bar fly

Forget about navigating the state’s labyrinth of liquor laws—the more than 20 bars and pubs listed here prioritize putting a drink in your hand, although most of them serve good food, too. Restricted to 21 and over. (Be prepared to show your I.D., whatever your age. This is Utah, after all.)

All bars listed in the Salt Lake Bar Fly have been vetted and chosen based on quality of beverage, food, atmosphere and service.

This selective guide has no relationship to any advertising in the magazine. Review visits are anonymous, and all expenses are paid by Salt Lake magazine.

LIBATIONS | BARS

PHOTO ADAM FINKLE Franklin Avenue

BY JEREMY PUGH AND AVREY EVANS

THE ALLEYWAY STREET connecting 200 South and 300 South in downtown SLC, was originally named Franklin Avenue. According to the blogger Rachel Quist (Rachel’s SLC History, slchistory.org), when Franklin Avenue was in its heyday (the late 1880s and 1890s) it was home to the majority of African Americans in SLC. Franklin Avenue was considered a tenderloin district like the other mid-block alleys in the area, Commercial Street and Plum Alley. There were brothels on Franklin Avenue in the 1890s but also a multi-racial community living in boarding houses and many businesses were owned by people of color.

In 1906 city leaders changed the name of Franklin Avenue to Edison Street and now the street is once again undergoing a revitalization with a slew of newly opened bars anchored by the original bar Ryan Lowder’s Copper Common on the southern end. Here’s your guide to Edison Street’s latest lightbulb moment. (See what we did there?)

Once hailed for its variety of theater acts and late-night extracurriculars, Franklin Avenue has been resurrected as a swanky restaurant and bar from the minds of Bourbon Group. The building’s original brick facade and speakeasy interiors convey the bar’s history, but Chef and part owner Matt Crandall’s menu is hardly stuck in the past. “The food is multicultural fusion with roots in modern American,” he says. House-made pasta, seasonal veggies and Asian-inspired dishes are served alongside a diverse cocktail menu—and a wall-to-wall selection of whiskies (this is the Bourbon Group, after all).

WHAT YOU’RE DRINKING — Glass Cage of Emotion: Laphroaig 10 yr. Scotch, Banana liqueur, Creme De Cacao and sea salt. DON’T PASS UP — Bar snack bargains: Mushroom Beignets, Kimchi Pickles and Coconut Snap Peas. franklinaveslc.com

One day it was Mortar & Pestle, then abracadabra! The bar space on the northern end of the street was transformed into Back Door on Edison, a new watering hole from the owners of Laziz Kitchen (which also magically replaced the connected restaurant, Curry Up Now, with a new location for Laziz). With Lebaneseinspired bar bites and a promising still-in-development cocktail menu, Backdoor is a welcome replacement for the previous occupants. Sorry, but Mortar & Pestle never really found its footing and it wasn’t helpful that the bar space smelled of curry wafting in from the restaurant.

WHAT YOU’RE DRINKING — Oaxacan Old Fashioned: Bozal Mezcal Ensamble, Casamigos Reposado Tequila, Trinity bitters, honey DON’T PASS UP — The dip sampler features excellent renditions of baba ganoush, muhammara and the hummus that started Laziz years ago. backdoorslc.com

The pioneer on the block began as Plum Alley and has morphed over the years into Copper Common, one of Salt Lake’s most reliable watering holes with a foodforward menu. The original inspiration for owner Ryan Lowder was Maison Premiere in Williamsburg, a high-end cocktail and oyster’s joint at the heart of hipster Brooklyn. And although oysters are still on the

PHOTOS (1, 3, 4, 5) COURTESY BACK DOOR ON EDISON; (2) ADAM FINKLE

1. Back Door on Edison 2. Franklin Avenue 3. Back Door on Edison 4. & 5. Back Door on Edison

225 W. 200 South, SLC, 385-722-9600. ac-hotels.marriott.com The Euro-styled hotel has a chic lobby bar and a secret menu of drinks inspired by movies filmed in Utah, like Dumb and Dumber and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

9320 Cliff Lodge Dr. Ste. 88, Snowbird Resort, 801-933-2160. snowbird.com Floor-to-ceiling windows mean drinkers can marvel at nature’s handiwork while feasting from the sushi bar. The menu is global with live music some nights.

