Your Trip to Salt Lake City: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next Best Breweries Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Salt Lake City Airport Guide Neighborhoods to Know Public Transportation 48-Hour Itinerary Day Trips From Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Tours Top Things to Do Things to Do With Kids Museums to Visit Best Parks Skiing Near Salt Lake City Top Restaurants Best Bars Your Trip to Salt Lake City: The Complete Guide close Overview United States Utah Salt Lake City The 11 Best Bars in Salt Lake City Written by Meena Thiruvengadam Instagram Twitter Meena Thiruvengadam is a New York-based writer, editor, and audience strategist who began writing for TripSavvy in 2019. She has written extensively about travel to Cuba, South Korea, North America, and Europe, including Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Tripsavvy's Editorial Guidelines Meena Thiruvengadam Updated 06/17/20 Share Pin Email Believe it or not, there are now more than 400 places to get a drink in Utah, and none of them require you to become a member. Before Utah overhauled its liquor laws in 2009, drinking in Salt Lake City—headquarters of the Mormon church—was complicated. Getting a drink at a bar required becoming a member of its private club before being able to place an order. Nowadays, all you have to do if you’re of legal age is walk in and decide on your drink. And as of November 2019, one of Utah’s few remaining alcohol quirks—a weak 3.2 percent limit on the alcoholic content of draft beer and beer sold in grocery and convenience stores—rose to 4 percent. As Utah’s liquor laws have loosened, bars, breweries, and speakeasies have popped up across Salt Lake City. These are the best of them. 01 of 11 Bar-X and Beer Bar Courtesy of Beer Bar View Map Address 155 E 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1508, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-355-2287 Web Visit website Bar-X traces its history to 1933. It was a go-to cocktail spot in post-Prohibition Salt Lake City and eventually purchased by "Modern Family" actor Ty Burrell and several family members. The bar is still known for its cocktails and has sprouted a sibling, Beer Bar, an homage to beer that is also known for its bratwurst and Belgian fries. 02 of 11 The Red Door View Map Address 57 W 200 S #102, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-3614, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-363-6030 Web Visit website The Red Door is a swanky downtown cocktail bar with a speakeasy feel. This subversive bar opened as a private club in 2002. It refers to itself as a “church of the emotionally exhausted and morally bankrupt.” Nametags are inspired by those worn by missionaries of the Mormon church. Several risque craft martinis are among the house specialties. Among them, the Cocaine Lady, a sweet martini complete with a line of powdered sugar floating on top. 03 of 11 Tavernacle Social Club View Map Address 201 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-2413, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-519-8900 Web Visit website The Tavernacle Social Club has hosted a dueling piano show in Downtown Salt Lake City for nearly 20 years. The show takes a humorous look at the conservative Morman culture that has shaped the city and is generally a raucous good time, at least by historical Salt Lake City standards. The bar hosts karaoke three nights a week and is located one mile away from the LDS church’s famous Salt Lake City Tabernacle. 04 of 11 Garage on Beck Courtesy of Garage on Beck View Map Address 1199 Beck St, Salt Lake City, UT 84103, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-521-3904 Web Visit website Just when you think you’re lost among the railroad tracks and oil refineries north of downtown, you’ll find Garage on Beck, a 1940s mechanic shop that’s been transformed into a dive bar and live music venue. Garage on Beck has an expansive outdoor area perfect for sipping on beers and taking in shows. It regularly hosts build-your-own burger nights and is frequently complimented for its Mormon Funeral Potato Balls—potato balls with cheddar, jalapeno, bacon, and scallions fried in a cornflake crust and “baptized” in hot oil. Continue to 5 of 11 below. 05 of 11 The Rest View Map Address 331 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-532-4452 Web Visit website The casual beer bar called Bodega at this location isn’t what it would appear. Bodega is a front for The Rest, an underground bar and restaurant with a basement speakeasy feel. Walking through it and into The Rest is like walking from casual Salt Lake City into the most upscale basement you’ve ever seen. Art and taxidermy adorn the walls. The lights are low. The food and drinks menus are extensive. Don’t miss the Old Fashioned flight, but do make a reservation online ahead of time. 06 of 11 Campfire Lounge Courtesy of Campfire Lounge View Map Address 837 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-467-3325 Web Visit website If you like dogs, you're going to love Campfire Lounge. Campfire Lounge is located in Salt Lake City's laid back SugarHouse neighborhood. It has three fire pits and a dog-friendly patio stocked with heavy-duty heaters. Campfire Lounge serves up brunch with $3 mimosas, bloody marys, and "manmosas," cocktails of wheat beer and orange juice, on weekends. Some drinks use the bar's house-made cider honey. 07 of 11 Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining Courtesy of Whiskey Street View Map Address 323 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-433-1371 Web Visit website Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining is a throwback to the late 1800s when Salt Lake City’s main street was known as Whiskey Street and was lined with saloons, breweries, pool halls, and parlor houses. It offers an extensive list of more than 130 whiskeys and uses a variety of reclaimed wood to create a classic old-world bar in the heart of Salt Lake City. 08 of 11 Gracie's Courtesy of Gracie's View Map Address 326 S W Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1911, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-819-7565 Web Visit website If you like your drinks served with a side of live music, head to Gracie’s. Gracie’s hosts a live music weekend brunch as well as Monday night jazz and Tuesday night bluegrass. It has an expansive patio that’s perfect for kicking back and sipping on a cucumber Moscow Mule while taking in a show. The gastropub has an extensive menu that includes a half-pound Wagyu burger, a BBQ bison burger, and fried avocado tacos. Continue to 9 of 11 below. 09 of 11 The Green Pig Pub Courtesy of The Green Pig Pub View Map Address 31 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-2703, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-532-7441 Web Visit website If you’re looking to catch a game or for vegan and gluten-free pub food, head straight to The Green Pig Pub. This downtown fixture is known for its accommodating menu, expansive rooftop patio, and Rocky Mountain views. The Green Pig Pub hosts karaoke and trivia nights each week and is also a popular place to watch sports. 10 of 11 Piper Down Pub View Map Address 1492 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115-5424, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-468-1492 Web Visit website Piper Down Pub is a vegetarian and vegan-friendly Irish pub with a vibrant calendar of events south of downtown Salt Lake City. Its weekend brunches feature $1.50 mimosas and free bloody mary bars. Piper Down Pub also hosts trivia, poker, bingo, and painting nights. 11 of 11 Junior's Tavern Courtesy of Junior's Tavern View Map Address 30 East Broadway, 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA Get directions Phone +1 801-322-0318 Web Visit website If you’re into beer-can design, you’ll want to go to Juniors Tavern. Juniors Tavern is a neighborhood bar that initially opened its doors in Salt Lake City in 1974. One makeover later, it’s a low-key spot to have a drink and take in a little live jazz or blues. It’s got a collection of beer cans from the last 40 years housed in a display case on the wall. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit