Bar Medici to Transition Into Mexico City-Inspired Cocktail Bar, Jade Jaguar

Big changes are coming to 18th Street in the Crossroads.

This fall, Bar Medici will officially close its doors to make room for a new concept: Jade Jaguar, a vibrant, Mexico City–inspired cocktail bar set to open mid-October.

The new bar is a partnership between Manny Gomez, Seth Goldwasser and Exit Strategy, a local hospitality group that operates The Mercury Room and Verdigris, and previously Monarch Bar (which Exit Strategy continues to provide consulting for). Jade Jaguar will mark the group’s fourth concept. Gomez, who has been steadily dominating KC’s craft cocktail scene, has been running Jade Jaguar as a pop-up for the past year alongside Goldwasser, formerly the bar manager at The Town Co.

Bar Medici, known for its craft cocktails and upscale regional Italian fare (which I thoroughly enjoyed in my review last year), is getting a full redesign (1800 Walnut St Suite 100, KCMO). While Bar Medici’s dining room evoked a sleek, high end atmosphere, Jade Jaguar will be bright and colorful, meant to emulate Mexico City’s vibrant culture.

With 28 seats and additional standing room, the vibe will be social and flexible. Movable tables make it easy to clear space for DJs, live music and dancing, turning the bar into a late-night destination.

As a pop-up, Jade Jaguar highlighted agave spirits, and the permanent bar will certainly have a Latin flair, but Gomez, who is originally from Guadalajara, doesn’t want to put Jade Jaguar in a box.

“It’s not an agave bar or mezcal bar,” he says. “It’s a Mexico City-style bar, which means diversity. In Mexico City, they’re using American whiskey, sake, Irish whiskey, soju – you name it. And that’s exactly what we want to do here.”

The cocktail menu will feature a dozen drinks. Six will be creative riffs on classics like the margarita, paloma, mojito and Oaxaca old fashioned, while the others will be fresh takes on recipes previously served at Jade Jaguar’s pop-ups over the past year. The ingredients and inspiration will come from around the globe, just like the bars of Mexico City.

Executive Chef Mitch, who oversees all Exit Strategy kitchens, including Bar Medici, will stay on to helm Jade Jaguar’s kitchen. The bar’s new menu is primarily Mexican food-style small bites made for sharing, snacking and late-night cravings. Expect dishes like tuna tostadas, sopes, chips and guac, and quesadillas with fillings such as barbacoa, poblano chicken and mushroom and cheese. There will also be a Sonoran-style smashburger inspired by our city’s current obsession.

“KC seems to be very into the smashburger vibe,” Gomez says. “So we’re bringing that energy, but with a Sonoran-style upgrade.”

(Read about KC’s Best Smash Burgers here).

For dessert, look for horchata ice cream and a caramelized pineapple sorbet. To pair with the dessert menu, a partnership with Café Ollama is in the works to build a curated coffee program.

Jade Jaguar will host themed nights, like Latin Night, and bring in guest chefs and creative collaborators. 

“We want to activate the space,” Gomez says. “That means collaborating with other creatives, hosting different chefs, different sounds, different flavors. Jade Jaguar is built to be a hub, not just a bar.”

Located between King G and Le Lounge, and in the same building as The Mercury Room, Jade Jaguar will be part of what Gomez calls a “micro bar crawl” on 18th Street.

“You can start with a reservation upstairs at Mercury Room, enjoy the intimacy and high-end experience, then head downstairs to Jade Jaguar for cocktails, dancing and a space where you can loosen up your shoulders,” he says. “It’s the same level of hospitality, just more playful, more relaxed.”

Jade Jaguar aims to offer high-end cocktails and service minus the formality. Connection is the goal.

“We’re creating a space where people feel welcome, can explore flavor and just have fun,” Gomez says. “That’s the magic of Mexico City and we want to bring a little of that here.”

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