If the Chiefs played their AFC Championship-winning game against the Ravens in Kansas City instead of Baltimore, Travis Kelce might have taken Taylor Swift back to Piropos Restaurant that night to celebrate. The restaurant in Briarcliff Village appears to be a favorite of his. The couple dined there back in October, after the Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s near the Northland home where he lived before moving to a gated community in Leawood.
The relaxed yet upscale restaurant is known for its Argentinian cuisine, pan-seared meats and fish, and empanadas. A lot has been written about “America’s Royal Couple,” but I can say they have good taste. Piropos is a wonderful dining experience.
I don’t know whether the famous couple is the reason, but getting a table on a Saturday night in late January was difficult. When my friends tried to get a reservation days ahead, only the 5:15 p.m. or the 8:30 p.m. was available. We chose the 5:15. I’m glad we did so we could linger. There’s so much to enjoy at Piropos. Want some art with your meal? A 35-foot mural spreads throughout the space, showing a scene from downtown Buenos Aires painted by local artist Cathy Kline.
Works of native folk art, such as dolls and other paintings, are also displayed in cases around the restaurant. No matter where you look, you can see a bit of Argentinian culture at Piropos. And while you might think of going for the sweeping views — the restaurant sits on a hilltop overlooking Kansas City — Piropos offers an intimate, though neighborly dining experience. Apparently intimacy is what Swift and Kelce went for. A private room with curtained windows — not the views — was their choice at the October dinner, restaurant manager Hector Rodriguez told me. In this cozy room, 10 can dine at a long table, along with a few other small tables that can seat two. However, Rodriguez said when the couple dined in this room, it was just the two of them, with security at the door.