369 S. Main St., SLC, 385-259-0616. alibislc.com Located along SLC’s bar line on Main Street, Alibi has a sleek, hip vibe and is generally filled with happy hipsters, especially when they have theme nights.

155 E. 200 South, SLC, 801-355-2287. barxslc.com This was the vanguard of Salt Lake’s new cocktail movement, serving classic drinks and creative inventions behind the best electric sign in the city.

161 E. 200 South, SLC, 385-259-0905. beerbarslc.com Ty Burrell, star of ABC’s small-screen hit Modern Family, co-owns Beer Bar, which is right next to Bar X. It’s noisy, there’s no table service, but there are 140+ brews to choose from, plus 13 kinds of wurst.

645 S. State St., SLC, 801-961-8400. utahbayou.com This is Beervana, with 260 bottled beers and 32 on draft. The kitchen turns out artichoke pizza and deep-fried Cornish game hens.

128 S. Main St., SLC, 801-364-4268. @beerhive_pub More than 200 beers—domestic, imported and local—with a long ice rail to keep the brew cold, the way Americans like ’em, are the outstanding features of this cozy downtown pub.

1400 S. Foothill Drive #166, SLC, 801-877-9350; 1520 W. 9000 South Ste. C, West Jordan, 801-5662561. theblacksheepbarandgrills.com A friendly neighborhood sports bar with a homemade American menu, 14 TVs and events almost nightly. It’s a fun place to hang with friends or cheer on your favorite team.

404 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-359-2814. btgwinebar.com BTG stands for “By the Glass” and though BTG serves craft cocktails, specialty beer and good food, the pièces de résistance are the more than 50 wines by the glass. Order a tasting portion or a full glass.

837 E. 2100 South, 801-467-3325. campfirelounge.com The laid-back feeling of sitting around a campfire is what the owners were aiming for, with or without flames. Campfire is a relaxed neighborhood joint with affordable drinks. And s’mores.

1508 S. 1500 East, SLC. 801-441-2873. casotwinework.com In a town with a dearth of neighborhood bars and bars that want to be neighborhood bars but for a lack of location in an actual neighborhood, Casot is the real deal. Located in the established 15th and 15th hood, this small wine bar is a welcome addition featuring a Spainish forward list from Pago’s Scott Evans.

111 E. Broadway #190, SLC, 801-355-0543. coppercommon.com Copper Common is a real bar—that means you don’t actually have to order food if you don’t want to. But on the other hand, why wouldn’t you want to? This bar has a real chef.

2820 E. 6200 South, Holladay, 801-849-8847. thecottonbottom.com Remember when this was a ski bum’s town? The garlic burger and a beer is what you order.

479 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-994-6919. @dickndixies The classic corner beer bar where cronies of all kinds gather regularly to watch sports, talk politics and generally gossip about the city and nothing in particular.

850 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-441-2845. eastlibertytaphouse.com Half a dozen beers on draft and 20 or more by the bottle, and the rotation changes constantly. The menu does clever takes on bar food classics.

7321 Canyon Centre Pkwy., Cottonwood Heights, 385-900-4315. eightsettlersdistillery.com The distillery is entrenched in and inspired by the history of the Cottonwood Heights area and so are the spirits. Take home a bottle from the store or stay and enjoy a taste of the past at the themed, on-site restaurant.

6 N. Rio Grande, The Gateway, SLC, 801-683-7070. flankerslc.com A little bit sports bar, a little bit nightclub and a little bit entertainment venue, with a parlor and bowling alley, private karaoke rooms and a golf simulator.

1199 N. Beck St., SLC, 801-521-3904. garageonbeck.com Everyone compares it to an Austin bar. Live music, good food and the rockingest patio in town. Try the Chihuahua, a chileheated riff on a margarita.

555 S. Main St., SLC, 801-258-6000. grandamerica.com Grand America’s inimitable style is translated into a cushy but unstuffy bar, the antithesis of the current hipster style. You can actually wear a cocktail dress to this cocktail bar.

69 E. Gallivan Ave., SLC, 385-415-5002. goodgrammar.bar The crowds playing Jenga on the patio, the decor, full of pop celebs and heroes, and a soundtrack of eclectic old- and altrock, makes a space that bridges old and young imbibers.

