Our experience was SO great! We went for my birthday and had a reservation. When we got there it was a little bit of a wait but nothing crazy. We sat in the back rooms with the sofas and were there from 9:30 until close! Our server was so sweet, the food was great, and I got multiple birthday surprises! Had literally so much fun! Would recommend!

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Experience

Sippin' Santa

Wine Dive + Kitchen

4.5

4.5 (705)

$30 and under

American

Wichita

About the restaurant

Wine Dive + Kitchen prides itself in providing the ultimate dining experience for our guests. Wine Dive + Kitchen combines fun social dining, amazing dishes, and unique wines in a relaxed ambiance.

Top review

Donvip

Dined 5 days ago

Over the years, Wine Dive has been one of my primary go-to restaurants in Wichita, especially when guests come to town. My most recent dinner was with a party of five. It had been several months since I enjoyed dinner there, and the restaurant had added a few tempting new menu items, but I went with the sea bass, one of my favorites, and my colleague stuck with his usual ahi tuna. Our out-of-town guests raved about their dishes (steak frites, the ahi tuna appetizer, and I forget what else). Wine Dive has an excellent wine list. If you have room for dessert, the chocolate cake is pretty sinful. Although management and wait staff have changed over the past year, everyone does their job well, and Wine Dive remains a highly recommended restaurant for lunch and dinner. It's just a few miles from downtown in an eastside residential area and retains the feel of a neighborhood destination.

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Popular dish

Ahi Tuna Nachos

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - Wichita

4.4

4.4 (1385)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Wichita

About the restaurant

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is an American Restaurant and Steakhouse serving authentic wood-fired steaks, seafood, specialty cocktails and select wines. Join us for Happy Hour at the FIREBAR® or on the patio for drink specials and bar bites. We offer top-notch service and upscale dining at a modest price. Reserve Your Table with us today.

Top review

Craig

Dined 4 days ago

We usually go to Firebirds for special occasions. Last night we celebrated both of our birthdays. Everything was great as it always is. Especially our server, Dahar (sp ?). She took great care of us and the timing of the food deliveries was perfect. We always appreciate the lack of a corkage fee as we usually bring our favorite, impossible to buy locally, wine with us. Thanks again for another great meal.

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