326 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-819-7565. graciesslc.com Play pool, throw darts, listen to live music, kill beer and time on the patio and upstairs deck. Plus, Gracie’s is a gastropub.

31 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-532-7441. thegreenpigpub.com Green Pig is a pub of a different color. The owners use eco-friendly materials and sustainable kitchen practices. The menu star is the chili verde nachos with big pork chunks and cheese.

703 Park Ave., Park City, 435-649-8300. highwest.com The bartenders at Utah’s award-winning distillery concoct different cocktail menus for every season focusing on High West’s spirits, although the bar stocks other alcohol.

7 E. 4800 South, Murray, 801-266-2127. icehausbar.com Ice Haus has everything you need from a neighborhood bar and a purveyor of German cuisine: a wide selection of pub fare and plenty of seating in the beer-hall

Copper Commons BELOW: Copper Commons

menu and the cocktails are still among the highest of ends, Copper Common has continued to evolve with Lowder’s tastes. These days the bar menu is focused on hard-to-find (in Utah) aperitifs and digestives and one of the best natural wine lists in the state.

WHAT YOU’RE DRINKING — The Fourth Regiment: High West Double Rye, Carpano Antica Vermouth and three bitters—Peychaud’s, celery and orange WHAT’S SO SPECIAL — The civilized setting and the sophisticated menu—including flown-fresh oysters and what we believe is the best bar burger in the entire world. coppercommon.com

According to SLC history blogger, Rachel Quist, on Feb. 16, 1893, a large box from Salt Lake City marked “Household Goods” arrived at an address in Chicago. The recipient refused delivery and it was sent to storage until it was sold as unclaimed freight three years later. Inside was a metal trunk that had been soldered shut and contained the hog-tied body of Prosper Chazal, a French immigrant, who owned a saloon on Franklin Avenue and was last seen flaunting a large sum of money around town.

inspired location. The menu has a strong number of vegan options.

155 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-532-2068. lakeeffectslc.com An eclectic bar and lounge with a fine wine list and full menu. Live music many nights; open until 1 a.m.

555 S. Main St., SLC, 801-258-6708. laurelslc.com Laurel Brasserie & Bar’s food focuses on classic European cuisine with an American approach. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the real star is the Happy Hour menu with items like Pumpkin Arancini and The Smokey Paloma cocktail.

48 W. Market St., SLC, 801-322-4668. marketstreetgrill.com The nightlife side of Market Street seafood restaurant, the Oyster Bar has an is a place to begin or end an evening, with an awardwinning martini and a dozen oysters—half price on Mondays.

837 S. Main St., SLC, 801-906-8418. @thepines.slc From the owners of Dick N’ Dixie’s, The Pines is an elevated neighborhood bar with a cool interior and even cooler bartenders. Stop by to taste their solid range of brews, or visit the bar on a weekend for a new wave discotheque.

16 W. Market St., SLC, 801-519-9595. popslc.com Post Office offers craft cocktails, multicultural small plates and the largest selection of Japanese whisky in the state. Ask for a “special delivery” if you’re up for a boozy adventure.

5 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-477-7047. quartersslc.com Nostalgic for all those Gen Xers and gamer geeks, Quarters features retro gaming pinball and a game called Killer Queen. Drink a sling—or order a La Croix with a shot poured into the can.

155 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-532-2068. lakeeffectslc.com Downstairs in Lake Effect, the gaslit Rabbit Hole takes you to a different time, especially on Wednesday nights which are devoted to jazz. The Rabbit is a real listening room—you don’t talk over or under the music. This rare respect and a top notch bar makes this a very unusual hare.

916 Jefferson St., SLC. scionciderbar.com Cider has often taken a back seat to its more prevalent siblings, wine and beer, but not at Scion. It’s another soon-to-be favorite bar in the Central Ninth with a wide variety of 20 hard ciders on tap.

7 S. Rio Grande, The Gateway, SLC, 801-456-1223. seabirdutah.com Great little locally owned bar in the Gateway with great views, a fun little patio, friendly bartenders and more style than the place can hold.

331 S. Main St., SLC, 801-532-4452. bodegaslc.com The neon sign says “Bodega;” drink a beer in the phone booth–sized front or head downstairs to the The Rest. Order a cocktail, settle into the apparently bomb-proof book-lined library, or take a booth and sit at the bar.

7350 E. 200 South, Huntsville, 801-7452002. shooting-star-saloon.business.site More than a century old, this is gen-youwine Old West. The walls are adorned with moose heads and a stuffed St. Bernard. Good luck finishing your Star Burger.

63 W. 100 South, SLC, 801-203-4124. varleyslc.com A craft cocktail bar and lounge situated right next to its companion restaurant The Ivy. The modern aesthetic pairs well with a classic cocktail and conversation.

202 S. Main St., SLC, 801-363-5454. bambara-slc.com/the-vault A quintessential hotel bar, with big windows overlooking pedestrian traffic. Special cocktails may be themed to what’s on stage across the street at Capitol Theatre.

480 Wakara Way, SLC, 801-581-1000. One of the few bars on the west bench, Wakara serves craft cocktails and hosts live music, trivia nights, liquor education and even, occasionally, drag queens.

163 W. 900 South, SLC, 801-462-0967. waterwitchbar.com Three of Utah’s leading bartenders join forces in this charming tiny bar. Whether you want a classic drink, a draft or glass of wine, or a cocktail custom-designed to your taste, this is the place to belly up.

323 S. Main St., SLC, 801-433-1371. whiskeystreet.com This stretch of Main was once dubbed “Whiskey Street” because it was lined with so many pubs and bars. A 42-foot-long cherry wood bar encourages you to bend the elbow.

69 W. 100 South, SLC, 801-641-6115. whykikibar.com A tropical beach-themed club to get away at with a fruity drink in a tiki glass (or bowl!) or shake it on the dance floor. Don’t miss Taco Tuesday or the regular drag shows.

PHOTOS COURTESY COPPER COMMON

275 S. 200 West, SLC, 801-433-0589. zestslc.com Zest offers hand-crafted fresh juice cocktails with the same emphasis on local and organic ingredients as the food—try an original concoction like the Straw-bubbly Lavender Martini.

94 E. 7200 South, Midvale, 801-566-5474. bohemianbrewery.com Enjoy the lagers beloved by Bohemian’s owners’ Czech forebears, following the ancient Reinheitsgbot or German Purity Law.

445 S. 400 West, SLC, 385-528-3840. bewilderbrewing.com In a building decked out with an awesome Trent Call mural, Bewilder Brewing set up shop next to the bygone nightclub Area 51. Try the house-made sausages and a beer list that skews toward traditional German styles.

273 S. Trolley Square, SLC, 801-521-8917. desertedgebrewery.com The constantly changing variety and Beer School set Desert Edge apart from all the others. This classic Salt Lake bar (and restaurant) continues to innovate its brews.

825 S. State St., SLC, 801-906-0123. epicbrewing.com Epic exclusively brews high-alcohol content beer. The brewing facility moved to Colorado, but you can still buy cold beer to-go at the taproom.

320 W. 800 South, SLC, 801-487-2337. fisherbeer.com Fisher takes its name from a brewery originally founded in 1884, but the brews and low-key atmosphere are strictly right now. One of the few in town that has cask ale occasionally.

608 W. 700 South, 801-215-9165. kiitosbrewing.com A rising star, Kiitos brews are on several menus around town. But if you stop by the brewery to taste, you can play pinball, too.

2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake, 385-2705752. levelcrossingbrewing.com Opened by home brewer and photographer Chris Detrick, Level Crossing is long on games (like darts), good food and of course good beer.

425 N. 400 West, SLC, 801-935-4147. mountainwestcider.com With handcrafted ciders ranging from dry to sweet, all named for Utah’s iconic natural features, the people at Mountain West Cider know their craft and their community.

25 W. Center Street, Logan, 435-375-3313. prodigy-brewing.com A family-friendly brewpub, Prodigy serves an upscale twist on classic brewpub fare and beers with labels tailored to the area, like “Cached Out” Hefeweizen and “Rusty Hoe” Farmhouse Ale.

857 S. Main St., 801-953-1707. properbrewingco.com From the same proper folks who brought you the Publick House, Proper Brewery and Burgers hugely expands the brewing capacity of the original.

254 S. 200 West, SLC, 801-521-7446. redrockbrewing.com A longtime favorite for tippling and tasting—the pub draws on 45 recipes for its rotating selection.

30 E. Kensington Ave., SLC, 385-227-8982. rohabrewing.com The name comes from the owners two names: Rob Phillips and Chris Haas, former brewer for Red Rock Brewery.

253 25th Street, Ogden, 801-627-6171. roostersbrewingco.com A local favorite in the heart of everything Historic 25th Street in Ogden, Roosters Brewing Co. offers both a comfortable dining experience in their restaurant and a 21+ tap room. The owners are deeply involved in the community, and that love shows in their drinkable beers and reliable American pubfare.

2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake, 385-9550504. saltfirebrewing.com Located in a distilling and brewery hub of South Salt Lake, SaltFire has grown alongside its contemporaries, bringing a punk/metal edge and the tongue-in-cheek labels of its tasty craft brews, including “crushable” collaborations with the Heavy Metal Shop.

2020 Industrial Circle, SLC, 801-828-3469. saltflatsbeer.com Born in a garage—the Garage Grill to be exact—Salt Flats’ drinkable beers each takes its name from racing and motorsports culture. This is beer brewed to celebrate the racecar driver in all of us.

154 W. Utopia Ave., South Salt Lake, 435-200-3009. shadesbrewing.beer A mom-and-pop brewery supplying many local restaurants—check the website— stop by their tap room.

147 W. Broadway, SLC, 801-363-2739; 2110 Highland Dr., SLC, 801-783-1127; 1763 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-466-8855. saltlakebrewingco.com Salt Lake’s original breweries merged to form Utah Brewers Cooperative and are now in the hands of Salt Lake Brewing Company. Squatters and Wasatch are the most popular watering holes in Salt Lake.

1258 Gibson Ave., Ogden, 385-389-2945. talismanbrewingco.com Talisman’s friendly tap room has 18 beers on tap, and you can pick up your own cans and growlers to take home. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food or order from a nearby restaurant. Dog friendly.

936 S. 300 West, SLC, 385-270-5972. tfbrewing.com TF stands for Templin Family. Brewmaster Kevin Templin has a long history in Salt Lake’s beer scene. Expect meticulously made German-style beer and don’t miss game night.

1722 S. Fremont Dr., SLC, 801-467-0909. uintabrewing.com Founder Will Hamill says, “We make beer. Period.” Uinta produces certified organic beers and beer in corked bottles.

2245 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake, 385-2590252. beehivedistilling.com Perhaps best known for their Jack Rabbit Gin, Beehive Distilling also serves up craft cocktails from not just a tasting room, but a full bar.

564 W. 700 South, Ste. 401, Pleasant Grove, 801997-8667. clearwaterdistilling.com Utah County’s lone distillery is doing the Lord’s work in bringing that part of Utah equally singular spirits. Tours and tastings are available.

3100 S. Washington St., South Salt Lake, 801-8839837. dentedbrick.com Steeped in history, Dented Brick spirit start with water from a local artesian well. The driller of the well is also the distillery’s namesake. Try their handcrafted, signature vodka, rye, gin and rum in a scheduled tasting.

3697 W. 1987 South, SLC, 801-599-4704. hammerspring.com The distillery makes a variety of spirits, including vodka, gin, coffee liqueur and whiskey. Tours and tastings are available.

207 W. 4860 South, Murray, 385-800-2580. holystonedistilling.com Holystone is a small batch distillery, maker of an 114-proof gin, a grape-based vodka, Utah’s first legal absinthe and first Shochu. Tastings and tours are available by appointment.

615 W. Stockman Way, Ogden, 801-458-1995. ogdensown.com Ogden’s Own brings fun and passion with its labels, the most well-known of which is their award-winning Five Wives Vodka. Craft cocktails tailored to their spirits are served at their on-site cocktail bar, Side Bar.

552 W. 8360 South, Midvale, 801-706-1428. outlawdistillery.com Outlaw makes rum, spiced rum, white whiskey, whiskey and Outlaw moonshine. Distillery tours available.

2212 S. West Temple, #14, SLC, 801-726-0403. sugarhousedistillery.net Sugar House’s distillers have a keen eye for detail, and ingredients for their spirits are sourced locally whenever possible. Everything goes down smooth. Open for tours and tastings.

2084 W. 2200 South, West Valley City, 801-3829921. waterpocket.co Waterpocket’s spirits are often fresh takes on old favorites or venturing into entirely new territory. Tours and tastings are available by appointment.